Klaipėda
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At a glance
- Country
- Lithuania
- Region
- Klaipėda County
- Population
- 160,000
- Best time to go
- June to August
- Main airport
- Palanga International (PLQ)
- Coordinates
- 55.70°N, 21.14°E
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Overview
Lithuania's only seaport has a long German past, when it was known as Memel, and its compact old town still has half-timbered warehouses and narrow streets near the river Danė.
Most people come for what lies just across the water. A short ferry ride takes you to the Curonian Spit, a long, thin strip of pine forest and towering dunes between the Baltic Sea and a lagoon, and one of the most beautiful places on the coast.
Things to see
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Photo: Thomas Pusch, CC BY-SA 3.0 Theatre Square
The heart of the old town, with the fountain and statue of Ännchen von Tharau facing the theatre.
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Photo: Unknown photographer, Public domain Klaipėda Castle
The excavated remains and museum of the city's medieval castle, close to the port.
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Photo: Lee Vilenski, CC BY-SA 4.0 Lithuanian Sea Museum
An aquarium and maritime museum set in an old fortress at the tip of Smiltynė, across the strait.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Scotch Mist, CC BY-SA 4.0 Meridianas
A sailing ship moored on the Danė, one of the city's best-loved landmarks.
Things to do
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Photo: Hugo.arg ( talk ), Public domain Day trip to Nida
Cycle or bus down the Curonian Spit to the fishing village of Nida and climb the great Parnidis dune.
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Photo: Thomas Pusch, CC BY-SA 3.0 Hill of Witches
A forest trail near Juodkrantė lined with carved wooden figures from Lithuanian folklore.
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Photo: Pavel Gromov ( Pagan ), CC BY 2.5 Baltic beaches
Head to Smiltynė or the beaches north of the city for white sand backed by pine forest.
Where to stay
Old Town
Characterful and walkable, close to the ferry and riverside bars.
Hotels in Old TownNew Town
Modern hotels north of the river, convenient for transport.
Hotels in New TownNida
Stay on the spit itself for quiet evenings among the dunes.
Hotels in Nida
Getting around
The centre is walkable. Ferries run frequently across to Smiltynė, and buses or bikes continue down the spit to Nida.
Palanga airport is around 30 kilometres north, roughly half an hour by bus or taxi. Trains run from Vilnius in around four hours, and ferries arrive from Germany.
When to go
Summer is the season for beaches, cycling and long evenings, with July and August busiest. Late spring and early autumn are quieter and still pleasant. Winters are cold and windy.
Plan your trip to Klaipėda
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.