"Klaipeda – Gateway to the Curonian Spit (Neringa)" Top 5 Page for this destination Klaipeda by HORSCHECK

Klaipeda Travel Guide: 233 reviews and 487 photos

Half-timbered buildings in Klaipeda - Klaipeda

Klaipeda was the third stop on our trip through Lithuania in summer 2006. Before WWI Klaipeda was a German city named Memel, therefore it is nowadays much frequented by German nostalgia tourists. It is situated on the Baltic Sea near the narrow outlet of the Curonian lagoon.

The ferries to the popular small villages on the Curonian Spit leave from Klaipeda’s port which is the only commercial port in Lithuania. Another popular daytrip destination from Klaipeda is the bustling beach resort Palanga.

Klaipeda has a small old town with narrow straight streets and many half-timbered (Fachwerk) houses, but no churches as they were all destroyed during WWII. The river Dane divides the old town from the much bigger new town which dates back to the 19th century.

"Then come the wild weather, come sleet or come snow, we will stand by each other, however it blow."
--- Simon Dach ---

Pros and Cons

Pros:Quaint little old town and good location for daytrips along the Baltic Sea.
Cons:It can be difficult to find affordable accommodation in summer when not booking in advance.
In a nutshell:Gateway to the Curonian Spit (Neringa).

Last visit to Klaipeda: Aug 2006
Intro Updated Sep 25, 2011
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Reviews (25)

Famous people of Klaipeda Favorites (3)

When thinking about famous people from Klaipeda the German poet Simon Dach (1605-1659) probably springs to one's mind at... more travel advice

Lithuanian Currency: Litas Local Customs (2)

Although Lithuania joined the European Union (EU) on the 1st of May 2004, they don't have the Euro as currency.... more travel advice

Beer from Klaipeda: Svyturys Local Customs (2)

Klaipeda is home to Lithuania's oldest brewery: Svyturys. It was established in 1784 and produces various sorts of beer... more travel advice

Daytrip to the Curonian Spit Off The Beaten Path (2)

The Curonian Spit (Neringa) is a 98 km long narrow sand peninsula which is connected to the Russian mainland near... more travel advice

Comments (29)

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Bwana_Brown Oct 5, 2012 at 5:04 PM

Holger - thank you for this very interesting page on Lithuania! Great photos and excellent information on your impressions of Klaipeda during your visit several years ago.
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travelfrosch Jan 9, 2011 at 6:45 AM

Thanks for this look at Klaipeda, Holger. Lots of useful information for my travel research. I'll especially remember the beer tip. ;)
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hunterV Oct 27, 2010 at 11:52 PM

Holger, I see it's a superb place to explore....
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german_eagle Nov 28, 2009 at 3:48 AM

Nice page. Klaipeda peeks my interest because in the 1980s a ferry port was built in Mukran (Rügen Island) for a container ship connection to Klaipeda. I've always wondered how the city on the other end of that route looked.
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jumpingnorman Aug 10, 2009 at 8:11 PM

Very interesting K and D towers! And the Meridianas ship -- would love to have dinner in a vessel with such a rich history...excellent pages, Norman :)
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Pinat Jul 24, 2009 at 1:35 AM

Having seen the picture of Meridianas on your first tip, I ended up reading the whole page and totally enjoyed. Cheers, Pinar
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iandsmith Mar 15, 2009 at 6:17 PM

Clear and concise tips, thanks for sharing.
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spe Aug 25, 2008 at 1:36 AM

Small tip regarding Old Port ferry, it operates round the year but in winter period between voyages is longer - once an hour instead of once in a half an hour or even 15 minutes in summertime. Cars not taken on board at all at Old harbour.
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deeper_blue Jul 23, 2008 at 7:13 AM

Interesting city, that I want to check out year, by the way would you recommend Kaunas or Vilnius?
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Maurizioago Mar 5, 2008 at 1:13 AM

There is also a ship-restaurant in Malta. Good page. Ciao!