KlaipėdaLithuania · Ferry Destinations

All About Klaipėda

Situated alongside the freshwater Curonian Lagoon and at the mouth of the Dane River, Klaipėda first started to transform into a city during the 13th-century. Occupied by the Teutonic Knights in 1252, who named it Memelburg, it soon became a part of Prussia. German control over the land ended after WWII, leaving the city to join the Lithuanian SSR. During the next few decades, Klaipėda prospered as a port and continued to do so more after Lithuania finally declared its independence in 1990. Booking ferry tickets to Klaipėda is very easy. Simply visit the Ferryscanner website, compare prices, routes, and ferry companies and you are done!

Famous for its annual festivals, architecture, beaches, and deep-sea fishing, present-day Klaipėda is an evergreen city, a favorite among curious and intrepid travelers searching for the next big tourist destination.
 

Routes and Ferries to Klaipėda

Preferring to travel by boat, many tourists buy ferry tickets to Klaipėda from Karlshamn and Kiel. The company DFDS operates the vessels that take 13 hours and 20 hours to reach their destination, respectively. Prices are subject to availability, seasonal demand and differ based on personal preferences. Easily bookable via Ferryscanner, return ferry tickets to Klaipėda from either of these destinations average around €100 per passenger traveling without a car.

Air travelers have three possible options of landing near Klaipėda. Palanga International Airport is 30 minutes away and connects with Riga, Dublin, London, and Oslo. Located 2 hours and 30 minutes from Klaipėda, Kaunas Airport caters to low-cost airlines from the Netherlands, Poland, and the UK. Another hour to the east is Vilnius Airport. You’ll find plenty of flights from various European cities to the capital of Lithuania. The central train station of Klaipėda is near the city center. Well-connected with Vilnius, several trains arrive here daily from across the country.
 

Port of Klaipėda

The sheltered Port of Klaipėda is Lithuania’s main harbor. As an ice-free port in the Baltic Sea, it plays a vital role in economic growth through trade and tourism. Once a part of the ancient Amber Route, the port has seen frequent activity ever since the 13th century. It now caters to all types of vessels, from cargo ships and cruise liners to yachts and ferries.

A deep-water harbor with ship repairing facilities, the Port of Klaipėda has two railway stations, two passenger terminals, and connects to an extensive road network. The Cruise Vessel Terminal is only 100 meters from the center and covers 1.2 hectares of area. When arriving with ferry tickets to Klaipėda, you will get off at the Klaipėda Central Terminal, inaugurated in 2014. The terminal can handle up to three boats and is 30 minutes by bus from the Central Train Station. Passengers can pre-book a taxi from the ferry or upon arrival at the dock.
 

Best Beaches

With the Curonian Spit only a skip away, Klaipėda has miles of powdery white coastline at its doorstep. Tourists visiting the city for a weekend typically head to the peninsula for a dip in the Baltic sea. However, those staying for long shouldn’t miss out on experiencing the equally stunning beaches of the neighboring towns.

Smiltynės Beach

No trip to Klaipėda is complete without a beach day on the 98km long Curonian Spit. Since the city doesn’t have a beach of its own, Smiltynės Beach gets to be the local hangout spot. Access to the beach is through a €2 ferry across the lagoon, a fun event on its own for kids. One must then walk past a lovely forested area from the ferry port to reach the beach. Wild and covered with dunes, the strand is wide, has shallow water, and the Lithuanian Sea Museum to its north. Toilets, changing rooms, bars, a playground, and lifeguards on duty make it ideal for all ages.

Palanga Beach

Soft white sand, pine tree backgrounds, and dunes that create waves on land, that’s the beauty of Palanga Beach for you! Stretching over 10km, most people prefer to lounge on the strip near Palanga Sea Bridge. If you want a bit of seclusion, walk away, and the crowds begin to thin out. The central area of the beach bursts with activities in the summer months. Beach cafes, volleyball courts, and water sports add to the excitement one can have during a day under the sun.

Melnrage Beach

Melnrage 1 and Melnrage 2 are two continuous sandy strips about 15 minutes from the city. The bus from Klaipėda drops beach-goers near the second beach which tends to be a favorite with families. Monitored by lifeguards, the water here can be a little cold, so arrive by noon for a refreshing swim. There are volleyball and basketball courts for athletic visitors, while children can have fun at the playground.  If walking around, keep in mind that there is an unmarked women’s nude beach nearby.

Giruliai Beach

A beach full of life situated 7km from Klaipėda, the best way to reach Giruliai is by taking a 10-minute bus ride, which costs €0.40. When visiting, plan for the entire day. You can start by sunbathing on the sand, occasionally indulging in drinks, food, and ice cream at the nearby cafes and bars. Then, take a break from the water and cycle through trails in the forest, stopping to explore a WWII German bunker. Finally, end the day with a spectacular sunset, viewed best from the observation deck. The beach also has WCs, showers, lifeguards on duty, a playground, volleyball nets, and a nudist section.

Nida Beach

Far away on the Curonian Spit, near the Lithuanian border, is the tranquil beach of Nida. A gorgeous sandy strip, one must make a slight effort to reach this Blue Flag accredited shoreline. There is minimal construction in Nida, a family-friendly resort town, which is also famous for its larger-than-life sundial. Clear waters and a pine forest backdrop make the beach popular with locals. Tourists wishing to visit can take the inter-city bus from Klaipėda or Smiltynės.
 

Things to Do

Klaipėda’s very soul is abloom with art, culture, and history, elements that often enthrall tourists visiting the city for the first time. From quiet walks by the water and mouth-watering culinary affairs to charming antiquated scenes and artistic wonders hidden in plain sight, Klaipėda is like a fantasy book, where each chapter is full of unimaginable places waiting to be discovered.

Visit Memel Castle

Built by the Knights in 1252, only ruins of Memel Castle remain today. Destroyed during Russia’s rule, the castle was burnt down and left to crumble over the decades. Excavation in the region led to fascinating discoveries, shared with the public through a museum started on-site in 2002.  A small but essential institution, the Memel Museum explains the history of the castle and the city from the 13th until the 17th-century.

Hunt for Sculptures

The street art scene in Klaipėda is pretty cool, but the sculptures dotted around the city are genuinely remarkable. Funnily enough, several of them come with legends of their own. Among the two most famous is the blink-and-you’ll-miss Magic Mouse. Whisper a wish in its ear as you rub its nose, and apparently, it will come true. The other one is the Black Ghost, a 2.4-meter bronze sculpture that seems to be emerging from the river. The statue finds its basis in the folktale of a haunting figure that saved the city from an oncoming famine. For artier endeavors, head to the Sculpture Park, a former cemetery that houses 116 creative pieces.

Walk Around the Old Town

A stroll around the Old Town of Klaipėda is the quintessential activity to do when in the city. The neighborhood enchants with its quaint cobblestone alleyways, German-influenced Fachwerk houses, and artistically painted window shutters. Once done visiting the Theater Square and admiring Ann from Tharau’s statue, head to the ‘Swing Bridge’. Built in 1855, it is a one-of-a-kind bridge that requires two people to manually rotate it open.

Dine at Meridianas Restorantes

A diner aboard an ancient ship is the perfect romantic end to a day of sightseeing in Klaipėda. Meridianas is a 1948 Finnish-built boat that served as a training vessel for two decades. Finding a permanent home on the Dane River, it became a restaurant in 1971. The ship soon lost its glamour, only to be saved again, and restarted as a fine dining establishment in 2014. Offering several photo-ops and an outdoor exhibition, the Meridianas is now an iconic part of the city’s maritime heritage.

Chill Out at Friedrich Passage

Located in central Klaipėda, Friedrich Passage is an exclusive street with its own identity. Known as Friedrich Town since 1692, the area even has a separate coat of arms. Converted into an arcade in 2006, multiple shops and restaurants line its path. From Gurmant’s Tea and Coffee House to the clothing store Friedrich Cult and from an ayurvedic massage parlor to a pub and a pizzeria, hit the street in the evening for an animated time.
 

Transportation Around Klaipėda

Tourists staying in Klaipėda can walk around the Old Town and then rent a bicycle to explore the suburbs and neighboring beaches. Taxis are ideal for travel outside the city. Within Klaipėda, you can use the bus network. Tickets are available at various kiosks or from the driver at a slightly higher price. Scheduled minibusses also drive around, charging €0.80 per journey. Passengers arriving with ferry tickets to Klaipėda can rent cars from leading agencies and comfortably take a road trip across the country.