Curonian Spit

Kuršių nerija

A UNESCO-listed sand-dune peninsula of shifting dunes, pine forests and fishing villages stretching along the Baltic. It is Lithuania's most iconic natural landmark, prized for its dramatic dunes, birdlife and serene beaches.

Things to do

• Climb the Parnidis Dune — Ascend the towering Grey Dune near Nida to see its sundial and sweeping views over the lagoon and Baltic Sea.
• Explore Nida village — Wander the charming fishing village with its colorful wooden cottages, ethnographic weathervanes and lagoon-side harbor.
• Visit Thomas Mann House — Tour the summer home of Nobel laureate Thomas Mann, now a memorial museum and cultural center in Nida.
• Hike the Dead (Grey) Dunes — Walk the trails to the shifting sands that buried old villages, near Pervalka and Nagliai Nature Reserve.
• Relax on the Baltic beaches — Stroll the wide, quiet white-sand beaches on the seaward side, accessible via forest paths from the villages.
• See the Hill of Witches — Explore a whimsical open-air sculpture trail of carved wooden folklore figures in the forest above Juodkrantė.
• Watch birds at the Grey Heron colony — Visit the cormorant and grey heron nesting grounds near Juodkrantė, one of the largest in Europe.
• Cycle the peninsula trail — Ride the scenic paved bike path connecting Smiltynė, Juodkrantė and Nida through pine forest and dunes.

Food to try

• Smoked fish — Buy freshly smoked bream, eel or perch from lagoon-side smokehouses, a signature Curonian fishermen's tradition.
• Rūkyta ungurys (smoked eel) — Savor the local delicacy of smoked eel, long a prized catch of the Curonian Lagoon.
• Cepelinai — Try Lithuania's national potato dumplings stuffed with meat and topped with sour cream and bacon.
• Fish soup (žuvienė) — Warm up with a hearty lagoon fish soup served in village restaurants and harbors.
• Kibinai — Sample these savory pastries filled with meat or fish, a snack found across the coast.
• Baltic amber tea and local beer — Enjoy regional craft beers and herbal infusions in cozy Nida cafés overlooking the water.

Local customs & good to know

• Buy the national park permit — Vehicles entering the Curonian Spit National Park require a paid ecological permit, so plan ahead if driving.
• Take the Klaipėda ferry — Reach the spit by ferry from Klaipėda to Smiltynė, as no road bridge connects the mainland.
• Respect the fragile dunes — Stay strictly on marked paths, as the shifting sand ecosystem is protected and easily eroded by footsteps.
• Note the weathervanes — Look for the distinctive carved wooden weathervanes on cottages, once used by fishermen to identify their home village.

Nearby

• Ventės Ragas — 12 km
• Juodkrantė — 13 km
• Nida — 16 km
• Parnidis Dune — 17 km