Klaipėda

Lithuania's third-largest city and only major seaport, blending German Prussian heritage with a lively Old Town and waterfront. Visitors enjoy its cobbled streets, quirky sculptures, ferry links to the spit and the annual Sea Festival.

Things to do

• Wander the Old Town — Explore the cobbled streets and fachwerk half-timbered buildings around Theatre Square, the historic heart of Klaipėda.
• Find Ännchen von Tharau — See the statue and fountain honoring the German folk song heroine in front of the Klaipėda Drama Theatre.
• Hunt for quirky sculptures — Follow the trail of small bronze sculptures like the Magic Mouse, Black Ghost, and Chimney-Sweep hidden around the city.
• Take the ferry to Smiltynė — Cross the lagoon to the Curonian Spit for beaches, dunes, and the Lithuanian Sea Museum in the old fort.
• Visit the Lithuanian Sea Museum — Discover aquariums, dolphins, and maritime history housed in a 19th-century fortress on the spit.
• Stroll the Dane Riverfront — Walk along the Danė River past moored tall ships and the reconstructed barque Meridianas.
• Explore the Blacksmith's Museum — See wrought-iron crosses and forged artworks reflecting Klaipėda's craft heritage.
• Climb Klaipėda Castle site — Visit the castle museum and remaining bastions telling the story of the medieval Memelburg fortress.

Food to try

• Smoked fish — Sample locally smoked eel, mackerel, or bream sold fresh near the harbor and coastal markets.
• Cepelinai — Try Lithuania's national dish of potato dumplings stuffed with meat, served with sour cream and bacon.
• Fried Baltic herring — Enjoy crispy pan-fried herring, a staple of the seaport's fishing tradition.
• Šaltibarščiai — Cool off with the bright pink cold beetroot soup made with kefir and served with boiled potatoes.
• Švyturys beer — Drink the local lager brewed in Klaipėda since 1784 at the city's own historic brewery.
• Kibinai — Bite into these savory pastries filled with meat or vegetables, a Karaite-influenced snack found regionally.

Local customs & good to know

• German-Prussian past — Klaipėda was once Memel in East Prussia, so expect Germanic architecture and street names reflecting that history.
• Time your visit for the Sea Festival — The annual late-July Jūros šventė fills the waterfront with ships, concerts, crafts, and crowds, so book ahead.
• Cash and cards — Lithuania uses the euro and cards are widely accepted, but carry small change for markets and ferries.
• Greet politely — A simple labas (hello) and ačiū (thank you) in Lithuanian are appreciated even though many speak English or Russian.

Nearby

• Smiltynė — 2 km
• Juodkrantė — 17 km
• Palanga — 25 km
• Curonian Spit — 30 km