Smiltynė

The northern tip of the Curonian Spit facing Klaipėda, home to the Lithuanian Sea Museum, dolphinarium and quiet forested beaches. A short ferry ride makes it an easy nature and family day-trip.

Things to do

• Lithuanian Sea Museum — Explore marine life, aquariums and a historic fort at the spit's northern tip inside a restored 19th-century Nerija fortress.
• Watch the dolphin show — Catch a performance at the dolphinarium, part of the Sea Museum complex and a favourite with families.
• Relax on the forested beaches — Walk over the dunes to quiet Baltic Sea beaches backed by pine forest, calmer than the mainland ones.
• Cross on the ferry from Klaipėda — Take the short passenger ferry across the Curonian Lagoon from the Old Castle port for a scenic arrival.
• Ethnographic Fisherman's Homestead — See traditional Curonian wooden houses, boats and fishing gear in an open-air heritage display.
• Walk or cycle the spit trails — Follow forest paths and boardwalks south into Curonian Spit National Park among dunes and pines.
• Sea lion and penguin feedings — Time your visit to watch the seals, sea lions and penguins being fed at the museum's outdoor pools.

Food to try

• Smoked Curonian fish — Buy freshly smoked bream, eel or perch from lagoon fishers, a signature taste of the spit.
• Fried Baltic herring (stinta) — Try crispy pan-fried smelt or herring, a beloved seasonal snack around Klaipėda's coast.
• Žuvienė fish soup — A hearty local soup made from freshly caught lagoon and sea fish with potatoes and dill.
• Cepelinai — Lithuania's national potato dumplings stuffed with meat, served with sour cream and bacon bits.
• Amber-tinted kvass or local beer — Refresh with dark bread kvass or a Klaipėda-brewed beer after a day on the beach.

Local customs & good to know

• Bring cash for the ferry and snacks — Small kiosks and the ferry may not always take cards, so carry euros just in case.
• No cars via passenger ferry — The Old Castle port ferry is for pedestrians and cyclists; drivers must use the vehicle ferry further south.
• Respect the national park dunes — Stay on marked paths and boardwalks, as the fragile Curonian Spit is a UNESCO-protected landscape.
• Come early in summer — The Sea Museum and dolphinarium draw crowds on warm weekends, so arrive at opening to avoid queues.

Nearby

• Klaipėda — 2 km
• Juodkrantė — 17 km
• Palanga — 24 km
• Curonian Spit — 30 km