Introducing Klaipėda
Sea port Klaipėda, 315km west of Vilnius, is the springboard to the natural beauty of the Curonian Spit. But as Lithuania's third-largest city, it is worth a stop in its own right, notably for its Germanic flavour and architecture that reflects its fascinating past as Prussian capital Memel. The city was destroyed in WWII, during which it served as a Nazi submarine base, but a teeny weeny patch of its Old Town survived unscathed - as did one tower of its once magnificent red-brick castle.
Advertisement
Straddling the narrow strait where the Curonian Lagoon opens into the Baltic Sea, the city is Lithuania's only port of call for Titanic-sized cruise ships, and a vital sea link for cargo and passenger ferries between Lithuania, Scandinavia and beyond. Klaipėda celebrates its rich nautical heritage each July with a flamboyant five-day Sea Festival (www.juros.svente.lt).
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
-
10 hidden gems of Europe
24 February 2012
There’s no place like Paris, Barcelona or Rome – but Europe has untouched corners that match the big hitters on...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
Baltic whirlwind
by kd213 19 May 2012
Hi I was hoping for a little advice on our itinerary for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia! we'll be flying into Riga on the 20th and immedi…
-
RE: Travel by bus
by kazysmmm 26 April 2012
Normally (usually) everybody buy the tickets 1 or 2 days before at the bus station itself. Another option is "to show up at the busstation…
-
RE: Lithuania 7 Day Itinerary
by kazysmmm 27 February 2012
#1, i suspect you lost your feel of a scale ;) . Those guys are comming in March, and they are comming for the first time. So Nida is…
