Klaipėda

Understand

thumb | 300px | Street in Klaipėda Klaipėda is at the mouth of the River Danė, which flows into the Curonian Lagoon, the freshwater lake enclosed by the Curonian Spit; the lagoon here discharges into the Baltic. Its harbour is ice-free, a valuable site on this cold sea, so it's been fought over many times. The castle was built by the Teutonic Knights in 1253 and for much of its history the city was part of Prussia. German-speaking people called it "Memel" for the larger river feeding the lagoon further south, nowadays the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Timber export have long been the port's main trade, along with other agricultural produce such as wool.

After the First World War Memel and its hinterland were declared a "Free City" similar to Gdańsk / Danzig, but newly-independent Lithuania annexed it in 1923. Nazi Germany grabbed it in 1939: after the Second World War it reverted to the far-from-independent Lithuanian SSR, a communist satellite state of the USSR. That grey empire broke up in 1990 and Klaipėda like other Baltic cities developed modern western industries.

Get around

thumb | 300px | Klaipėda reunited with Lithuania in 1923

See

thumb | 300px | Blacksmith's Museum

Do

thumb | 300px | Malign creatures on the Hill of Witches Beaches – The west coast of the Curonian Spit is sandy throughout its length, backed by forest and sandhills. Smiltynė, the north tip just across the channel from downtown, is obviously the busiest. Giruliai and Melnragė beaches are north of town, and are accessible by bus routes 4, 6, and 24. FK Banga play in A Lyga the top tier. They're based 15 km east in Gargždai.

Buy

Amber is a traditional Baltic giftware, the semi-precious fossil of long-drowned pine resin.

Drink

Brewery: Švyturys ("lighthouse") is at Kūlių Vartų g 7 in Old Town and offers tours. Their gastropub is open M-Th 16:00-00:00, F 16:00-02:00, Sa 13:00-02:00, Su 13:00-23:00.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | Sailing ship Meridianas

Stay safe

thumb | 300px | Nothing to see on Smiltynė nudist beach Klaipėda is a safe place but like anywhere you have to use common sense. Try to walk with a confident air and not look lost.

Connect

As of Aug 2023, Klaipėda and its approach highways have 4G from all three national carriers, with 5G in city centre.

Go next

Nida on the Curonian Spit is reached by ferry to Smiltynė then by road. Between Smiltynė and Nida is Judokrantė, which can make for a nice day trip. To go further south down the spit you need the relevant documentation to enter the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast. Palanga is a lively beach resort north towards the border with Latvia. Vilnius is Lithuanian's charming capital, with a well-preserved baroque centre.