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Klaipeda is Lithuania's third largest city, located in the north-western corner of the country. It is the gateway to the Curonian Spit, a stretch of sand dunes 99 km in length from 400 meter to 4 km, in breadth that arcs down to the Kaliningrad region of Russia.

Understand

Street in Klaipeda

Originally founded by Baltic tribes, the city and castle was built by the Teutonic Order in 1252 and named Memel in honor of the river of the same name some 40 km to the south. For most of its history, Memel was part of Prussia and large battles with Lithuanian lords took place here. Invasions came from Sweden and Russia and the city was part of the Prussian Kingdom and became a prosperous harbor town. It represented the northernmost city in Germany and Prussia until 1918. After Germany lost the First World War, Memelland was first given free city status and then subsequently annexed to the newly established Republic of Lithuania. It was briefly reabsorbed by Nazi Germany before WWII and then reverted to Lithuania (the Soviet Union) in 1945. Since Lithuanian independence in 1990, Klaipeda has become one of Lithuania's most buoyant cities with a steadily growing tourist trade.

Get in

Get around

Bus trip per person - 2.00 Lt (from kiosk), 2.40 Lt (from bus driver) (€0,58-0.71). Minibus trip per person - 2.50 Lt (day time), 3.40 Lt (night time) (€0,74-1.00). Taxi trip per 1 km - 1.30 Lt (€0,29).

More information on Klaipeda passenger transport here and here.

See

Klaipėda is known for its main icons: sculpture Annchen von Tarau, located in theater square, old sailing ship Meridianas (there was a restaurant inside). There are also lots of small sculptures (sculpture of mouse, dog, dragon, chimney sweep, post pigeons and others) hiding in the old town. There are several museums. The most popular include the History Museum of Lithuania Minor, the Klaipeda Picture Gallery, the Marine museum and the Clock museum. Klaipeda's old town is small but interesting. Anika Square has a balcony where Adolf Hitler addressed a crowd. Legend has it that Hitler was annoyed because the statue depicting "Anikė" of the Lithuanian folk tale was not facing him, so he had the statue removed. A replica is now in its place.

  • P. Domšaitis' Gallery, Liepų st. 33..

Do

If you like nature, visit the Curonian Spit, which is a 10 minute boat ride from the Old ferry terminal (New ferry terminal for vehicles). In the summer ferries run every 30 minutes, from 6:00 till midnight. In other side (Smiltynė) you can visit the sea museum, ethnographic fisherman farmstead, take a walk on the pier, see the white sand beaches or just take bus to Juodkrante or Nida towns (they are located 18 and 50 km from Smiltyne to south). Renting a bicycle and cycling to Juodkrante is a nice day trip. The forest is magnificent.

Beaches

There is a big and wide sand beach at Smiltynė, full of locals and tourists in the summer. Giruliai and Melnragė beaches are at Northern Klaipėda, big and popular place to visit. The water is clean and warm in summer.

Also try Palanga further north.

Buy

Klaipėda is a unique city - here you will not find shopping street or Old town overcrowded with various stores. Of course you will find some stores in the center but, most of them are located in big shopping malls such as: "Akropolis", "BIG", "BIG-2", "Herkaus Galerija", "Mega Plaza", "Studlentas", "Banginis", "Arena", so it is quite simple to go shopping, because, most of the shops are under one roof.

The biggest shopping mall is called Akropolis and it is one of the biggest shopping malls in the Baltics. Akropolis attractions include cinema, skating rink, restaurants, shops, 2 supermarkets, gym, pizzerias and so on.

Eat

If you are looking for non-expensive lunch you can go to any restaurant/bar and get the day lunch, from the day lunch menu. The time when you can eat day lunch is between 11:30 to 14:00. It consists of a soup "day soup" and 2 to 4 main dishes. Approximate price is LTL9-12 (€3-4).

There is a decent selection of Lithuanian and Western restaurants, most of which are located around the city's main thoroughfare, Herkaus Manto street, and its continuation into the Old Town, Tiltu street. Main course prices range from €3 at the lower end up to around €20 at the higher end.

Snack

If you are looking for snacks, you will find small bakeries in city centre and the Old town.

There are also few popular bistros: "Friedricho bistro" at Herkaus Manto street, and not far from it there is Mažvydo alley "Alėja".

Klaipėda city is famous for its mysterious cheese fingers - you can't leave the city without trying this. These you can get in the bar "Senamiestis", located in Bažnyčių street 4. Many bars tried to copy famous cheese fingers but did not succeed.

In Klaipėda city center and old town is not so easy to get fast food. Here most common fast food is "Kebab", but still in the city center it isn't easy to find where you can get one. Klaipėda has only one McDonald's restaurant (located next to the "Akropolis" mall, about 3 km from center).

Dinner

  • Friedrich passage, Tiltu st. 26A. Has a wide variety of food facilities in one place (Lithuanian dishes restaurant, pizzeria, tea/coffee house, bakery, winery, Mediterranean sea restaurant, steak house).
  • La Cle. Restaurant is one of the most popular with very dedicated chefs. Mostly it is booked ahead, but it is possible to get in without table reservation.
  • Fat Cat pub, Žvejų st. 21/Teatro st. 1. Average price for a full business class dinner €9,00..
  • Restaurant "Stora Antis", Tiltu street, 6. Built in 1856 on the burnt foundation after the Great Fire in Memel in 1854. Restaurant is an architectural monument and is guarded by the state. It's a small restaurant in the very centre of an old town. It slightly reminds of a shop of antiques, a little bit of museum, and also of a club for variety stars, politicians and businessmen. But the most important is qualitative Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Balkan and Byelorussian cuisine.
  • Senoji Hansa, Teatro street 3 (located in the very center of the Old Town, next to the Theater square).
  • Cancan Pizza, Taikos av. 61 (Akropolis shopping center).
  • 1 DOMA, Sukilėlių 8, +37061353333. 11AM-11PM. DOMA restaurant (former Anikės teatras) located in the heart of Klaipėda city in Teatro sq. with large outdoor terrace. The meniu is unique, gourmet and modern, where you can also find Lithuanian cuisine special flavor dishes. Restaurant also offers 5-course dinner of an exclusive flavor, which requires advanced reservation. The meal made from exclusively fresh materials and do not use frozen products in this place.

Drink

The local brewery is Švyturys (Lighthouse). The "Š" is actually a "sch" - sound and the "y" is pronounced as a long "i". Klaipėda is known not only for its beer, locals are very into wineries. Almost on every corner you can find a small and cozy winery with huge variety of wines.

  • Balta Varna, Sukilėlių g. 18 (near Teatro square). A great down-to-earth but arty bar with cool music/decor/staff.

As well you can find plenty of small and cozy pubs in the Old town "Herkus Kantas", "Leika", "Senamiestis".

Clubs

Most of the pubs are located in the city centre and also in the southern part of the city. In the city centre there is old warehouse Memelis (now it is renovated and working as bar/club), there is a brewery inside and you can taste beer that's produced in the same building. Average price for a pint of beer in city center for pub LTL5-8 (around €1.45-2.30).

Popular clubs include:

  • El Calor, Kepėjų st. 10. Latino dance music.
  • Kurpiai, Kurpių st. 1a. Jazz club.
  • Dr. Who, Naujojo Sodo st. 1. Dance, disco, funk music.
  • Kiwi, J. Janonio. 27. Club music.
  • Martini, Taikos av. 64.
  • Relax, Turgaus st. 1.

Sleep

Camping

  • Pajūrio kempingas (Seaside camping). In this camping place you can stay in a tent, camper, camping wagon or indoors (bungalows are being constructed and going to operational from 2013 spring only). They offer stay in one hostel like room with five beds for reasonable price - LTL50/person.

Hostels

  • Klaipėda hostel. Butkų Juzės street. A small, cozy hostel. LTL35–45 per night depending on season. Discounts with IYHF card.
  • Hostel KUBU, Herkus Mantas street 37A, next to Lietuvininkų square. Small, new (opened in 2012) hostel in the city center. From LTL30 to LTL50 per person (depending on the room).
  • LITiNTERP Klaipeda guest house, Puodziu street 17, +370 46410644. Check-in: from 14:00, check-out: 11:00. In 2004 the house was renovated and converted into a cosy guest house with 2 apartments, 9 double, 5 triple and 3 single rooms. Rooms are spacious, carpeted and comfortably furnished. Some of the brick walls have been left unplastered in order to give an authentic reminder of the house's history. Every room has a private en-suite bathroom and only 4 rooms share bathrooms. In that case only two rooms sharing one bathroom. Guests have their own keys and are free to come and go at any time. All rooms are non-smoking. Car parking in the courtyard is available. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi. Singles LTL70-100, doubles LTL120-160, triples from LTL180.

Hotels

  • Amberton. The biggest hotel in the city with rooms in old and new part of the building. In the new part rooms are way more nicer and comfortable, and are a bit more expensive. On the ground floor of hotel there is gym with swimming pool, casino, they have 2 restaurants and 2 bars/cafes. There are two sky-bars at 12th and 20th floor.
  • Ararat. Apartment type rooms with maximum comfort.
  • Aribe.
  • Euterpe.
  • National.
  • Lūgnė.
  • Memel hotel, Bangų street. 4, +370 46 474900. Hotel is housed in a historic cultural heritage building of a 19th-century which has been restored in 2012 and transformed into a cosy 50 room hotel with lobby bar and conference hall. Hotel offers 50 contemporary rooms. Guestrooms feature comfortable continental beds, work desk, and en-suite bathroom with shower. Free Wi-Fi internet, free secure car parking.
  • Morena. Near to the shore of Baltic Sea (about 4 km from city center).
  • Navalis.
  • Old Port hotel.
  • Old Mill hotel.
  • Promenada (Located just 2-3 minutes walk from the bus and train stations.).
  • Radisson BLU (In the centre, 5 minutes walk to the bus and train stations).
  • Reval Inn. "Green key" policy hotel that accepts pets.
  • Vecekrug.

Stay safe

Klaipeda is a safe place but like anywhere you have to use common sense. Try to walk with a confident air and not look lost.

Go next

  • From Klaipėda there is an easy way to the most famous unspoiled nature resort Curonian Spit with the most famous old fisherman towns Nida and Juodkrantė. On the peninsula you can find amazing sand dunes (highest dune is in Nida), amazing white sand beaches. Lithuanian (52 km long) and Russian (48 km long) side of Curonian Spit is a part of UNESCO world heritage list.
  • The lovely seaside resort Palanga is on the way back to past glory. It is busy with tourists from June to September. During the high season Palanga is being called summer capital of Lithuania.


This city travel guide to Klaipėda is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.