Klaipėda County: Coast, Nature and Culture

Key facts

• The “Miško Katedros Takais” hiking trail starts in Juodkrantė and is 6 kilometres long.
• The “Kuršių Niūrija” hiking trail starts in Preila and is 5 kilometres long.
• The Nemunas Delta Regional Park encompasses wetlands, the shallow bays of the Curonian Lagoon, Rusnė Island and the Ventė Peninsula.
• You can explore the biological diversity of the delta rivers by boat in the regional park.
• The Palanga Amber Museum is housed in Count Feliksas Tiškevičius’s manor palace in Birutė Park and has more than 30,000 exhibits.
• The observation tower in Dreverna is 15 metres high and offers views of the Nagliai Nature Reserve and the Curonian Lagoon.
• Lake Plocio is a resting place for migratory birds and has a birdwatching hut.

Hiking, scenery and outdoor activities

The two hiking trails on the Curonian Spit offer a clear comparison by length and starting point: “Miško Katedros Takais” starts in Juodkrantė and is 6 kilometres long; “Kuršių Niūrija” starts in Preila and is 5 kilometres long. The route from Preila is one kilometre shorter than the one from Juodkrantė.

The landscape can also be experienced in different ways. The “Litorina” ecological educational trail runs through the Olandų Kepurė Landscape Reserve. Along the trail, there are signs, information boards, viewpoints and shelters. Olandų Kepurė Hill itself is continually eroded by wave action; its slope down to the sea is 20 to 22 metres high. These provide two distinct points to consider when planning: facilities along the educational trail and a striking coastal landscape.

There are also circular routes and exercise equipment elsewhere in the county. The health trail system in Klaipėda District consists of three circular routes totalling 12 kilometres. The health trail in Neringa has nine outdoor exercise machines that can be adapted for adults of different ages and fitness levels. Check the availability of the equipment on site. Near the road to the village of Minija, an observation tower stands on the western shore of a lake, offering views of the lake scenery and birdlife.

Boating, water and day-trip destinations

Boat trips in Nemunas Delta Regional Park take visitors along the rivers and introduce them to their biological diversity. Šilutė, Rusnė, Minija and Ventė are listed as possible starting points. The “Žuvies kelias” programme also includes a two-hour trip on the Curonian Lagoon aboard the historic sailing ship “Dreverna”. In Svencelė, a reversing tow cable for wakeboarding is set up in a pond; there is also a water sports school. The area is popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers.

If you prefer to travel on land, Palanga has several cycling routes along the resort and the coast, spanning several dozen kilometres in total. The cycling routes along the resort and coast of Palanga offer an opportunity for exercise on land, while the wakeboarding tow cable in Svencelė is for water sports. Which option suits your trip depends on whether you want to focus on boating, water sports or cycling. Dinozaurų Parkas in Radailiai features more than 40 life-size dinosaurs—its own distinct day-trip destination alongside the nature and outdoor activity offerings.

Museums, amber and bird migration

The Lithuanian Sea Museum brings several themes together in one place: it includes an aquarium, exhibitions on the history of shipping, a dolphinarium, a rehabilitation centre for Baltic Sea animals and a dolphin-assisted therapy centre. Exhibitions and services may change; check the current offering before your visit.

In Palanga, the Amber Museum is housed in Count Feliksas Tiškevičius’s manor palace in Birutė Park. Its collection includes more than 30,000 exhibits; the displays may change. Guided tours are offered in Lithuanian, English and Russian. At the amber workshop in Palanga, visitors can make their own amber jewellery or souvenirs as part of educational activities. The programme and participation requirements may change.

At Ventė Cape, the museum and visitor centre of the ornithological station offer insights into the history of bird migration and bird ringing. Nature observation and learning also go hand in hand at other places: Lake Plocio serves as a resting place for migratory birds and has a birdwatching hut. By contrast, the observation tower near Minija focuses on views of the lake landscape and birdlife.

Choose accommodation based on your interests

If you are looking for hotels in Klaipėda County, start by identifying your personal priorities: are hiking and coastal scenery important, are you interested in museums and amber, or would you like to include boating and water sports? You can then compare options based on what matters for your trip.

More places in Klaipėda County

Dauparai, Karklė, Neringa, Šilutė, Juodkrante, Gargždai, Kretingalė, Smilgynai, Priekulė, Vilimiškė, Radailiai, Skuodas, Ventė, Švėkšna, Liaunai, Vileikiai, Pervalka, Kintų Seniūnija, Žibininkai, Vydmantai, Rusnė, Žemaičių Naumiesčio Seniūnija, Dreverna, Šilutė District Municipality, Klaipėda District Municipality, Dituva, Neringos savivaldybė, Kretinga District Municipality