Klaipeda: A port city between the Old Town and the Curonian Spit

Key facts

• Ferries connect the mainland at Klaipėda’s Old and New Ferry Terminals with Smiltynė.
• Smiltynė is a recreational area with walking trails and water sports facilities in the Curonian Spit National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Lithuanian Sea Museum in Smiltynė includes an aquarium, maritime exhibitions and a dolphinarium, among other attractions.
• The Sculpture Park displays 116 works by 67 Lithuanian artists outdoors.
• The Klaipėda Castle Museum and the History Museum of Lithuania Minor present different aspects of the city’s and region’s history.
• The sailing ship Meridianas is moored by the Biržos Bridge on the Danė River.

Smiltynė and the connection across the water

Smiltynė is the part of the Curonian Spit that lies within the city limits of Klaipėda. The recreational area is part of the Curonian Spit National Park and the Curonian Spit UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking trails and water sports facilities make it a place to enjoy nature and outdoor activities, while its status as part of the city connects Smiltynė with Klaipėda.

Ferries from the Old and New Ferry Terminals connect the mainland with Smiltynė. If Smiltynė is part of your plans, check the ferry schedule before setting out. The Lithuanian Sea Museum adds several maritime attractions to the trip: it includes an aquarium, exhibitions on the history of shipping, a dolphinarium, a Baltic Sea animal rehabilitation centre and a dolphin-assisted therapy centre.

Art and history in Klaipėda

At the Sculpture Park, you can encounter modern Lithuanian sculpture in an open-air gallery: it displays 116 works by 67 Lithuanian artists. Klaipėda’s sculptures are also linked by a route that lets visitors discover the city through art. These two perspectives offer a concrete way to experience art in the urban landscape—as a park collection and as a route through different sculptures.

The city’s maritime identity is also reflected in the sailing ship Meridianas, moored by the Biržos Bridge on the Danė River and regarded as a defining part of Klaipėda’s identity as a port city. The castle complex is considered the city’s origin; the idea to build it dates to 1252. The castle also represents Klaipėda’s centuries-long maritime history.

At the Klaipėda Castle Museum, archaeological finds, documents and city seals are displayed alongside reconstructed 17th-century seals. The collection also includes archaeological objects from the castle and the Old Town. The museum thus focuses on artefacts associated with the city and its castle.

The Theatre Square also tells the story of the city. Its history began in 1819, after part of the castle moats had been filled in to create the New Market. Today, it hosts concerts, events and the Sea Festival. The History Museum of Lithuania Minor offers a broader perspective on the coastal region: it presents the region’s pagan and Christian cultures, as well as the history of East Prussia and the Klaipėda region. It is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Klaipėda’s Old Town, dating from the late 18th century. Museum 39/45, meanwhile, explores the Second World War in four exhibition halls and with 13 interactive stations.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

When looking for a hotel in Klaipėda, you can start by thinking about what you want your trip to focus on: the city’s museums and historic sites, art in the urban landscape, or the ferry connection to Smiltynė. This lets you compare options based on your itinerary rather than combining different experiences into a single expectation. If you want to include the natural setting of the Curonian Spit, plan the ferry crossing as a separate part of your trip.

More destinations in Lithuania: Vilnius, Druskininkai, Nida, Trakai, Kaunas.

More about the destination

Useful information for planning your trip:

Klaipėda attractions: Old Town, port and excursions, Klaipėda travel: port city and Curonian Spit, Ferries to Lithuania: routes, Klaipėda and practical tips.