Guide of Klaipeda

Klaipėda is a port city in Lithuania located where the Danė River meets the Baltic Sea.  It is the third-largest city in Lithuania and well known for its German-style wooden framed buildings that originate from the 18th century.

A brief history of Klaipėda

Baltic tribes were said to have settled on the site where the city stands today as early as the 7th century. Then in the 1250s, the Teutonic Knights were invited to the area by the Duke of Masovia to destroy the pagan Baltic tribes and built a castle, the knights called the new settlement Memelburg. The city was mainly ruled by German states between 1250-1918 but after Germany lost World War 1, its non-German areas were annexed to other countries, such as Denmark or Poland.

Klaipėda’s population was around 70% German at the time, but its more populous surroundings were 70% Lithuanian, therefore there was a slight Lithuanian majority and the city managed to detach itself from the German state. The history of old Klaipėda officially ended in 1945, when the city became overrun by Soviets in late World War 2. The invading soldiers found only 20 inhabitants left in the city. Eventually, by the late 1940s, the city was repopulated by Russians.

Following the new Soviet domination in the 1940s and 50s, the city underwent ‘Sovietization’ and all of the churches were destroyed. Today the people of Klaipėda often have little connection with the history of their city as their parents or grandparents were moved in from somewhere else. Since Lithuania‘s independence in 1990, Klaipėda has become the second city in terms of foreign investment and the first free economic zone in the country was established in Klaipėda to attract industry from as far away as Japan. Today the port continues to be of major economic importance.

Things to do in Klaipėda 

Curonian Spit National Park is definitely worth a visit; it was created in 1991 in order to protect the unique ecosystem around the Curonian Lagoon and the Curonian Spit, a large piece of land that juts into the sea. The Lithuanian Sea Museum is also a nice place for the whole family; it features aquariums, dolphin shows and sea lions. For those who enjoy history, Klaipėda Castle is worth visiting, it is also known as Memelburg or Memel Castle and is the original castle built by the Teutonic Knights. There is also an archeological site to explore and the museum is housed inside the castle. 

Finally, if you and your kids are looking for something different to do, then why not visit the Dino Parkas Radailiai. It is a huge park full of life-sized models of dinosaurs and some of the dinosaurs actually move and roar! The park also features a 5D cinema, electric cars, a mirror labyrinth, a pizzeria, ice-cream shops and even an upside-down house!

Beaches around Klaipėda

Smiltynės Beach is the closest to the center of town; there are around 2 kilometers of white sand with some sand dunes behind the beach, from which you can get great views. The beach is blue flag certified, so is a lovely place to swim. If you enjoy baring-all, then Giruliai nudist beach is the place for you, not only are you permitted to wander the beach free of clothes, but the beach is also very beautiful.