The shallow bays of the Curonian Lagoon, wetlands, Rusnė Island and the Ventė Cape peninsula are part of Nemunas Delta Regional Park. Along the coast, paths, viewpoints and a changing landscape also shape the discoveries to be made in Klaipėda District. If you plan your trip around your interests, you will find a range of options here: exploring the outdoors, birdwatching, or discovering museums and amber.
Coastal Paths and a Changing Landscape
The “Litorina” ecological educational trail passes through the Olandų Kepurė Landscape Reserve. The trail has signs, information boards, viewpoints and shelters. Olandų Kepurė Hill itself is constantly eroded by wave action and descends to the sea in a slope 20 to 22 metres high. This makes it a striking example of the changes waves bring about in this coastal landscape.
Two hiking trails have clearly specified starting points and lengths: “Miško Katedros Takais” starts in Juodkrantė and is six kilometres long; “Kuršių Niūrija” starts in Preila and is five kilometres long. This makes the trail from Preila the shorter of the two. Conditions on the trails may change; take this into account when planning your trip.
You can also explore the coast by bike: several cycling routes run through the resort of Palanga and along the coast. Together, they cover several dozen kilometres. Routes and restrictions may change seasonally.
The Delta, Birdlife and Experiences on the Water
In Nemunas Delta Regional Park, you can explore the biological diversity of the delta’s rivers by boat, departing from Šilutė, Rusnė, Minija or Ventė. Boat availability and boarding arrangements may vary seasonally. The “Žuvies kelias” programme offers another trip with a set duration: a two-hour voyage on the Curonian Lagoon aboard the historic sailing ship “Dreverna”.
At Ventė Cape, a museum with a visitor centre is devoted to the history of bird migration and bird ringing. Migratory birds stop at Lake Plocis, where there is also a birdwatching hide. A viewing tower stands on the western shore of a lake near the road to the village of Minija. From there, you can observe the lake landscape and birdlife.
For a different perspective on the water, Svencelė has a water sports school and is popular with kitesurfers and windsurfers. Svencelė Pond also has a reversible tow cable for wakeboarding. These are two different activities that offer specific ideas to help you choose what to do.
Museums, Amber and More to Discover
The Lithuanian Sea Museum brings together an aquarium, exhibitions on the history of shipping, a dolphinarium, a rehabilitation centre for Baltic Sea animals and a dolphin-assisted therapy centre. The individual exhibitions and services may change; check what is currently on offer before visiting.
In Palanga, the Amber Museum is housed in the manor palace of Count Feliksas Tiškevičius in Birutė Park. Its collection includes more than 30,000 exhibits; the selection of items on display may vary. Guided tours are offered in Lithuanian, English and Russian. Check the latest visitor information when planning your visit.
You can also get hands-on experience with amber in Palanga: educational activities at the Amber Workshop give visitors the opportunity to make their own amber jewellery or souvenirs. The programme and participation requirements may change, so it is worth checking them in advance. In Radailiai, Dinozaurų Parkas offers something quite different: more than 40 life-size dinosaurs.
If you would like to include some exercise in your travel plans, Neringa has a health trail with nine outdoor exercise machines. They can be adjusted for adults of different ages and fitness levels. Check the availability of the equipment on site.
Discover more destinations: Juodkrantė, Nida, Palanga, Klaipeda, Šilutė, Neringa, Karklė, Gargždai, Kretingalė, Smilgynai, Priekulė, Dauparai, Vilimiškė, Radailiai, Skuodas, Ventė, Švėkšna, Liaunai, Vileikiai, Pervalka, Kintų Seniūnija, Žibininkai, Vydmantai, Rusnė, Žemaičių Naumiesčio Seniūnija, Dreverna, Neringos savivaldybė, Šilutė District Municipality, Klaipėda District Municipality, Kretinga District Municipality, Dituva.
For the broader travel overview: Lithuania.
