The third-largest Lithuanian city, Klaipeda, and once the capital of Prussia-Memel, retained the atmosphere of the times of the Union and the architectural "consequences" of the powerful German influence, thanks to which a magnificent red brick castle and a whole block with fachwerk-style buildings .

Klaipeda is still remarkable because it is a port to the world of the Baltic message and an open door for travelers looking for peace on the snow-white dunes of the Curonian Spit.

How to get to Klaipeda

Domestic flights connect Klaipeda with Palanga, Kaunas and Vilnius. Trains here come from Vilnius (5-9 hours, 40Lt), Kaunas (6 hours, 25Lt), Kretinga (30 min, 3Lt) and Siauliai (2-3 hours, 16Lt).

Klaipeda can be reached by bus from the main cities of Lithuania and some cities outside the country (for example, Kaliningrad or Riga). Buses to Juodkrante and Nida (1, 5 h, 8 Lt) depart daily from the Smiltyne ferry station on the Curonian Spit. From Klaipeda to Smiltyne get on the ferry.

Klaipeda is connected by regular ferry communication with Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

The prices are indicated for the autumn-winter season 2010-2011.

• Are ferries from Klaipeda to Gdańsk
• How to get from Klaipeda to Palanga by public transport
• From what cities do ferries arrive in Klaipeda?

Climate of Klaipeda is

March 1, Sunday Overcast +4 ° С in the day +2 ° С at night ° С water	March 2, Monday Overcast, light rain +4 ° С in the day +4 ° С at night ° С water	March 3, Tuesday Partly cloudy, light rain +3 ° С a day +2 ° С at night ° С water
Klaipeda weather forecast for 10 days

Beach

In the north of Klaipeda there are two large beaches of Giruliai and Melnrage, which have gained special fame among tourists. But they are unlikely to be able to beat the famous beach in Smiltyne on the territory of the Curonian Spit, which is already protected. Here, a delicate snow-white sand, wide dunes, shimmering light in the sun surrounded by pine groves, and pure cool water of the Baltic Sea.

Restaurants

At first glance it may seem that there are no cafes, bars or restaurants in the city, but if you look more closely you find a whole "bouquet" of restaurants with traditional Lithuanian and European cuisine. A full dinner of "first, second, third, dessert and compote" will cost about 20-80 Lt, depending on the institution and the degree of "complexity" of dishes.

Although Klaipeda is famous for its beer beverages, you can sample some good local wine or go to one of the cocktail bars (for example, Aperitivo 24 or Viva La Vita).

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Klaipeda

Despite the complex historical past, full of wars and bloodshed, Klaipeda has preserved architectural monuments, most of which were created from the 13th to the 19th century.

Klaipeda is a city of stone warehouses, Fachverian buildings and a neo-Gothic mail building, which is somehow embarrassing to enter, because the red brick structure is more like a magnificent cathedral than a place where you send funny cards to your homeland. ±​​$ br >

And yet, the first thing that "experts" advise to do when they find out that you are going to Klaipeda is to visit the Maritime Museum. This complex with sea vipers, penguins, seals and dolphins is located in the ancient fortress of Kopgalis. For 20 years of the exposition, the museum managed to tell not only about the inhabitants of the kingdom of Neptune, but also about the relationships that the underwater world and the world of "homo sapiens" connect.

In Klaipeda you can still go to:

• museum of watches of all kinds and "varieties" (Liepu street, 12)
• Pranas Domšaitis Art Gallery, where a collection of European paintings is collected and cultural events are regularly held (Liepu Street, 31-35) ą $
• museum of blacksmithing with thematic exhibits like forged items, openwork crosses, blacksmith's tools and other samples of blacksmith's skill (Shaltkalvju, 2).
• Museum of Lesser Lithuania, reminiscent of the exposition of the museum in Trakai (Dijonyi Vandians street, 6).

Despite the modest size of the city, there are enough opportunities for club life. Especially popular are El Calor with Latin American music, jazz club Kurpiai, disco-funk club Dr. Whо and classic nightclubs Kiwi and Martini.

Events

Every last Saturday in July and Sunday in Klaipeda celebrate a cheerful and noisy "Sea Festival", headed by the hero Neptune, sailing along the river Dane. The city is filled not only with local and tourists, but also with a rich cultural life in the form of theatrical performances, art and craft exhibitions, music festivals and concerts and, finally, the Baltic Sails sailing regiment.

In spring, international festivals "Poetic Spring" and "Musical Spring" are held in Klaipeda; in early June - a jazz festival on the territory of the Old Town in the castle of Klaipeda, at the end of June and the beginning of July - the international folklore festival Parbėk laivelis, and in July and August - the festival of opera and classical music.

Photo of Klaipeda (15)