On the fifth day of our tour of the Baltics, we will visit the Curonian Spit (Kuršių Nerija)
, an important tourist and natural site. This is a peninsula shared with the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation, which ends just outside Klaipeda. The whole spit is also a national park of Lithuania. The economic interest is that, thanks to tourism, the peninsula has the highest standard of living in Lithuania, even surpassing the capital Vilnius.
Neringa - Parnidžijo duna
We leave the apartment after nine o'clock and take the shortest possible route to the Steré terminal, where the ferry to the opposite shore leaves. The old terminal is for pedestrians and cyclists only. The new terminal is also used for car transport. At the quay, the river Danube estuary and its embankment is a bit reminiscent of the centre of Gdansk. At the wharf we buy tickets for the ferry that departs every half an hour from a machine and spend the rest of the time exploring the harbour, where NATO ships are also moored. The ferry fare was about 1,2 EUR, which I thought was a lot by local standards when compared to the price of public transport, but you don't buy tickets on the opposite shore anymore, so the 1,2 EUR included the return fare.
Klaipeda - Promenade on the Dané River
Klaipeda - Wharf
Klaipeda - Starý terminál
The ferry sailed for about ten minutes and docked in the village of Smiltyne. We were a bit delayed getting off and as a result we almost didn't fit on the connecting bus that would take us to the capital of the Neringa peninsula. Specifically, the name of the stop is Nida because Neringa is a collection of towns and villages, of which Nida is one. Initially the driver didn't want to take us, saying he was full and there was another one coming in an hour, but eventually he said that if we didn't mind standing he would take us straight on. Ten minutes into the ride a few people got off anyway, so we sat down. The ride took about an hour, and meanwhile the sunny weather turned to clouds accompanied by a cold wind.
Klaipeda - NATO Anchor Ships
The ferry Klaipeda - Smiltyne
Smiltyne - Wharf
Once we disembark we go to see the harbour and then head to the most famous attraction of this place, the Parnidjijo dunes. First we go to the viewpoint from which we can see the whole sandy valley and also the border with Russia. Then we go directly to the sand dunes, where we spend about an hour.
Nida - Bus station
Nida
Nida - Wharf
Parnidžijo duna
Parnidžijo duna
Parnidžijo duna - Prohibition vs. Czechs
Parnidžijo duna
Conclusion and tip in one. If you want to take a photo like from the desert, you'd better visit the sand dunes in Leba, Poland. Here it's quite small and still overgrown. Since the nearest road to Neringa is via a viewpoint, we have to return to it and then head back to town. On the way we come across a cafe where we have a sweet dessert and cocoa and then continue to the centre where we buy fresh pastries and salads in the Maxima and go, to the local fishmonger's where they sell smoked fish caught here.
Nida - Art application in the middle of the forest
Nida - A well-deserved snack
Nida - A selection of smoked fish
Nida - Lunch
After such a hearty lunch, we head to the bus and on our way back. We were in Klaipeda before seven. We walked along the Dana riverfront once more and then returned to our accommodation along the main street of Tilt. Taking advantage of having a kitchen and Maxima next door, we bought frozen pelmeni and wine and beer for the evening. We had our work cut out to make it, as it was a few minutes before the alcohol ban. We end the day with this tasty dinner and watching Netflix. Tomorrow we will be moving to Riga, Latvia.
Klaipeda - Promenade on the Dané River
Useful links:
The ferry Klaipeda - Smiltyne
Bus timetable Smiltyne - Nida (Neringa)
Cosy Apartment Klaipeda
Accommodation near Klaipeda
