No Lithuanian resort can offer such low prices and special entertainment: this city is undeservedly forgotten.

Ah, how nice it would be to have something similar to Barcelona in Lithuania, once I dreamed. Because this Spanish city is my favorite in Europe. Explain why, it is not difficult: Barcelona is a great example of how all the serious and complex affairs of a metropolis can be fused with that special feeling and the mood of a vacation. Barcelona has everything a tourist could want: from large supermarkets and small shops in the old town to gourmets, gourmet bars and restaurants, to incredible museums, galleries, theaters or what tourists need most: beaches, parks and walks. It is fun to visit Barcelona at any time of the year, even if it is raining.

It has already happened in the world that the most loved and visited cities by tourists are the big cities by the sea. In Lithuania, we only have one: Klaipeda, so I want to show you that our port city has everything you need to become a Lithuanian Barcelona.

Klaipeda’s only downside is that Lithuanians often forget and underestimate him. Even now, during the summer season, tourists choose Palanga, Šventoji, Nida … A large family of three people go to one of the mentioned resorts and complain that the prices of the resorts are too expensive. And the fact that hotels near Klaipeda alone are much cheaper goes unnoticed. What hotels are there: you can rent an apartment or even a country house in the port city, with capacity for six people or even a bigger company.

These are the prices for you for the end of July and August: on Booking.com I was able to find the cheapest room for 23 euros per night for two at Little Amber Guest House, and other guest houses and motels offer accommodation for a similar amount .

If you can pay more, please: the three-star Hotel Bohema for 47 euros per night in a double room; the most luxurious four-star hotels Ararat and Navalis will cost between 50 and 60 euros per night for two people. And for those looking for something more special and interesting: I offer you to choose Klaipėda news, which stands out for its elegant interior: the recently opened Dunetton hotel, which has just opened a new system (without contact with staff), asks 68 euros per room for two people. If you like to stay in apartments, I offer you to choose a very nice “Jonas kalnelis apartments” in the old town, its price per night is 72 euros. For a similar price, you can stay at the Smiltyne Yacht Club, right on the shore of the lagoon, for 75 people for 75 people.

Beach lovers also have benefits alone. Even on those days when there is a maximum siege in the resorts: you will always find more free space in Klaipeda, you will not have to fight for space for your towels. The most difficult task to choose from the beaches: Giruliai, Melnrage, Smiltyne. To say unequivocally which is the best, no one can, each Klaipeda resident has his favorite place and defends it. So the ideal option would be to try something different every day during the holiday week, you will also appreciate what you liked the most and will be able to return next year. My personal favorite is Smiltyne beach, it seems to me the most calm of all. Maybe it’s because you have to take a ferry to get there. This is not acceptable to everyone, but on the contrary it is romantic and interesting. I would even say that this is Klaipeda’s advantage over Vilnius. Every time I travel from Old Ferry to Smiltyne, I remember my first bath as a child. So that little ferry looked like a gigantic ship, I remember, and there was excitement. A round trip ticket costs 1 euro per person.

In Smiltynė, in front of or after the beach, you can also cultivate. First of all, I must recommend a visit to the legendary modernly restored Maritime Museum and the Dolphinarium next door. I always say that those places have no age limit. Children look at seals, penguins and other marine animals with one eye and adults with the other. Everyone finds something to surprise and rejoice. In fact, museum staff say that when plunging into the depths of the Maritime Museum, a person seems to escape their everyday life into another world, and after communicating with marine animals, each of us becomes sweeter. They remove any irritability and anger like any miracle cure. The entrance to the aquarium exhibitions and museums costs 10 euros for adults, for pupils, students and children from 4 years, half: 5 euros. Entrance to the dolphin show will cost the same, you need a separate ticket.

It is important to know that to get to the Dolphinarium, you must look ahead of time what the presentations take place and it is better to buy tickets online so that you do not have to take your hands off the door later when you arrive so that there is no space left.

You can walk from the ferry to the museum, it will take you about 10-20 minutes, depending on how fast you move. You can also travel on a special train or choose a more luxurious option: a horse-drawn carriage. Usually, he requests 25 euros for a relatively short trip, but keep in mind that if there are not many people and there is no line in the carriages, you can negotiate. The price can miraculously drop to 20 or even 15 euros.

It’s also worth a walk, as you can visit another, much less publicized, location just a few meters from the ferry. In Smiltyne, a Latvian company has built an exotic museum of tropical butterflies. Hundreds of bright and colorful butterflies from South America, Asia, and Africa congregate in the two domes. The most interesting thing is that they are not afraid of people at all, so they fly down their noses, or even land on the head or shoulders of visitors. True, taking photos of them on the go, quite difficult because it flutters fast enough, as soon as you can aim and press a button, you’re already blown away. However, there are several places in the museum where butterflies stalk exotic fruits, such as in a special pose, so you will surely come out with some beautiful photos. This museum will be especially popular with children, romantics and users of the social network Instagram, guaranteed: the photos with butterflies will generate a lot of confidence. The price of the museum ticket “Butterflies of Smiltyn” for adults – 4.5 Eur, children from 4 to 18 years – 2 Eur, students – 3.5 Eur.

Another place in Smiltyne among butterflies and dolphins is the Veterans Boat Show, where you can see old and unused fishing boats completely free of charge. Alongside the boats, you can always meet the “Smiltynė grandmothers” who are older people selling homemade desserts, waffles rolled in triples. Its outlets are all over Smiltyne, on the ferry, on the beach and on old ships. Konstancija, who has been baking and selling waffles for over twenty years, guarantees quality and recommends trying not a hollow waffle for 1 Eur, but twice as expensive, with a caramel cream filling for 2 Eur. There’s very little cream in there and the waffles are pretty dry, but this one is a Smiltyne classic. Konstancija says that dessert in Klaipėda is called “Smiltynė’s fairy tale”. Not only do you satiate yourself, but you also support your grandmothers. Double benefit.

In Lithuanian Barcelona – Klaipeda – it is recommended to book trips in various water vehicles. You can rent a simple looking boat, you can choose a luxury yacht, it all depends on your wishes and possibilities. One of the most interesting offers is to book a special sea fishing trip. Many small boats with special offers are moored on the old ferry. Fish all day, fish for a few hours, fish early in the morning and late at night – you choose. It is true that captains immediately warn that customers would not expect much from catching fish at this time: “It is bad to fish, unless you want to submerge the rod, pack it in the sea,” the captain of the ship “Gundiga” explained to me. . According to him, the best time for this type of picnic is January, during the fusion season.

To feel the spirit of sailing, you don’t need to board or sail a boat, many just walk between the old ferry and the cruise terminal, it’s an industrial but very romantic place. And if you are lazy to walk, you can sit down to bury the bars “Penn station”, “Meat lovers Klaipeda” or try a new place: a patio called “Hof”, where there are several food carts and a bar. Hof: In German it means patio, probably not in vain, the founders of this place tried to make the atmosphere here not binding, like in the patio of their house, where they can do whatever they want, look in any way. The Hofe feels like a small old ship in the center of Berlin, surrounded by huge warehouses, as well as a stage where concerts are sometimes held. The young people of Klaipeda soon fell in love with this place and already call it the heart of the city. Therefore, visiting her, at least looking around or sitting for a while, is a must.

There, near the old ferry, you can also find the first fish and chips kiosk “Neptūno žuvys”, a popular English dish in Klaipeda, which sells fried cod and potato chips. I waited so long for this world famous delicacy to appear in the port city, I finally understood. Those who have been to the UK know that fish with potatoes is much more popular than hamburgers, hot dogs or kebabs. Incidentally, the residents of Klaipeda must be commended: the dish they prepare is of excellent quality and, most importantly, delicious. A large part that will be free for two people costs 6.5 euros.

Next door is another kiosk where a young woman sells freshly smoked fish. You will feel this place for the bright smell that spreads. The seller boasted that the products were smoked in the same place, so customers often buy still-hot fish fresh from the smokehouse. Only here are prices higher than at the legendary Klaipeda fish market on Taikos Avenue.

The New Market is the place where several dozen vendors of fresh, smoked, marinated, fried and canned fish have been meeting every day since 1989. Sigita, who has been working in the market for twenty years, says nowhere else. From Lithuania there is such a large selection and such low prices. That is why not only Klaipeda residents shop here, but also those who are on vacation at the beach. “I always say that fish should not be bought at resorts, but from us, so there will at least be a guarantee that everything is fresh and of high quality, and it will save a lot of money.” After all, Klaipeda is for everyone on the road, and for those who have vacationed in Nida, and for those who drive from Palanga, ”Sigita attracts. Among its customers there are many restaurant chefs who buy products in this market.

Among the most interesting products, this seller distinguishes salmon chips, which cost 15 euros per kilogram, the same price as cod eggs that look exceptionally good. Sigita admits that the most popular product on the market is smoked bream and octopus. “Before, the Lithuanian octopuses knew nothing, but now they all love them very much, they cannot transport how much they buy,” he says.

For many years now, I have recommended everyone in the coastal area to visit Klaipeda for at least one day due to the excellent restaurants in this city. High-quality restaurant food is slightly cheaper here than in Vilnius or Kaunas. I offer dinner or lunch in the following places: meat restaurant “Momo grill”, exclusive pizzeria “White dishes”, semi-Armenian, semi-Lithuanian restaurant, where you can get both cold borscht and Caucasian dishes – “Gray pepper”. In this place, the very fast service, the excellent quality of the food and the wonderful host Armen Manykyan, always goes to the guests, speaks to them if necessary, gives them recommendations.

Go to “Storą katinas” to sample hot smoked herring sandwiches, as former Klaipėda residents say the most delicious ribs in their town are found in the “Skandalas” restaurant. Last year, the Uzbek pilgrimage site “Urzaa” was opened in Klaipeda, the “Dock” bar features the best burgers in the port city, and everyone recommends trying sushi at Kanpai Sushi.

If you just want something very special or have a chance to celebrate, you should constantly visit the list of the best Lithuanian restaurants: “Monus”. It is the place of modern European cuisine. In my opinion, the leader of Klaipeda restaurants.

Among Klaipeda’s special places, each citizen necessarily distinguishes the “Senamiestis” bar, where special cheese fingers have been baked for several decades. These are long donuts with cheese filling. Extremely greasy and delicious, rich in calories, sinful, but wanting more and more. That is why there is always a line of dining rooms next to this bar, and when people come to the table, they immediately order two finger plates. A portion of them costs 4.5 euros.

Last fall, a new very romantic and elegant place called “Baltas ruonis” was opened on Melnrage beach, in an old security intelligence house: it is the best place to watch the sunsets, because you will not only see the sea Baltic, but also the Klaipeda pier and the port gate. layers of giant ships.

Every night, all the places in White Seal are busy, people reserve them in advance so that they can only enjoy that wonderful view, which is not available anywhere else in Lithuania. It is true that due to the great popularity here, as much as the food preparation gets stuck, you often have to wait a long time or listen to the waitress that some of the dishes have already finished. None of that, they are forgiven for everything in a special environment. Even if you don’t want to eat, visit this place and accompany the sun.

Melnrage beach also has another exceptional place: it is the only sports club by the sea in Lithuania, “Golden gym”. Anyone who comes can play sports here, and it costs nothing. Beneath the roof are many different devices needed for different muscle groups, hanging a boxing pear and stacking weights. This place was founded many years ago by a Klaipeda sports enthusiast, and this year the famous rapper Vytautas Medineckas – Ironvytas took over the supervision and administration of the Golden gym. He also tends to play sports here, invite famous friends and organize various tournaments. Another place that is very reminiscent of Barcelona.

To make the visit to Klaipeda even more memorable, I offer a special attraction on the Danė river, which was invented and implemented by Janis Žekanis from Klaipėda a few years ago. This guy makes a very elegant wooden canoe “Wet Weim” with his own hands and offers them night trips through the central part of the port city. It all starts at dusk when Janis gives instructions on how to control the canoe. Keep in mind that this is radically different from kayaking, but it’s certainly not difficult to learn in ten minutes. The price of this special entertainment for one person is 20 euros. The river city really looks different than walking the streets. This is probably why many people want to canoe again and give birth to their friends.

The novelty of this summer season and another tourist attraction are the excursions in various streets of Klaipeda with professional guides and pantomime theater actors. They are held every Friday of the summer, increasingly on different streets: Liepų, Dane, Žvejų, etc. Pre-registration is required to get there.

Klaipeda is not just a big city. It is a great city by the sea, with beaches, boats, romantic coasts and incredible places to watch the sunsets. There’s so much more here than at the resorts, so you can have a wonderful vacation.

And next week I will present Šiauliai, the most special city in the Sun, at DELFI Travels.