The short ferry from Klaipėda to Smiltynė takes ten minutes and puts you on the spit itself: 98 kilometres of forested dune between the Curonian Lagoon and the open Baltic, shared with Russia's Kaliningrad region at its far end.
The drive to Nida runs through pine forest planted to hold the dunes in place after 19th-century deforestation nearly buried the villages. Parnidis Dune gives the long view over both the sea and the lagoon; Thomas Mann's summer house and a smoked-fish lunch fill the rest of the day.
What you'll see
- Klaipėda to Smiltynė ferry
- Parnidis Dune viewpoint
- Thomas Mann's summer house in Nida
- Smoked-fish lunch on the lagoon
What the price covers
Ferry passage, private driver, English-speaking guide, lunch
- How do we get onto the Spit?
- A short car ferry from Klaipėda to Smiltynė, about ten minutes, included in the trip.
- Is Parnidis Dune a hard climb?
- No, a wooden boardwalk and staircase lead to the viewpoint. It suits most fitness levels.
- Can this be combined with a Vilnius departure instead?
- Yes, though it becomes a considerably longer day; ask about the extended version when you enquire.