Klaipėda → Nida, Curonian Spit
There is no road onto the northern half of the Curonian Spit. You cross from Klaipėda to Smiltyne by ferry, then follow a single road south through the forest to Juodkrante and on to Nida. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a national park, with a vehicle entry fee and a ferry charge on top.
We handle both, meet you at your hotel or the cruise quay, and stop where it is worth stopping: the Hill of Witches, the grey dunes above Nida, the fishing cottages in blue and ochre. Cruise passengers get the return hour agreed in advance and the buffer built in.
Stops we can build in.
- Smiltyne ferry crossing
- The short crossing from Klaipėda onto the spit. Vehicles pay an ecological park fee as well as the ferry, both included in the price above.
- Hill of Witches, Juodkrante
- An open-air sculpture trail of carved wooden devils, witches and folk figures, set through pine woods on a dune ridge. Half an hour on foot.
- The grey dunes at Nida
- The highest drifting dunes in northern Europe, walked on marked paths only. The sand genuinely moves, and deforestation nearly destroyed it two centuries ago.
What the price covers.
- Hotel or cruise quay pickup in Klaipėda
- The Smiltyne ferry and the national park vehicle fee
- Private sedan or van with fuel and parking
- English-speaking driver, guide on request
- Stops at the Hill of Witches and the Nida dunes
- Return hour agreed in advance for cruise passengers
Comfort for the distance.
Sedan for up to three, van for up to eight. Larger vehicles pay a higher park entry fee, which is already reflected in the quote we send you.
- How do you get from Klaipėda to Nida?
- By ferry from Klaipėda to Smiltyne, then about fifty kilometres south along the single road down the Curonian Spit. There is no road onto the northern half of the spit, so the ferry is not optional.
- Is there a fee to drive on the Curonian Spit?
- Yes. It is a national park and vehicles pay an ecological entry fee, higher in the summer season and higher again for larger vehicles, with the ferry charged on top. Both are included in the price we quote.
- How long does the drive take?
- About an hour and a quarter including the crossing, without stops. With the Hill of Witches and the Nida dunes, allow three to four hours each way or make a full day of it.
- Can we do this on a cruise stop in Klaipėda?
- Yes, and it is the main reason to stop in Klaipėda at all. On a full-day call you can see the Hill of Witches, the grey dunes and a fishing village and be back with room to spare. We agree the return hour before setting off.
- Can we walk on the dunes?
- On the marked paths and boardwalks only. The grey dunes at Nida are closed to walking off the trail because the sand is actively moving and the habitat is fragile. It is enforced, and it is worth respecting.