Sea, Savor, and Sightsee

Klaipėda, Lithuania's third-largest city and only major seaport, boasts a rich history dating back to the 13th century. Originally founded by the Teutonic Knights as Memel, the city has changed hands multiple times throughout its history, belonging to Prussia, Germany, and finally Lithuania. While Lithuanian is the official language, due to its history and proximity to the Curonian Spit, German and Russian along with English are spoken in Klaipėda.

This diverse past is reflected in Klaipėda's unique blend of Lithuanian, German, and Scandinavian influences, visible in its architecture, culture, and traditions.

The city is known for its charming old town, featuring picturesque timber-framed buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. Klaipėda's maritime heritage is evident in its port area. The local cuisine is a delightful mix of Lithuanian and coastal specialties, with smoked fish, cepelinai (potato dumplings), and šaltibarščiai (cold beet soup) being popular dishes.

Beer enthusiasts like us appreciated the city's craft beer scene, with local breweries producing unique Lithuanian-style lagers and ales. We visited Svyturys Brewery where we followed every step of beer production. Svyturys beer not only has a large number of Lithuanian beer fans, but has also won prestigious competitions - the World Beer Cup and the World Beer Championship. We tasted 5 different beers and enjoyed learning about the differences in a variety of some refreshing beers.

Klaipėda has preserved many of its traditional crafts, particularly those related to its seafaring history. Amber processing, a craft dating back centuries, remains popular with artisans creating beautiful jewelry and decorative items from this "Baltic gold." During our visit we walked past a sculpture of the first legendary motorcyclist in Klaipeda, Antanas Poska, as well as a wall of artwork contributed by the local artists. The city also maintains strong folk traditions, including wood carving, textile weaving, and pottery, showcased in local markets and museums.

Led by a knowledgeable guide, our walking tour allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in Klaipėda's seaport charm. The experience left us comitted to revisit the Baltic countries and explore this region more thoroughly in the future.