Neringa Route: Curonian Spit, Palanga and Vilnius Stops
Explore Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, featuring the Cathedral, Palace of the Grand Dukes, and St. Anne's Church. This city route highlights the main historical and cultural landmarks in the heart of Lithuania's urban center.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Curonian Spit and Beaches
- End
- Hill of Witches
- Stops
- 8
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Curonian Spit and Beaches
- Palanga Beach Town — Popular Baltic seaside resort with a long sandy beach, pier, and amber museum attracting summer visitors seeking coastal relaxation.
- Vilnius Capital Attractions — Lithuania's capital features a UNESCO-listed old town with baroque architecture, vibrant culture, and museums showcasing centuries of Baltic history.
- Cathedral and St. Anne's Church — Iconic Vilnius landmarks including a classical cathedral and a intricate gothic brick church representing Lithuania's rich religious and architectural heritage.
- Trakai Castle Town — Picturesque medieval town centered around an island castle surrounded by lakes, offering insights into Lithuania's feudal past and scenic walking trails.
- Nemunas Delta Valley — Expansive river delta ecosystem where the Nemunas meets the Baltic, supporting unique wetland wildlife and traditional boat-based livelihoods.
- Hill of Crosses — Unique pilgrimage site with thousands of crosses accumulated over centuries, located in central Lithuania and deeply significant to Lithuanian culture.
- Hill of Witches — Scenic hill featuring carved wooden sculptures of witches and devils from Lithuanian folklore, a whimsical cultural attraction in the Curonian Spit area.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Take Express buses between cities instead of regular buses. Express buses take 4 hours from Vilnius to Klaipeda, while regular buses stop frequently and take 4.5-5.5 hours on the same route.
- Transport
- Buses are your best option for traveling around the country. Trains only run 3 times daily from Vilnius to Klaipeda, making buses more practical.
- Transport
- When using public buses or trams in cities, always validate your ticket. Inspectors check tickets regularly and fines are issued for unvalidated tickets.
- Avoid
- Call registered taxis instead of hailing random ones to avoid being overcharged and getting better rates.
- Tip
- Bring strong bug spray when visiting forests, lakes, and the Curonian Spit, as insects can be severe in these areas.
- Food
- Try cepelinai (potato dumplings with meat inside, topped with sour cream and bacon bits), potato pancakes, and fried garlic bread with cheese and mayonnaise.
- Food
- In summer, order cold soups like cold beetroot soup (šaltibarsčiai) and cold herring soup.
- Save money
- Prices are very affordable for accommodation, food, and transportation. Use 5-50 euro notes as larger denominations are impractical with low costs.
- Tip
- Use traditional European two-circle plugs for charging devices.
- Tip
- Learn a few Lithuanian phrases like 'labas' (hello), 'ačiū' (thank you), and 'sveiki' (cheers). Locals greatly appreciate foreigners attempting Lithuanian and are more welcoming.
- Food
- Be proactive with service—ask for menus and order drinks together to speed up service, as service pace is slower here. Tip approximately 10% in cash.
- Where to stay
- Book hotels with cabins in nature reserves or apartments outside cities for affordable lodging near natural areas.
Video on this route
Lithuania - What to Know Before You Visit Lithuania