Lithuania's best-kept secret beaches

The Baltic Sea is very different from other seas in the south, it is wavier and naturally wild. Maybe you will miss the crystal-clear blue water, but exploring the beauty of the Baltic Sea is a must. Together with golden sandy dunes and pinewood, the Baltic Sea can be enchanting. Thus, Lithuanians are very lucky for having the Baltic Sea with incredibly beautiful sunsets. Although the most popular beaches are in the towns of Palanga and Šventoji, during summertime these beaches can be very crowded. So, if you already enjoyed the top 5 beaches in Vilnius, I prepared for you Lithuania's best-kept secret beaches.

Melnragė

Melnragė is a part of the Klaipėda city and has two beaches - Melnragė I on the south and Melnragė II on the north. From the old times, Melnragė was a fisherman's village, and later on, it was connected to the Klaipėda city. Moreover, Melragė is located approximately 10 kilometers from the city center of Klaipėda and can be reached by car, bike or public transport (buses no.4 and no.5). Melnragė beaches are popular only among Klaipėda people. Therefore, it is not so crowded during summertime and is a perfect stop while staying in Klaipėda.

Juodkrantė

Juodkrantė is a perfect destination for lovers of quiet places. Juodkrantė is a small resort village located in the Curonian Spit, proud of its beautiful and natural beach. Juodkrantė village has an interesting history. In written sources, this fisherman’s village is known from the early 15th century, and at that time, it belonged to Germans. During the 19th century, the village was famous for amber - during 30 years, some 2 290 tonnes of amber were dug in Juodkrantė. Also, besides the amber business, Juodkrantė started tourism activities from the 1860s, with the first hotel opened in that region. Nowadays, Juodkrantė is a perfect beach for the Curonian Spit visitors and local people.

Karklė

Karklė is an ethnographic village situated in the Seaside Regional Park, 15 kilometers from the Klaipėda city center. Karklė village is most popular during August - because of the music festival “Karklė live music beach”. However, during other months, the village and beach stay quite vacant. However, the village has good road infrastructure with Palanga and Klaipėda - a bike path is stretched along the seashore. Also, there are a few cafeterias, shops, and a horse riding center. Karklė village is quite old. It was first mentioned in the written sources in 1253. One more interesting fact - in the 15th century, a coastal road connecting Konigsberg, Klaipėda, and Riga went through Karklė. Thus, there were many roadside inns and shopping centers in this area. Later, Karklė was famous for its pubs, and in the 16th century, Karklė became one of the largest settlements in the country.

Smiltynė

Smiltynė is located on the northern tip of the Curonian Spit, next to a narrow strait which connects the Curonian Lagoon to the Baltic Sea. Smiltynė is a part of the Klaipėda municipality. However, you can get there (as well as to get to Juodkrantė and other towns situated in the Curonian Spit) only by ferry. There is no bridge connecting the mainland and the spit. There are two ports in Klaipėda that bring to Smiltynė. The old one, only for passengers and bikers, goes daily every hour, and the ticket costs 1 euro. The new ferry also goes daily with the same timetable as the old one, but it can carry the cars as well, and the ticket for the car costs around 12 euros. Smiltynė Beach is the most popular one in the Curonian Spit because it is the closest to the ferry. Smiltynė has a bike path connected with other towns in the Curonian Spit.

Summer is coming and the time to visit the Lithuanian seaside as well. If you are looking for less crowded beaches, these are Lithuania's best-kept secrets. Be prepared for sandy, golden, clean beaches, surrounded by pinewoods. Also, do not forget to watch the sunset while sitting on the beach, as it is one of the most beautiful views in Lithuania.