With so many modes of transportation to choose from in Klaipeda you will be spoilt for choice. Getting to Klaipeda is easy with its own airport, sea port, and extensive road network. Local transportation is inexpensive, comfortable, convenient and reliable.
As Klaipeda city is not very big, the best way to get around town is on your own two feet!
This Klaipeda transportation page will tell you all you need to know about travelling in and around Klaipeda. For general information about travelling in Lithuania see our Lithuania Transportation Guide. For great tour and activity options see our Klaipeda Tours & Activities page.
Klaipeda Transportation Guide
Getting to Klaidpeda
By Air
The Palanga International Airport is located in the western part of Lithuania close to the Baltic Sea. The airport started its operation in 1937 and was primarily used for training Lithuanian Air Force pilots.
The first regular air route was opened in 1939 between Kaunas and Palanga. The airport has been used as an air-force base and an internal airport under the rule of various countries and it was only in 1991 that it was registered as a national airport. In 1997, it joined the major international aviation organisation ACI (Airports Council International).
The number of passengers handled by this airport has been steadily increasing, more so after Lithuania became part of the EU. Between 2003 and 2004, the number of passengers went up by 60 percent. Over 200 airport personnel have been employed to deal with this traffic and to ensure the smooth operation of the airport. Foreign airlines such as SAS and local carriers such as flyLAL, DOT and AmberAir operate regular scheduled flights to places like Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Good connecting flights at Palanga airport, operated by SAS and flyLAL, have made it very easy for passengers to reach other European cities. The airport is also conveniently located just 10 minutes from Palanga city centre. From Klaipeda it is a mere half hour drive to the airport.
The airport is also constantly being modernised and has good facilities for passengers such as customer help desks, shops, cafes, phones, car rental agencies, services for the disabled, currency exchange, tourism information, postal services, lost baggage claims, business class passenger lounge and parking areas.
The Customer Services Department or the help desk assists passengers with hotel reservations, transportation, leasing of conference halls, and flight information amongst other things. It is located on the first floor of the passenger terminal and is open from 5am to 12am.
There are taxi services and buses which take you to the airport. The SAS Airlines also plies buses from the city to the airport every hour. Taxis are readily available in front of the airport terminal. Palanga city is a 10 minute drive and will cost you about 20 Lt (6 Euros). The drive to Klaipeda takes 30 minutes and costs 40 Lt (13 Euros). The journey to Liepaia (Latvia) takes an hour and twenty minutes and costs 200 Lt (60 Euros).
If you are renting a car, then you can park it at the airport and leave the keys at the Airport Café. A long term parking facility is available for passengers who come in their own car and want to park for a longer period of time.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Lithuania or visit Cheapflights.co.uk for cheap flights to Lithuania!
By International Ferry/Cruise Ship
The Klaipeda sea port handles shipping, cargo and other related services. International ferry services connect ferry, Ro-Ro and cargo services to Germany (Sassnitz), Sweden (Karlshamn), Denmark (Aarhus and Aabenraa), the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia (Kiel), Poland, and Great Britain. To reach Klaipeda city from the International Ferry Terminal you can either catch a taxi or bus No. 1A or minibus No. 8A.
Lisco Baltic Service and Scandlines are two shipping companies which connect Klaipeda with other places in the Baltic region.
By Ferry
Klaipeda's location at the narrow mouth of the Curonian lagoon makes it possible for it to be connected to the Curonian Spit only by local ferry. It has two ferry points, namely the Old Port (Senoji perkela) located at Zveju gatve in the Old Town and the New Port (Naujoji perkela) located at Nemuno gatve, just south of the Old Town.
The Old Port is functional only in the summers and is primarily for pedestrians. Ferries from this port take you to Smiltyne. Bigger ferries start from the New Port and will take you to the main street on the Curonian Spit. These ferry services are extremely vital for the residents living in the town of Neringa who travel regularly to Klaipeda, and also for Klaipeda residents who travel to Smiltyne. A lot of regular passengers work in the fishing industry and this ferry service is of utmost importance to them. Vehicles are also transported by ferry, especially the transit cars headed to the Kaliningrad region.
By Road
Lithuanian roads are supposed to be some of the best in the Baltic States, so driving in Lithuania can be a pleasant experience. The roads range from two or four lane highways which connect major cities to smaller dirt tracks which criss-cross the country side. The A1 Highway which connects the capital city of Vilnius to Klaipeda through Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania, has four lanes. There are two lanes on each side separated by a grass strip and also with safety rails all along. This extends to a distance of 300 kilometres, making it the longest highway in Lithuania.
If you are driving on this highway, do carry the phone number for roadside assistance which is 8-800-01414 from a landline and 1414 from a GSM mobile phone.
Borders: Under the Via Baltica Project, the Lithuanian road system connecting Helsinki to Warsaw through Tallinn, Riga and Kaunas has developed very well. You can cross over from other parts of Europe through international border crossing points.
You can enter Lithuania from the Western Europe region through Lazdijai and Kalvarijos; entry from Latvia is possible by way of Kalviai, Butinge, Salociai, Obeliai, Buknaiciai and Smelyne; Nida, Panemune and Kybartai can be reached through the Kaliningrad Area and you can cross over from Belorussia through Medininkai, Lavoriskes, Raigardas and Salcininkai.
Documents: If you are driving then do carry your car registration certificate and driver's license. You may be checked by the police, where these have to be presented.
Motor insurance: Since March 2002, it is mandatory for all means of transport entering Lithuania to possess a Liability Insurance Policy. This can be procured at the Lithuanian border in Lithuanian currency, the Litas. Hence, it would be a good idea to carry the amount required in Litas.
Petrol: Petrol stations are found all over Lithuania and are stocked with unleaded petrol, diesel and gas fuel. Some even have mechanics who can help with any repairs that may be needed.
Speed limit: There are fixed speed limits and these are to be followed stringently. A violation can elicit a police fine of 20 to 1,000 Litas. Speed limits vary in different parts of the country and are as follows:
- In towns or settlements: 50 km/h
- On country roads: 90 km/h
- On highways (from 1 October to 1 May): 110 km/h
- On highways (from 1 May to 1 October): 130 km/h (Kaunas-Klaipeda, Vilnius-Panevezys)
Drinking and driving: Alcohol level of up to 0.4 promiles is the permissible limit in a driver's blood. A violation can elicit a fine of 1000-3000 Litas. The driver's license can also be confiscated.
Lights: It is mandatory for vehicles to have their headlights on all through the day, particularly from the 1st of November to 1st of March and also in the first week of September.
Seat belts: International safety norms are followed in Lithuania. Wearing seat belts is compulsory for the driver and passengers in the front seat. For safety reasons, children under the age of 12 are not permitted to be seated in the front.
Motorcycles: Motorcyclists are supposed to use dipped headlights through the day. The use of crash helmets is mandatory for both passenger and driver. Any child under the age of 12 is not permitted in the passenger seat.
Special features: Drivers are advised to carry a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and spare parts like fan belts, spark plugs, etc. for a trip. Carrying original documents of your vehicle like registration documents and driver's license is also recommended.
Other special information: Lithuania follows the right hand drive. Take care that you do not leave handbags or other valuables unattended in the car.
By Train
Over the years, Lithuania has developed a good rail network. The capital city of Vilnius is the main junction for all rail connections in the region. International routes connect Lithuania with Kaliningrad, Minsk, Lviv (Ukraine), St. Petersburg Moscow, Riga, and Warsaw. Within the country Vilnius is connected to cities such as Kaunas, Klaipeda and Siauliai. There are two daily passenger trains, including a sleeper train which connects Vilnius with the Baltic coast. The railway station in Klaipeda called Gelezinkelio Stotis is situated just opposite the bus station east of the Old Town. The main routes are those heading towards Vilnius (takes 5 hours) and Siauliai (takes 2 hours).
Getting Around Klaipeda
By Marshrutka (Mini bus)
One of the most popular modes of transport in Klaipeda are Marshrutkas. Marshrutkas are minibuses which ply from Klaipeda to neighbouring areas like Palanga. You can board them at Klaipeda's main bus station, Butku Juzes. These do not have fixed departure times and depart only when all seats are occupied. The windscreen of the bus displays the fare and this is collected by the driver. The driver usually concedes to requests to stop anywhere along the route, which is an advantage of travelling by Marshrutkas.
On Foot
The city centre of Klaipeda can also be seen by foot. Distances are short and there are areas like pedestrian streets and pathways which cannot be accessed by vehicles and are worth visiting. Exploring these places can therefore be done only by foot.
On bicycle
Just like walking, getting around town on the back of a bicycle is one of the best ways to see the true beauty of the city. Bicycles can be hired from numerous places around the city.
