Beautiful Baltic

The Curonian Spit
From Klaipeda you can take a ferry to the Curonian Spit, a long, thin stretch of land that's a designated national park. Formed by the wind and sea and 97 km long, it creates a barrier from the Baltic Sea and protects the mainland from the sea.

The spit itself is covered with forests and sand dunes. All nature is protected and the forests are home to many animals, including wild pigs which sometimes dart across the main road in front of you, so be particularly careful if you're driving at night.

Head to Neringa from the ferry port and you'll get the chance to explore most of the park. Stop along the way to climb up the sand dunes and you'll be rewarded by fantastic views of both the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. You'll see crashing waves on the Baltic side and beautiful, calm water on the protected Lagoon side. You do need a permit to drive your car here, but you can buy them at a control centre about 10 km from the port. It costs about £4.

Climb Witches Hill
Also take time to explore the forests. There are numerous marked trails to follow, but a popular one for children is the Witches Hill, at Juodkrante, where wooden sculptures representing local folk tales line the paths. You can pick up a guide telling you about the stories from the Tourist Information Centre of Neringa.

Nida is the most popular tourist destination on the Spit. Both Lithuanian and foreign tourists flock to the area in summer, so expect it to be busy if you visit in high season. Surrounded by pine groves and with beaches to the lagoon side, it's a peaceful, pretty town. The streets are lined with brightly painted thatched-roofed houses that all sport richly decorated weather vanes.

Fishing is the main industry and so these were vital for the locals to know which way the wind was blowing. You can get a better understanding of how people lived by visiting the Fishermen's Homestead. This traditional wooden house with neat, picket-fenced garden is laid out in typical fashion and was designed to accommodate a family at each end.

The beach here is great for a picnic or swim. On the Baltic coast, the sea is rougher and the landscape more rugged. Amber gets washed up on the beaches, so look out for it as you stroll along the shoreline. There's a small gallery in Nida where you can see some fine examples, many of which have insects trapped inside. You can also buy reasonably priced amber jewellery as a souvenir of your visit.

Need to know

Tourist Information Centre of Neringa
www.visitneringa.com
+370 469 523 45

For more information about Lithuania and the Curonian Spit, go to www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk or call 020 7935 4661

Direct flights will be available from London to Palanga/Klaipeda from May with Lithuanian Airlines/Flylal.