Introducing Klaipėda: Lithuania's 3rd-Largest City

Today is going to be an introduction to Lithuania’s third largest city - the port city of Klaipeda. I know a few viewers have asked for this and I wanted to try and explore the city myself before making any content specific to this corner of the country. So, now that I’ve spent a little bit of time here, I’m ready to introduce you to Klaipeda in video-form.

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[LithuaniaExplained]

Clarification at 0:53 - After WWI, Klaipėda was part of an autonomous region. Lithuania then got Klaipėda in 1923 during a revolt (before eventually becoming part of Soviet-occupied Lithuania).

[fidenemini]

Every time watching footage about Klaipėda I always remember how the structure of the old towns of Kaunas, Vilnius and Klaipėda differ from each other. These curious facts I got to know from my eldest son's first year studies of architecture.
Kaunas - linear structure with straight streets. The magistrate of the city held all the power and buildings were planed and built along the straight line ("along the rope"). By the way almost half of the residents of medieval Kaunas were German speaking Hanseatic merchants as Hanseatic League had it's office there.
Vilnius - the magistrate rule could not compete with the power of nobility residing in the city, and nobody cared about magistrate orders - the buildings were built following the will of the owner, along the banks of streams or along old paths. That's why the streets are curvy and only few of them are straight. Which in my opinion adds to the picturesque charm of the city.
Klaipėda has a plan of a Roman military camp - the main straight road goes from the castle and buildings of the old town are situated on the both sides of this road in a very regular, perpendicular and symmetrical manner.

[eruno_]

Klaipėda was also part of Lithuania for a short period during interwar era

[PaklydėsŽemaitis]

It is so awesome to watch these videos covering my home country and informing people of it in English. Keep it up, your channel is awesome!

[JohnPilkington]

I visited Klaipeda back in 2011 as a springboard for Nida and the Curonian Spit. Would love to go back and spend more time in the city itself.

[knicklas]

Spent about 1 1/2 days here in Sept 2022. I echo your comments as to the quality of the experience. I liked the city a lot as well as the hours I spent on the Curonian Spit beach. The train from/to Vilnius was also relaxing. Buying the train tickets online worked very well. Hope to return to Klaipeda some day.

[MultiOranuch]

Amazing! Thank you for your sharing... I was in Vilnius and Trakai in June, 2023. So I really like Lithuania a lot.. Next year I will visit Klaipeda and NIDA, easy for me to take DFDS Ferry from Karlshamn to Klaipeda.
Best Wishes from STOCKHOLM - SWEDEN 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌺🌼🌼🌼🌺🌺🌺

[tomtex]

Thank you for using the trains :) Among other things, it is the most ecologic way to travel!

[Gnomiukas]

Anyone visiting should go to tourist center of Klaipeda (its located in old city near Dane River) and they will provide specific info for you and will recomend places to visit

[ohbedi]

Fun fact: Klaipėda/Memel came under French control in the interwar period which angered Lithuania and kicked them out violently, making Lithuania one of the countries that defeated France(kinda)

[ASilverMess]

Yes the one city I actually know about a lot because it was the only place my family would visit xD
I am glad you enjoyed your stay there!
I can also say that the old town in my opinion is probably the best part of it all and I really like that it has the sea so close by and that you can visit the curonian spit what is a super beautiful place.

And usually we also often dida short trip from Klaipėda to Palanga what works very well.

And well my family usually always took the ferry from Germany to Klaipėda and back. I always enjoyed it because taking the ship to another country is also another experience and pretty interesting. It's a bit expensive but more comfortable than taking the bus for such a long ride.


And for the end a small fun fact: I also had a stay at the Navalis hotel as it was pretty cheap and looked really well for that

[Vhisper]

As Klaipėdietis/Memellander, I can really say this city is unique, not only in Lithuania. Even though this city is Lithuanian, and Germans are are mostly tourists, German heritage is an integral part of the city's history and culture. This territory is originally Curonian, and till this day has strong Curonian vibes, especially along the coast. The city, once again has a really authentic German feel, even though Germans are no longer live here (at least not that many). But what really fascinates me is it's divercity: over different period of time sooo many different people lived here: Curonians, Germans, Lithuanians, now a lot of Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians. The city is really multicultural and diverce, while preserving it's own authentic vibe.

[markust]

Thank you for brief but fair introduction of my town of Klaipeda. This town is much bigger than it may appear from the first look (especially if you never get out of the old town). Does anyone knows that Klaipeda streches 17 km North to South, and we are not talking suburbs but the actual city prpopers, with buildings and wide 4 - 6 lanes avenues that go for miles? 😱
You mentioned the narrow strip of land (Curonian Spit) half of which is controlled by Russia. I hear this statement all the time from foreigners visiting Klaipeda. Its almost like they are scared to go there because every non Lithuanian youtuber who mentions Curonian Spit definitely accentuates that half of it is in Russia, and that Russia is there - OMG!!! Putin, communism, nuclear war, KGB 😁 Well first of all that part of Russia is not real continental Russia. Its a tiny ex-German piece of land that it is constricted and badly blocked by Poland and Lithuania and cannot cause any harm to the tourists. I was cycling the entire Summer Lithuanian part of the Spit and it is totally safe, peaceful, clean and calm as it just can be. It is probably the safest area of Lithuania with the crime rate close to zero. If I was to make the point about that Spit I would not even mention Russia. It is Unesco National Park with countless German tourists, not the dangerous Russian controlled enclave😁

[dnexus]

Hi I am a 1 of ur subscribers..and I really like your videos..can you make more videos about TRP change to PR or how can TRP can bring there spouse and kids..TRP holder can start and an own business in Lithuania and how to exchange drivers license from non EU country …I will appreciate a lot and good luck for your next videos..

[mantvydasstaskus]

Please do the same video with Kaunas( if u havnt) and also Siauliai/Panevezys (u could smush those two cities in one video since those they are smaller then other 3 big cities of lithuania ) thank you❤

[Mimi-mmm]

I am a Muslim girl and I want to study at Klaipeda University. I would like to ask you if there are racists against Muslims in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and if I face difficulties in finding a job.

[Vhisper]

Klaipėda/Memel has always had a significant Lithuanian population. You never mentioned the Klaipėda/Memel revolt in 1923, when after WW1 Klaipėda region/Memelland was a distinct region (similar to free port of Danzig) under control of the united nations. So it's not the Soviets that "gifted" the city, but the people here who fought and seeked the connection of Lithuania minor with the Lithuania propper (major).

[flushwrite]

West of Lithuania both north and south are the best part of the country. You need to be in Klaipėda to access the Curonian Spit and all of its resorts.

Besides that you have the brilliant mixture of architecture from both Soviets and Germans. It's just the best of body worlds

[panther]

Note: During the time of the German Empire, Memel was still part of the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was a state within the Empire, it was not replaced by it. Even after the end of the monarchy, Memel continued to be part of the Free State (Republic) of Prussia within the German Reich, until 1945 of course.

[wolo]

I am here once again to correct your mistakes :) 0:57 Lithuania got Klaipėda in 1923 during a revolt while being an independent country, not when the Soviets were in control