Palanga, Lithuania Port Reviews
Palanga, Lithuania On Your Own Port Review
By Tom Ogg
The Beach in Palanga
Upon
departing the cruise ship terminal in Klaipeda you will find
a good number of taxis ready to take you into the Lithuanian
countryside and villages outside of Klaipeda. Of the many
choices, Palanga is probably the most interesting. Palanga
has long stretches of sandy beaches and has evolved as the
Lithuanian's first choice for vacations. It is a modern city
that offers everything for relaxation and fun. While there
are few international tourists, Palanga is clearly the place
to vacation for Lithuanians.
As on Curonion Spit, the beach
is lined with sand dunes that one must cross to get to the
beach.
A Trail Leading to the
Beach
As one gets closer to the
beach the wooden walkway gives way to sand. The area that
you see divided by sticks into squares are for sunbathing. A
family would grab an area and the would be their turf for
the day.
The Palanga Sea Bridge
Called the Palanga Bridge, the
structure is actually a pier that was used to unload
passenger ships and ferries years ago. Built over 100 years
ago, this structure is now a wonderful pier for vacationer's
use.
A Beach Front Restaurant
The beach is lined with
people, but there are also a number of restaurants and bars
that are set up on the beach. I suspect that they are only
open during the summer months, as the beach is covered with
snow in the winter.
J. Basanavicius Street
At the very center of Palanga
is J. Basanavicius Street. This pedestrian street is lined
with restaurants, shops, boutiques, bars and shopping
kiosks. It goes on for blocks and is a fun place to people
watch and take in the sunshine.
J. Basanavicius Street
One could easily spend hours
walking this wonderful street.
Bicycle Rentals
One can also rent a bicycle or
peddle carriage to explore the entire area. Much of Palanga
is pedestrian and bikes are ridden everywhere.
Shopping on J. Basanavicius
Street
There are a substantial number
of shopping opportunities along J. Basanavicius Street
including several outdoor markets.
A J. Basanavicius Building
The street is lined with
outdoor cafes, shops and uniwue buildings that offer all
kinds of entertainment for all ages.
Palanga Restaurants
Across from the foot of J.
Basanavicius Street is the canal lined with waterfront
restaurants. You can easily see how quaint this place is.
Palanga Botanical Gardens
Palanga has a substantial
botanical garden that cover a huge area. One can walk its
pathways or ride bikes through it.
Botanical Gardens
During cruise season
everything is in bloom and the gardens are breathtaking. The
gardens alone are wirth the visit to Palanga.
A Pathway Through the
Botanical Gardens
While the gardens are
extremely large there are signs and maps to keep you from
getting lost in the myriad of trails and pathways.
A Lake in the Botanical
Gardens
There are several ponds and a
large lake that fronts the Amber Museum.
The Amber Museum in Palanga
Once a Renaissance Palace
built by Count Tiskevicius in 1897, it is now the home of
the Amber Museum.
"Jesus Giving a Blessing"
Sculpture
The Amber Museum houses an
extensive collection of amber from the entire Baltic region
and is very interesting to visit. There is an extensive
collection of amber with insects and animals caught and
preserved perfectly in them. Think Jurassic Park.
Egle, Queen of the
Serpent Sculpture
The park features numerous
sculptures and one of the most popular is the Egle, Queen of
the Serpent sculpture. It is easy to see why when you
experience it first hand.
Church of Saint Marie
Built in the late 1800s, the
Church of Saint Marie is the highest structure in Palanga. A
Catholic church, it was funded in part by Count Tiskevicius.
The best
way to visit Palanga is to take a taxi right when you get
off the ship in Klaipeda to Palanga and then enjoy your day.
When you are ready to head back to Klaipeda, have the taxi
driver drop you at the Old Town square so that you can spend
some time exploring Klaipeda. This will reward you with a
wonderful day in Lithuania.
