Palanga
The small seaside resort in northern Lithuania is the best-known of its kind in the country and lies only a few kilometres south of the Latvian border. Palanga is probably Lithuania’s liveliest coastal town. One of its sister cities is the Latvian city of Liepaja. Palanga forms the northern stretch of Lithuania’s short Baltic Sea coast.
Strand von Palanga
Photo: © Knutux / Wikipedia gemeinfrei
Location and history
The town was mentioned as early as the 13th century; its name derives from the Old Curonian term for “swamp hole”. The Teutonic Order, the Swedes and the Russians ruled the town in turn. In 1920, it was transferred from Latvia back to Lithuania, which had just regained its independence.
Attractions
Palanga is a classic seaside resort, with a long promenade, a pier and, of course, a long sandy beach. Reflecting its national and international importance, Palanga has an airport with connections to several European cities. One of the main attractions is the former palace of Count Feliks Tyszkiewicz, which has housed an amber museum since 1963. The museum is one of the most important of its kind in the world. It explains how amber is formed, mined and processed; amber is abundant along the Lithuanian coast. It also showcases practical uses for the material. The museum has a large number of specimens containing inclusions, as well as samples of fossilised tree resins from around the world. Its best-known exhibit is the Sun Stone, weighing around 3.5 kg and made of Baltic amber. With more than 14,000 specimens, the museum has one of the largest collections of amber inclusions in the world. The palace is also surrounded by a botanical garden. Concerts and other events are held on the palace terrace.
Summer capital
Palanga is considered Lithuania’s summer capital. Visitors who enjoy events can choose from 60 different ones. Night owls will find plenty of nightclubs in Palanga, some right on the beach. Food lovers are also spoilt for choice: Palanga has around a hundred restaurants, cafés and bars, as well as a casino. Families can enjoy a range of active leisure activities on their Baltic Sea holiday, including cycling, horse riding, pedal boating, motorcycling, tennis and visits to water parks and swimming pools. Visitors can maintain their health with stays at health resorts, or simply unwind in the parks and forests nearby.
You can book hotels in Palanga directly.
