Klaipeda Transportation

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Plentiful and cheap ferries connect Klaipeda and the northern Curonian Spit village of Smiltinye. A passenger and bicycle only ferry departs from the old ferry terminal along Dane Gatve, while a car ferry departs from the new ferry terminal along Agluonos Gatve. The former ferry takes about 10 minutes, while the latter one takes about 15 minutes. Departures are roughly every 20-30 minutes between 7AM and 9PM, with more infrequent departures (new ferry terminal only) during off hours. Fare for a foot passenger or bicyclist is 2.90 Litas round trip. Round trip fare for a standard passenger car is 40 Litas. See the website for details on timetables and fares.

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The Klaipėda Bus station is across the street and about a hundred meters down from the train station. This mode of transportation is far more popular than the train, and services are significantly more robust than in the train station. Coaches and mini-buses are available to numerous domestic and international destinations, including Riga via Riga Airport (note: the service to Riga is on a very cramped mini-bus, not recommended for those with limited mobility and/or traveling with small children).

Inside the bus station, there are several shops, including a large IKI grocery store (open daily from 8AM - 10PM).

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Klaipėda has a small train station featuring modest services and a few domestic train departures. As of 2012, there were three trains per day to Vilnius, and two trains per day in the direction of Šiauliai and Radviliškis. While bus departures can be more frequent and convenient, you can save some money and a bit of time by taking the train. If you buy your train ticket at least 24 hours in advance, you can get a significant discount from the walk-up rate. For example, when I took the train to Vilnius in 2011, I paid 35.84 Litas when I bought my ticket the day before. The same ticket would have cost 51 Litas had I bought it the same day.

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As Klaipeda is located at the narrow outlet of the Curonian lagoon it is only connected to the Curonian spit by local ferry.

Klaipeda has two ferry ports: The Old Port (Senoji perkela) can be found in Zveju gatve in the Old Town and the New Port (Naujoji perkela) is located in Nemuno gatve, just south of the Old Town.

Ferries from the Old Port leave only in summer and are mainly for pedestrians. They go to Smiltyne, whereas the bigger ferries which are also for cars leave from the New Port. They go to the beginning of the main street on the Curonian Spit.

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Klaipeda's bus station at Butku Juzes is also the main transportation hub for the local Marshrutki. These are minibuses which serve as sort of route taxis to the suburbs or neighbouring destinations like Palanga.

Marshrutki usually depart when all seats are occupied. The fare is displayed on the windscreen and directly paid to the driver. I went on a daytrip to Planaga from Klaipeda by Marshrutka. The fare was 4 Litas (Summer 2006).

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Klaipeda has a relatively small city centre, therefore there is usually no need to use public transport. Apart from that there are many pedestrianised streets or pathways which are not accessible to cars or public transportation.

So Klaipeda's city centre is best explored on foot. This also offers you the chance to have a look at the smaller sidestreets with its architectural gems.

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On my Lithuania trip I twice arrived in Klaipeda by bus. The first time was on my way from Kaunas to Nida and the second time when I left Klaipeda to Siauliai.

The bus station is situated at Butku Juzes just opposite to the train station. There are various bus companies serving Klaipeda's bus station. Tickets can either be bought in advance from the ticket office or directly from the driver.

If, like me, you are arriving at Kaunas and plan to visit Klaipeda, you have two options.
You can have somebody come and collect you from the airport or you can catch the 'Airport Express'
To drive the 230 (or so) kilometres from Klaipeda to Kaunas will take around two and a half hours - unless you can sweet-talk your way out of speeding tickets. The return will be the same.
Just outside the airport doors is a bus which will take you to Akropolis car park in Klaipeda in about the same time for 59 Litas.
To me, there is little to choose.
A friend will spend over five hours driving and waiting plus burn almost 500 km worth of fuel, or you can spend 59 Lt and catch the bus and meet up in the coffee shop in Akropolis.
It's worth it for the Mega Latte :-)