Palanga Things to Do

J.Basanavicius street and the sea bridge are the most popular strolling places in Palanga. The street of J. Basanavicius is the basic street, which leads to the sea bridge. It is full of cafes and entertainment, many people and loud music till the midnight, lots of attractions and souvenirs, etc. Evening strolls to see the sunset is old and popular tradition among vacationers.

Small but nice for to take a look while walking at the center of Palanga. In 1897 - 1906 a catholic church in style neo gothic was build by project of Swedish architect K. Strandman. This 76 m. high building still in these days highest building in Palanga. Building of church came to 90 000 gold rubles, Count Tiskevicius made a donation of 30 000 of them. This is third Palanga church. Earlier it was situated in place of hotel Meguva. The acoustics of the church are perfect.

Ok, I must admit women's beach was one of my favorite places to go when I used to be on vacation without man's company, but gash, I didn't know some men are such freaks before I started going there! In case you are a woman and decide to go there a) I'm not discriminating people of homosexual orientation, but it's really not a place to find your second-half for gay women. b) don't be alone in the dunes, search for company, c) avoid dunes close to bushes , I know it sounds like a crazy thing from horror movies, but there are old freaks who like hiding there and ..watching. it does not happen often, but sometimes it does. some men should really get treatment, I'm not about normal people here, but.. I should write a book from the adventures in women beach named "naked stories" or something like that! lol

Beaches- ahaaa.. did you know we have nudist beach? women only? men only?

Some seaside cities in the world have nudist beaches, it's not a new thing in the world. Palanga is famous for one particular beach - women only. It's an old tradition and present there from God know when, when I was born it was already there. Sure there are only naked women and for sure no men are allowed. so in case you are a man, and having no bad ideas you are taking a walk by a seashore in the day, be sure not to step in this holy women-only peace of land! :) Some older women are quite aggressive about men there, from one side I understand them, as a place like this really attract some weird and creepy "men" and so young guys who are "accidently passing by". If you are a normal male specie and got there by chance, you can pass it (right at the seashore with waves touching you feet, head down :P), but it's better not to risk. Thus, this beach is further from the main normal beaches.

There's also a men-only beach, some people call it gay-beach, don't know if it's right. a strange thing is that women's beach is there from old times, so it's tolerated , nobody thinks it's lesbian, at the time it appeared there was no such term in society, but when men's beach appeared (not that much time ago) men avoid it and describe it as a "gay beach" even if there are normal people who just prefer taking sun and that's all. An unofficial nudist beach exist too, but these two are really away from the main beaches.

Palanga becomes a capital city in summer. There are other seaside resorts, in the aspect of Nature even nicer (see Curorian Spil - Juodkrante, Nida) but many people prefer Palanga. Main reasons why they choose this place: young people choose it because it's fun, full of bars and lound music (Basanvicius street) , older people choose it because they are used to this place from older times and can't imagine being elsewhere. For people who prefer calmness I'd reccomend Curorian Split (even if you are in Palanga, take at least a day trip to there).

I would divide Palanga into two main parts: Basanavicius street covered with bars and musci in the evening and Pine tree parks with Botanical garden - calm and relaxed.

Negative sides of Palanga: sometimes young people (teenagers and so on) get too drunk, it can be crowded, too much russian music and tourists.
Postive sides: if you want to have fun , that's your place, pine tree forests, sea and air fullfiled with iode (good for your lungs), beaches, nice nature, the pier, romantic sunsets and lovely athmosphere, cheap beer (for those who drink it) and amber.

As this park is a very relaxed, with beautiful scenery and romantic place you can see quite a lot of weddings there. They are coming to take the pictures.

There are also pools with swans and ducks, people often feed them (with white bread), so they are not afraid of people. You can even see families of swans. Attention when the mother is with litte swans, if you come too close and the male swan is around - he's quite gelous and express his anger obviously. Swans live in pairs, unless the partner dies they are faitful and do not change partners.

It's a calm part of Palanga. You can reach it by taking a walk on the "alley of love" or from another side, it doesn't matter. The Botanical park was designed by French landscape artist Edward Andre' in the 19th century.
Botanical garden is more of a natural park, in the center of it you will find Tiskevicius estate (amber museum is inside). Statue of Christ in front of the mansion house was replaced in 1993. Gardens and this estate was one of the most famous and the best even among French estate gardens in 19th century. It's a lovely place to take a walk in a beautiful surroundings or to go by bike. There are also pools with swans and ducks, people often feed them, so they are not afraid of people.

The legend about amber: there was a mermaid named Jurate (Jura in Lith - the sea),and a fisherman named Kastytis.Jurate was very a beautiful girl living in the palace from amber in the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The God Perkunas (The Thunder) felt in love with her and asked her to play to him every evening. The fishermen felt in love with Jurate , she felt in love with him and didn't show up to play for Perkunas one day. The thunder God got mad,he has let an arrow of lightening into her home and this destroyed her amber palace. So now, every morning after the thunderstorm the waves brings to the shore the remains of the palace from the depths of the sea and reminds about big love of Kastytis and Jurate. That's the legend!

You will find many amber souvenirs on sale every day in Palanga, hangers, rings, earrings, small sculptures, pictures anything you like! If you decide to buy amber and looking for something really professionally made I'd suggest going to the folk craft store. We were looking for a special hanger for one friend and that's where we found the one we really loved.