A seaside city in Europe is quite overlooked by tourists, probably because it is in a country that you wouldn’t normally rush to for a beach holiday. But previous visitors have said that it is perfect for just that, so it might be one to have on your radar this year. Tourists from the UK typically head to countries like Spain, Portugal and Greece for their seaside summer holidays. But as popular tourist spots get more overcrowded and locals get tired of holiday-makers, it might be time to look elsewhere for your next beach holiday or city break.

In an unexpected European country, there is a seaside city that is great for just that. This is Klaipeda in the Baltic country of Lithuania. Klaipeda, pronounced klay-pe-da, is Lithuania’s third-largest city and is located on the Baltic coast. When we hear the world ‘Baltic’, we picture a place that is freezing cold and not somewhere we would rush to in the summertime. However, this is not the case with Klaipeda. This city is home to a number of beaches which attract people for sunny days out over the summer months. 

While it doesn’t get as hot as Spain or other popular sun holiday destinations, highs in Klaipeda, Lithuania average out at 19C in June and 20C in July and August, making it a nice getaway for people who might find temperature in the late 20s and 30s a bit too much. 

Visitors from around the world has called this city “beautiful”, “romantic” and “cosy”. One Tripadvisor user called Klaipeda a “small city center but a lot to discover” and said that they “love this place”. 

Another shared: “Klaipeda is a nice place to spend the weekend in. It has a nice vibe, the old town is cozy and small and there are few pubs to crawl.”

One of Klaipeda’s most popular tourist attractions is Curonian Spit/Kursiu Nerija National Park, a scenic area that has amazing beaches and lovely walks for nature lovers. 

There is also the old city area of Klaipeda which is home to lovely bars and restaurants as well as quaint streets and gorgeous architecture. Other top tourist attractions in Klaipeda are the Lithuanian Sea Museum, the Meridianas ship and the Museum of Clocks. 

In terms of beaches in the area, the most scenic ones include Smiltynės Beach, Melnrage Beach, Smiltynės Paplūdimys and Nemirsetos pliažas. If it tickles your fancy, there are also a number of nudist beaches here. 

Klaipeda is located across the country from Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius. A train journey between the two cities takes just over four hours.

To get to the Klaipeda, your best bet is to fly into Palanga International Airport (PLQ), which is a 30-minute drive away. Flights to Palanga International Airport, operated by Air Baltic, depart from London Stansted and London Gatwick. 

Klaipeda can also be visited as part of an excursion around this area of Europe, taking in cities like Tallinn in Estonia and Riga in Latvia.