Lithuanian Sea Museum

About

Lithuanian Sea Museum in Klaipėda is one of the country’s most beloved attractions, set within the historic Nerija Fort on the Curonian Spit. Its unique location already makes it special: visitors enter through 19th‑century defensive walls before stepping into a world dedicated to marine life, maritime history and Baltic Sea culture. Inside, one of the highlights is the impressive aquarium tunnel, where sharks, rays and colourful fish glide overhead, creating an immersive underwater experience. The Baltic Sea exhibition offers a closer look at local ecosystems, featuring seals, seabirds and species native to the region. The museum’s dolphinarium is especially popular, hosting educational shows that reveal the intelligence and behaviour of dolphins and sea lions. Equally fascinating is the maritime heritage section, displaying ship models, navigation tools and artefacts recovered from historic vessels. Interactive exhibits explain how sailors lived, how storms shaped the coastline and how Klaipėda developed as a port city. The blend of science, history and live animal exhibits makes the Lithuanian Sea Museum a dynamic destination for families, nature lovers and anyone curious about the world beneath the waves.

Klaipėda Lithuania

Location

The Lithuanian Sea Museum is located in Smiltynė, on the northern end of the Curonian Spit in Klaipėda. It’s set inside a restored 19th-century Nerija Fort by the Baltic Sea, and you get there by taking a short ferry from Klaipėda’s Old Port across the Curonian Lagoon. Opened in 1979, the museum is one of Lithuania’s most popular attractions. It combines a maritime history museum, aquarium, dolphinarium, and an open-air ethnographic fishing village. The aquarium, built into the old fort’s casemates, features Baltic fish, tropical species, penguins, and Baltic grey seals. The dolphinarium hosts sea lion and dolphin shows, while outdoor displays include historic ships, anchors, and a skeleton of a fin whale. The site also highlights marine nature conservation and navigation history. The museum is surrounded by the pine forests and white dunes of Curonian Spit National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can walk to Kopgalis Beach or climb up to the old lighthouse for lagoon views. After the ferry back to Klaipėda, explore the Old Town with its German-style fachwerk buildings, Theatre Square, and the Castle Museum in the remains of Klaipėda Castle. The port area has the Meridianas sailing ship museum. If you have time, Palanga is about 30 minutes away, with its famous pier, Birutė Park, and the Amber Museum in Tiškevičiai Palace.