Klaipeda is the third largest city of Lithuania and the most important port. Throughout the centuries it was under rule of different nations, including Sweden in 17th and Russia in 18th century. Since 1252 until 1919 the city was a part of Teutonic Order, then Prussia and eventually Germany and known as Memel. The old town still has quite a few monuments from those days and is rather popular with German tourists. Later the city was under French administration until 1923 when it was captured by Lithuania.

The heart of the old town is the Theatre Square named after the Neoclassical theatre. In front of the theatre is the fountain of Anna.

Southeast of the Square you find the History Museum of Lithuania Minor with local finds and costumes.

In the new town, just north of the old town the most impressive sights are the Post Office which dates from the end of the 19-th century and the Clock Museum with some magnificent 18-th century clocks.

A short ferry ride takes you accross the Curonian Lagoon to Nida and the neringa peninsula (Curonian Spit), where you find an excellent Maritime Museum housed in an old German fort.

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