Curonian Spit: a kingdom of water, sand, and wind

According to legend, this 98 km-long stretch of land (400 m wide at its narrowest point, and about 4 km at the widest) was formed by a giantess named Neringa. In the 19th century, to secure the dunes, undermined by centuries of logging, overgrazing, and shipbuilding, a protective ridge was formed. This set the precedent for dune management that has continued to this day, and is largely responsible for the Spit’s changing complexion. Nida, a popular resort town and the largest settlement on the peninsula, was also home to landscape and animal painters from the Kunstakademie Königsberg art school, the Künstlerkolonie Nidden expressionist artists’ colony, numerous poets, and the writer Thomas Mann who had a summer house built here.

Easy to reach by ferry from the port city of Klaipėda, this fascinating landscape is a real gift to travellers and outdoorsy types regardless of preference. If you’re looking for active recreation, the Curonian Spit offers everything you could possibly need for cycling, swimming, hiking, wakeboarding, and more. A birdwatcher? There’s something here for you too, as the peninsula is traversed by thousands of migratory birds twice each year. And if you’re into art, folklore, or horror stories – the Hill of Witches is just the place. Here you can inspect a number of spooky wooden sculptures by local artists portraying a variety of Lithuanian folk characters.