Palanga with children usually begins and ends on J. Basanavičius Street, a pedestrian stretch about a kilometre long with carousels, ice-cream kiosks and street musicians. It runs from the town centre to the pier and is a favourite place for family walks.
The good news is that almost everything children enjoy most lies beyond that street and can be reached on foot or by bicycle. Below are specific addresses and what is worth knowing before you head out of the door.
From the Prie Parko hotel (S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno g. 11) to the sea is about four minutes on foot, and Birutė Park is even closer.
Within 700 metres of the hotel
- Palanga Fairy Tale Park (Pasakų parkas): 86 m from the hotel, about 1 minute on foot.
- Vandenis restaurant with a children's play zone: 186 m, 2 minutes.
- Kakės Makės attractions: 537 m, 7 minutes.
- Eureka house of illusions: 687 m, 9 minutes.
- Trampoline park: 699 m, 9 minutes.
Distances are measured in a straight line from the hotel building; the walk is a little longer.
The beach and the pier
Palanga beach is wide, sandy and stretches a long way in both directions. The nearest beach to the hotel is the one beyond Birutė Park, about 300 m on foot through the park. How Palanga’s other beaches differ is covered in our beach guide.
Lifeguards are on duty from 15 May to 15 September, and all posts are staffed from 1 June. Outside the season there are no lifeguards on duty. It can be windy and cool by the sea, so an extra layer comes in handy even on a sunny day.
The pier is about 470 metres long. Walking to the end and back with children takes roughly half an hour; it can be windy out there, so dress for the weather.
Birutė Park
Birutė Park begins across the street, about 50 m from the hotel, so you end up in it even without a plan. For children, three things stand out: wide paths that a scooter rolls along nicely, the ponds and Birutė Hill.
Steps lead up the hill, and at the top stands the neo-Gothic Chapel of St George, built in 1869. The climb takes a few minutes and makes a clear “goal” for a walk that would otherwise soon get boring.
In summer the orangery in the park is open, from 1 June to 31 August, daily 10.00–19.00. Beside the paths there is also the Lourdes grotto, built of stone in 1899; for children it is usually the second most interesting spot in the park after the hill.
Cycling along the sea
Separate cycle paths run along the coast. The Palanga tourist information centre lists a route of about 20 km from the Musical Fountain through Šventoji to Būtingė and one south to Nemirseta (about 6 km from Palanga centre). Choose a route to suit your children’s age and stamina.
With younger children, choose a shorter stretch and plan to come back the same way: you can stop in the woods or by the sea and turn round whenever you have had enough.
Bicycles can be hired at the hotel and at other rental points in the resort. Demand is higher at summer weekends, so check availability in advance.
Amber after a storm
After strong westerly winds, amber is sometimes washed ashore. Looking for it can make an interesting walk with children: choose calm weather, once the storm is over.
Look for amber on the shore, among the seaweed washed up by the waves. The pieces are usually small and look nothing like polished jewellery, so before you start it is worth calling in at the Amber Museum to see what raw amber actually looks like.
When they need speed
- Race Time go-kart track, Švarioji g. 5, a karting circuit right in Palanga.
- Jump Park Palanga, Liepojos pl. 1C, a water trampoline park. It is open only in summer and its hours depend on the weather, so check before you go that it is open that day.
Both places have height or age restrictions, and opening hours change over the season. The most reliable way to confirm the details is to check on the day.
When it rains
The Palanga Amber Museum (Vytauto g. 17) is housed in the Tiškevičiai Palace in the middle of the park, and its permanent exhibition fills 15 rooms. Children are usually most drawn to the inclusions, pieces of amber with insects trapped inside millions of years ago. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and last entry is one hour before closing.
Nearby, at S. Daukanto g. 16, is the Antanas Mončys House-Museum, a small sculptor’s museum that takes about an hour.
If the rain sets in, it is worth heading towards Klaipėda. Dino Park at Radailiai Manor (about 7 km from Klaipėda) is open seasonally; check its season and opening hours before you go. The Lithuanian Sea Museum with its dolphinarium is in Smiltynė, reached by ferry from Klaipėda, so allow a full day for the trip.
