Let's be honest about the Baltic: October is the wettest month, December has about twenty days of rain or snow and barely 25 hours of sunshine in total, and by four in the afternoon the street lamps are on. But winter is also when Klaipėda belongs to its residents – theatres are full, cafés are warm, the beaches are empty and dramatic, and a stay costs less than in summer. Here is how to enjoy it.
Daylight: about 7 hours around the winter solstice – on 21 December the sun rises at 09:02 and sets at 16:04.
Temperature: on average around 1 °C in December and just below zero in January and February.
Good to know: in winter the Sea Museum and Dolphinarium open only from Friday to Sunday.
Best indoor deal: a play with English surtitles at the Drama Theatre, half price for students and seniors.
What's the weather like in your month?
Average values for Klaipėda from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service's 1991–2020 climate norm. Choose your month:
- January Average −0.9 °C, rain or snow on about 18 days, 39 hours of sunshine in the whole month. One of the windiest months.
- February Average −0.9 °C, precipitation on about 16 days, 68 hours of sunshine. The coldest nights of the year are most likely now.
- March Average 1.7 °C, precipitation on 14 days – and the sun returns: 154 hours.
- April Average 6.7 °C, the driest month with 31 mm of rain, 224 hours of sunshine.
- May Average 11.6 °C and the sunniest month, with almost 300 hours of sun.
- June Average 15.3 °C, rain on about 12 days and nights that hardly get dark.
- July Average 18.3 °C, the warmest month together with August, with heavy summer showers now and then.
- August Average 18.3 °C, but rainier than July: 86 mm.
- September Average 14.2 °C, often a mild, golden month with 192 hours of sunshine.
- October Average 8.9 °C and the wettest month of the year: 95 mm on about 17 days.
- November Average 4.4 °C, precipitation on 18 days and only 39 hours of sunshine. The storm season begins.
- December Average 1.1 °C, precipitation on about 20 days and 25 hours of sunshine in the whole month – but Christmas lights everywhere.
Indoor Klaipėda on one map
Most of the theatres and the Culture Factory are within 15 minutes' walk of Bohema; for the shopping centre, the pool and the beach, take a bus or a taxi. The times are on foot.
Ideas for every mood
With children
- Dolphins and sea lions: the Dolphinarium in Smiltynė holds its shows at 12:00 and 15:00 from Friday to Sunday in winter (€12 adults, €8 children). Take the Old Ferry – €1.70 return for foot passengers.
- Jumpland on the second floor of Akropolis: trampolines and climbing walls, daily 10:00–21:00, from €10 for two hours.
- Skating: Akropolis has a full-size indoor ice rink, and from late November a rink opens on Theatre Square.
- The Blacksmith's Museum, five minutes from the hotel, where children can make their own jewellery at the forge.
For two
- The Drama Theatre in the historic building on Theatre Square plays several productions with English surtitles; tickets at kdt.lt.
- Opera or operetta at the State Music Theatre – check klaipedosmuzikinis.lt, popular performances sell out.
- Art-house cinema at ArleKinas in the Culture Factory, a 115-seat hall ten minutes on foot from Bohema.
- Jazz at Kurpiai, the legendary Old Town jazz club, with live music from Thursday.
- A spa afternoon near Palanga, half an hour away: Atostogų parkas (16 pools and 7 saunas, from €14 for two hours on weekday mornings) or the Vanagupė complex at Mercure Palanga (€29 for three hours).
Active
- Klaipėda Swimming Pool (Klaipėdos baseinas): a 50-metre, ten-lane pool with a sauna area, from €10 for an hour and a half, or €15 with the saunas.
- Fabrique, a bouldering and climbing centre with a café on Liepų Street: a day pass costs €12 (€8 on weekdays from 14:00 to 16:00), shoes can be rented.
- Bowling and billiards at GetAction in Akropolis.
- Escape Bunker 1944 – an escape room in a real Second World War bunker; book online.
Culture
- The museums: the Castle Museum with its high-tech archaeology exhibition, the History Museum of Lithuania Minor and the Clock Museum – see our practical museum guide for opening days.
- Concerts at the Klaipėda Concert Hall, tickets at koncertusale.lt.
- The big shows – ballet, ice shows and New Year concerts – at Švyturys Arena.
Cafés to sit out the rain
The Old Town has plenty of places to wait for the shower to pass. 10 Tiltų on Turgaus Street is a colourful café in a former pharmacy, famous for its cakes; Max Coffee nearby is one of the long-established Old Town cafés; and Kavos Architektai, just north of the river, was started by architects and is a favourite for speciality coffee. Order a slice of honey cake and a cup of something hot.
Winter outdoors – for the brave
Storm-watching at the North Pier
The rebuilt North Pier in Melnragė, about 6 km from the hotel, is where locals go to watch the sea – and in a winter storm the waves crash over the neighbouring breakwater. Watch from the beach or the base of the pier rather than its far end, and dress for wind: from November to February Klaipėda has six to eight days a month with gusts of 15 m/s or more.
Hunting for amber
The same storms bring amber. After a strong westerly blow, small pieces wash up along the tideline – go early, as the next change of wind can take them away within hours. Karklė, north of Giruliai, is the best-known spot, and the regional park authority says you may collect as much as you can find. Locals wade into the surf with long-handled nets.
The frozen lagoon: look, don't walk
In cold winters the Curonian Lagoon freezes and dozens of ice anglers sit by their holes. It is a striking sight, but please enjoy it from the shore. The border guard warns that one adult needs at least 10–12 cm of solid ice, and about 800 metres from the shore the lagoon ice becomes thinner and full of holes. In an emergency, call 112.
The Christmas town on Theatre Square
From late November to early January the square around Ännchen's fountain becomes Klaipėda's living room: wooden stalls, a skating rink (€5 for adults, €1 for small children last season), free soup days and concerts, and fireworks at midnight on New Year's Eve. The 2026 dates had not yet been announced at the time of writing – see our events calendar.
Before you go
- Pack waterproof shoes, a hat and a windproof jacket rather than a heavy coat – it is the wind, not the cold, that bites.
- Plan around opening days: many museums are closed on Mondays, and in winter the castle and history museums also close on Sundays.
- Carillon: the bells in the old post office tower have been reported silent since 2024 because the tower needs repairs – check with the tourist information centre before planning around them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Klaipėda in winter?
Mild for Lithuania but grey, wet and windy: the 1991–2020 averages are about 1 °C in December and just below zero in January and February. December has around 20 days of rain or snow and about 25 hours of sunshine in total.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
About seven. On 21 December the sun rises at 09:02 and sets at 16:04.
Is the Dolphinarium open in winter?
Yes, from Friday to Sunday, with dolphin and sea-lion shows at 12:00 and 15:00; in the second half of December it also opens on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It is closed on 25 December. Take the Old Ferry to Smiltynė.
Can I see a play in English in Klaipėda?
The Klaipėda Drama Theatre performs several of its Lithuanian productions with English surtitles. Tickets are sold at kdt.lt and at the box office, open Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00.
Where can I swim in Klaipėda on a rainy day?
At Klaipėdos baseinas, a 50-metre pool with saunas, from €10 for an hour and a half. For a spa day, head to Atostogų parkas or Mercure Palanga Vanagupė near Palanga, about half an hour away.
Can I collect amber on the beach?
Yes, picking up amber washed ashore on public beaches is a long tradition. The best time is right after a strong storm, and Karklė is the best-known place.
Further reading
A warm room to come back to
After a windy walk on the pier or an evening at the theatre, it is good to be close to home. Bohema is on the edge of the Old Town, a short walk from the theatres and cafés – choose your room for a winter weekend by the Baltic.
Sources: Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service – climate norm 1991–2020, Lithuanian Sea Museum – opening hours, Klaipėda Drama Theatre – shows with English surtitles, Klaipėdos baseinas, Fabrique, Jumpland, Atostogų parkas, Amber collecting on the Lithuanian coast, Christmas in Klaipėda. Checked in October 2026. Photos: Karel Frydrýšek, Karel Frydrýšek (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
