The outdoorsy haven between two waters: Discover the Curonian Spit

Join a local cycling enthusiast, Paulius Bakutis, to explore this scenic land of sea and sand, a UNESCO-protected peninsula in western Lithuania between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon.

Coastal Curonian pleasures

Paulius Bakutis, the EuroVelo Route Inspector for Lithuania and the President of the Lithuanian Cyclists’ Community, is responsible for assessing the quality of the cycling routes to ensure they meet the highest EuroVelo standards. Part of EuroVelo 10, the mostly flat 52 km route in Neringa has recently undergone a complete €22 million renovation, which focused on sustainable outcomes and naturally derived materials to support the Curonian Spit’s protected environmental ethos.

Bakutis commented: “What I particularly love about this EuroVelo stretch is its incredible nature, its proximity to the sea, especially near Smiltynė, before Pervalka or at Nida’s Blue Flag beach, where you can easily hop off the bike to have a refreshing swim; its relaxing scenery of centuries old pine forest with plenty of picnic spots to stretch your legs, as well as its proximity to the best amenities: so many special eateries to savour local delicacies like fresh fish soup, grilled catch of the day, artisan coffee and sourdough pizzas.”

With at least 36 natural and cultural sightseeing spots, the Neringa cycling route guides you across a journey through its most important landmarks. Including the mysterious Nagliai grey dunes nature reserve, which was once home to many villages now buried under the travelling sand – a perfect spot for birdwatching and nature photography. As well as Nobel literature prize winner Thomas Mann’s summer residence in Nida, with authentic artefacts and inspiring stories that come alive in guided tours for history and literature fans.

Bakutis added: “The Curonian Spit cycling route is undoubtedly for all ages and abilities – children, seniors, families, friends can comfortably travel along the Curonian Spit. Locals and foreign travellers enjoy the modern cycling infrastructure in this protected, unspoilt part of the Baltic coast.”

EuroVelo boosts sustainable tourism in Lithuania

Currently, three EuroVelo accredited routes pass through Lithuania: EuroVelo 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle Route, EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail and EuroVelo 11 – East Europe Route, attracting both domestic and international tourists. As an official EuroVelo inspector in Lithuania, Bakutis analyses the suitability, makes recommendations for improvement and helps governments plan future cycling investments to achieve official EuroVelo certification.

Bakutis said: “It took many parties an immense effort of campaigning and advocating for this official EuroVelo route to reach its current modernised state. As one of the leading cycling promotion organisations of the Baltic region, we couldn’t be happier. Seeing the final stretch of the route finalised and completely updated felt like achieving a big milestone for the cycling community and the many parties that worked together – it is undoubtedly one of the most modern, state-of-the-art cycling routes of the Baltics for everyone to enjoy.”

Currently, over 267,000 cyclists visit the Curonian Spit every year, promoting sustainable tourism and contributing to local economic growth. The aim is to further improve Lithuania’s cycling infrastructure to make it safer, more convenient and more attractive for both local commuters and tourists.

Bakutis points out another recent landmark in the Curonian Spit route. The completion of an official cycling street through the charming Joudkrantė settlement now ensures that cyclists cannot be overtaken by automobile traffic. Additionally, a recently opened cycle repair station near Juodkrantė further improved the accessibility of the EuroVelo route.

Bakutis also mentions the need for cooperation with neighbouring countries and the European Cyclists’ Federation to ensure smooth integration of EuroVelo routes, making the Curonian Spit track a seamless addition to the extensive European cycle route network.

The Curonian Spit is easily accessible from mainland Lithuania by frequent ferry connections from the bustling Klaipėda port and has plenty of convenient bike rental options in Neringa.

Explore this coastal stretch of the EuroVelo network – the Curonian Spit is set to win over your heart and mind. Find out more at www.visitneringa.com. Discover the Lithuanian EuroVelo route at EuroVelo.com.

This article was produced in collaboration with ECF and the municipality of Neringa – member of the ECF's Cities & Regions for Cyclists network.

Article by Nida Culture and Tourism Information Centre “Agila”