Car Hire Palanga Airport

Palanga Airport Mini Guide

Palanga sounds like an African village but it can’t be?
No, Palanga is the foremost beach resort in Lithuania, that may not say much as the town is no St Tropez but nearly all beach loving Lithuanians flock there in the warm summer months and a space on the beach is like finding hen’s teeth. It has other attractions too based on the old industry here of collecting and fashioning amber jewellery. The town has developed to supply the needs of the tourists so it now has a noisy bar and restaurant street popular as a place to people watch late into the night.

How can I get there?
Most of the flights are internal or at the most short hop internationals from Norway or Russia. You’ll have to fly into Moscow or Oslo to pick up a connecting flight. The airport is only a ten minute journey from the city and the local bus or taxi can get you there cheaply. Hiring a car will get you further afield, perhaps to the quieter stretches of beach away from the town.

What’s the airport like?
On arrival it looks big but looks can be deceiving. The information desk is cleverly disguised as ‘customer services’ there but they offer a wide range of assistance including accommodation and transport including hire cars. There is a currency exchange office at the airport and if you need first aid there’s a post to which you will be quickly directed by staff.

What will keep me occupied whilst I wait for departures?
There’s only one main shop selling duty free items. It’s a great place to pick up bottles of the Lithuanian vodka for your friends back home. They also sell perfume, tobacco and gifts. There’s another small shop selling souvenirs and crafts and you can also buy them at the café. For refreshment there’s a café in departures selling a small range of hot and cold snacks and if you miss this one, there’s another smaller bar after security. There’s no Wi-Fi here so contact with the outside world will have to wait!

Collecting a hire car from the airport will allow you to spend time in the seaside city of Palanga but also let you explore up and down the coast. Visit Birute Hill, a forested sand dune, celebrated in local mythology. From here you can visit the botanical gardens which are a great place to spend hot days away from the beach.

The city’s Amber Museum is fascinating too. The city was part of the country’s thriving trade in the fossilised tree resin and many craft stalls and shops sell the beautiful jewellery.