Every entrepreneur has that vision to go on holidays to relax and have time for themselves without any work distractions. But what if you could do both in one place?
We have that sweet escape getaway place where all of that is possible. You can get to relax in just a couple of days and work until the midday still having enough time to relax on the beach. We want to share this special place with you. Nida is our perfect #workandholiday getaway. No matter if it’s winter or summer, it’s always quiet and calm here. You won’t find any better place where you can calm your mind with leisure activities and work during the day than Nida.
Why to Choose Nida for Leisure
Nida is a resort town in Lithuania. Located on the Curonian Spit between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. It’s also friendly called artists’ colony. Famous painters and writers spent their summers here, and you can feel the inspiration aura once you’re here.
Nida was a little-visited fishing village long time ago. But now tourists flow to visit interesting places:
- the highest sand dunes in Europe
- a large sundial
- viewpoints
- old lighthouse
- enjoy walking and cycling roads
- practically “abandoned” airport
- and few museums
Not yet convinced to visit Nida? Let me go into the details about every leisure activity that I’ve mentioned and you’ll see how wonderful this coastal town is.
Breathe in, Breathe out
Cycling and walking roads are stretched out throughout the entire Nida and along the coast in the pine wood of whole Curonian Spit (52 kilometers long). Not like the only road that exists for cars! That’s why it’s so perfectly calm here there are no cars driving around 😉 Rent a bike, hop on it and enjoy slow tour around the lagoon. Breathe in the fresh pine’s air that people like to call an outdoor SPA. Your lungs will be thankful.
Museums in Nida
If you prefer let your legs guide you through the city you’ll find what to see. Nida has five museums in town. Museum of Thomas Mann house and gallery of amber are the top visited spots.
Thomas Mann was a German novelist who came with his family to Nida for holidays and he fell in love with the place so deeply that through the letters he managed to build the summerhouse on a hill with a view to the Curonian Lagoon. Today, you can enjoy so called the “Italian view” close by the house where the landscape of Nida with little houses opens up.
The exhibit represents the life and work of Nobel Prize winner and also lets you feel the atmosphere of the days when the writer spent in the house.
Entrance fee: 2,5 €
The amber gallery is where you can see an ancient insect “trapped“ in a piece of amber or buy luxurious amber necklaces. You can taste a special drink – “Amber drink” and learn how to make the drink at home by yourself. It is believed that this drink helps to prevent illnesses.
There is also workshop place near the amber gallery where you can see how the amber is processed. You can participate in a lesson in which you’ll introduce to ancient and modern amber processing tool. The lessons can be held in Lithuanian, English, German and Russian languages.
Entrance fee – 1,25 €
You’ll admire many beautiful houses on your way to the museums. All of them are strictly renovated by the heritage guidances and you’ll see architecture common only in this region.
Viewpoints Around Nida
First of all I encourage you to get on top of “Parnidis” dune and find the lighthouse with the gaze of your eyes. It’s the only highest building so you’ll see it! Then go on a tour through the forest roads to find it.
It’s a bit of adventure, but don’t worry, you can’t get lost in Nida. It’s just thirty kilometers from Curonian Lagoon to the Baltic Sea so it’s too small to do that. Once you succeed your journey’s goal, you’ll be on the first viewpoint of “Urbas hill”. Unfortunately the lighthouse is closed to the public, but you can visit a more adventurous viewpoint tower nearby. There is a road behind the lighthouse leading down the hill and then to the right. You’ll find the viewtower there. It might seem like a strange construction, but it’s made to climb it and enjoy the view or the sunset.
There are more viewpoints around Nida, but many are further so you either need to drive or cycle there. The nearest is “Parnidis” kopa that I already mentioned. This one is still in a walking distance from Nida, but you’ll have to take long and steep stairs. Another option is to drive there with a car or bicycle. You’ll also see a large sundial on the “Pardinis” dune and it’s a great spot to watch the sunrise here. We used to come here after our morning run to watch the sunrise. This place is also included into many peoples’ bucket lists. 🙂
Another viewpoint is “Vecekrugas” dune. It’s located between Nida and Preila and it’s 10km from Nida. You have to drive here or it’s perfect to visit on your cycling tour, because the cycling roads leads there. This dune opens a panorama of valleys, forest, both seacoasts – Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon.
Visit the “Dead Dunes” which obscure four villages and two cemeteries that were swallowed by the shifting sands between 1675 and 1854. It’s even further from Nida – 20 km away.
These “Dead Dunes” are declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area comprises the Nagliai Nature Reserve, an ecologically sensitive region home to multiple rare and fragile plants. Therefore, visitors to the Nagliai Nature Reserve (“Dead Dunes”included ) are obliged to stay on the marked trail, in order to avoid disrupting the peculiar and delicate ecosystem. You also pay an entrance fee of 2€ if you’re visiting during the summer season. Working hours – 9 am – 7 pm. Or you can visit it for free with no working hours if you visit it off the season.
Abandoned Airport
And finally, visit the airport. Small airport is no longer open for public flights. But it’s still a cool place to visit if you have never stand on a runaway in your life. There is nothing more at the Nida’s airport actually, no buildings, just sheeps and goats walking around. This makes the place perfect for cyclers, motorbikers, skateboarders to enjoy the smooth ride or a great location for a secret photoshoot.
We Sold Our Souls to the Sea
Now when you know general facts about Nida, let me tell you what makes it so special for us.
I am a passionate diver and I love being in water. If I can’t go diving, there are other ways to relieve my mind: walking in the forest, looking at the bonfire and being by the sea. *Sidenote Diving is my number one anti-stress relief when the cortisol levels get high. I will definitely get back on this theme later and introduce you to diving in the future posts.
Justinas tried to convince me visit Nida many times, but I am not a beach person and I resisted for a long time. Normally, I would rather stay at home than go to the beach. Crowds make me sluggish and I only truly relax on my own. But Nida is perfect for it.
The beach is full of people, but it’s never crowded. You’ll always find a spot by the sea. Another plus is that you can bring your dog here. There is an animal friendly part of the beach and this fact brings Nida closer to my heart. Who doesn’t like to cuddle a puppy while peacefully looking at the sea?
Private Yacht Tours
Having a yacht tour might sound like a luxurious experience, but it’s not from a money perspective. You’ll need 100€ to rent a private yacht with a captain for 2 hours in Nida.
The swell, light summer breeze and the sight of Nida’s sand dunes (which are fully visible only from the sea) makes your sail an extraordinary experience. You can find all kind of boats in Nida, but it’s best to book it in advance. I say boats because not all of the boats are yachts on the website. You can also sleep in a this yacht and try out how sleeping on water.
Why to Choose Nida for Work
Nida has such a calm atmosphere that I can’t find a better place to concentrate. Maybe this is the reason why it’s a common place among Lithuanian brands to choose Nida Art Colony as a work and holiday place for their workers. In the colony you’ll not only see many remote workers who bring their work with them while they enjoy the privilege of being by the sea.
Nida’s Art colony has a co-working space which apparently they call reading room. So you have to be silent there. That makes it perfect for working by the computer. You can use their computers as well if you wish and use the internet access.
They also have meeting and dark rooms for music producers and film production. It has its own rooms to rent for staying so you can live and work here and the kitchen is free to use while you work here. The colony also has the cool lobby in front of the roof terrace, close to the reading room. So what else do you need to work? All this for a small amount of cash.
It’s open daily from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m.
The price list:
They ask visitors of the co-working space to check in at the office at the entrance on the left or simply type an e-mail to linas@nidacolony.lt or call to a friendly guy Linas +370 62 034 344. If you want to book a room here to stay also call this number.
Transportation to Nida
When you’re convinced to visit Nida there are few things you need to know before you get here. The only road to Nida is from Smiltyne where you can get by the ferry from Klaipeda.
To get to Klaipeda you can fly to the nearest airport to Palanga and then take the bus to Klaipeda. Or you can travel by bus/train/car from Lithuania capital Vilnius (where you can find an airport as well) to Klaipeda. Also, you can travel with a DFDS Seaways ferry to Klaipeda. It has routes from Kiel (Germany) and Karlshamn (Sweden).
Klaipeda is the port city where you’ll find the ferry across the Curonian Lagoon. It takes about 3 minutes to pass it and then there is only one way leading to Nida. Although the road is magnificent and you’ll find few viewpoints along the way. So try not to rush and stop where you can.
Important to know that when you’ll be leaving Nida at the end of the weekend during the season you will have to wait for about 2 hours to get to the ferry. So it’s better to plan your trip and leave the Curonian Spit on Monday.
Where to Stay
We have few favorite places to stay in Nida. Our number one is Vila “Gija”. It’s a luxury apartment with kitchen and parking. But when it’s the season peak it’s hard to find a place here. So try to book the room in “Oro Nida”. Our third option is an apartment in the town center “Baltic Beach Resort”, but it doesn’t have its own parking and it can be a problem during the season peak.
You can book it here:
Booking.com
Thoughts by Eisve Treciakauskaite
Photos by Justinas Lekavicius
© LongWeLive
