Collections of the Lithuanian Sea Museum

The collections of the Lithuanian Sea Museum cover topics of the sea fauna variety, in particular, the fauna of the Baltic Sea, navigation and shipping history, traditional fishing by the Lithuanian seacoast and the Curonian Lagoon, tangible and intangible marine culture heritage. Variety of the exhibits include buttons of seafarers’ uniform as well deep-sea vessels, the range from stamps to charts, from tiny shells to lifelike models of giant sea animals.

As defined in the strategy of the Museum, the collections are accumulated following the aims:

• to increase the attractiveness of the Museum’s exhibitions introducing modern and innovative solutions

• to upgrade the accounting system of exhibits and make them more accessible to the public

• to become the center of marine culture and heritage

History of the Collections

The start of the collections of present Lithuanian Sea Museum dates back to 1967, when a Maritime Department was established in Klaipeda Region Museum. The first maritime exhibition was arranged in 1971. That was a short presentation of ships’ and seamen stories and display of shells borrowed from Feliksas Rimkevičius, a pilot of the port of Klaipeda and private collector. Great interest and positive reviews about the exhibition motivated further accumulation of sea fauna exhibits, in addition to exhibits of navigation history, historical documents. The idea of the maritime museum was born.

Klaipėda Maritime Museum was established on 1 October, 1975. Klaipeda Region Museum presented the new-born museum with 3000 exhibits. The collection of sea fauna was supplemented after the expedition to the Middle East Atlantic bringing back samples of crustaceans, echinoderms, mollusks and fishes. Following the initial concept of maritime museum, specialists of the Museum were collecting available related exhibits, including replicas, models, and moulages.

Initiator and former director of the Museum in his memories described how difficult it was to collect the exhibits of the Lithuanian navigation history as they were distroyed or lost in the war and after. The lack of authentic exhibits was substituted by impressive ship models representing different epochs of seafarering. Today the Lithuanian Sea Museum is proud of its numerous and unique collection of ship models in Lithuania, together with the collection of anchors which is unique, as well.

28 July, 1979 Klaipeda Maritime Museum and Aquarium was opened in the Nerija Fort. In vicinity there were established an etnographic fisherman’s farmstead and the ground of old fishing ships. At the end of 1979 collections of the Museum counted 5060 exhibits.

Over a decade, the number of exhibits increased to 25 438. The structure of the collection was created and the thematic topics were defined: nature and history of navigation.
Natural topic is related with the collections of sea fauna, natural preparations from the Curonian Spit, live aquatic animals.
Historical topic encompasses collections of ethnography, archaeology, numismatics, philately, philocarty, written sources, navigational devices and equipment.
At the end of 1999 the Museum owned more than 36,000 exhibits and at the end of 2009 – 86,000.

Since 2010 the animals of the Museum have been assigned as biological asset and are treated according to the animal care regulations.
Present total number of the Museum’s exhibits is 88563.

Information updated 2017-08-09 07:18

Visit

Opening hours

NOVEMBER
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–17.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: admission only for pre-booked goups, e-mail edukacija@muziejus.lt

DECEMBER
1–10 th December AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: V–VII – 10.30–17.00
13–31st December AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: III–VII – 10.30–17.00
1–31st December SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00, Danės upėje, Karališkojoje krantinėje, Klaipėdoje.
1–10th December DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
FESTIVE DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES:
December 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 24 d. – 12.00 am.
December 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31 d. – 12.00 am and 15.00 pm.
1st January – closed
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: admission only for pre-booked goups, e-mail edukacija@muziejus.lt

JANUARY
Friday, Saturday, Sunday

FESTIVE DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES – 6th of January – 13.30; 7th, 8th of January – 12.00, 15.00.
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–17.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: admission only for pre-booked goups, e-mail edukacija@muziejus.lt

FEBRUARY
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION – 10.30–17.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00 Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: admission only for pre-booked goups, e-mail edukacija@muziejus.lt

MARCH
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION – 10.30–17.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.

APRIL (from 1st to 16th)

Friday, Saturday, Sunday
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION – 10.30–17.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.

APRIL (from 19th to 30th)
From Wednesday to Sunday
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–18.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50; 13.30–14.30

MAY
From Wednesday to Sunday
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–18.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50; 13.30–14.30
ETHNOGRAPHIC FISHERMAN'S FARMSTEAD AND THE GROUNDS OF OLD FISHING SHIPS: 10.30–18.00

JUNE
From Tuesday to Sunday
DOLPHINS AND SEA LIONS’ PERFORMANCES: 12.00, 13.30, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–18.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: II–VI – 11.00–19.00; VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
ETHNOGRAPHIC FISHERMAN'S FARMSTEAD AND THE GROUNDS OF OLD FISHING SHIPS: 10.30–18.00
From Wednesday to Sunday
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50, 13.00–14.00,15.00–16.00

JULY
From Tuesday to Sunday
DOLPHINS AND SEA LIONS’ PERFORMANCES: 11.30, 13.00, 14.30, 16.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–18.30
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: II–VI – 11.00–19.00; VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
ETHNOGRAPHIC FISHERMAN'S FARMSTEAD AND THE GROUNDS OF OLD FISHING SHIPS: 10.30–18.00
From Wednesday to Sunday
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50, 13.00–14.00,15.00–16.00

AUGUST
From Tuesday to Sunday
DOLPHINS AND SEA LIONS’ PERFORMANCES: 11.30, 13.00, 14.30, 16.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–18.30
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: II–VI – 11.00–19.00; VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
ETHNOGRAPHIC FISHERMAN'S FARMSTEAD AND THE GROUNDS OF OLD FISHING SHIPS: 10.30–18.00
From Wednesday to Sunday
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50, 13.00–14.00,15.00–16.00

SEPTEMBER

From Wednesday to Sunday
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–18.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50; 13.30–14.30
ETHNOGRAPHIC FISHERMAN'S FARMSTEAD AND THE GROUNDS OF OLD FISHING SHIPS: 10.30–18.00

OCOBER
DOLPHIN AND CALIFORNIA SEA LION PERFORMANCES: V – 13.30; VI–VII – 12.00, 15.00
AQUARIUM AND MUSEUMS’ EXHIBITION: 10.30–17.00
SHIP–MUSEUM „SŪDUVIS“: V–VII – 11.00–17.00, Royal Danė embankment, near the Castle (Pilies) bridge, Klaipėda city.
EXCURSION IN THE BALTIC SEA ANIMALS REHABILITATION CENTER: 10.50–11.50; 13.30–14.30

EVERY LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH – FREE TICKETS TO THE SEA MUSEUM AND TO THE SHIP–MUSEUM M52 „SŪDUVIS“ AVAILABLE ON-LINE AND AT THE MUSEUMS BOOKING OFFICE AS WELL!

Lithuanian Sea Museum visitors service regulation

Prices and discounts

AQUARIUM, SEA MUSEUM	MAY, SEPTEMBER–APRIL	JUNE– AUGUST
	Eur	Eur
Adults	8	13
Children 7 years and older, school students, students, age retired EU nationals	4	6,5
Adults holding FAMILY CARD (LR, LT, EE), Ukrainian citizens with refugee status	6	8
Children holding FAMILY CARD (LR, LT, EE), Ukrainian citizens with refugee status	3	4
Admission prices applicable to groups of 15
Adults	7	12
Children 7 years and older, school students, students, age retired EU nationals	3,5	6

DOLPHIN PERFORMANCES	MAY, SEPTEMBER–APRIL	JUNE– AUGUST
	Eur	Eur
Adults	8	15
Children 4 years and older, school students, students, age retired EU nationals, adults with disabilities EU nationals	4	10
Adults holding FAMILY CARD (LR, LT, EE), Ukrainian citizens with refugee status	6	10
Children holding FAMILY CARD (LR, LT, EE), Ukrainian citizens with refugee status	3	6
Admission prices applicable to groups of 15
Adults	7	14
Children 7 years and older, school students, students, age retired EU nationals, adults with disabilities EU nationals	3,5	9,5

SHIP–MUSEUM M52 „SŪDUVIS“	MAY, SEPTEMBER–APRIL	JUNE– AUGUST
	Eur	Eur
Adults	4	5
Children 7 years and older, school students, students, age retired EU nationals	2	2,5
Etnographic fishermans' farmstead and the Ground of old fishing ships	0	0

Last Sunday of each month – free admission day to the Aquarium and Museum exhibitions.

Full-time EU students studying in higher education or vocational training institutions. To benefit, provide a proving document, students ID card

EU citizens holding a pensionary certificate

Students, school children, retired senior

Visitors service regulations

Refund Request

Tickets online

How to reach us

Lithuanian Sea Museum, which consists of Aquarium, Navigation History Exhibitions, Dolphinarium, Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre, and Dolphin Assisted Therapy Centre, is situated on the Curonian Spit. To get to us, take a passenger ferry from Old Ferry Terminal or vehicle ferry from New Ferry Terminal (www.keltas.lt), or a private boat to cross the Curonian Lagoon.

We strongly recommend arriving to Smiltynė by passenger ferry from Old Ferry Terminal (Danės Str. 1, Klaipėda) during summer season peak and especially on rainy days. Private boats going from the Dane River to the Dolphinarium is an option, as well.
The distance from the passenger ferry to the Lithuanian Sea Museum is 1,8 kilometre (20 minutes on foot). You can also take a shuttle train (service is charged), which goes according to the ferry timetable.

To arrive to the Museum by car, take a New Ferry Terminal (Nemuno Str. 8, Klaipėda). The distance from the vehicle ferry to the Museum is 8 kilometres. Note, that New Ferry Terminal is often jammed during summer season peak and all the parking lots are overcrowded in Smiltynė.

Please, be aware, that tickets to a dolphin performance are not refunded or exchanged, so we strongly recommend to estimate the time of arrival. We advise to skip queues and buy tickets online www.ljm.lt having arrived at the Museum. Visitors coming from Neringa resorts should consider the warning, as well.

Parking around the Lithuanian Sea Museum and all the Smiltynė is charged during 1 May – 15 September. Parking rates
Click to find information about occupancy of parking lots in Smiltynė.

Lithuanian Sea Museum is situated in Smiltynė (Klaipėda Municipality) on the Curonian Spit. Coordinates: 55°43'01.0"N 21°06'02.6"E

Please click on the picture and activate map

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Collections of the Lithuanian Sea Museum