The little-known European seaside resort for Brits with sandy beaches and £20 flights
IF you want sandy beaches and fun seaside towns without heading to the usual destinations, we’ve found a European hotspot Brits may not have heard of.
And with £19.99 flights taking just over two hours, it’s both quick and easy for a summer holiday.
Why Palanga?
Palanga in Lithuania has long been popular with locals and Eastern European tourists.
However, Brits are yet to discover the huge beach resort as a main holiday hotspot.
The biggest beach resort in Lithuania, it has 11 miles of sandy beaches.
Temperatures in the summer hit around 22C, so you won’t be too hot, unlike other destinations.
Flights are cheap too – Ryanair offers bargain one-way flights from £19.99, with Palanga Airport undergoing a huge renovation in 2021.
What are the best Palanga holiday deals?
Tour operators are yet to offer holiday deals to Palanga, being lesser known by Brits.
However, you can find a bargain break by booking your flights and hotels separately.
Ryanair offers one-way flights directly to Palanga Airport from the UK for £19.99, so you find return flights for less than £40.
Taking just 2hr22, it is also a quick holiday hotspot to visit.
And there are cheap hotels right next to the beach too for around £46 a night, working out to £23 each.
If you want something fancier, 5* hotels can be found for as little as £80 a night.
What is Palanga like?
Most people visit the main beach in Palanga, with the miles of sand split by the large L-shaped pier, first built in 1589.
Head to the pier at sunset, with it being a tradition to watch it go down from it.
Birute Park Beach in Palanga is also a Blue Flag beach, with tourists praising it for its cleanliness.
Tourists can also head to Jono Basanavičius street which has all of the cafes, restaurants and bars.
One of the most popular restaurants is A-Petit, ranked the best on TripAdvisor which serves soup for €2 (£1.76) and main dishes like risotto and pork for €7.30 (£6.40).
However, there are lots of nightclubs and beach parties in the summer too.
You can find local beers for as little as €2 (£1.76) a pint.
The resort also has a 40metre high observation wheel which is thought to be one of the highest in the Baltic countries, and a 100-hectare botanical park.
Fancy some souvenirs? Then head to the Amber Museum, which has one of the largest pieces of amber in the world, and is referred to as the “gold of Lithuania”.
What else do I need to know about Palanga?
The local language is Lithuanian but most resorts will speak some English.
There is a two-hour time difference, with the UK two hours behind.
The currency is euros with £10 around €11.40.
There are currently no Covid restrictions and Brits can stay in Palanga for up to 90 days without a visa.
However, your passport must have at least three months left after the day you plan to leave.