Klaipėda County, located in western Lithuania along the Baltic Sea, spans 5,222 square kilometers and houses around 369,000 residents. Its administrative center, Klaipėda, is Lithuania's only port city, making it a vital gateway to the sea.
Founded as a fortress by the Teutonic Knights in 1252, Klaipėda (originally Memel) has been under various rulers, including the Duchy of Prussia, the Kingdom of Poland, the German Empire, and the Soviet Union, before becoming part of modern Lithuania. This diverse history is reflected in the region's architecture and traditions. Klaipėda County also features the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its 98-kilometer-long sand dunes and pine forests. The Lithuanian Sea Museum and Dolphinarium in Smiltynė, as well as Klaipėda’s Old Town, attract numerous visitors. Major cultural events include the Sea Festival, drawing over 500,000 attendees annually, and the Klaipėda Castle Jazz Festival.
The Port of Klaipėda is Lithuania's largest and one of the busiest in the Baltic Sea region, handling on average 40 million tons of cargo annually. The county’s economy benefits from diverse industries like shipbuilding, logistics, and manufacturing. The Free Economic Zone (FEZ) attracts foreign investments, fostering economic growth and innovation. Tourism is also robust, with over 1 million annual visitors. Klaipėda University, with around 3,000 students, is a key educational institution, renowned for research in marine sciences, engineering, and social sciences.