National park Curonian Spit
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About
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Why go
- The 4 km trail along the highest dune ridge of the spit
- The viewing platform on the Olenya Buda dune, 55 m above sea level, which offers a panorama
- Guided excursions to the Fringilla field station, where birds are ringed, led by ornithologists
- The unusual pine forest planted on the Kruglaya dune
Opening hours
Today00:00 – 23:59Show all
Know before you go
- Open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
Tips for your visit
- Download the official Kurshskaya Kosa Guide app, available for iPhone and Android.
- Visitor information centres are at km 14, in the park's museum complex.
- The viewing platform on the forest trail stands 44.4 m above sea level.
Interesting facts9
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Of the world's spits, only the 110 km Arabat Spit is longer.
Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) - Wikipedia -
The lagoon's surface stands about 12 cm higher than the Baltic Sea.
Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) - Wikipedia -
The lagoon is 3.7 m deep on average.
Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) - Wikipedia -
262 bird
262 bird species have been recorded, and 100 of them nest in the park.
Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) - Wikipedia -
46 mammal
The park has 46 mammal species, among them elk and wild boar.
Parc national de l'Isthme de Courlande (Russie) - Wikipedia -
The highest point of the 55 m dune is named after the forester Franz Wilhelm Efa.
Куршская коса (национальный парк, Россия) - Wikipedia -
Rasite, a glacial island, is the oldest part of the spit.
Куршская коса (национальный парк, Россия) - Wikipedia -
2023
Over one million people came to the park in 2023.
Куршская коса (национальный парк, Россия) - Wikipedia -
The park continues on the Lithuanian side as Kuršių Nerija.
Nationalpark Kurische Nehrung (Kaliningrader Oblast) - Wikipedia
History
The spit's origins go back about 15,000 years, to the retreat of glaciers that left the Baltic Sea behind. Its dunes were built on a glacial moraine. For centuries the forest here was a royal hunting reserve, and before the war the area was linked to a famous glider school. Some parts of the area were protected before the park was founded.
- About 15,000 years agoThe spit's foundations are laid as the glaciers retreat from the Baltic Sea.
- 1901The ornithological station is founded by Johannes Thienemann, on a bird migration route.
- 1987The area is declared a national park by decision of the RSFSR council of ministers.
- 2000The whole spit is placed on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Sources: Curonian Spit National Park (Russia) - Wikipedia · Nationalpark Kurische Nehrung (Kaliningrader Ob… · Parc national de l'Isthme de Courlande (Russie)… · Куршская коса (национальный парк, Россия) - Wik… · checked 25 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Is Curonian Spit National Park open all year round?
Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Visitors can come at any hour, in any season.
Where is the visitor information centre at Curonian Spit National Park?
The visitor information centres are at km 14, inside the park's museum complex. The park's administration is based in Rybatschi, formerly Rossitten.
Is there an app for exploring Curonian Spit National Park?
An official guide app, Kurshskaya Kosa Guide, is available for iPhone and Android. It can be downloaded before the visit.
How many people visit Curonian Spit National Park each year?
More than one million tourists visited the park in 2023. It is one of the most visited parts of the spit.
How high is the viewing platform on the forest trail?
The viewing platform on the forest trail stands 44.4 m above sea level. The trail runs through old conifer stands and plantings of giant thuja.
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