Pärnu

Pärnu is located between Riga, Helsinki and Stockholm and the easiest to get here is by flying to Tallinn, Estonia or Riga, Latvia. Pärnu is almost half-way between the two, on the international Via Baltica or E67 road, only a couple of hours by car from each.

The largest port of Estonia is in Tallinn where ferries from Helsinki arrive at almost every hour. Pärnu has a yachting marina for sailors.

There are over 70 kilometers of light traffic roads in Pärnu. Therefore, the bicycle can be considered one of the best ways of transport to discover Pärnu. In a few hours you can make a big tour in the city, seeing areas that the average visitor often does not go to. So a few hours of cycling in Pärnu is a must do.

In addition to international routes, we have mapped out some routes that should make your cycling much more comfortable. This means that you do not have to drive on the big highway when coming to or from Riga. When you go to Soomaa, you can enjoy pleasant and peaceful nature. A good quiet road leads to Kihnu.

The bus traffic is good and offers connections throughout the county.

In 2020, Pärnu was voted the most sustainable destination of the Baltic Sea countries. The city is special because of its sea, rivers, beaches and promenades and its many parks, avenues and forest groves. Pärnu’s diversity and amenities have made it a resort with a 180 year history, which is why protecting and valuing its nature is a priority when it comes to the development of the city. The strengths of the unique city of Pärnu include a friendly, functional and attractive environment with a lively and compact historical city centre.

The government has established requirements on which the Health Board’s guidelines for various companies providing tourism services are based. The most important among these is a requirement for people to keep safe distance (2 + 2) to each other when and where possible. Reception and cashier desks are often equipped with physical protection screens.

An obligation to wear a mask or to cover one’s nose and mouth is introduced in public indoor spaces, including public transport and service points. Restaurants, museums, spas and attractions are open and welcoming visitors, with precaution methods and processes in place – to ensure, that people are and feel safe. With the HOIA mobile app, you can quickly find out about possible close contact with a COVID-19 infected person, allowing you to take steps to protect your own health and the health of others.

Pärnu’s success story is about a protected coastal meadow being opened to the public and maintained by cows. The coastal meadows under Natura2000 protection are located next to Pärnu beach, which is the city’s main attraction. Many were initially unhappy as the protected area restricts the expansion of the beach. However, the city managed to figure out how to introduce people to the protected area, make them appreciate the natural value of it and offer them an alternative to sunbathing on the beach. The protected beach now includes an educational nature trail as well as observation towers and is maintained by the city cows.

Soomaa, with its unique landscape, bogs, flood-meadows, and dunes, is new and unexpected in every season. Soomaa’s most distinctive feature is what the inhabitants of the local villages refer to as the ‘fifth season’: in addition to spring, summer, autumn, and winter, they have the high water season.

Kihnu is home to the unique traditional Kihnu culture, which has been living on the islands along Pärnu’s coast for more than 600 years. The Kihnu Cultural Space, which was added to the UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity List in 2003, is of interest to all visitors who are interested in cultural heritage, unique nature and friendly people.

Matsalu National Park is one of Europe’s richest areas for bird species with more than 270 different species. If you happen to go there during the spring or fall bird migration period, you will experience the unforgettable sight of large flocks.

In 2018, Lonely Planet selected Pärnu as one of the Top 10 lesser-known beach cities worth visiting in the world. Pärnu Beach is the reason that the city is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists each summer. It is the biggest and most beautiful beach in Estonia. Everyone has a good time here.

The warm and shallow water makes the beach particularly well-suited for families with children. Deeper water is reached after a long walk, where one can swim and the water is cooler. These conditions are also good for people who are just learning to surf. This is why Pärnu Beach is considered one of the best places in Scandinavia when it comes to learning to surf.

The beach has a beautiful promenade, which can be visited regardless of the season.

The Pärnu Mole, which was built at the time to enliven trade, is one of the city’s most popular attractions. The mole is approximately 1.5 kilometres long. There is also a legend accompanying the mole – according to the ancient story, young lovers must walk to the end of the mole and seal their love with a kiss there. Doing so would bring the lovers eternal love.

There are over 70 kilometers of light traffic roads in Pärnu. Therefore, the bicycle can be considered one of the best ways of transport to discover Pärnu. In a few hours you can make a big tour in the city, seeing areas that the average visitor often does not get to. So a few hours of cycling in Pärnu is a must do.