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City in Estonia
Photo: Nicholas Babaian, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Lydia Koidula and Modern Art Museum and City gallery
Pärnu raekoda
The Town Hall is located in a house built in 1797 by the merchant P.R. Harder. In 1804, the Russian czar Alexander I stayed in this house during his visit to Pärnu. A new art nouveau building with neo-baroque details was completed in 1911 to the north side of the town hall.
The only surviving bit from the city walls, demolished in the 19th century. It remains the only surviving 17th century city gate in the Baltic states.
Completed in 1768, the Church of Jekaterina is the most style pure and ample baroque church in Estonia. The church has influenced the development of orthodox church architecture in whole Balticum. To this day Pärnu Russian congregation operates in the church.
the Almshouse
Known to be the oldest building in Pärnu. It was built in 1658 on the remains of the old almshouse of the Holy Spirit's Church as a shelter to the sick and the cripples. Based on research on the wooden raft under the basement of the building, the old almshouse dates back to 1250-1350. The building was restored to look the way it did in the 17th century. It houses the St. Peterburg Hotel and the restaurant Seegi Maja.
The musician Raimond Valgre who played in Pärnu in 1930s and brought the town a lot of fame, can today be found sitting in the park near Kuursaal, as a bronze statue. You too can sit down next to the beloved Estonian composer and enjoy his beautiful compositions.
Eliisabet's Church, inaugurated in 1750, is the most outstanding sacral building of the Baroque period in Estonia. One of the best organs in Estonia is in Eliisabet's Church and the place is popular as a concert hall among music lovers.
The jetty has gained a romantic aura as a place for lovers to take walks on; however, before taking a walk there, be sure to check the water level! The length of both jetties is a bit over two kilometres.
Pärnu has a long beach that opens to the south and has lovely, almost white sand. It is a major Baltic seaside resort. Completed in 2006, the attractive Beach Promenade has the feeling of a real resort and makes the Summer Capital's beaches inviting even in bad weather! Well thought-out lighting keeps the beach active even when the sun goes down, and the playing colours of the fountains are a sight in themselves in the dark of night.
Horseback riding. European-standards excellent service and reception; good both for novice and for experienced riders.
It may rain in summer, and when it does many Estonian holiday makers go indoors to the veepark / veekeskus, which is an indoor water park at the largest beachside hotel. As water parks go, this one is fantastic, and insures that your few days at the beach won't be wasted because of inclement weather.
Modern and moderate-priced; great variety of medical treatment and procedures.
The hotel’s spa area consists of a water park popular with water beasts, with slides, an adventure pool, a mountain river with rapids, hot tubs, steam and steam baths, an outdoor pool and a 100 m long slide. For adults, the spa section has an additional Paradise sauna section, where you can relax in various saunas and pools, including a Japanese bath and salt bath.
You can work out in the 25-meter swimming pool, relax in the jacuzzi or in the Japanese bath. Children have their own children's pool. The department also has various saunas from a steam bath to a salt bath.
pizzeria
fast food
pizzeria.
Small and cozy restaurant serving all sorts of Georgian dishes. If you are at least two persons, want to taste most of what is on the menu and are really hungry, try the "Georgian celebration plate for two"; it also includes a jar of the famous - albeit salty - Georgian mineral water Borjomi.
Another pizzeria with a beer garden. Crowded in summer.
Hostel Lõuna
Inexpensive and recommended.
Holiday cottages and apartments.
Small historical hotel in the city centre.
Hotell Pärnu
Centrally located — most things worth seeing can be reached within ten minutes by foot. The outside doesn't look very appealing but the rooms are clean and modern, with well working Wi-Fi, balcony and air conditioner. Their Restaurant Embecke is on the ground floor. The room price includes a generous breakfast buffet and the use of the hotel's sauna.
The hotel in functionalist style was opened in 1937, but was soon taken into other use. It was reopened in 1994 and again renovated in 2016.
By bus
Buses arrive at the small bus station on the border of the old town. This bus station feels like a big bus stop because the terminal building is somewhat hidden on the opposite side of the street.
By train
Pärnu's train connection to Tallinn was closed permanently in 2018. Rail travellers will have to change to buses in Rapla and Lelle.
By car
Pärnu has road connections from Tallinn (128 km), Haapsalu (108 km), Tartu (174 km), as well as to Riga in Latvia (184 km). The major artery of the Baltic states, Via Baltica, passes near Pärnu.
By plane
Expect absolutely no service at the airport. You will have to call taxi or arrange some other private transportation to the city.
By boat
Pärnu has a large port, which is mostly used for cargo traffic. Ferries to the island of Kihnu depart from the Munalaid dock located 35 km west of Pärnu.
By taxi
On foot
Pärnu's old town is pretty small and navigable by foot and it's full of small boutiques. Lots of them are on Rüütli street.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Pärnu · Regional · EPU
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Articles and travel topics about Pärnu and Estonia.
ItinerariesVia Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThe Amber Road (German: Bernsteinstraße, Italian: Via dell Ambra) is an ancient trade route which connects the Baltic Sea with the Adriatic Sea.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyA resort is an establishment with activities for visitors, together with dining and accommodation for a prolonged stay.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureHiking is a great way to explore the forests, bogs, islands and the rural side of Estonia.
Wikivoyage
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