Pärnu

Pärnu is a resort seaside city (and Estonia's summer capital) with a small harbour in south-western Estonia. The city is known for its spas, shallow white sandy beach and beautiful parks. In summer, Pärnu offers beach life, dozens of festivals, night clubs, big party crowds, concerts and funfairs.

Understand
During the Great Northern War, the University of Tartu was relocated to Pärnu from 1699-1710. Tartu University still has a branch campus there.

Pärnu is an ancient Hanseatic town, where a medieval festival and an arts and crafts fair are held every summer.

It is also a popular place for conferences, theatre performances and concerts. In 1838 the first spa was opened and nowadays Pärnu is a health resort of international stature.



Get in
See Estonia for bus and train schedules.

By bus
Buses arrive at the small bus station (bussijaam) 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. The nearby fast-food kiosk opens early in the morning and caters to morning travellers while the whole city is still sleeping.

Buses from Tallinn depart every hour and reach Pärnu in about two hours. You can also travel from Viljandi (1 hr) and Tartu (2½-3 hr), Kuressaare (3 hr), and Valga (2½ hr). There is one daily bus from Saint Petersburg in Russia with a stop in Narva (5 hr). Check the schedules at [http://www.tpilet.ee/en? here].

Pärnu is a major stop in the middle of the Tallinn–Riga route. Buses run every 1-2 hours and connect you to the Latvian capital in 2½ hr. Pärnu can be an excellent stopover on your away between the Baltic capitals.

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. City bus #23 runs to the airport twice a day, but its schedule is adjusted to the airport staff, not to sporadic travelers.

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. However, a small passenger harbor exists at Kalda 2(right at the city center) and may serve occasional weekend ferries to Kihnu and Ruhnu.

If you are arriving by sail boat (keelyacht), you can dock at the Pärnu Yacht Club. To stay with motorboat you can use Talvesadam on (Pärnu vallikraav).

By bus
The bus network covers the whole city, including the suburbs. There are 26 routes and their schedules can be found at pilet.ee. Load a mobile app to buy tickets. At summer free Kaubamajakas bus can be used.

By taxi
Read more under Estonia.

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.

Do

 * Football: Vaprus play soccer in Meistriliiga, Estonia's top tier. Their home ground Pärnu Rannastaadion (capacity 1500) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.
 * Football: Vaprus play soccer in Meistriliiga, Estonia's top tier. Their home ground Pärnu Rannastaadion (capacity 1500) is 1 km south of town centre. The playing season is March-Nov.

Spa and baths


In winter time, consider one of the many spa hotels:



Art
Just south of downtown is a modern art museum and art school. Exhibits change frequently, and are often edgy and provocative.

Learn
Pärnu College of Tartu University.

Drink
Pärnu has several clubs and lounges, most of them located in the center near Rüütli street. There are also many cozy terraces and pubs around the numerous parks in the summer time.

Sleep
On Sauga river you can stay on a boat at the Sauga Sadam fishing village.

Go next
If you dare leave urban pleasures behind, there is great countryside to explore. Many cultural and sports events offer entertainment all year round. The enthralling nature of Pärnu County, which offering ample, quality opportunities for active holidays, supplements the greenery of city parks and boulevards. Walks in the forest, kayak trips on rivers and the sea, riding, fishing, hunting trips, adventurous bog or canoe trips to Soomaa National Park and elsewhere in the county offer great escapes. In winter, you can partake in skiing, snowshoe and kick sledge trips, or a sledge safari and enjoy a sauna steam.


 * Lottemaa
 * Valgeranna – Village with large beaches and an amusement park.
 * Kihnu – The southernmost group of islands, Khinu, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Cosy and warm yet exotic – folk costumes are worn here every day and the handicraft of older generations remains highly valued.
 * Ruhnu – The communal territory corresponds to that of the homonymous island, formerly known as Runö.
 * Kabli – A quiet seaside village on the Gulf of Riga with bird-ringing centre and rural beaches.
 * Latvia – The border is about 60 km south of Pärnu. Even more sand beaches, interesting castles in the cities of Cēsis and Sigulda, plus of course the Latvian capital Riga with things to see and do for several days.