What to do and see in Parnu, Estonia: The Best Places and Tips

In 2007 a actual prison in Parnu was closed. Now it's reopened as the biggest escape rooms complex in Scandinavia. Are you capable to escape from an actual prison?

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! Romantically winding down the beach, the Promenade surprises you with is well-thought functionality, and playfulness that comes from the use of different materials and Fountains.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 darkness of the night.Come and enjoy real beach feeling!

In April we are open saturdays and sundays 12:00 - 14:00 Meet our alpacas, goats, Ouesannt sheeps(smallest breed in the world) angorabunnies, chickens and or dog Mia. Buy alpaca souvenirs or refreshments in our farmshop.

The water park is a relaxing place for spending time with family and friends! The two floors of the water park accommodate 700 visitors at a time. The water park offers interesting activities for grown-ups and the young, for beginners and experienced water lovers. The more courageous visitors can use a 4 metre diving platform, and the depth of water underneath is 4 metres. Everyone riding the tube slides or torrential mountain rivers will definitely get a good shot of adrenaline. There are also pools, Jacuzzis, Waterfalls, Finnish sauna and steam sauna, sauna centre Paradiisi Saunad, the Aqua bar, an outdoor heated pool (open in winter too!), a summer Terrace and a bar waiting for you in the water park. The attractions of the water park allow everyone to be active - from a toddler to the elderly. The spiral staircase will take you to the 11-metre high starting platform with four tube slides. The longest of the slides is 85 metres long. The shortest slide is meant for young children. The visitors sliding in tubes will not land in the pool, but safety channel.

This playground was constructed in summer 2010. Modern and boasting all of the latest technical solutions, it is a great place for the whole family to relax and have fun. Its attractions develop children's muscles, spatial awareness and balance. The playground has a range of attractions: a slide, climbing frames, sandpits and swings. The play area also has a safety cover. The proximity of the water and the beachside park create an enjoyable atmosphere.

Pärnu Visitor Centre in Uus Street, the central artery of the town, is there to help with tips and advice. We have a huge selection of maps and publications for getting around in the area, we can advise on finding a place to eat or stay, arranging your travel and suggest top ideas for great days out!

Parnu has always been an important harbour. To stop sand build-up in the river mouth, jetties made from logs were built in 1769, as ordered by the empress Catherine II. In 1863-64, new jetties were built of rocks that were transported there from the Beaches of Haademeeste and Kihnu. The length of both jetties was a bit over two kilometres.The jetty on the left bank of the river has become a symbol of Parnu.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! At times, the jetty can be left completely under water, but when the water level is low, you can even see the ends of the wooden poles of the previous jetty.

The musician Raimond Valgre who played in Parnu in 1930s and brought the town a lot of fame, can today be found sitting in the park near Kuursaal, as a bronze statue. The author of the statue is Rait Parg.You too can sit down next to the beloved Estonian composer and enjoy his beautiful compositions. Also be sure to go to the traditional Homage to Valgre musical night that takes place every summer, when Estonian star singers perform Valgre's immortal songs at the outdoor stage.

The so called Tallinn Gate used to mark the beginning of the postal road from Parnu to Tallinn and was built during the Swedish period in the 17th century. The medieval fortification system of Parnu was almost fully destroyed in the preceding Livonian War. The town was surrounded by an entrenchment and one could leave the town through the Vee varav (Water gate) which led to the riverside and into the direction of Riga.During the teardown of the fortification in the 19th century only the Tallinn Gate was preserved, as well as the embankments and the trench that leads to the Venuse Bastion at the riverside - the so called Vallikaar.Now visitors are welcome to walk through the monumental Baroque gate and marvel at the beautiful beach district of Parnu!