Sightseeing & Attractions

Architecture

Much of Pärnu is made up of colourful wooden houses, with picturesque gardens and ornate details. It seems that around just about every corner in Pärnu there’s another building that can inspire sincere‘oohs’and‘aahs.’

Historic Sights

Pärnu has a long history and although many of the oldest relics in the town were lost to the ages, WW2 and the Soviet-era’s use and abuse, luckily there are a few older structures still around and some can still be enjoyed.

Stone Jetties

For a lot of summer tourists, Pärnu begins and ends with its white sand beach. Aside from the bronzing bodies and volleyball games you can find on any beach, there are other sights here as well. One is the functionalist-style Rannahoone (beach house) dating to 1939. Find this building, with its distinctive, mushroom-shaped balcony, right on the beach. Nearby is the Kuursaal, an intricate, wooden beach salon dating to 1893.

In 1764, merchants persuaded Catherine II of the necessity to build a stone jetty and to deepen the estuary. The summer sun and glistening water make a 2-km walk down to the tip of the jetty nearly irresistible. Today, a new, illuminated boardwalk has been built, which starts at Rannapark, follows the Pärnu River for half a kilometre and ends near the jetty.Q Located where the beach meets the river.

In addition to the above mentioned Rannahoone, the Rannahotell (beach hotel) at Ranna pst. 5 stands out as another wonderful example of functionalism. Completed in 1937, it was designed by the same architect, Olav Siinmaa, who also had a hand in creating one of the most recognised symbols of the town - the neoclassicist Pärnu Mud Bath building which dates from 1926-27. Not far from here, at Mere pst. 7, is the early Jugendstil Ammende Villa, which was built in 1905 for a wealthy merchant. It’s now a hotel and restaurant, so you can easily sneak a peak at its fantastically restored interior or stroll around its well-tended garden.

Tallinn Gate

When the gatehouse was built in the 17th century, it really was the passage to Tallinn, leading south and west across the moat. A true highway connection between Tallinn and Pärnu was not ensured until 1938, when the bridge you see today was built across Pärnu River. The Vallikäär area starts behind the gate.Q Kuninga 1.

Vallik R

Theremainsoftherampartwhichoncesurrounded the town around Õhtu Street are now a nicely fixed-up park. Walking along the rampart wall toward the river will give you great views of the moat and marina. You’ll also find an old, wooden lighthouse and a cannon which was once one of two guarding the approach to the city. Concerts are often held in the amphitheatre. Vallikäär is a great place for a picnic and also has several play areas for kids.Q Located along the old moat.

Red Tower

The oldest building in Pärnu (dating to the 15th century), this squat, round structure once stood guard on the edge of town. It is now smack in the centre and, as you can see, white. It stands adjacent the only remaining bit of the Old Town wall. The tower is a visitor center with a panoramic cinema introducing the history of Pärnu.Q Hommiku 11.