Get lost in the picturesque old town
The Baltics has one of the cutest old towns of Europe. If you only have one day to spend in Parnu, spend it strolling the dreamy old towns that will take you back in time.
Explore the colorful wooden houses and gardens
The beautiful aesthetics isn’t just limited to the old town. As you walk around the little town, you will quickly notice the unique décor.
Wooden houses are lined up one after another. Get ready to take a lot of pictures. I naturally love walking when I get to a new place. That said, the beautiful houses along with their dreamy gardens made strolling along a walk in the park ( no pun intended).
Take a dip in the Baltic Sea
It goes without saying that the Baltic Sea is one of northernmost sea bodies in the world. So do not expect the water to be 30 degree Celsius.
I still recommend going in and taking a dip. I’m used to crystal blue beaches but one of my travel rules is to try almost anything at least once. Glad I did, because I ended up really enjoying the experience and kept going back in.
Also the Baltic Sea is very unique because it is extremely shallow. Most definitely the reason why it was warmer than I expected.
Explore the thriving Beach cafe culture of Parnu
Honestly I was not expecting to see such a vibrant cafe culure all the way in the Baltics.
Listen up!
Ok, You don’t have to go swim if you don’t fancy it. But you absolutely Do want to explore the cute little beach cafes of Parnu.
This alone will make you fall in love with this beautiful seaside town.
Try a new sport & attend a Jiu Jitsu camp
I love slow and active travel. So lately find myself doing a lot of fitness abroad. Some people travel only to see UNESCO sites ( nothing wrong with that). But I also enjoy sampling the local food scenes along with the local fitness activities.
There’s so much to do and see. You could check out some spinning club, martial arts gym, dancing or anything else you could think of.
Since we’re talking of moving, you can also check out my dance wellness retreats. Hopefully, I will be able to host some in that part of the world too. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Active Traveling
If you’re new to this lifestyle, give it a try. You never know and might actually enjoy moving around when you travel.
It allows you to get to know a different aspect of a city while mingling with the locals and getting all these feel good endorphins.
In case you didn’t know, I am also a dance instructor. After falling in love with active traveling, I decided to start organizing some wellness retreats around the world, where a group of women travel to a beautiful city. We stay together either in a nice hotel or a beautiful villa. The days are spent with some tailor made dancing classes, exploring the local city and eating the best food the city has to offer.
Oh and let’s not forget the wine too.
Discover all the awesome street arts
This was such a pleasant surprise. There are so many beautiful murals scattered all around town.
Make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Party with the locals at the “Dancing Table” Pub
This was a major surprise. I have no idea how we found this place. It was not even properly marked in the maps. Somehow we made it there and thanks to this awesome experience, we ended up discovering a whole different side of the locals.
At first Latvians can seem very reserved but turns out they do love a good party. I was not expecting to see them go wild and dancing on tables like that 🙂
Hit the legendary Karaoke Bar
Who doesn’t love to let their hair loose and sing their lungs away? This little karaoke Bar is a staple in the Parnu’s nightlife as it always seems to be open and pretty late.
Enjoy some of the brightest sunset hues in the world
Who doesn’t love a good sunset?
Get ready to be wowed. We’re talking the brightest shades of orange and pink mixed up together. They also seem to last an eternity up there
Attend the Grind Music festival
This actually came at a surprise to me. I had no idea a small town like Parnu was hosting such festival. It was a two days electronic type of dance.
I went both days and thoroughly enjoyed myself. If you choose to go, I’d recommend dressing up for a rainy weather just in case. It poured on both days and I’ve never been so happy to be wearing sturdy waterproof boots along with a rain jacket.
Tip: If you need a rain jacket, you can always hit up the thrift store Humana and score some good deals.
Have a picnic in the beautiful lush park
Pick up a few items and enjoy a nice picnic in the beautiful park. There’s also a big Parnu sign where you can take pictures if you so feel inclined.
Check out the unofficial open air museum
One thing that you would notice while walking around in Parnu is that there are quite a few exhibitions spread around. For example, the town is also covered in historical information allowing to get to know it on a deeper level.
Attend the Mullfest
Mules lovers rejoice!
My first stay coincided with the Mules and wine festival. I also liked that it was small, cozy and laidback. If that’s something that you absolutely would love to attend, make sure to check the dates.
Most importantly, don’t forget to book your accommodations.
Have fun at the local waterpark
There is also a local indoor waterpark. My friend went and really enjoyed his time there
Go Bog walking?
What the hell is a Bog to even start?
That’s the first question I had, when I first heard of bog walking.
Let me shine a light on this really quick.
A bog is just a fancy term for a “wet spongy ground”. So if you’re into trekking and outdoor walking, you will soon notice that bog walking is very popular throughout the Baltics.
It’s a very fun, low impact and unique activity to do. One of my friend did it and they even stopped by a small lake for a quick reinvigorating swim.
Relax at the Viiking indoor spa while sipping a cocktail
I can’t believe that I almost missed this until I got invited by some friends. So happy they did. This is a very fond memory of Parnu.
The Viiking is a full fledge indoor spa. I did not expect so many different steam rooms and pools.
Fancy a drink? Well, no worries. You can also get a nice cocktail at the bar then go in the jacuzzi. Don’t miss out on the cute little sauna chamber on the rooftop where you can relax and enjoy some nice views.
This also makes for a great activity on rainy days.
Explore the Food scene
Eating and checking out the food scene is a favorite activity of mine when I travel to a new city.
After having traveled throughout both Estonia and Latvia, I must say that the food scene is very dynamic and thriving. There are lots of restaurants getting really creative with their cuisine.
To get started, I totally recommend Vehverments Bar & Tostadas
Test your racing skills on the Go Karting tracks
I only found out about the Go Kart on the last day and went there while waiting for my bus connection. It was so much fun. The track is located under the mall.
If you have time and fancy it, this is another great recommendation.
To Wrap it up
This was a list of some of the best things you can do in Parnu. It is the perfect little town to relax and slow down. So don’t worry, you will have a fantastic time there. Hope you fall in love with the city the same way, I keep falling for it.