Nature holidays

Did you know that, of Estonia’s five national parks, two are partially located in Pärnu county (Matsalu and Soomaa)? None of the other Estonian counties match Pärnu in offering such versatile opportunities for recreation and vacationing in nature.

National parks and hiking trails

Soomaa National Park offers unforgettable experiences when the surrounding rivers flood the park. This is called Soomaa’s fifth season. The fifth season can happen multiple times a year or, on occasion, not at all. The floods generally happen in the spring, since they are caused by the melting snowpack .

Matsalu National Park attracts visitors with its impressive number of bird species, which makes it one of the most diverse national parks in Europe. The best time for visiting is during the spring or fall migration since it is the main stopping point on the Estonian coastline for ducks, swans, geese, and cranes.

Active outside

In addition to hiking, river canoeing and kayaking trips are a great way to spend time in nature. Soomaa’s fifth season offers fascinating opportunities for this. Another unique experience is bog walking with snowshoes. Snowshoes are special footwear designed to hike on thick snow, but can be modified for swampy ground. For these hikes we recommend our excellent guides.

Jõulumäe Recreational Sport Center is one of the largest sports centers in Estonia and it offers options for various outdoor activities: hiking trails, running paths, disc golf courses and lots more. They can also rent out equipment.

Several farms in Pärnu County offer horseback riding in nature. Fishing Village Caravan and Camping will take you fishing on the river or at the sea. Pärnu’s largest adventure park is located at White Beach.

Holiday in the nature in Pärnu

Pärnu is a very green town. There are tens of parks, and recreational trails for hiking, biking, and other activities. The best way to get around Pärnu is by bike, taking advantage of the bike paths covering Pärnu.

Every summer, city cows dwell on Pärnu’s coastal grasslands and they have become a popular sight among the visitors to our town. An elevated hiking trail, built on the wetland, runs along the coastal grassland, offering pastoral views.

We suggest visiting the Pernova Nature House to get to know our nature, ecosystems and local animals.