Pärnu: Nature Trails, Bogs and Culture

Discover Pärnu through nature and cultural experiences: along the Navesti River, the Riisa Nature Trail winds through bogs and forests. Kuresoo, Estonia’s largest intact bog complex, lies in Soomaa National Park. Trails, landscapes and museums offer different ways to experience this destination.

Bogs, forests and trails

Soomaa National Park covers 17,500 hectares of floodplain meadows, bogs, forests and rivers. Kuresoo is a distinctive part of this landscape: it is Estonia’s largest intact bog complex. The Riisa Nature Trail also winds through bogs and forests, here along the Navesti River. The Baltic Coastal Hiking Trail passes through Pärnu County and is part of the European long-distance trail E9. The Kopra–Ikla section of the RMK hiking route is 74 kilometres long and can be hiked.

The Rannametsa–Tolkuse Nature Trail offers a different kind of route: the 2.2-kilometre circular trail passes through pine forest and the Tolkuse Bog. The section from the car park to the bog lake and back is also accessible by wheelchair or pushchair; check accessibility before your visit. The trail leads to the largest bog lake in Tolkuse Bog. Swimming is possible there seasonally. The circular trail, bog landscape and swimming spot can thus be enjoyed as different aspects of the same route.

Observe nature and experience traditions

Guided beaver-watching tours are offered along the rivers in Soomaa National Park. Confirm the tour before you travel. At the Kabli Visitor Centre, nature education programmes for children and adults cover a range of topics. The permanent exhibition focuses on southern Pärnu County, forests, bogs, coastal meadows, bird migration and forestry in North Livonia.

On Kihnu, woollen handicrafts are among the most visible symbols of the culture. Preserved traditions also include songs, games, dances and wedding ceremonies. The Kihnu Museum offers guided tours and workshops about the island’s traditions. As the museum programme schedule may change seasonally, it is advisable to check the latest dates before your visit. These traditions reflect different aspects of the island’s cultural life, from crafts to community customs.

Tori is home to Estonia’s oldest horse-breeding establishment. Estonian and Tori horses are still bred and kept there. The stud offers rides on its grounds and in the forest. You can encounter the equestrian heritage both as a continuing breeding tradition and on a ride. Both activities are directly connected to the stud and its horses.

Museums and regional history

The Eesti Muuseumraudtee in Lavassaare is Estonia’s only narrow-gauge railway museum and has an operational steam locomotive. The museum is open daily in summer; at weekends, a steam or diesel train runs along a two-kilometre route. The ride is a railway experience in its own right, alongside the museum collection. Check the current operating calendar before your trip, as train services are seasonal.

At the Häädemeeste Museum, the renewed exhibition explores the region’s history, the development of sailing and fishing, and the history of churches, schools and culture. Discussion groups and events help preserve and pass on local heritage and culture. The Pärnu Museum tells four unique stories from the region. Those interested in architectural history can find a historicist brick building with Neo-Gothic features at Allikukivi Manor. Tõstamaa Manor was founded in the Middle Ages. The subjects therefore range from regional everyday life and cultural history to architecture and the age of the manor houses.

Discover more destinations: Kabli, Varbla Vald, Sauga, Häädemeeste, Kihnu Vald, Tõstamaa, Are, Saulepa, Surju, Saarde, Reiu, Papsaare, Kurgja, Salu, Vändra, Audru, Lavassaare, Koonga Parish, Tori, Sindi linn, Tahkuranna, Tammiste, Kuiaru, Treimani, Pärnu, Paikuse, Pootsi, Uulu, Leina, Võiste.

For the broader travel overview: Estonia.