Nature holiday - Visit Haapsalu

Immerse yourself in the nature of Läänemaa

In the romantic small town of Haapsalu and small villages, hospitable people await you, surprising you with their sincerity and interest in history and culture. The guests who stayed here are remembered again and again with great respect.

VisitEstonia has produced a brochure introducing Estonia’s national parks:

Swimming at Vasikaholm Beach

Vasikaholm Beach is Haapsalu’s second official bathing beach after Paralepa. There are changing cabins on the beach, as well as a toilet with clean water. In the summer, there is also an ice cream cafe. Water quality and cleanliness is inspected twice a month. The official bathing season lasts from 1 June to 31 August.

Good to know: Pay attention to the colour of the flags on the beach:
* green means swimming is safe and the water is warmer than 18 ºC;
* yellow means the conditions are dangerous for children and the elderly;
* red means conditions are dangerous to all, water temperature below 16 ºC.

Lahe tn 23, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Gulf `Tagalaht` and birdwatching tower in Haapsalu promenade

For most of the year the Gulf Tagalaht in Haapsalu is an exciting place for birdwatching. There is no need to leave town, simply visit the 15-metre high birdwatching tower on the Promenade. When visiting the tower you will get a full overview of birdlife in the area between Haapsalu and Noarootsi. When the ice breaks in April and May, the gulf is filled with swans and different types of ducks. In autumn – in September and October – it is interesting to witness the departure of geese and cranes.

Promenaadi tn 3, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Marimetsa Bog Hiking Trail

The first part of the trail is a dirt road that runs along the high-voltage power line. The track then reaches the Marimetsa Brook and leads to the rest area along the banks of the brook. From there, a boardwalk will take you to Marimetsa Bog. There is a viewing tower at the end of the trail (7.6 metres high).
In Marimetsa Bog, you will see a fen, a transition bog, a raised bog, and a number of different birds and plants.
The length of the trail is 9 kilometres of which 2 × 2 kilometres is a boardwalk. You should plan 4–5 hours for the hike. The trail is wet at places – make sure to bring your rubber boots.
There is a dry toilet on the track, benches for resting, and an information board with a map and a scheme of the trail.

Kullamaa metskond 2, Rõuma küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Roosta Beach

The sandy beach near Roosta Holiday Village is one of the best in the northwest of Estonia. There is a car park for 80 cars and boardwalks for people in wheelchairs. There are also cabanas and places for buying snacks and drinks. The adjoining Roosta Holiday Village offers various possibilities for active relaxation – starting with miniature golf and ending with a game of tennis or bowling. Roosta Holiday Village also offers accommodation and catering services.
Good to know: In summer you can learn how to surf, hire a boat or pedalo.

Suplusranna, Elbiku küla / Ölbäck, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Palivere Tourism and Health Sports Center ski trails

Palivere, located 20 kilometers from Haapsalu, has ski trails of various lengths and difficulty levels, as well as sledding and snowboard slopes! We also offer ski rental on-site!

Groomed ski trails allow you to ski in both freestyle and classic techniques. The 1.5 km ski trail is illuminated until 9 p.m. in the winter.

At the beginning of the trail, there is a parking lot, a pavilion, a campfire site, and an insulated toilet building equipped with hot and cold water. After skiing, both a sauna and catering are available upon reservation.

Come early in the morning, during the day or at night. Enjoy the crisp winter weather — the ski trail awaits!

Spordikeskuse, Allikmaa küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Lynx and bear watching tour in Alutaguse and Lahemaa National Park

The focus of this nature tour is on three iconic mammals – the lynx, the brown bear, and the wolf. For now, let’s focus our attention on the lynx, who has the most secretive life. About 500 lynxes are thought to live in Estonia, and they are mostly seen in Alutaguse and Lahemaa National Park.

Estonia also has a large bear population of almost 1,000. We will monitor their activities from a hut. In addition, we hope to hear the howls of wolves on dark autumn nights.

We will also have plenty of time for bird-watching. The tour includes accommodation and meals.

The best time to order a tour is the first three weeks of October but you can contact us all year round!

We also organise scheduled animal watching trips which you can join alone or with a friend, see our website for more information.

Palasi küla, Vinni vald, Lääne-Viru maakond