Haapsalu’s main street, Karja, begins at the Swedish Market. The name of the street (“herd”) originates from the time when animals belonging to the citizens of the town were led out to pasture down this road. As late as the beginning of the 20th century, the Swedish Market was an empty square where the fish market was held. Many plots of land in the area belonged at that time to Estonian Swedes (or Coastal Swedish) families. In the 1930s, a small park with the town well was built here. To decorate the square, the sculpture “Boy With A Fish” was commissioned from the sculptor Juhan Raudsepp (erected in 1936).

Good to know: The fountain side is still a nice and romantic place to sit. During the summertime festivals such as August Blues and the White Lady Festival the Swedish Market is transformed into a small open air stage. 

Ridala Church is one of the most valuable churches in Läänemaa from the artistic point of view. It has been dedicated to Mary Magdalene whose figure in the church is one of the oldest sculptured figures in Estonia.
This archaic sanctuary lacks a belfry. Be sure to take a look at the medieval paintings. The altar, the triumphal arch group and pulpit are also remarkable.
In the churchyard the most valuable things are the trapezoid gravestones dating back to the 13th century with sun cross and arbour vitae motifs. The two massive stone crosses near the main entrance of the church are very old.
Interesting facts:
According to a folk tale the church was built by a giant maiden as a dwelling house.

The Kongo Hotel is located in the Old Town of Haapsalu. It is easily accessible, only a few minutes walk away from the main street of the town.

The interior of the hotel includes environmentally friendly materials and light colour palette. The hotel has double and triple rooms, rooms with a kitchenette, and a suite with a sauna. For families with children, we offer affordable accommodation in a family room with a kitchenette. Children up to the age of 10 can stay in the same room with their parents on a fold-out extra bed for free. If you wish, we can also add a baby crib to the room. The hotel has a play area for children.

The hotel has a Finnish sauna, a pool, and a restaurant. There is a free parking lot for the hotel guests.

The romantic Altmõisa is located 100 km from Tallinn and Pärnu, and 18 km from Haapsalu. Nearby, you will find the sea and the beautiful landscape of Matsalu. Migratory birds fly over the house.
The bright rooms with painted walls are all unique. Altmõisa’s kitchen focuses on promoting local ingredients.

Weddings, birthdays, and trainings are held in Altmõisa. We are popular among nature tourists who want to experience the unspoilt nature of Lääne County. The house is suitable for family vacations, romantics, and also for groups who want to enjoy silence. Seminars can be organised for up to 60 people.

Here, you can dedicate yourself to both training and relaxation.

The highlighting features of Müüriääre Café are paintings by Epp-Maria Kokamägi, furniture by Jaak Arro and ceramics by Liisu Arro. As you walk in, the first thing you notice is the aroma of freshly-baked pastry which makes you feel like you are at you grandma’s house. Cushions, candles, salt lamps and a small fireplace add to the cozy ambience of the place. There are newspapers and magazines for adults to read and a boxful of rag dolls for children to play with.

Interesting to know: Making a choice is not easy. Try various salads, pasties, sandwiches, rolls and, of course, Müüriääre Café cakes.

The American Beauty Summer Meet is the little brother of its big sister, the American Beauty Car Show. This gathering brings together American car enthusiasts and will take place on July 09-11 in a unique setting – the Haapsalu Castle Courtyard and Kiltsi Airport.

On Saturday, July 10, the Haapsalu Castle Courtyard will be filled with iconic American cars, and visitors can listen to great music.

On Sunday, July 11, the fun will continue with a procession of American cars through Haapsalu. The day ends with a drag race at Kiltsi Airport.

Every spring, the town of Haapsalu becomes Estonia’s most mysterious city for a few days when HÕFF — the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival — begins. It is one of the most unique genre film festivals in the Baltics, bringing the world’s best horror, fantasy, and cult films to visitors from Estonia and neighboring countries.

The heart of HÕFF is a carefully selected quality program. The festival features award-winning, acclaimed works from prestigious international genre film festivals, many of which have not previously been shown in Estonian cinemas and often do not reach general distribution. Therefore, HÕFF offers a unique opportunity to discover films that cannot be seen elsewhere in Estonia.

But HÕFF is much more than a film festival. The screenings are complemented by meetings with filmmakers, special events, thematic activities, and festival buzz, bringing together both passionate film enthusiasts and curious visitors.

Add HÕFF to your spring travel plans and discover the town of Haapsalu in a completely different light!

Nurme Bistro opened its doors in 2001 to feed the employees of the nearby Nurme factory. However, the bistro quickly gained popularity and became one of the most well-known eateries in Haapsalu.
Regardless of the alien name, we offer simple homemade and traditional local dishes. We also offer snacks, nourishing sandwiches, cakes, pies, and pastries. Every day, we offer a salad, a few different soups and steaks, and simple desserts.

An elegant country house with a French-style interior is located in a private place in a beautiful pine forest. The exterior of the house is in the ‘Swedish style’ and harmonises pleasantly with the surroundings.

Visitors can choose to spend the night in a room with a double bed on the ground floor or in the small room with two separate beds on the first floor. The house has a fully equipped kitchen with tableware and other necessities.

There is a beach with almost white fine sand 800 m away. The beach is over a kilometre long.

The minimum rental period is 1 week.

In our Teele coffeehouse we offer our guests freshly baked buns, pastries, pies and cakes. You can also order a light breakfast or a main course.
The ground floor of the coffeehouse seats approx. 27 persons, there is a more private room for a smaller company (up to 10 persons) on the first floor.

Hesburger is a family company that was established in Finland. In terms of number of restaurants it is the biggest fast food chain in Finland and the Baltic States. Its menu comprises of burgers and salads, which are served in a clean and friendly environment. Hesburger restaurants are the perfect place to get together with friends or simply relax over a cup of coffee.
Enjoy your visit to Hesburger!

The Greenhome Willem Madise Villa Leisure, Sports and Holiday Centre has a holiday home with three bedrooms, a fireplace room, a kitchen,  a large sauna, a tavern with a large roofed terrace and a professional party tent as well as three camping cabins. There is plenty of room to pitch a tent. In addition, there is an exclusive outdoor pool complex with heating, LED lighting, and a large sun terrace with a cosy hot tub.
We also have sports courts and offer a variety of services for nature tourism.