Vormsi is an island where Swedes lived for centuries. Documents show that there was a settlement as early as in the 13th century. Vormsi was a Swedish-speaking island, where, for example, in 1934, 2,393 Swedes and 122 Estonians lived.
Vormsi Farm Museum is a typical pre-World War II farm of Estonian Swedish people. The farm has been restored with the help of old photographs, written sources, and the memories of the people of Vormsi who were born in Vormsi and fled Sweden to escape the war.
The museum sells Vormsi handicrafts, souvenirs, and Vormsi-themed books.
Palivere is famous for its sand dunes and pine forests. Pikajalamägi or Pikajala Hill is the highest point in Lääne County – 51 m – and home to a fortress whose construction began in the early part of the second millennium but was never completed. Around 11,000 years ago the sea lapped the foot of the hill. The old ski jumping tower on the hill is no longer in use, but it offers unbeatable views over the surrounding area. Hiking trails also wind their way over and around the hill.
Did you know…?
*The spring at the foot of the hill is said to have a restorative effect on the eyes, making them sparkle and leaving you looking forever young! And if you toss a coin in it during spring, they say you will never run out of money…
Lahe Maja guesthouse is a one hundred-year-old villa on the edge of the Old Town by the bay. We offer guests a relaxing holiday with all mod cons in an atmosphere dating back to Haapsalu’s golden days as a resort town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The guesthouse has six rooms, all furnished differently, with their own en-suite facility and kitchenettes (with a fridge and coffee machine). There is also WiFi, Internet, a TV, a dining room and a very sunny verandah. You can park your car in the yard. Our garden and pergola are the perfect places to read, relax and enjoy a drink. We also have a separate building designed for family stays.
A boardwalk leads you from Altmõisa guesthouse in Lääne County through marshy meadows of juniper bushes and reeds. The hike to the seaside and back takes no more than an hour, if you don’t forget yourself watching the swans glide by and the sun sink below the horizon. The hiking trail showcases the surrounding flora, with information boards describing what you see from the boardwalk.
Part of the style of the Fra Mare Thalasso Spa is the use of the unique Haapsalu sea mud, seawater, sea air, and sea algae for your wellness and relaxation. After consulting with our doctors, you will receive spa treatments for fatigue, stress, joint and neural diseases. The Thalasso treatments and the services of our beauty salon are extremely enjoyable and relaxing, bringing freshness and energy into your everyday life. Visit the Fra Mare homepage to find more about our different treatments. You are also welcome to combine your visit with sports in Paralepa forest park and on the beach.
*Don’t miss our Day Spa sauna and swimming pool park!
The Promenaad tennis club offers outdoor courts right next to Haapsalu’s famous Episcopal Castle as part of the Krahviaia tennis centre. There are five clay/sand courts, while the adjacent pavilion hosts the clubhouse and a pro shop. There are also changing rooms and everything else you need. Those who have the time and inclination after a game can also play pétanque, croquet or darts – there is plenty of room to play both indoors and outside in Krahviaia park.
Roosta Holiday Village’s two-lane bowling alley does not require any preparation from the player besides a bit of fun and accuracy. Bowling in the party rooms of the holiday village offers pleasant and social entertainment. The lanes are open to both overnight guests and other visitors. In addition to bowling, there are other games (pool, corona, table tennis) in the large entertainment hall and there is also a restaurant. In the restaurant, you can enjoy delicious snacks or combine entertainment with dinner. Bowling is open EVERY DAY!
Come and put yourself to the test!
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.
Haapsalu Stadium has two tennis courts with artificial grass surfaces. Court hire includes use of the changing rooms and shower facilities, and for an extra charge you can enjoy the services of the Haapsalu Water Park. You can also hire all of your tennis gear on site. Game times can be booked at the information desk in the Haapsalu Water Park by the hour.
In Wiedemanni Sports Centre you can in addition to basketball or volleyball also play badminton and table tennis, you can also use the body-building gym.
The Haapsalu Water Centre is a great place to relax for the whole family. There is a kid’s pool for small children and a 46-metre water slide tube that offers excitement for our bigger guests. There is also a 25-metre swimming-pool with 6 lanes for more serious swimmers. Relax in different saunas or the Jacuzzi or take part in a water aerobics class. The Water Centre has a cafe and beauty parlour, and swimwear can be rented if you forget yours at home.
Haapsalu Sports Hall includes a modern sports centre complex. Here, you can play basketball, volleyball, and tennis in an indoor hall and, if the weather is warm, on the outdoor stadium as well. The sports hall includes a gym, an aerobics room, an indoor cycling room, and a fencing room.
The stadium includes:
• an athletics stadium
• a full-size soccer field
• a soccer field with artificial grass
• an outdoor basketball court with a wooden floor
• volleyball courts on grass and sand
• two tennis courts
• gymnastics areas
• a roofed platform with benches for up to 900 spectators.
The centre also includes a hostel and is located next to Haapsalu Water Centre.