Haapsalu is a major seaside resort town on the west coast of Estonia, approximately 100 km south-west of Tallinn. Haapsalu was chartered in 1279 and is well known for its historic and maritime ambience, warm sea water, curative mud baths and friendly residents. It's a wonderful little town with narrow streets for families and romantic couples who enjoy having picnics, walking, visiting spas and taking mud baths, sailing and swimming.

Understand

Haapsalu Castle

• Tourist Information Centre, Karja 15, ☏ +372 473 32 48, fax: +372 473 34 64, haapsalu@visitestonia.com. 

Get in

By bus

Haapsalu has a regular bus connection to Tallinn, Pärnu and Kärdla among other cities. Bus schedules can be found at Tpilet.ee.

See

View from the castle of Haapsalu

• Haapsalu Bishop’s Castle and Cathedral, Lossiplats tn 1. The Haapsalu Bishop’s Castle and Cathedral, which was established in the 13th century as the centre of the Saare-Lääne Diocese, is one of the best preserved castles in Estonia. Visit the museum complex in the convent building where you will find exhibition halls with finds from the castle and mysterious vaulted cellars. You might encounter Estonia’s most famous ghost – the White Lady. 
• Haapsalu Maria-Magdaleena Church, Rüütli tn 2. The Estonian Orthodox Maria Magdaleena Church is located in an idyllic area of Haapsalu – on the Promenade. The church was restored to its present state only a few years ago. 
• Haapsalu Resort Hall, Promenaadi tn. The timber-laced Resort Hall and the Bandstand on the seaside Promenade were built at the end of the 19th century and are the only ones of the kind that have survived in their original form. The Resort Hall is today, and was in the first half of the 20th century, the centre of summer activities in Haapsalu. 
• Haapsalu Railway Station, Raudtee tn 2. The Haapsalu Station building was custom designed, because the resort town was a favourite holiday site for the Russian tsars. The complex has four parts – the passenger building, Imperial Pavilion, the colonnade connecting them, and a unique 216-metre-long covered platform. 
• Kiltsi airfield, Kiltsi küla, Ridala vald. Built by former Soviet Union army Kiltsi airfield extends to ca 800 ha area. Concrete runways are 2500 m long, for the airplanes there were 28 hangars. Adventure searchers should be careful in the military settlement and, to avoid possible collapses, not to scale the ruins. 
• Ungru manor, Kiltsi küla, Ridala vald. The ruins of the Ungru manor used to represent one of the most impressive Neo-Baroque buildings in Estonia, although it was never really finished. The contrasting Soviet airfield remains next to the manor. 

Museums

Haapsalu Station with the Estonian Railway Museum in the background

• Läänemaa Museum, Kooli tn 2. The museum is located in the former Town Hall in Lossiplatsi Square. Wander through the historic interior and learn about the old times of Haapsalu. Exhibitions change regularly, so depending when you come you might get to know the old farmhouse, the once-famous resorts of Haapsalu, or the ancient history of the area. 
• Estonian Railway Museum, Raudtee tn 2. The Estonian Railway Museum is located in the beautiful and historic Haapsalu Railway Station. To see historic engines and carriages look behind the train station. 
• Museum of the Coastal Swedes, Sadama tn 31 - 32. The museum introduces the thousand-year-old settlements of the coastal Swedes in Estonia. In the house inaugurated by the King of Sweden, you can acquaint yourself with their unique cultural heritage and see a 20-metre embroidered rug that depicts the life of the Estonian-Swedes. 
• Cyrillus Kreek Apartment Museum, Väike-Viigi tn 10 - 2. Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962) is known as the composer of choral works and was beloved by the people of Haapsalu. The permanent exposition introduces the composer's life and works. Have a cup of coffee or tea at the museum and listen to the composer's music. 
• Haapsalu Shawl Museum, Ehte tn 4. The Haapsalu Shawl, an extremely fine knitted shawl that can be pulled through a woman's ring, has been the symbol of Haapsalu since the last century. In the Shawl Museum, which is located in a jewellery workshop, you can see a permanent exhibition on the past and present of the Haapsalu shawl, examine the extremely fine patterns, and buy one of the masterpieces. 
• Communication Museum, Tamme tn 21. Communication Museum offers a review of the development of telecommunications in Western Estonia. 

Do

A view to Haapsalu Bay in spring

Haapsalu is a seaside resort and one of the main attractions is the beach. Famous mud baths can be taken in numerous facilities in Haapsalu.

The town is also well known for its White Lady Days, Old Music Festival, Violin Festival and the August Blues Festival.

• Africa Beach and Promenade, Promenaadi tn. Walk on the sloping promenade and glance dreamily at the sea; check the time at the sundial and have a rest on the bench named for the world-famous composer Tchaikovsky. There is a children's playground on the Promenade and the town’s only observation tower. 
• Swedish Market, Karja tn 1. Haapsalu's main street, Karja Street, begins on the Swedish Market. The fountain side is a nice and romantic place to sit. 

Eat

Budget

• Hesburger, Jaama 32, haapsalu@hesburger.fi. Mon–Sun 09–22. Finnish fast food chain. (updated Nov 2015)
• Peetri Pizza, Tallinna mnt 1, ☏ +372 58667078. Sun–Thu 10–20, Fri–Sat 10–05. pizzeria (updated Nov 2015)

Sleep

• Endla Hostel, Endla 5, ☏ +372 47 37 999, info@endlahostel.ee. The hostel provides a shared kitchen. Single 25e/night, double 35e/night. 

Go next

• Pärnu, historical resort seaside city with a small harbour, Estonia's summer capital
• Noarootsi, steeped in Swedish and Soviet history
• Hiiumaa, well known for its lighthouses, unspoilt nature, Hill of Crosses and the sense of humour of its inhabitants
• Saaremaa, Estonia's biggest island