{"id":160925,"date":"2026-07-21T03:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T00:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/?p=160925"},"modified":"2026-07-20T17:53:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T14:53:14","slug":"parnu-stole-mircas-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/en\/parnu-stole-mircas-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"P\u00e4rnu Stole Mirca\u2019s Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mirca M\u00e4ensivu-Puukko<\/b> has been spending time in P\u00e4rnu for the past 25 years, and the city has become her second home. In this article, she takes readers through the streets of P\u00e4rnu, and shares some of her favourite places.<\/p>\n

“I was holding my baby in my arms the first time I stood on the balcony of the Rannahotell and looked out over the sea. I remember thinking that I had arrived in paradise.”<\/p>\n

Over the years, the city became much more than just a holiday destination for Mirca and her family.<\/p>\n

“We bought a home in P\u00e4rnu, and I still find it deeply moving to think that our children were able to spend their childhood and teenage years at the foot of P\u00e4rnu’s beach lifeguard tower. The very same beach where I once stood with my baby in my arms, gazing out at the sea.”<\/p>\n

Her love of P\u00e4rnu also inspired her to create the Finnish-language Facebook page \u201cP\u00e4rnu ja min\u00e4\u201d, or \u201cP\u00e4rnu and Me”.<\/p>\n

“So much is always happening in P\u00e4rnu. New restaurants and hotels are opening, while services and events are constantly being developed. \u201cP\u00e4rnu ja min\u00e4\u201d is one of the few Finnish Facebook communities dedicated to P\u00e4rnu all year round. For many people, it’s a place to find tips, ideas and up-to-date information for their own trip to P\u00e4rnu. These days, I also run the Facebook group \u201cP\u00e4rnu\u2014Ask and Share\u201d with Visit P\u00e4rnu,” says Mirca.<\/p>\n

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P\u00e4rnu is easy to explore by bicycle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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P\u00e4rnu Is a Cyclist’s Dream<\/h2>\n

Over the years, Mirca has been asked countless times what visitors should do in P\u00e4rnu. Her answer is almost always the same: don’t plan everything in advance. Let P\u00e4rnu guide you.<\/p>\n

One of the best ways to explore the city is by bicycle. Mirca recommends hiring a bike as soon as you arrive. Bicycles can be rented from several hotels, as well as from the park next to the Rannahotell. T\u00f5rukese Rent delivers bicycles to accommodation in the town centre and collects them afterwards by arrangement. The Bolt app is also available in P\u00e4rnu.<\/p>\n

“I encourage people to cycle through the quieter side streets as well. The area between Riia Road and the river is especially interesting and has changed enormously in recent years. There you’ll find decaying old buildings standing alongside beautifully restored wooden houses and renovated properties. It’s a wonderful illustration of both the old and the new P\u00e4rnu.”<\/p>\n

Another of Mirca’s favourite cycling routes follows the beach all the way to Papiniidu. From there, she recommends crossing the bridge and returning to the town centre along the opposite riverbank. Along the way, P\u00e4rnu reveals itself from a completely different perspective.<\/p>\n

Mirca also recommends stopping at S\u00f5\u00f5rikubaar on P\u00fchavaimu Street, which she considers one of P\u00e4rnu’s most atmospheric caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

“There’s something wonderfully authentic and traditionally Estonian about it\u2014something that’s becoming increasingly rare. That’s why it has become one of those places I return to time and time again.”<\/p>\n

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Stop by S\u00f5\u00f5rikubaar to sample what may well be P\u00e4rnu’s best doughnuts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Everyone Finds Their Own P\u00e4rnu<\/h2>\n

“The best thing about P\u00e4rnu is that everyone discovers their own version of the city. Some people come for the beach, others for the spas. Some are interested in culture and history, while others are looking for new culinary experiences. Few cities offer so much within such a compact area.”<\/p>\n

Mirca encourages visitors to experience P\u00e4rnu’s spa culture. One of the city’s strengths is its wide variety of options for different kinds of travellers. Some are looking for a water park, others for treatments, while some simply want peace and relaxation.<\/p>\n

“My most memorable recent experience was the newly renovated quiet spa at Hedon Spa. It’s luxurious, peaceful and genuinely indulgent\u2014perfect for adults.”<\/p>\n

Over the years, Mirca has built a loyal following. Many people turn to her social media channels for practical travel advice, while others simply enjoy following her photographs, stories and impressions of P\u00e4rnu from the comfort of their own homes.<\/p>\n

“I sometimes think that not everyone is able to travel themselves. But perhaps they can travel for a little while through my experiences. I think that’s rather a beautiful thought.”<\/p>\n

Even today, whenever Mirca stands on P\u00e4rnu Beach and looks out over the sea, she understands exactly how that young mother felt all those years ago as she stood on the balcony of the Rannahotell with her baby in her arms, convinced she had found paradise.<\/p>\n

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Mirca’s Top Recommendations in P\u00e4rnu and P\u00e4rnu County<\/h2>\n