1 week Ago By Kara Godfrey
IF you're looking for a cheap seaside break, you might want to swap Spain for Estonia. Pärnu is a seaside town you might not have heard of - despite being much-loved by locals. 6 Estonia's Plarnu is named the "sunshine capital" Credit: Alamy 6 The pretty seaside town has multicoloured houses lining the streets Credit: Alamy 6 Most tourists head straight to the beach, home to bars and even nightclub Credit: Alamy Back in 2018, it was Pärnu was named one of the best lesser-known beach cites by Lonely Planet.
It is nicknamed the "summer capital" as it is where Estonians flock to during the summer season. It's main attraction is the city's huge sandy beach, home to a number of beach bars and even a the Nightclub Sunset. The water temperature even hit a record high back in 2010, where it was recorded at 33C, although is more an average of 30C usually.
Read more on seasides PIER IN Tiny seaside town with unique themed train and Venice-style festival RIDE ON Seaside theme park reveals two new attractions - and will stay open until 10pm It's not just popular with swimmers, as newbie surfers also flock to the beach due to the shallow waters. Tourists have raved about it, with one person saying: "Truly feels like a hidden gem (as who thinks of Estonia when thinking of nice beaches?)" Another told local media : "We like it, it's almost like in Spain. So, actually it surprised me a little bit.
" It even hit a new record this summer, with more than 15,000 tourists visiting on July 16. Most read in Beach holidays FEEL GOOD AS NEW Huge Turkish beach resort that locals love where even exercise is made fun SUPER EASY EasyJet holidays' 'biggest sale of the year' has deals for 100 destinations EASY DOES IT Passengers urged to book early as easyJet launches new summer 2025 deals NOT TUI LATE All-inclusive TUI beach holidays with at least 24C temperatures from £250 Want to stay on-land? There are a number of annual festivals on or near the beach too. Earlier this year, Beach Grind festival welcomed both Marshmello and Chase & Status.
Exploring the UK’s Hidden Coastal Gems Head to the main town for multicoloured buildings, ranging from the 12th to the 18th century. This is where you'll find a number of spa hotels , as it was a spa resort back in the 1800s. One of the most popular is the Hedon Spa and Hotel, where you can pop in the sauna and pools, as well as get a mud-wrap.
Other attractions include the The Butterfly House, as well as the Estonian Museum Railway with a functioning steam train. 6 The resort is popular with locals during the summer season Credit: Alamy 6 But the quaint old town also has beautiful spa hotels and cafes to explore Credit: Alamy The best way for Brits to get there is by flying to Tallin in Estonia for as little as £14.99 with Ryanair .
Taking just under three hours, Pärnu is then around an hours drive. Pärnu does have it's own airport, although it is rarely used - just over 2,000 passengers used it in 2023. Hotels won't break the bank either - while the beachfront resorts are around £70-£100, ones in town range from £40-£50 a night.
Elsewhere in Estonia, Tartu is set to become a popular tourist destination . Read more on the Scottish Sun SHOP SMASH Car ploughs into entrance of busy Scots supermarket leaving shoppers stunned SCHOOL’S OUT I’m marrying my teacher - pals still call her ‘miss’ & telling mum was hard What is it like to visit Estonia? Writer Steve Corbett told Sun Online Travel how to do a city break to Tallinn . "A guided walking tour of Tallinn’s Old Town quickly displays why it’s a Unesco World Heritage site.
"Pastel-coloured medieval buildings with snow-coated red roofs lining cobblestone streets make for scenes that feel like the set of a Disney film. "The local PoCo pop-art museum showing off Banksys and Warhols is also a must-visit. "With flights from just £34 return and the average price of a pint £3.
80, it’s a no-brainer for a bargain city break. " Or if you're still after seaside towns, one in Spain has been named Europe's best kept secret. And we've rounded up our favourite seaside towns in the UK .
6 Brits can fly to Tallinn then drive around one hour Credit: Alamy.
