Pärnu

Pärnu
From top: Pärnu city centre; Red tower; Elisabeth church; downtown; Pärnu central beach
Pärnu
Location within Europe
Pärnu
Location within Baltic Sea region
Pärnu
Location within Estonia
Coordinates: 58°23′N 24°30′E / 58.383°N 24.500°E / 58.383; 24.500
Country Estonia
County Pärnu
Founded1251
Area
 • Total
32.22 km2 (12.44 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (33 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
41,520
 • Rank4th
 • Density1,289/km2 (3,338/sq mi)
Ethnicity
 • Estonians83.7%
 • Russians10.6%
 • other5.7%
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)EEST

Pärnu (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈpærˑnu]) is a city in southwest Estonia. Pärnu is located 128 kilometres (80 mi) south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and 176 kilometres (109 mi) west of Estonia's second-largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga, which is a part of the Baltic Sea. In the city, the Pärnu River drains into the Gulf of Riga.

Pärnu is a popular summer holiday resort town among Estonians with many hotels, restaurants and large beaches. The city is served by Pärnu Airport.