All roads lead to Pärnu – but how?
Every summer, Beach Grind turns Pärnu into the centre of Estonia’s wildest beach weekend – inviting thousands of festival-goers to the coast for sunny beach days, big shows, good music, warm summer nights, and the kind of memories that only make sense at 4 AM.
Luckily, getting here is a whole lot easier than surviving your first day back at work after the festivities – airports, buses, ferries, rental cars … You name it.
Coming from Tallinn Airport
First mission: get from the airport to the long-distance bus station. Easy.
Hop on Tallinn city bus number 2 or 15 from the airport bus stop heading towards the city centre. The ride to the central bus station – stop name “Bussijaam” – takes around 10 minutes. Enter the bus through the front door and tap your bank card on the orange validator to pay for your ticket.
Once you arrive, cross the street, and you’ll quickly spot the giant orange sign reading “Tallinna Bussijaam”. That’s your gateway to Pärnu.
From there, buses to Pärnu leave constantly throughout the day, especially during the summer. Operators like Lux Express and other regional lines make the trip comfortable, with Wi-Fi, charging ports, and air conditioning.
Pro tip: during Beach Grind weekend, buses fill up fast. Buy your ticket in advance from Tpilet to avoid sad moments at the station.
Arriving by ferry from Finland or Sweden
Coming from Finland or Sweden by ferry? You’ll most likely arrive at the Port of Tallinn and need to take the bus to reach Pärnu. From the harbour area, getting to the bus station is easy – hop on tram number 2 heading towards the city.
Just remember to do your little tappy thing with your bank card on the first orange validator nearest to the bus driver. Otherwise, your ride won’t count as paid, and ticket inspectors in Estonia do some mean business sometimes.
Travelling from Tallinn Train Station (Balti Jaam)
If you arrive at Tallinn’s main railway station – locally known as Balti Jaam – you’ll need a quick public transport ride to the bus station. So, take bus number 2 or trams 1 or 3 towards the “Bussijaam” stop.
And as always, just tap your bank card on the first orange validator inside the vehicle to pay for your ride. Once at Tallinna Bussijaam, hop on your coach to Pärnu and enjoy the ride through Estonia’s forests, fields, and tiny roadside villages.
Flying into Tartu? Here’s the move
Landing at Tartu Airport? You can hop on the airport bus (228) into town – or make the elite move and order a Bolt straight to the city. The ride is relatively cheap and short. One thing, though: lock in your bus tickets early on Tpilet. Beach Grind weekend gets absolutely packed, and those seats disappear fast.
Coming through Latvia
Pärnu sits right on one of the Baltic’s busiest international bus routes – so if you’re coming up from Riga, you’re winning. Carriers like Lux Express, Ecolines, and FlixBus run nonstop daily connections between Riga and Pärnu, especially during summer.
On peak weekends, there can easily be 20+ departures a day rolling toward Pärnu. Plenty of international routes from across Europe stop at the Pärnu Bus Station too, including buses coming from Vilnius and beyond. Again, you can check schedules and grab tickets easily through Tpilet.
If public transport isn’t your thing
Of course, if you can, public transport is great – it’s easy, affordable, and a way more conscious way to get to Beach Grind without adding extra traffic to the summer chaos.
But hey, maybe you’re travelling with friends. Maybe you packed enough festival outfits for seven different personalities. Maybe you just want the freedom.
Coming by Car
Driving to Pärnu is easy thanks to Estonia’s compact size and good road conditions. From Tallinn, the drive takes roughly 2 hours. From Tartu & Riga, around 2.5 hours. From Vilnius, 6 hours.
Car rental options are available at both Tallinn Airport and Riga International Airport. You can also rent vehicles from all major Estonian cities – including Pärnu itself.
For app-based rentals, services like Bolt Drive and CityBee are popular and easy to use for shorter trips and flexible travel plans.
Where to park in Pärnu?
During the summer, parking in Pärnu’s city centre and beach area is paid. The beach zone has higher parking rates from May until August, while in the city centre and old town, the first 30-60 minutes are usually free if you register your parking correctly.
You can pay for parking in Pärnu via parking machines, mobile apps, or SMS if you have an Estonian phone number. Besides the city-operated parking areas, there are many private parking lots, so always check the information signs before leaving your car. If possible, park near your accommodation and walk in the city.
Beach Grind takes place at Pärnu beach near Düün, at Mere pst 22. The festival’s main stage is located directly on the sandy beach by Düün. The legendary GRIND stage will be at the women’s beach parking area, while the third stage is set up along the iconic alley near Kuursaal.
Want to rent a car in Pärnu?
You can get around Pärnu perfectly fine without a car, but if you’re planning to explore outside the city, renting one locally is also easy. Some options include:
Need a taxi?
No problem. The Bolt app works well in Pärnu and is usually the fastest option. During busy hours, you can also call one of the local taxi companies the old-school way:
1222 – Pärnu Takso
1918 – Elektritakso
1200 – Go Takso
1700 – Bristol Takso
1300 – E-Takso
Book early and be on the move
Beach Grind brings thousands of lovely people to Pärnu every summer, which means accommodation disappears fast. Hotels, hostels, apartments – the good spots sell out early. A smart alternative is checking Airbnb for more flexible options, especially if you’re travelling as a group. Early bird gets the worm … and an apartment with a view.
Also, make sure to join the Beach Grind accommodation & transport Facebook group for exclusive offers straight from the source.
However you’re getting here, Beach Grind weekend in Pärnu just hits different. So take time to explore beyond the festival too: afterparties, sunset walks, locals’ favourites, and all the Estonian summer magic.
Lock in your transport and accommodation early, check the festival info updates, and you’re set.
See you in front of the stages!
