Practical · 13 August 2026 · 6 min read
Driving to Haapsalu: Directions, Parking and Arrival
Most of our guests arrive by car. The drive is shorter than people expect. Once you are here the car stays outside the door, free, and usually stays there until you leave.
Getting here
From Tallinn it is about a hundred kilometres west, a little over an hour and a half. From Tallinn airport the time is much the same. From Riga, allow about four hours through Pärnu.
Coming from Finland, the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn takes about two hours. A morning ferry puts you in Haapsalu in time for lunch. An afternoon one still gets you here for check-in at 16:00.
Not sure which coast town to pick? See Haapsalu or Pärnu.
Parking in town
Haapsalu is small and parking is simple. Most street parking is free. A few spaces in the centre and near the old town are time limited, so read the sign before you leave the car.
Parking at Sadama 26
Free, at the door. No permit, no booking. The car stays where you left it for the whole weekend, because everything else is a walk.
What you can walk to instead
- The promenade. Starts outside the building.
- Hestia Spa. Four minutes on foot. What the mud treatment is and how to book it: the Haapsalu spa and mud treatment guide.
- Old town and castle. Seven minutes.
- Cafés and restaurants. All within ten minutes. The list is here: where to eat in Haapsalu.
You really only need the car for a day trip. Matsalu National Park is half an hour away, and the beaches at Roosta and Nõva about an hour. Rohuküla harbour, where the Vormsi ferry leaves, is under ten kilometres out of town. Book the ferry ahead in summer.
What to do once you are here: things to do in Haapsalu.
Arriving without a car
Buses leave Tallinn coach station several times a day and take around two hours. From Haapsalu bus station it is a 25 minute walk to the harbour. With luggage, order a Bolt and you are here in a few minutes.
Arrival and departure
Check-in is at 16:00. We show you the flat and tell you where to start. Check-out is at 13:00, so the last morning is not rushed.
After a long drive, that late morning is the thing guests thank us for most.
Common questions
How long is the drive from Tallinn to Haapsalu?
About 100 kilometres and a little over an hour and a half. The road runs west from Tallinn and is easy to drive in any season.
Is parking free in Haapsalu?
Most street parking is free. A few spaces in the centre are time limited, so check the sign. At Sadama 26 parking is free and right at the door.
Can we get to Haapsalu without a car?
Yes. Buses leave Tallinn coach station several times a day and take about two hours. From Haapsalu bus station it is a 25 minute walk to the harbour, or a few minutes by Bolt.
What time can we check in?
Check-in is at 16:00 and check-out at 13:00.
Free parking, ten metres from the water
Sadama 26 is a 47 m² top-floor flat by Haapsalu harbour, ten metres from the sea. Two balconies, a sea-view shower, free parking at the door and check-out at 13:00. Built as a home.