Paralepa is the borough south of Haapsalu's centre where the town's main beach and outdoor recreation area is located. The sheltered gulf here is exceptionally shallow — you can walk out a long way before it gets deep — and the water warms up significantly by mid-summer, making it genuinely pleasant for swimming. This is the same quality that attracted nineteenth-century health tourists to Haapsalu in the first place.
The beach is a relaxed local spot with changing facilities and some seasonal facilities. The pine forest behind the beach makes for pleasant walks, and the surrounding Paralepa area has a few picnic spots. The road from the town centre takes about fifteen minutes on foot along the waterfront path.