By rail
Tartu, direct trains from Tallinn
Europe · Estonia
Tartu, Estonia
Estonia's university city on the Emajõgi River
Getting there
By air
Tallinn Airport (TLL), ~2.5 h by road
Best time to visit
May to September — warm days and lively student life
Don't miss
Tartu Town Hall Square
University of Tartu Main Building
Toome Hill
Estonian National Museum
Things to do
Strolling the old town
Museum visits
River walks
Cafe hopping
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Boreaallane · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes, light jacket, umbrella
A quieter corner
Supilinn, a quiet quarter of old wooden houses by the river
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Tartu?
May to September — warm days and lively student life. What to pack: Comfortable shoes, light jacket, umbrella.
How do I get to Tartu?
Fly into Tallinn Airport (TLL), ~2.5 h by road.
What is there to do in Tartu?
Strolling the old town, museum visits, river walks, cafe hopping. A quieter find: Supilinn, a quiet quarter of old wooden houses by the river.
What should I eat in Tartu?
Kama, rye bread, smoked fish from Lake Peipus, onions from the Peipus shore.
About Tartu
- Riverside
Where it is
Tartu is Estonia's second-largest city, on the Emajõgi River in the south-east of the country.
History
Tartu is one of the oldest towns in the Baltic region. The University of Tartu was founded in 1632, when the area was under Swedish rule, and it has shaped the city ever since. Tartu was central to the Estonian national awakening of the 19th century and was a European Capital of Culture in 2024.
People
Estonian is spoken in Tartu, a student city with a young population, and the Võro language and traditions of south-east Estonia are close by.
Known for
- The historic University of Tartu
- A lively student life
- The leaning house on the town square
- Toome Hill park and cathedral ruins
Did you know?
The University of Tartu, founded in 1632, is one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe.
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