Tartu (original) (raw)

Tartu (formerly known as Dorpat or Yuryev) is the second largest city in Estonia with a population of around 98,000 (2024). A Hanseatic city and a university town, it's dating back to 1030, and as such it's the oldest city in the Baltics.

Perhaps Tartu's most iconic building, the Town Hall (Raekoja), where you can also find the Tourist Information Centre

Tartu's ancient name of 'Tarbatu' was shortened to 'Tartu' in Estonian and to 'Dorpat' in German. Although large parts of the town were destroyed in World War II, Tartu still has a charming old town surrounded by large parks (some of which used to be fully built-up neighbourhoods before the war). Toomemägi, or Cathedral Hill, towering over the city, hold some of Tartu's major sights.

Tartu is 185 km southeast of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The Emajõgi River, which connects two of the country's largest lakes, Võrtsjärv and Peipus, flows for 10 km within the city limits.

Since Tartu is a student town, English is widely understood. As usual, the older people are more likely to only speak Estonian and Russian; however most can understand English if you speak clearly.

Map

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Map of Tartu

Buses arrive at the small 58.37808326.7321282 Tartu Bus Station at Turu 2, which is across the street from the Kaubamaja department store, 5-10 min walk from the central square of Tartu. The tiny building hosts a ticket office, luggage room, decent cafeteria, and R-kiosk. If you need more, head to the nearby shopping mall. When arriving from Tallinn, you can also get off the bus at one of the stops in the city centre.

Buses from Tallinn depart several times an hour between 05:00 and midnight, and stop at the Tallinn airport. The journey takes 2.5 to 3 hours and costs €2-10, before a discount available with an ISIC card. Some buses have free wireless internet and free drinks available. Note that Friday afternoon departures from Tartu to Tallinn (and Sunday night Tallinn-to-Tartu) are usually crowded during the school year as lots of students go home for the weekend.

Regular buses also run between Tartu and Narva (3 hr), Viljandi (1 hr), Pärnu (2½ hr), and Kuressaare (6 hr).

Tartu is a stop of international buses running between Saint Petersburg (8 hr) and Riga (4 hr). These buses typically run overnight, which makes their schedule from Tartu somewhat inconvenient. Another international route is from Tartu to Pskov in Russia (4 hr, websites and timetables use the Estonian name Pihkva).

Bus and train schedules within Estonia are easily available online – read more under Estonia#Get around.

Tartu railway station

Elron operates several daily trains between Tartu and Tallinn via Tapa. The journey takes 2 hr (express train) to 2½ hr (regular train) and costs €11 for 2nd class and €14 for 1st class on an express train, or €10 for 2nd class and €12 for 1st class on a regular train. Tickets are 10% cheaper online. There is free Wi-Fi and tables with electric outlets on trains. 1st class passengers get more comfortable seats and may book a specific seat online.

Trains also run between Tartu and Valga on the Latvian border, with one daily connection further to Riga (5 hr). Railway tracks likewise go in the direction of Russia, but you can only reach the small station of Koidula on the Russian border. This station is less than 1 km from the 24/7 checkpoint, which is open for pedestrians. Once you are on the Russian side, catch a taxi or walk to the bus station of Pechory (2 km from the border), and continue to Pskov by bus.

An excellent day trip is to drive from Tallinn to Tartu. About the first 100 km is motorway, the latter half two-lane highway. The 185 km drive along Highway 2 takes 2-2.5 hours. There are few sights of interest along the way. The terrain is flat and most of the road is bracketed by a birch trees and a few pines. About halfway between the cities you can visit the Põhjaka Mõis (Põhjaka Manor), just off the highway. North of Põltsamaa you can visit the mid-point of mainland Estonia, marked with a boulder just off the highway.

Coming from Riga, drive along A3 to Valka/Valga, then Highway 3 up to Tartu.

It's usually quite easy to find a parking spot in Tartu. Pay for your parking in a ticket machine or by app. More information at the city's website.

There are also ferry services between Tartu and Lake Peipus and Lake Lämmijärv. Check with the Tourist Information Centre, or inquire at the river directly.

Tartu can be easily explored by walking. It's only a 20-minute walk from the train station to the old town, and a beautiful 30-min walk from old town to the Estonian National Museum. Walking up to Toomemägi for views of the city and attractions like the old observatory and the cathedral ruins is also definitely worth it.

Tartu has a network of 14 intracity bus lines and 2 night bus lines. See online information about local buses.

Load a Pilet.ee mobile app to buy tickets. For longer stays, buy a bus card for €2 at one of these places (cards from elsewhere in Estonia can also be used), then load money to card at the same place or online. You can also buy tickets with contactless card on bus. You will get automatically 1-hour ticket or 1-day ticket, if you're using it for 3rd time that day. QR-tickets can only be bought for 1-hour. All tickets have to be scanned on bus.

1 hour 1 hour 1 day 10 days
Price for adults €0.83 €2 €2.11 (must have at least €2.75 on card) €7.03
Validity Buses Buses Buses Buses and city bikes
Information If bought using bus card, QR-ticket or contactless card If bought from driver Must buy with bus card or contactless card Must buy online with bus card

Important lines are:

Read more under Estonia#By taxi.

Tartu can be easily seen by bike, because of its small size. Tartu has 750 city bikes, and 500 of them are electric. Electric bikes can be recognized by a lightning bolt and missing gears. There are 69 bike docks in Tartu. If the bike dock is full, you can lock the bike near the dock using lock in basket.

Prices are €5 for 1 day, €10 for a week and €30 for a year. 10 day bus tickets can also be used. Bikes can be used for 60 minutes after which you have to bring them back to dock, where you can get another 60 minutes. If you don't bring the bike to dock in 60 minutes you have to pay €1 for every hour you're late. If you don't bring the bike back in 5 hours, you have to pay €80.

For unlocking bikes you need to download Tartu Smart Bike app (available on Google Play and the App Store) or use a bus card. Available bikes can be seen online.

The backside of the town hall, towards Toomemägi (Cathedral Hill)

"The Leaning House", also on Raekoja plats, exhibition building of the Tartu Art Museum. As of September 2025 those support beams were no longer there.

Statue of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde in Tartu

Ruins of Tartu Cathedral

The old observatory and in front of it a side view of the Struve monument

Tigutorn

Modern architecture

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During the 21st century, Tartu has seen several interesting pieces of modern architecture being built. They are well worth a visit and give an insight of how people in modern Tartu think and live, in addition to traditionally history-driven image of the city. Some of them are right in the city-centre. See the yellow markers on the official Tartu Modern Architecture map. The map is in Estonian only, but selected images speak louder than words.

Main building of the University of Tartu

Püssirohukelder, a former 18th-century gunpowder cellar and current beer restaurant

View from Toomemägi down Pirogov park towards the Pirogov monument and old town

58.37991126.7207471 Pirogov Park (located just "behind" the city hall). small park where consuming light (<6%) alcohol is allowed between 15 March and 15 October (as it's a designated picnic area). It's the only public place in the city where drinking is legal so in the evenings it's full of students and homeless. OSM directions (updated Oct 2018)

In a typical pub, a 0.5 l beer usually costs €3.50-5. Almost all popular beers are near or more than 5% alcohol content.

Hotel Dorpat

In emergencies, ☏ 112 (free from all phones). This includes social services, although for non-urgent matters you could contact the social services directly.

The walls of Põltsamaa castle

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