Tartu

Tartu (formerly known as Dorpat or Yuryev) is the second largest city in Estonia with a population of around 96,000. A Hanseatic city and a university town, it dates back to 1030, and as such it's the oldest city in the Baltics. 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's ancient name of 'Tarbatu' was shortened to 'Tartu' in Estonian and to 'Dorpat' in German.

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.

• 58.37993926.7220821 Tourist Information Centre, Raekoja plats (ground floor of Tartu town hall building), ☏ +372 744 21 11, info@visittartu.com. Jun–Aug: Mon 09:00–18:00, Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00; Sat 09:00-15:00 and Sun closed; Sep–May: Mon 09:00–18:00, Tue–Fri 09:00–17:00, Sat Sun closed.  (updated Jul 2026)

Since Tartu is a student town, English is widely understood.

• If arriving on a commercial flight, your main option is Tallinn, which is only 180 km away with buses and trains to Tartu running directly from the airport.
• Alternatively, Riga (250 km from Tartu) may be an option as well - buses from the Riga Bus Station to Tartu are operated by Lux Express as well as trains are available (see below).

• 58.3105726.6905821 Tartu Airport (TAY  ^IATA) (10 km south of the city centre). Has one daily flight to/from Helsinki by Finnair. The airport is little more than an embarkation/disembarkation point. To rent a car, book in advance. Don't expect any food at the airport.  (updated Apr 2020) The bus line to the airport was ended 2026; use Bolt for taxi.

Regional as well as long-distance buses arrive at the small 58.37808326.7321282 Tartu Bus Station at Turu 2, which is connected to the Tasku shopping mall, 5-10 min walk from the central square of Tartu. The tiny building hosts a ticket office, luggage room and a 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 1-2 times per hour between 06:00 and midnight, and also stop at the Tallinn airport. The journey takes 2.5 hours and costs €12-15, discounts for under 26 and over 60 years old. 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, so try to buy your ticket a bit in advance or take the train instead.

Regular buses also run between Tartu and Narva (3 hr), Viljandi (1 hr), Pärnu (3 hr), and Kuressaare (6 hr). Check times on Tpilet, but if your journey is run by Lux Express go to their website to avoid the booking fee.

Tartu also has international buses to Riga (4 hr, €21-24). See Lux Express for details. Avoid the buses coming from the Russian border in Narva (there will be a warning on the website), as these can be massively delayed. However trains are cheaper as well as more spacious. Also note that the evening bus from Riga to Tartu no longer exists and the latest departure from Riga is at 13:15.

• 58.37382226.7068363 Tartu railway station (Tartu raudteejaam), Vaksali 6 (is about 1 km from the city centre; if you're walking or cycling the best way is to go along the Vanemuise street; bus line 3 also stops at the station every 20 minutes; a city bike station is in front of the station). The station building amply adorned with wooden carvings is a nice example of Estonian architecture. A water fountain is available outside and there is a cafe, but nothing more. Buy tickets onboard the train or online.  (updated Jul 2026)

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 €18 for 2nd class and €21.5 for 1st class on an express train, or 13,5€ for 2nd class and 16€ for 1st class on a regular train. These are the prices on board the train, tickets might be cheaper online. Tickets for students and seniors are 30% cheaper (only in 2nd class). 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. Standard class tickets do not guarantee a seat (so they can't sell out as well).

2 trains a day and 3 on the weekends also run between Tartu and Riga (3.5-4 hr, €14.3-19), one of which also continues to Vilnius. However they only leave in the morning from Riga and in the afternoon from Tartu. Tickets are sold by Elron and no seat reservations are available. If you're a student it's €2 cheaper to buy split tickets between Tartu-Valga and Valga-Riga. You can also do this on board the train. Some journeys require a quick and easy transfer across the platform in Valga from the Estonian train to the modern Lithuanian or old Latvian one. Check the schedule. The Lithuanian train also sells snacks and drinks on board and is considered the most comfortable. For the no-transfers Elron train (07:30 from Riga, 17:10 from Tartu) note that tickets on board the train are 3€ more expensive. Cheapest way is once again to buy separate tickets for the Estonian and Latvian side.

An excellent day trip is to drive from Tallinn to Tartu. About the first 100 km is motorway, the latter half two-lane highway with some 2+1 sections. 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.

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.

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. All the tourist sites are very close together and it's unlikely you would need any transportation.

Cycling is the best and fastest way to get around Tartu. There is also a quite an extensive network of cycle paths. Tartu has 750 city bikes, and 500 of them are electric. Electric bikes can be recognized by the lack of gears. There are 104 bike docks in Tartu. If the bike dock is full, you can lock the bike near the dock using the lock in basket. You can also use the lock while you're for example in a store, but note that the time doesn't stop then.

Prices are €0.20 per minute or €6 for 1 day. 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 started hour. If you don't bring the bike back in 5 hours, you have to pay an €80 fine.

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. Only bikes with charge level of over 50% are available, even if the app claims otherwise.

Tartu has a network of 14 intracity bus lines and 2 night bus lines. See online information about local buses. You can check the schedules on Google Maps. Easiest way to buy a ticket is using a contactless card on the bus. If you ride enough it will also be automatically converted into a day ticket.

Many ticket types are only available on a bus card, which cost €3, but this is rarely worth it for a tourist. See Pilet.ee for more details. Although there are many different designs, cards from everywhere in Estonia can all be used interchangeably. QR-tickets can only be bought for 1-hour. All tickets have to be scanned or tapped on each boarding.

Important lines are:

• 7 to ERM
• 3 to Tartu Railway Station
• Bus line 69 is free, and runs between the bus station and the Lõunakeskus shopping center on the edge of town. As this is a sponsored line, its buses do not have the red-and-white color scheme of regular municipal buses.

Use Bolt app to order a taxi. Regular taxis are available as well of course, but more expensive.

• 58.3801426.7222581 Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats). The main square between Emajõgi River and the pink town hall is probably the iconic view of the city. Right in the front of the town hall you can see the kissing students fountain, which is a symbol of Tartu. When standing at the river end of the square, with the town hall in front of you, on the right hand side is the leaning house - first it doesn't seem to lean so much, but go closer and look at it from a right angle!  (updated Aug 2018)
• 58.38109626.7198982 Main building of the University of Tartu. One of Tartu's grandest buildings, facing a relatively narrow street. As such if you want to take a photo of the whole building you need to do so at an angle.  
• 58.38426426.7218483 Botanic Garden of the University of Tartu, 38/40 Lai.  Nice place for a walk.
• 58.38017826.7168754 Toome Hill (Toomemägi). Many monuments, statues and historical buildings  
• 58.3782426.7229965 Statue of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde (Kirjanike Oscar Wilde ja Eduard Vilde mälestusmärk).  
• 58.38886826.7087076 Soup Neighbourhood (Supilinn). Neighbourhood where all of the streets are named after soup ingredients. Features charming old wooden houses.  
• 58.40021826.754037 Former Soviet Airfield (Raadi) (In Raadi, north of Tartu).  

• 58.3953126.7441068 Estonian National Museum (Eesti Rahva Muuseum, ERM), Muuseumi tee 2 (north of the city centre near the Raadi mansion). Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon. The new building of the Estonian National Museum features a permanent exhibition on Estonian and Finno-Ugric culture, language, and traditions, as well as various temporary installations. Definitely worth visiting. The museum can be easily reached from the city center on foot by following the newly constructed walkway along Roosi street (ca. 2 km total distance). adults €16, concessions €12.  (updated Jul 2026)
• 58.38232726.7213679 Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, Rüütli 15. Daily 10:00-18:00. The Baltics' biggest museum designated to sports, with several interactive exhibits. €12, concession 8€, family 28€.  (updated Jul 2026)
• Tartu University Museum, Toome Hill. Summer: Tu-Su 10:00–18:00, Th 10:00-20:00. €12 or €5 for only the tower. Also has one of the best views of Tartu from the tower of the old cathedral.
• 58.3806826.7243410 Tartu Art Museum, Raekoja plats 18. Wed Fri–Sun 11:00–18:00, Thu 11:00–21:00. In the "leaning house", mainly displaying 20th century art.  (updated Jan 2017)
• 58.37329426.71988911 KGB Museum (the Gray House), Riia 15b, ☏ +372 7461717. This nondescript building was the headquarters of the Estonian KGB. It tells the story of how the prisoners were treated there, and some stories about the Estonian resistance heroes, the Forest Brothers. The museum is small and does not have a very big sign, so look carefully.  
• 58.38198126.72891512 Tartu City Museum, Narva 23. Classicist style structure was built as a town palace in 1790. The building is popularly called Catherine's House. The legend has it that Empress Catherine II made a short stay there. It is not true, though. The permanent exhibition provides a good insight into Tartu's long history up to 1920.  (updated Aug 2018)

• 58.38264226.72016713 St. John's Church (Tartu Jaani Church). A 14th-century red brick church, famous for its thousands of medieval terracotta figures.  
• 58.38025126.71457714 Cathedral ruins (on top of the Dome Hill). From the 13th century and were dedicated to apostles St. Peter and Paul. Today the choir part houses the Tartu University History Museum, and the towers are reconstructed to sightseeing platforms.  
• 58.37174226.71559215 St. Paul's Church, Riia. An outstanding redbrick Finnish National Romanticist style building by the famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen.  
• 58.39024526.7286516 St. Peter's Church, 104 Narva St. A Neogothic Lutheran church from 1903, built on the grounds of the first general Estonian song festival, which took place in 1869.  
• 58.38262426.70997117 Roman Catholic Church, 1 Veski St. A beautiful revivalist redbrick building from 1899.  
• 58.36857326.73469318 Tartu Salem Church (Tartu Salemi kirik), Kalevi 76. A Baptist church.  

• 58.37941926.71908919 Gunpowder Cellar. Dug into the side of the hill in 1767 as part of the complex of the bishop's citadel. It was used as a gunpowder cellar until 1809. Until 1982, it served as a storage room for many different enterprises, and was later developed into an eating place. Today, the building hosts a bar/restaurant of the same name, claiming to have the highest pub ceiling in the world, at 11 metres.  (updated Jul 2026)
• 58.37944326.71561720 National Court, Lossi 17 (Dome Hill). In 1763, a military barracks was erected in this place. Onto its ruins was built the university hospital in 1808, which functioned until 1990. Since 1993, the national court is again in Tartu, which is Estonia's supreme judiciary court.  
• 58.37881126.7200721 Old Observatory, Lossi 40 (on the old castle ruins on the Dome Hill). The observatory, designed by university architect J.W. Krause, was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Working place of many famous astronomers including Struve; indeed the observatory is a point on the world heritage listed Struve Geodetic Arc spanning from the Arctic Sea to the Black Sea.  
• 58.37800126.71748622 Old Anatomical Theatre, Lossi 38 (on the Dome Hill). One of the first buildings of the re-opened Tartu University, built in 1803-1805 according to the drawings of university architect J. Krause.  (updated Jul 2026)
• 58.3807326.72425223 Barclay House, Raekoja 18. Late 18th-century building. Duchess Barclay bought the house in 1819 after the death of her husband, Barclay de Tolly. The riverside wall of the building is actually a reused part of the old town wall, while the other side was built on a new foundation. This is why the house is now askew and is popularly called the Tower of Pisa.  
• 58.37462526.7290124 Tartu Centre for Creative Industries, Kalevi 13, 15, 17 (Kalevi St is the continuation of Ülikooli St after Riia St). Congregates several creative enterprises and creates therefore a creative atmosphere. The three buildings of the centre were built between 1830 and 1913 and represent different architectural styles: historicism and Art Nouveau.  
• 58.383126.722225 Remains of the Town Wall.  

• 58.37959626.71767526 Angel's Bridge (Toome hill). Built in the 19th century and spans Lossi Street.  
• 58.37893426.71589727 Devil's Bridge. Built in 1913 in honour of the 300th jubilee of tsarist Russia's Romanov Dynasty, which is memorialised on the bridge by the dates 1613-1913.  
• 58.38079626.72602228 Arched Bridge (from the main square, look towards the river). Stands on the site of the original stone bridge of Tartu which was built in 1784 and blown up by the Soviets in World War II. This new bridge is only for pedestrians and allows you to do one of the most loved cultural activities of Tartu, walk over the top of the arch after a big night in the club. It is said you have to walk over the arch at least once to be a true student in Tartu. Just don't let the cops catch you.  (updated Jul 2026)

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.

• 58.37657226.7346181 AHHAA Science Center, Sadama 1, ☏ +372 745 6789, ahhaa@ahhaa.ee. Sun-Thu 10:00-19:00, Fri Sat 10:00-20:00. Interactive and entertaining science centre. €20, students and seniors €15, family €45.  (updated Jul 2026)
• 58.37633626.7240252 Vanemuine Theatre, Vanemuise 6.  National theatre of Estonia.
• 58.38220626.7180793 Toy Museum and Theater House, Lutsu 2. Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00.  
• 58.37551426.7342574 Aura Waterpark (Aura Veekeskus), Turu 10, ☏ +372 7300 280. Pool: Mon-Fri 06:30-22:00, Sat Sun 09:00-22:00, closed in July. Swimming pool, water park, fitness centre Pool €10; sauna centre €20.  (updated Jul 2026)
• V Spa A more modern spa centre on the 4th floor of the Kvartal shopping centre. Has plenty of saunas.
• Lodi River Cruises, Emajõe 3, ☏ +372 551 8386. Offers various cruises for up to 30 people along River Emajõgi. This is the historic type of ship used to carry goods on Emajõgi and the laike Peipus. (updated Jul 2026)
• There are other companies offering more frequent river cruises on regular ships as well.
• Football: JK Tammeka play soccer in Meistriliiga, Estonia's top tier. Their home ground Tamme Stadium (capacity 1600) is 500 m south of the railway station. The playing season is March-Nov.
• Elektriteater A small cinema showing more special movies instead of the regular blockbusters.

• tARTuFF. Film festival in August. Themes include love and tolerance. 
• PÖFF - Black Nights Film Festival. Film festival at the end of November. 
• Tartu Student Days. Since Tartu is a student town each spring and fall there are also events related to that. These are not only for students, but important for the whole city. Most important events are the Night Song festival in spring and the celebration of the Walpurgis Night.

• Tartu University, Ülikooli 18. Established in 1632, it's one of the oldest universities in Europe. The main building was built in 1804-1809 according to university architect Johann Wilhelm Krause's plans in classical architecture. It includes the historic lock-up on the attic, Assembly Hall and the Tartu University Art Museum which displays ancient art. Considered the best university in the Baltics.
• Estonian University of Life Sciences, Ülikooli 18.  

• 58.37712726.7293041 Kvartal, Riia 2. Shopping centre next to Kaubamaja. Has a spa. Opened in 2016.  (updated May 2024)
• 58.35858926.6765622 Lõunakeskus, Lääneringtee 39 (take bus no. 69 from the city centre). Features a wide range of small boutiques, as well as big department stores Maksimarket, Lidl and Rimi. Has a hotel, cinema, indoors adventure park as well as a skating rink.  (updated May 2024)
• 58.37788826.7308393 Tasku, Turu 2. Shopping centre near the bus station. Also has a cinema.  (updated May 2024)
• 58.36564926.7446344 Prisma Sõbra, Sõbra 58. A hypermarket.  Only 24/7 store in Tartu.
• 58.3780126.7281835 Tartu Kaubamaja, Riia 1 (100 metres from the Bus Station). Department store with several floors full of fascinating things to buy. "Kaubamaja" belongs to Kaubamaja consortium.  
• 58.37603826.6968246 Veeriku Ostukeskus, Vitamiini 1 (northwest of the railway station). Regular supermarket.  (updated Jul 2026)

• 58.36137626.721751 12 Tooli, Võru 148 A, ☏ +372 5854 7053. A fast food restaurant. €1–10.  
• 58.375326.72062 Opera Pizza, Vanemuise 26, ☏ +372 742 0795.  (updated Sep 2023)
• 58.37502626.7240473 Pappa Pizza, Riia 7, ☏ +372 7427933. Mon–Sat 11:00–22:00, Sun 12:00–22:00. pizzeria  (updated Nov 2015)
• 58.38053126.7220564 ^{[formerly dead link]} Ruunipizza, Raekoja plats 6, ☏ +372 7433575, +372 51929211, info@ruunipizza.ee. Mon–Thu 08:15–22:00, Fri Sat 08:15–23:00, Sun 09:15–22:00. Different pizza and pancake dishes (both as desserts and as main courses), soups, rice dishes, etc. Mostly €4–6.  
• 58.3808226.7247235 Taverna Restaurant/Pizzeria, Raekoja plats 20.  
• 58.35512426.7207996 Sirius Aardla, Võru 83, ☏ +372 5567 1497, kiirtoit.sirius@gmail.com. A fast food restaurant. €1–10.  
• 58.37465726.7286787 Spargel, Kalevi 13. Mon 11:00-21:00, Tue–Sun 11:00-23:00.  
• Kebab Master, Riia 2 (Kvartal 1. Floor). 10:00-21:00.  (updated Mar 2021)
• 58.3654626.744098 Sepa kohvik, sõbra 58, ☏ +372 747 0450, info@sepakohvik.ee. 10:00-16:00.  (updated Dec 2024)

• 58.36226326.7044259 6Teist Kannu, Suur kaar 53 (in the Tammelinn district), ☏ +372 738 1484. A pub restaurant. €10–20.  
• 58.3738826.72320110 Asian Chef, Võru 2, ☏ +372 7 355 029, +372 53 300 464. Sun-Thu 11:00–23:00, Fri Sat 11:00–01:00. Authentic Asian cuisine, good price soups and meals of the day.  
• 58.3792126.71907311 Püssirohukelder (Gunpowder Cellar of Tartu), Lossi 28 (in the side of Toome Hill in Pirogov Park behind Tartu Town Hall), ☏ +372 7 303 555, pyss@pyss.ee. Sun—Tue 12:00–22:00, Wed—Sat 12:00–01:00. Built inside an ancient gunpowder cellar. €10—20.  
• Suudlevad tudengid, Raekoja plats 10, ☏ +372 730 1893.  
• 58.37767126.73049912 Yakuza Sushi Bar, Turu 2 (at Tasku Shopping Center), ☏ +372 741 2732. Japanese food.  

• 58.3818426.72272313 La Dolce Vita, Kompanii 10. Italian cuisine. 15-35€.  

58.37991126.7207471 Pirogov Park (just behind the city hall). A small park where consuming light (<6%) alcohol is allowed between 15 March and 15 October until 23 (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.  (updated Jul 2026)

• 58.38190126.7212882 Café Crepp. French-themed, serves delicious pancakes.  
• 58.3805326.7211163 Café Werner (Kohvik-restoran Werner), Ülikooli 11, ☏ +372 742 6377. Excellent café, in business since 1895. A large selection of baked goods; cakes, pies, buns, sandwiches and so on. They also serve some light dishes.  (updated Sep 2025)

• 58.38152626.7214694 Café Krempel, Rüütli 12, ☏ +372 445 1510, krempelkohvik@gmail.com. Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat Sun 09:00-18:00. A cosy café which also offers vegan dishes (breakfast only on Sunday) in which you can apparently get in touch with strangers.  (updated Oct 2018)

In a typical pub, a 0.5 l beer usually costs €5-6.

• 58.3778826.721625 NAIIV. Culture and bar.  (updated Sep 2017)
• 58.36973126.7276726 Barlova. Cosy and chilled.  (updated Sep 2017)
• 58.37945426.722367 Illegaard, Ülikooli 5. Jazz Club. Many sporting events (mainly football) are broadcasted.  
• 58.3807726.7225288 Underground, Küütri 7.  
• 58.38347926.7219999 Möku, Magasini 5, ☏ +372 740 4514. Mon-Sat 12:00-03:00, Fri Sat until 04:00. A nice, somewhat (more) alternative-hipstery bar.  (updated Oct 2018)

• 58.38347526.72196910 Genialistide klubi, Magasini 5 (between Magasini 3 and Lai 37). An alternative club with concerts, theater performances, seminars, etc. The bar Möku resides on the ground floor.  
• 58.38361626.73863911 Illusion. According to girls more into Genialistide klubi, Illusion is where people get drunk and start fights, and the music is bad. So, the latter basically means main stream music.  
• 58.37801726.72276812 Shooters. Drinking and party, as flat and fun as is it might sound.  (updated Sep 2017)

• 58.37186726.7142181 Hostel Looming, Kastani 38, ☏ +372 56994398, info@loominghostel.ee. An eco-friendly boutique hostel. Dorm from €18.  
• 58.38039726.7229622 TerviseksBBB, Raekoja Plats 10, ☏ +372 5655382, terviseksbbb@gmail.com. English speaking, overlooking the Town Square, Excellent kitchen and bathrooms. 4-bed dorm €15. Private room (1 person) €22.  
• 58.38550726.7090093 Hostel Tartu Student Villa, Tähtvere 48. Self-service accommodation in apartments with all comforts. €20/night.  
• 58.37752226.7331354 Hotell Tartu, Soola 3 (right across from the bus station). 3-bed dorm bed €20.  
• ^{[dead link]} Tartu Student Village, 3 locations: Raatuse 22, Narva mnt. 27 and Pepleri 14. Best rooms go quickly so book ahead. 
• 58.38054926.6996145 Rainbow Guest House (Vikerkaare Külalistemaja), Vikerkaare 40 (10-minute walk from downtown).  
• 58.37846526.7085836 Kastani B&B, Kastani 3 (on the other side of the cathedral hill). Small guest house. The lady who runs it speaks a little English but she is delightful and you can communicate without too much hassle. Best to email ahead. Single €25.  

• 58.37085626.7383167 Aleksandri Hotell, Aleksandri 42, ☏ +372 736 6659, aleksandri@aleksandri.ee. €50–60.  
• 58.36990426.7752788 Hotel Starest, Mõisavahe 21 (in the Annelinn suburb), ☏ +372 7400 674, +372 56 203 823, info@starest.ee. It is a quality budget hotel. All rooms are equipped with Sat-TV and an internet connection. Located just few minutes by car from Tartu Town Hall square, with frequent bus service from in front of the hotel. Single: €29, double room €36.  
• 58.37972626.7220649 Domus Dorpatensis Guest Apartments, Raekoja plats 1. Apartments are located in a historical house on the main square. They offer spacious and clean apartments with all the equipment and privacy needed. €35.  
• 58.37878626.72260910 Barclay Hotell, Ülikooli 8, ☏ +372 7 447 100, barclay@barclay.ee. 49 rooms including 2 suites with saunas. Amenities include safe-box, hairdryer, cable TV, mini-bar, phone and complimentary wireless internet. Restaurant serves authentic Estonian food. From €50.  
• 58.37881626.73219311 Hotel Dorpat, Soola 6 (on the banks of the Emajõgi River, near the bus station). 200 standard rooms and 5 business class rooms. Double €100, breakfast included.  
• 58.38036826.72162512 Draakon, Raekoja plats 2 (In Town Square), ☏ +372 7 442045, draakon@draakon.ee. BBC TV. Wheelchair accessible. Single €65, double €100, breakfast included.  
• 58.3822526.7241113 Hotel Soho, Rüütli 9, info@hotellsoho.ee. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Mid-level hotel. Two blocks away from Raekoja Plats. Has a decent Mexican restaurant in the same premises. Double from €75.  (updated Apr 2025)
• 58.35696926.67805514 Hotel Sophia, Lääneringtee 39, ☏ +372 638 0850, sophia@tartuhotels.ee. €80–100.  
• 58.36514326.71376115 Tamme Hostel, Kungla 2 E (near the Tamme Stadium), ☏ +372 744 8408. €81.  

• 58.369826.7012 Tartu University Hospital (Tartu Ülikooli Kliinikum), Ludvig Puusepa 8 (in the Maarjamõisa district; southwest of the railway station), ☏ +372 731 9401, kliinikum@kliinikum.ee. Daily 08:00-19:00.  (updated May 2024)
• The pharmacy located in the town hall is the only one open 24/7.

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

• Mustvee – Almost halfway to Narva, the border city with Russia famous for the Hermann castle, is this small and relaxing fishing village.
• Otepää – A small town set in the hills of south Estonia and best known winter sports centre in the Baltics, and the Winter Capital of Estonia. Surrounded by lakes, hills and ski jump towers.
• Soomaa National Park – Second largest national park in Estonia, known for its swamps and bogs (Soomaa means "land of bogs" in Estonian), and its "fifth season". Surprisingly, swimming is popular there and is said to rejuvenate the skin.
• Tallinn – The financial and cosmopolitan centre of Estonia. Beautiful and expensive.
• Valga – Accessible by bus, train or car, it's one of the relatively few towns in the world that's not only divided by a national border but the other part (Valka in Latvia) essentially has the same name. From there you can continue to Riga.
• Viljandi – A beautiful, ancient and hilly city, known for its annual Viljandi Folk Music Festival, beautiful old town and overwhelming and picturesque park around the old castle.
• Võru – A town in far southern Estonia famous for the house museum of Friedrich Kreutzwald, the founder of Estonian literature, and a gateway to the highest hill in the Baltic states, Suur Munamägi.