Top 10 Fun Things to Do in Tartu, Estonia

There are so many things you can do in Tartu, the second largest city of Estonia. We spent a day in downtown Tartu and this is what we did.

On our trip to Estonia our local friends took us around and showed us all the best places there. Among many other places we also visited Tartu, the second biggest city of the country.

The city of Tartu is located in Southern Estonia and has about 93,000 inhabitants. Tartu is one of the oldest cities in the whole of Northern Europe and actually the oldest city in Estonia.

It has become known for its university and many international students who head over there every year.

In Tartu you will also find a lot of cultural events and a vibrant night life. No wonder it was chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2024!

It is very easy to visit Tartu from Tallinn by train, plane or bus. Since we were already close by, we drove over ourselves. This was part of our road trip to Estonia all the way from Finland.

If you are planning to drive from Tallinn to Tartu, it takes a little over two hours to get there.

Things to do in Tartu

Visit Town Hall Square

Town Hall Square is in the center of the city. In the 18th century it used to be called der Grosse Markt, the Great Market place. Now people come here to see different events, to sit in restaurant patios and meet friends.

Town Hall Square is also home to Tartu’s most famous statue: Kissing Students.

Snap a photo of the Town Hall

Tartu Town Hall must be one the most photographed sites in the city and is located at Town Hall Square. It was built in 1789 in the early classicist style.

Nowadays the Tartu City Government meets at this building but in the old days there used to be a prison and a weigh house. The Town Hall clock is being played every day at 9 am., 12 pm., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.

See some art at Tartu Art Museum

Tartu Art Museum, also called Tartmus is right by Town Hall Square. Even if you are not planning to visit, you should still check it out.

The building was consturcted in 1793, but because the area used to be swampland being so close to the river, the other side of it has started to sink. Now it has slanted by 5.8 degrees.

The museum displays art from the 20th and 21st centuries. You can find the opening times and other details here: Tartmus.

Do an architectural tour around the town

There are so many beautiful buildings and lots of history in Tartu, and the best way to learn about them is on a walking tour around the downtown. There are both hosted and self-guided tours available, and at the same time you will learn how to navigate around the city.

Explore the University of Tartu Campus

As I already mentioned, Tartu is very well known for its university. The University of Tartu is considered to be the national university of Estonia. It was founded by king Gustav II Adolf in 1632.

The main building was designed by the architect Johann Wilhelm Krause and it was built between the years1804 and 1809. It can be found right by the Town Hall and it is easy to walk over to see it.

There are about 15,000 students in the University of Tartu yearly. The university has several other buildings too, but the main building is considered to be one of the gems of classicist architecture in Estonia.

Visit the Ruins of Tartu Cathedral

While you explore the university campus you are likely to run into the ruins of the Tartu Cathedral in Toome Hill. Construction of this medieval church began in the 13th century and it was completed in the 16th century.

Dorpat Cathedral, a former Catholic church was devastated during the Livonia War and left in a state of ruin. In 1804-1807 parts of it were reconstructed by the University of Tartu but some beautiful Gothic style brick ruins were also preserved.

Find the terracotta figurines of St. John’s Church

St. John’s Church (Jaani kirik) is very close to the university building and only about 400 metres from the Town Hall square. It is a beautiful, Brick Gothic Lutheran church from the 12th century.

St. John’s Church is a special place to visit because of its unique, 700 year-old terracotta figurines. You can see some of them around the main door and inside of the church on the walls.

There is a small fee to visit the church, and if you decide to do so, you should definitely climb up to the bell tower also. In sunny weather the view from up there is just beautiful!

Eat and shop at Rüütli and Küüni Streets

Rüütli is an old pedestrian street in the old town of Tartu. You can find many restaurants, cafes and bars there. It is nice to walk around and just look at the old buildings, or you can sit down for lunch or some coffee.

We accidentally ran into this street when we walked out of St. John’s Church, as it is right by it. We decided to find a restaurant and have lunch there.

By the Town Hall Square Rüütli merges with a street called Küüni. It is a popular shopping street, and also has many restaurants and cafes.

Stroll around the Emajõgi Riviera Promenade

The Ema River runs through the city of Tartu and is a popular place for day or evening strolls. In the downtown you will find the Emajõe Riviera Promenade which is lit in the evenings. There are several restaurants, cafes and often some live music.

You can also see the white Arch Bridge (Kaarsild) there. Before it was built between 1957–1959 a ferry used to transport people over the river. The bridge was renovated in 2017 and it is lit in the evenings with a daily light show synchronised with the town hall bells.

Watch the Victory Day Parade

If you visit Estonia in June then you don’t want to miss the Victory Day celebrations. It is a public holiday in Estonia and occurs in June 23rd to honor the victory they got in the 1919 in Estonian War of Independence.

Especially in the bigger cities like Tartu, the locals gather at downtown to see the Victory Day parade and other events, and that is also where our friends took us. It was ver interesting and fun!

Where to stay at Tartu

Depending on what you plan to do in Tartu there are so many great places to stay at. If you mostly plan to be in the downtown area, it makes sense to get a hotel there so you can walk everywhere. Our favourite hotel is Art Hotel Pallas by Tartuhotels which is located the Old Town area. Their rooms come with complimentary breakfast.

Another great and more unique place to stay is Hansa Hotel. This is a medieval-themed hotel with fun interior and a restaurant that offers local cuisine. The hotel is only few minutes away from the downtown. They also offer a good breakfast.

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If you are considering driving to Tartu from Tallinn for example, you should also consider exploring areas around it. We visited some beautiful mansions and windmills, saw some ruins and enjoyed our time at Lake Peipus on the border of Russia. Both Kuremaa Castle and Alatskivi Castle are definitely worth a stop.

Also Tartu was much fun for us on a sunny day. After Tallinn’s medieval Old Town and the underground Bastion Tunnels, Tartu felt more colourful and less commercial. We loved the old buildings and the atmosphere of the restaurant street.

There are plenty of other things to do in Tartu too but these are what you should see at least. I would definitely visit Tartu again if I was close by as we only have good memories from our time there!

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Have you ever visited Tartu or Estonia? Let us know in the comments if we missed something worth seeing in Tartu.