Things to do in Tartu – 10 experiences and attractions

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What to do in Tartu, Estonia? We spent three days in this Estonian city and managed to do everything from city walks and museums to pub visits and rallies. We offer photos from our days in the city, and tips for those of you who also want to find things to see and do in Tartu.

Tartu in Estonia

Tartu is a university town in south-eastern Estonia. Located in historic Livonia, the city was known as Dorpat until Estonia's independence in 1918. Today it is a lively and youthful city full of events and festivals.

What to do in Tartu, Estonia?

We spent a few days in Tartu, Estonia. Of course, we don't know everything there is to do here, but in collaboration with the Estonian Tourist Board, we've come up with ten interesting things to do in Tartu, Estonia.

1. Hang out at Rådhustorget

When you arrive in Tartu, the Town Hall Square, with its beautiful town hall and the statue of the two kissing students, is a must. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafés to hang out in.

2. Drink coffee at Café Werner – Tartu's oldest café

For a traditional coffee break, head to Café Werner, which has been open since 1885. The popular café is located at Ülikooli 11 and serves both food and cakes.

3. Drink beer at Püssirohukelder – the pub with the world's highest ceiling

The Püssirohukelder pub, located on the slope of Toomemäe, served as a gunpowder cellar until the 19th century. The cellar was built in 1767, using stones from the ruins of the medieval St Mary's church and the walls of the bishop's castle. Today the cellar houses a pub that is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the pub with the highest ceiling in the world (10.2 metres high).

4. Try beer from the local brewery Pühaste.

In Tartu there is a local brewery, the Brewery paste. Some events with beer tastings and the like are organised here. You can also try the beer in a pub in the city centre. The cosy Pühaste Kelder, at Rüütli tn. 11, serves a variety of interesting beers from smaller breweries.

5. Check out the sights on Domberget

A short walk from Town Hall Square, Toomemägi is home to a number of attractions. Perhaps the most impressive are the ruins of the Bishop's Cathedral. It was also the site of the Bishop's Castle, which was destroyed during the Great Northern War in the 18th century.

Other attractions on the hill include the Old Anatomical Theatre of Tartu, the Tartu Observatory, the Turadisild (Devil's Bridge), the Angel Bridge and a monument to Johan Skytte, a Swedish advisor to Gustav II Adolf, Chancellor of Uppsala University and founder of the city's university.

6. Take a historical city walk in Tartu

If you go to the tourist information centre at the town hall, you can get a brochure with all the historical sights marked on a map. The sights are located along a nice walking route, and the brochure contains information on all the sights.

According to the tourist information it would take an hour and a half to walk the route, but for us it took much longer (which can't be explained only by the beer we had on the way...). Along the way you can see Barclay Square, the Leaning House, St John's Church, Von Bock House and the city's monument to Gustav II Adolf, who founded the University of Tartu.

7. Stroll in the botanical garden

In the centre of Tartu there is a really nice botanical garden, where you can walk around in peace and quiet. The garden was founded in 1803 and contains around 6000 different species of plants.

8. Visit the Estonian National Museum

Just outside the centre of Tartu is National Museum of Estonia. The new museum, opened in 2016, is housed in a gigantic building with a hugely grand entrance. The museum showcases the history, way of life and traditions of the Estonian people.

We most appreciated the exhibition on the cultural history of the Finno-Ugric peoples, which is really modern and nice, with many interactive elements.

9. Trade in the market

The Tartu market, located by the river at Soola 10, sells all kinds of things. Here you can find vegetables, fruit, berries and mushrooms at really good prices.

We took the opportunity to shop for chanterelles, blueberries and raspberries, which we brought back to the motorhome. Fantastically good!

10. participate in events and festivals

Tartu hosts many different events and festivals, such as Tartu Hansa Days, marathons, cycling marathons and several different festivals focusing on film or music. We participated in Rally Estoniawhich is organised in July every summer. A fantastic folk festival!

More things to see and do in Tartu

There is of course even more to see and do in Tartu for those who want to. For example, there are around 25 museums to choose from. Several museums focus on science or history, but there are also sports museums, toy museums and brewery museums, for example.

There are also activities around the Emajõgi River, including a boat trip on the Pegasus boat.

By motorhome in Tartu

We "camped" two nights in a row in a car park in Tartu. We found a free parking at Pikk, a short walk from the centre. It was a good location with access to the beach, public toilets and rubbish bins. You can only get here if you go under a three-metre high bridge, but there are other car parks in town as well.

More tips for travelling to Tartu

Tartu is located southeast of the capital Tallinn, and it takes just over two hours to drive from Tallinn to Tartu by car. According to Forex, the price index in Estonia is 69, compared to 100 in Sweden, which means that the price situation is favourable for Swedes. Other useful information is that the internet works well almost everywhere in the country and that you can get by well with English.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

There is of course more to see and experience around Estonia. Here are some tips:

• Narva
• The cliffs of Ontika
• Lake Peipus
• The highest mountain in the Baltics
• That gear in Tallinn

Programme "Promoting Estonia as a Tourism Destination" is supported by European Union Regional Development Fund.