Why go
- Second most populous city in Estonia.
- Served by Tartu Airport (TAY).
History
Tartu is the second-largest city in Estonia, after the capital, Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,304, and is the seventh most-populous city in the Baltics. It is around 186 kilometres southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia, Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake Peipus. From the 13th century until the end of the 19th century, Tartu was known in most of the world by variants of its historical name Dorpat.
Where to stay
Ülikooli tn 15, 51003 Tartu, Estonia · hotelantonius.ee
Ülikooli tn 14, 51003 Tartu, Estonia · lydia.ee
Lai tn 29, 51005 Tartu, Estonia · booking.bobw.co
Lääneringtee 39-50407, 51014 Tartu, Estonia · sophia.tartuhotels.ee
Jaani tn 4, 51007 Tartu, Estonia · tamperemaja.ee
Riia tn 2, 51004 Tartu, Estonia · vspahotel.ee
Arhitekti tn 32, 50407 Tartu, Estonia · veerikuvilla.ee
Turu tn 27a, 50106 Tartu, Estonia · hansahotell.ee
Raatuse tn 23, 50603 Tartu, Estonia · hugostay.com
Riia tn 4, 51004 Tartu, Estonia · pallas.tartuhotels.ee
Soola tn 6, 51013 Tartu, Estonia · dorpat.ee
Soola tn 3, 51004 Tartu, Estonia · tartuhotell.ee
Rüütli tn 9, 51007 Tartu, Estonia · hotellsoho.ee
Kastani tn 3, 50409 Tartu, Estonia · kastanibb.hotelre.top
Raatuse tn 22, 51009 Tartu, Estonia · campus.ee
Tähe tn 11, 50108 Tartu, Estonia · margaretha.ee
Mõisavärava tn 1, Raadi, 60534 Tartu maakond, Estonia · raadihotell.ee
Aleksandri tn 42, 51004 Tartu, Estonia · aleksandri.ee
Ülikooli tn 8, 51003 Tartu, Estonia · barclay.ee
Liiva tn 38, 50303 Tartu, Estonia · liivaguestaccommodation.hotelca.top
Tamme puiestee 73a, 50405 Tartu, Estonia · puhkaeestis.ee
Vikerkaare tn 40, 51006 Tartu, Estonia · guesthouseinvikerkaare.ee
Indoor
Puiestee t. 13a, 50303 Tartu, Estonia · booking.com
Pikk tn 40, 50603 Tartu, Estonia · rareapartments.ee
Fortuuna tn 5-19, 50603 Tartu, Estonia · booking.com
Filosoofi tn 1, 50108 Tartu, Estonia · filosoofi1studioapartments.estonia-hotel.top
Tähe tn 98, 51013 Tartu, Estonia · tahe-korter-ee.book.direct
Restaurants & places to go
Coffee Shop, Sandwich, Pastry, Salad, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 09:00-21:00 Features: outdoor seating, delivery · 5B Küüni · caffeine.ee
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 38 Anne, Tartu, 50601 · hesburger.ee
Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00 Features: delivery · 7 Küüni, Tartu · sushiking.ee
Bakery, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 9:00-17:00 Features: step-free access · 42 Kastani, Tartu, 50410 · cruffin.ee
Kebab, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-01:00 · 47a Võru, Tartu, 50111 · fusionkebab.ee
Breakfast, Coffee Shop, Pancake, Sandwich, Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00 · 50107 · karlovakohv.ee
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00 Features: takeaway, vegan options · 1c Kalda tee, Tartu · pizzakiosk.ee
Japanese, Sushi, Ramen, Tempura, Don, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, vegan options · 1 Riia,… · tokumaru.ee
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00 · 2 Ülikooli, Tartu, 51003 · vagamama.ee
Crepe, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating · 18 Rüütli · crepp.ee
Salad, Dessert, Regional, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-16:30 Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options, step-free access · 18 Narva mnt, Tartu,… · delta.ut.ee
International, Regional, Estonian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We 12:00-21:00; Th-Sa 12:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 6 Soola, Tartu · dorpat.ee
Regional, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Th 09:00-16:00; Fr-Su 09:00-21:00 · 12 Rüütli · krempel.ee
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Th 12:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-20:00 · myitaly.ee
Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 17:00-23:00; Sa 15:00-23:00; Su 12:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan…
Estonian, Local, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-24:00 Features: step-free access · 79 Võru, Tartu, 50112 · fasters.ee
Bistro, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 12:00-21:00; Tu-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-01:00; Su 12:00-21:00 · 4 Riia, Tartu · humalbistro.ee
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00 · mandalarestoran.ee
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00; Sa 10:00-14:00; Su off Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 42 Kastani · tordielamus.ee
Local, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa 11:00-17:00; Su 12:00-16:00 Features: outdoor seating
Armenian, Georgian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 10:00-21:00; Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 13:00-20:00 · 15B Riia, Tartu, 51010
A La Carte Restoran, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 · kuumkoer.ee
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-23:00, Fr,Sa 12:00-24:00, Su 12:00-18:00 Features: step-free access · aparaadiresto.ee
Smoothie, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
Arab, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00
Spanish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 17:00-01:00 · 7 Ülikooli, Tartu
Chinese, Asian, Cafe · Chinese/Asian cafe · 28a Kalda tee
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Features: step-free access
Georgian, Restaurant · Georgian restaurant · 50 Võru, Tartu
Ice Cream · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
Coffee Shop, Salad, Pancake, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Th 07:30-20:00; Fr 07:30-21:00; Sa 08:00-21:00; Su 08:00-20:00 · 4 Riia, Tartu, 51004 · revalcafe.ee
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Fr 08:00-00:00; Sa 08:00-01:00 Features: takeaway, vegetarian options, step-free access, air conditioning · 6a Turu,… · mcdonalds.ee
Sushi, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-21:00 · tokyosushibaar.ee
Bakery, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa-Su 09:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating · 6 Raekoja plats, Tartu · cruffin.ee
Kebab, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-We 11:30-01:00; Th 11:30-04:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-05:00 Features: delivery · 5B Küüni
Breakfast, Salad, Pasta, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00 Features: outdoor seating · 1 Riia · gustav.ee
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00 Features: takeaway, vegan options · 75 Ringtee, Tartu · pizzakiosk.ee
Asian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00, Mo-Th 11:00-23:00, Su 12:00-22:00 · 4 Võru · asianchef.ee
Salad, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 29 Lai
International, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We 11:30-22:00, Th 11:30-23:00, Fr 11:30-01:00, Sa 13:00-01:00; Su off · 4 Vallikraavi, Tartu · vilde.ee
Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00 Features: step-free access · rahwaresto.ee
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 12:00-22:00; Tu-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:00 Features: step-free access · 7 Rüütli, Tartu · pompei.ee
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, step-free access · 35 Lääneringtee
109 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Tartu Airport (TAY) 7.5 km to the centre
Tartu, 7B, EE — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (Finnair, Flybe) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Helsinki (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 1 direct destination
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Lange Airfield (Lennundusmuuseum) 9.4 km to the centre
Tartu, 7B, EE
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Tartu Airport (TAY); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: TAY has direct flights to 1 destination on 2 airlines (incl. Helsinki).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Tartu. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Tours & experiences
Walking Tour