Hotels in Tartu

Tartu: Estonia's University City on the Emajõgi

Tartu is Estonia's second-largest city, home to the University of Tartu founded in 1632 by Swedish King Gustav II Adolf. Around 100,000 residents share the city with roughly 15,000 students, giving Tartu a younger demographic than the capital Tallinn, 185 km to the northwest. The compact Old Town climbs toward Toome Hill (Toomemägi), where the ruined 13th-century cathedral and two neoclassical bridges frame the Emajõgi River below.

Where to Stay in Tartu

Most hotels cluster within walking distance of Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), the geometric heart of the Old Town. The Supilinn quarter — a grid of wooden houses north of the centre — attracts visitors seeking quieter guesthouses. The Estonian National Museum, opened in 2016 on the former Soviet military airstrip at Raadi, sits 3 km east of the square and draws cultural travellers year-round.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Lux Express and FlixBus coaches link Tartu to Tallinn in roughly 2.5 hours; the Tartu bus station sits 600 m south of Town Hall Square.
• Best season: June through August brings long daylight hours; the Tartu Hanseatic Days festival runs each July.
• Currency: Estonia uses the euro (€); most hotels accept cards.