Tartu Tours: Top 5 Sightseeing & Cruises – Your Ultimate Guide

Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city, is sometimes, just a little bit, considered to be a place bursting with history, culture, and youthful energy. You see, that’s because of its prominent university. If you are looking for how to best check out what Tartu has on offer, the tours, sightseeing, and cruises apparently give different, pretty cool perspectives. We’ve curated a list of the top 5 Tartu experiences that really let you check out its charming streets, admire its architecture, and soak up its tranquil river views.

1. Tartu City Center Walking Tour

Let’s start with, arguably, the classic. The Tartu City Center Walking Tour is literally a must for first-time visitors. You see, these tours usually start from the Town Hall Square. By the way, it is apparently a centerpiece of Tartu, and they are mostly led by local guides, very informative people! They offer stories and also historical tidbits that apparently make the city come alive. Typically, you’ll be strolling past sights. Those include the iconic Kissing Students fountain. That has become such a big symbol of the town. There’s the University of Tartu, definitely a venerable academic institution, and also St. John’s Church, that contains some amazing medieval architecture. A bit, that walking tour normally tends to be like, two to three hours. Because of this, it will provide you with a fantastic way to actually get to know Tartu’s key landmarks and local flavor.

Now, the best time to actually hop on this adventure? That really depends on the season, so that you are pretty comfortable, actually! During those warmer months, arguably between May and September, the city actually blossoms. So the weather will be quite pleasant, that’s nice too, because you want a stroll. The weather can be kind of cold sometimes during winter, anyway the city kinda turns into a snowy, pretty stunning spectacle. So there’s that as well, for a trip!

You could get some amazing insider tips from local tour guides, that are very knowledgeable and happy to tell you all there is. A lot of these tours also provide chances to kinda sample some of the local food and drink, very yum! You also could tailor the walk according to interests you may have. These range from architectural visits to historical deep dives to a general overview of the city. Remember this, and use it if needed.

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2. Emajõgi River Cruise

You should see the city from another point of view by joining an Emajõgi River Cruise. In some respects, the Emajõgi River literally meanders right through Tartu, so this apparently gives you, you know, a tranquil opportunity to see the town from a slightly different angle. As a matter of fact, these cruises usually actually depart from the city center. Usually it lasts around one to two hours. So there’s enough to just relax on the boat. You know, there will be picturesque views of the architecture along the riverbanks and of the lovely green landscapes.

There are often sunset cruises during the summertime. So it’s an experience for those looking to have some moments when everything looks amazing. Those river cruises can also offer refreshments on board. So you will just relax and appreciate that amazing scenery without worrying much. Quite convenient! In some respects, a river cruise can give you a relaxing, unusual view of Tartu.

By the way, a river cruise will likely let you get away from the bustle of the town itself and actually offers a kinda quiet alternative. It is, naturally, a particularly awesome choice in summer. When you can often enjoy the sun, in a comfortable boat seat. Several boats feature onboard commentary and therefore enrich the actual viewing with all sorts of cool information regarding the local historical spots. Just make sure that you really dress according to what weather is actually doing to be most comfortable during this viewing session. You’d probably enjoy yourself even more!

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3. Tartu Bike Tour

Thinking about getting around, that Tartu Bike Tour is just a superb way of checking out town. It also offers a good way to enjoy some exercise at your own speed! These tours usually rent bicycles. You actually pedal off across some amazing spots, and bike tours usually are structured so as to give you different experiences that the guided tour would not show. These are mostly tailored with your fitness in mind.

As I was saying, you get to enjoy so much nature as you are in town and you kinda go around checking out pretty cool spots, without really much problem. You see, for a nice family activity this actually looks really cool because you have fun on bikes, in an amazing tour that includes so much landscape. When doing such bicycle touring, it’s really good to put on that helmet to be secured. But even during touring without guides, some pre-program can really make the visit so amazing.

Most people really think about cycling during warmer climate conditions and those happen during mid year. Make sure you’re dressed with clothing and protective gears for weather that are, seemingly, to become inclement at that time. Very interesting. Most people want some assistance in what things can be observed during that season! It’s alright.

Read our full review: Tartu Bike Tour Full Review and Details

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4. Aparaaditehas (The Widget Factory) Creative City Tour

Let’s add, anyway, a place known for the arts. This Aparaaditehas Creative City Tour highlights just what happens at Tartu! You see, Aparaaditehas happens to be a former factory site, kinda like the cool version, but now turned into a place that hosts creative businesses and a variety of different art studios. And shops, too! Often you find tours guided by folks right there and know everything that’s happening at that scene. You almost get to have those discussions on-site regarding creativity and enterprise. That’s something. This apparently happens as these art studios and other design centered businesses all help demonstrate work during the visits.

For some art that’s definitely cool. They usually provide great explanations on this site with its art. By the way, that tour would run for at least an hour or two. In the meantime there should also be places that offer places for refreshments. It could be something definitely more chill for someone to kinda hang in there.

You should find all sorts of neat artisanal items on offer at individual retail stores at this campus so arguably set aside sometime shopping. The Widget Factory also schedules art-themed special days for things such galleries, festivals etc throughout calendar months. This tour works particularly ideally even, you know, if weather is iffy as mostly inside and keeps to all these indoor spaces.

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5. Tartu Ghost Tour

You will probably feel like the mysterious, anyway, on Tartu Ghost Tour. That will uncover other creepy sides of Tartu from dusk til dawn, when shadows play along old building architecture. You see, stories around city also are very entertaining that they help guide tourist through. During this period many hear on creepy incidents of town including its previous residences whom might linger still with their presence!

In fact the guides on a night where they’re literally out there during ghost searching is definitely fun too, they are always excited as what sort of events unfold around town and places. Because there are very eerie elements when people could experience strange things around there they become quite the entertainment!

Remember, nighttime excursions are fun. Because nights sometimes make everything better. The evening walks typically are fine provided conditions out for stroll is comfortable for someone looking just walk during night- time hours during different seasons of that year so wear clothing or pack correctly.

Read our full review: Tartu Ghost Tour Full Review and Details

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