A holiday in the heart of winter fun
Keeping in mind our bigger skiing events, which mainly take place in Tartu county and Otepää region, we have put together an overview of accommodation options where skiers are especially warmly welcomed.
These places are ideal both for hobby skiers and for those coming to take part in the Tartu Maraton or other ski events. Here, you will find fellow ski lovers, cosy rooms, and comfortable places to rest after a long day on the trails. And most of all, while staying here, you can (re)discover just how refreshing a winter holiday in Tartu and South Estonia can be.
When the air turns crisp and the ground is covered with a bright white blanket, it is the perfect time to make the most of winter and spend more time outdoors. In ways that simply are not possible during other seasons. In winter, you can go ice skating, sledding, tubing, kick-sledding, try ice swimming, or enjoy husky sled tours in Tartu and across South Estonia. Or just wander along snowy trails at your own pace. Still, skiing holds a special place in Estonians’ hearts. And visitors from near and far are always welcome to enjoy it with us.
There are suitable ski trails in Tartu and South Estonia for every level. Long, well-maintained tracks invite you to breathe in the fresh air, move at your own rhythm, and enjoy the calm and quiet of winter. You will also find ski jumping hills and winter sports centres where you can fully enjoy the season.
During winter, many ski competitions and gatherings take place here. A strong sense of togetherness and a festive atmosphere come naturally. To help you enjoy a longer ski holiday, we have highlighted accommodation options that are especially well suited for skiers. Everyone is welcome to feel at home on our snowy trails.
Accommodation in Tartu county
A stay at Tartu County Recreational Sports Centre is a very convenient choice for skiers, as you can stay right next to the ski trails. The finish line of the Tartu Maraton is located here, and the impressive finish arch stands on site all year round. When there is natural snow, you can even ski from here to Otepää town and back.
The hostel offers a ski storage and maintenance room, as well as drying cabinets for clothing. After a long day on the trails, a warm sauna awaits you, and hot drinks are available from the reception. Breakfast can be pre-ordered, and takeaway meals can be arranged if needed. The Suusalabor ski rental is also located at the sports centre, and in Elva, Suusalabor provides ski servicing as well.
In the peaceful town of Elva, surrounded by pine forest and close to Lake Verevi, you will also find Verevi Motel. In winter, the motel offers ice skate and kick-sled rentals. Tartu County Recreational Sports Centre and the marathon trail are just a few kilometres away. During the winter season, you can also enjoy winter swimming in Lake Verevi.
Hellenurme Water Mill guest rooms offer a peaceful and comfortable place to stay close to the marathon trail. The trail winds through the forest about 1.5 km away, between the Hellenurme and Palu refreshment points. In snowy conditions, you can ski to the trail along the village road. When there is less snow, it is easy to reach by car. Elva and Rõngu are 10 km away, while Otepää and Kuutsemäe are 15 km away. Ski equipment can be rented in Otepää or Elva. Accommodation includes two rooms for 2+2 people, each with an extra bed on a sofa. The rooms have separate entrances, but they can also be connected and booked together if needed. One room features an electric sauna, and the other has a terrace. Breakfast is included in the price. Additional services can be arranged flexibly, whether it is a transfer to and from the trail or a ski storage room.
Waide motel is a great choice for those looking for a peaceful place to stay close to nature. There are several hiking trails in the surrounding area, and both the Tartu County Recreational Sports Centre and the Tartu Maraton ski trail are nearby.
Accommodation is offered in four cosy cottages with double, triple, and four-bed rooms. This makes Waide a suitable place to stay for couples, families, and groups of friends alike. Special attention is given to a homely atmosphere, so guests can feel comfortable and well looked after.
Kiviranna Holiday Houses are located about a 35-minute drive from Tartu and 40 minutes from Otepää. The accommodation is set in a peaceful, nature-rich area on the shore of Lake Võrtsjärv and is ideal for those who value privacy and a high-quality stay in the middle of nature. The houses are individual and pleasantly cosy.
After a day of sport, you can relax in the igloo sauna by the lake. It helps your muscles recover and lets your body unwind. Each house has a kitchenette where you can prepare your own meals. There is also the option to dry and store your equipment if needed. Early check-in or late check-out can be arranged by agreement. Catering is available for groups, and breakfast baskets can be ordered directly to the house.
Accommodation in Otepää
Tehvandi hotel has been built and designed with skiers in mind. The staff are used to working with athletes and know how to take their specific needs into account. The hotel is located right at the Tehvandi Sports Centre, where well-prepared artificial snow ski trails are usually available in winter. When there is natural snow, additional forest trails are also prepared. The Tartu Maraton route begins at the Tehvandi Ski Stadium.
All hotel rooms are equipped with drying cabinets, and there is a ski storage room with equipment maintenance facilities beneath the hotel. Larger groups can also rent a separate ski maintenance box in the nearby Hooldemajad buildings. The hotel restaurant takes early-morning skiers into account. Breakfast can be served very early or packed to go if needed. During the winter season, the ski trails are maintained daily. About 100 metres away, at Karupesa Hotel, you will find Fan-Sport, where ski equipment can be rented and serviced.
Tehvandi Holiday House is located just 500 metres from the Tehvandi Ski Stadium. The Tehvandi nature trail runs directly in front of the house, which means that with natural snow, you can put on your skis right outside the front door.
The holiday house has two apartments with separate entrances. Each apartment includes four bedrooms, a lounge with a kitchenette, a sauna complex, and drying cabinets. There is also a separate equipment room for storing and maintaining skis, as well as cosy outdoor terraces. Breakfast can be enjoyed at the Tehvandi Hotel restaurant, even in the early morning hours, or taken to go if preferred.
The ski trails are maintained daily with artificial snow, and when natural snow allows, forest trails are also prepared. Ski rental is just a few hundred metres away at Fan-Sport, located under Karupesa Hotel. In winter, an ice hole is set up in front of the holiday house for those who enjoy invigorating winter swimming.
Karupesa hotel is located next to the Tehvandi Sports Centre, right at the starting point of the Tartu Maraton. The Tehvandi ski trails begin directly in front of the hotel, and the ski stadium is just 100 metres away. The hotel can accommodate up to 80 guests. There are 30 renovated rooms in total, including single, double, and triple rooms, as well as more spacious family rooms. Guests can use the ski storage room with waxing equipment, clothing drying cabinets, the gym, and the car park free of charge. On the lower floor of the hotel, there are two saunas. One is suitable for larger groups, and the other for smaller ones. Participants in competitions may be offered late check-out free of charge, when possible. The hotel also hosts the Fan-Sport sports equipment rental, where you can rent cross-country skis, ice skates, snowboards, and downhill skis, as well as book ski maintenance and waxing services.
Kääriku hotel, located at the Kääriku Sports Centre, skiers can enjoy natural snow trails of various lengths, including the longer Kekkonen Trail. The trails here connect with the Tartu Maraton route, making Kääriku a good place to stay for more dedicated ski enthusiasts.
The hotel offers drying cabinets, storage facilities, and a separate room for ski storage and maintenance. If needed, early breakfast or a packed meal for the trail can be arranged. Up-to-date trail information is available daily on the health trails information portal. Ski equipment rental and servicing are also available on site. After skiing, you can relax in the large and cosy lobby, where warm drinks are served. There is always at least one heated sauna ready to help guests warm up both body and mind.
At the Kääriku Sports Centre, there are also team cabins available for accommodation. Guests can use a sauna, washing machine, drying cabinet, and storage room, so equipment stays clean, dry, and well maintained. Skiers can request an early breakfast or a packed meal for the trail if needed.
Daily trail information is available on the health trails portal and can also be asked from the hotel reception. Ski equipment rental and servicing are available at the centre as well.
GMP Clubhotel & Pühajärve restaurant is located on the scenic shores of Lake Pühajärv, where ski trails are prepared around the lake for the winter season. Estonia’s longest ice track is also created on the frozen lake, allowing visitors to go ice skating, skiing, and kick-sledding. Just a couple of kilometres away is Otepää with the Tehvandi Sports Centre, where illuminated ski trails and major winter sports events take place. Nearby you will also find the Kääriku Sports Centre, Väike-Munamägi, and Kuutsemägi for those who enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding.
The hotel’s one-, two-, and three-room apartments are well suited for families and active guests who value comfort. All apartments include a kitchenette with the necessary appliances, as well as drying cabinets for clothing. Guests can use the gym and sauna complex on the rooftop terrace, which offers views of the surrounding nature. There is a storage room for ski equipment where skis can be kept and serviced. In cooperation with Loodusturism, GMP Clubhotel also offers kick-sled rentals. In Otepää, ski equipment rental is available at Veetee ski rental, Fan-Sport, and ReeDe Villa Ski Base.
Nuustaku Ranch Holiday House is located about 3 km from the Tehvandi Sports Centre ski trails and the starting point of the Tartu Maraton route. The Palu refreshment point of the Tartu Maraton is 5 km away, making the location convenient for both training and competitions.
The holiday house offers drying cabinets and a sauna with a hot tub, perfect for relaxing after sports. There is a storage room for skis, as well as ski servicing and competition waxing. Guests can rent both standard and high-performance ski equipment if needed. Ski technique training and biathlon practice sessions are also available, combining shooting and skiing. Nuustaku Ranch is known as one of the most sport-oriented holiday houses in Otepää. The owner, who has a strong winter sports background, makes sure that active groups have everything they need, both in winter and in summer.
The legendary Tartu Maraton
Estonia’s most prestigious skiing event is undoubtedly the historic Tartu Maraton, which runs through the beautiful landscapes of Tartu county and Otepää. It is one of the oldest ski marathons in the world and brings together thousands of ski enthusiasts every year, from all across Estonia and from far beyond its borders. The event is also part of the Worldloppet and Estoloppet calendars.
In addition to the traditional 63 km and 31 km classic-style races, the programme includes a 31 km freestyle race, a relay race, the Tartu Maraton Vintage, and children’s ski races. It is also possible to take part in the marathon virtually, on a trail of your choice.
This year, the Tartu Maraton takes place on 14–15 February, and on these days the ski trail is reserved for marathon participants. You are warmly invited to take part. More information about the Tartu Maraton can be found here.
The same trail, locating between the towns of Elva and Otepää, can be enjoyed outside the marathon period as well. Up-to-date information about trail conditions and maintenance can be found here.
More information about other important skiing events is available on the Estonian Ski Association website.
Winter sports sentres in South Estonia
In winter, South Estonia is a true paradise for ski enthusiasts, with trails to suit every taste. Alongside cross-country skiing, the region also offers great opportunities for downhill skiing and snowboarding. To find the place that suits you best, it is worth exploring an overview of the best ski centres in South Estonia. For the latest updates, visit the centres’ websites and social media channels. The Estonian health trails website is also a helpful resource, offering up-to-date information on trail conditions as well as observations shared by other users.
An active holiday awaits
In winter, Tartu and South Estonia offer skiers high-quality trails, but that is not all. There is also a wide range of accommodation options designed with ski enthusiasts in mind, featuring comfortable rooms, practical facilities, and pleasant ways to recover after a long day on the trails. Alongside great sporting opportunities, the region hosts many events and offers plenty of ways to spend your time actively and enjoy the joy of movement to the fullest.
Explore other accommodation options in Tartu city and Tartu county, as well as the many opportunities for an active holiday. You can also find inspiration for your trip to South Estonia on the Visit South Estonia website.