Experience the true Christmas spirit in Tartu from December 1st
There are few things in life you can always rely on. Finding the Christmas spirit in Tartu is one of them. Close your eyes and imagine the most delightful winter day. Heartwarming moments with loved ones, a home filled with the scent of gingerbread, a crackling fire, and twinkling lights shining through the winter’s night likely come to mind. This is precisely the warm and magical feeling that fills your heart when you visit Tartu during the Christmas season.
Tartu Christmas City
On the last evening of November, just before the Christmas season begins, we will proudly celebrate the closing of Tartu’s year as the European Capital of Culture, Tartu 2024. While the official title year draws to a close, Tartu remains as vibrant as ever. On December 1st, we’ll light the first Advent candle in Tartu’s Town Hall Square, enjoy a captivating light show, and celebrate the festive opening of Tartu Christmas City. Activities in Christmas City will carry on until January!
For five weeks, Tartu Town Hall Square will be filled with Christmas cheer, charming pavilions, and a wealth of activities – not to mention hot mulled wine, a sparkling Christmas tree, and a warming bonfire. In Christmas City, you’re free to stroll at your own pace or dive into the programme and join in the festive spirit.
Adding to the excitement is a cherished local winter tradition: skating under a twinkling canopy of fairy lights around the Kissing Students fountain. Every moment in Christmas City is picture-perfect, making it a favourite spot for winter photoshoots. In Tartu, you can create memories that will linger long after.
Feel culture in Tartu
Christmas is a time for creating beautiful memories and embracing the warmth of family and friends. Tartu offers a delightful variety of concerts and theatre performances to suit every taste, making the season truly enjoyable. Many beautiful Advent concerts are held in churches throughout Tartu county. At Tartu’s St. John’s Church, you can not only listen but also join in the joy of singing during the international Christmas carol singing event. Numerous beloved Estonian artists have prepared holiday-inspired performances, which you can enjoy throughout December in churches, Vanemuine Concert Hall, museums, theatres, community centres, and other venues.
It’s wise to book tickets early so you can enjoy your favourite events during the Christmas season.
Feel love in Tartu
As the saying goes, the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach! Treat yourself, a loved one, or friends to a meal out and indulge in truly delightful culinary experiences. In Tartu’s cafés, you’ll be greeted by cosy corners, flickering candlelight, and the inviting aroma of coffee and pastries, all of which will make you forget the winter chill in an instant. If you’re in search of seasonal flavours, Tartu’s restaurants, including Dorpat, Hõlm, Fii, and Chaplin, offer festive menus, while venues in the county – such as A la Ain, Luke Manor, café Sahver, and several other fantastic spots also feature their own festive offerings. For the first time, a Christmas café will also be opened on the riverboat Arabella.
These charming cafés are especially inviting after a stroll in the crisp winter air, where you can warm your hands with a steaming spiced drink from Pierre. To the delight of winter enthusiasts, you can find hot coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or mulled wine at every Tartu restaurant. By the way, you can also experience late-night winter charm at the cosy Ula snow bar. Treat your soul to beautiful experiences by visiting an exhibition or enjoying quality films at the Elektriteater
Feel excitement in Tartu
Have you ever felt that wonderful thrill of anticipation when handing over a special gift to someone dear? It’s a truly sweet moment to witness the joy on a loved one’s face when they receive a gift chosen just for them. Tartu has many great options for finding the perfect gift that shows you care. Here, you’ll find a variety of shopping centres, as well as Christmas markets and fairs, where you can discover heartfelt handmade crafts and local delicacies.
You can also explore charming craft shops here. The HOPP Disain gallery shop in the city centre showcases unique creations by local designers. In the visitor centre at the Elva railway station, known as the Elav Elva Centre, you’ll find a selection of local products. Beautifully crafted handmade items are also available in several locations along the Onion Route, such as at Magasiait or the Peipsimaa Heritage Centre’s online store
Tartu county caterers offer festive gourmet packages that make delightful and practical gifts. You can purchase these from YliCool Catering, Juulamõisa Local Heritage Café, or Saialill Bakery. Furthermore, you can gift experiences and emotions unique to Tartu, as the city is rich in active adventures, galleries, museums, and family-friendly experience centres. For food enthusiasts, gift cards to local restaurants are always a popular choice.
Feel active in Tartu
It’s easy to enjoy an active break in Tartu, as both the city and the surrounding area offer numerous opportunities for outdoor activities. The snowy trails of Tartu county are perfect for delightful walks. If you’re looking for something a bit more exciting, you won’t have to search far. How about a lantern-lit walk or a kick-sledding adventure? Or perhaps skating on the frozen bog ponds or lakes? Have you ever tried snowshoeing or gone on a dog-sledding trip? All these adventures are just a little planning away!
At the Tartu Snow Park, you can enjoy tubing and the thrills of sledding. The legendary Tartu Marathon trail between Elva and Otepää is open for skiers at times other than just the marathon day in February. If you wish, you can also learn the correct skiing techniques from the instructors at Elva Ski Lab. Meanwhile, the little ones can have fun every Wednesday in December at Elva’s Elf Wednesdays.
Feel relaxed in Tartu
A good vacation should always include a bit of relaxation. At V Spa in Tartu, you can enjoy soothing treatments, discover various sauna rituals, and refresh your spirit in specialty saunas. At the Aura Centre, alongside the regular wide range of saunas, you can also join “Whisking Wednesdays” each week, where you’ll experience traditional whisking in the igloo sauna.
Both Tartu city and county offer many cosy accommodation options perfect for a relaxing getaway. You can also unwind from your daily routine with your companions – for instance, Kuu Farm hosts winter sauna events. Fishing is another way to relax: Humala Kalabaas will set up a warm, floating cabin with ice fishing holes at the Luunja river harbour for the winter.
Feel curious in Tartu
Tartu offers endless discoveries for visitors of all ages. During the festive season, delightful workshops are held throughout Tartu county.
Along the Onion Route, you can explore samovars and join a workshop with Estonia’s top gingerbread baker or experience Christmas anticipation at Kruusa Farm. You’ll find fun, festive workshops at the Tartu Nature House, the Ice Age Centre, Tartu City History Museums, and the Kvartal Shopping Centre.
In November, an exciting new exhibition opens at the AHHAA Science Centre, where families can easily spend an entire day enjoying hands-on fun. The Tartu Toy Museum delights children and brings a sense of nostalgia for parents and grandparents alike. And, of course, there’s the Estonian National Museum, where every Estonian can connect with their roots, and every visitor can experience the story of Estonia and its culture. How about seeing the world from a completely new perspective? You can do just that at the Upside Down House.
Feel at home in Tartu
Tartu is so much more than just a destination. It’s a place where you’ll find that heartwarming, uplifting, and indescribable feeling that tells you – yes, this is exactly where I’m meant to be! Tartu is joy, a joy that feels even greater when shared with others. My Tartu is your Tartu, my joy is your joy. Simply come and experience it for yourself.
