WHAT TO DO IN ESTONIA? 

 

If you are interested in staying in Estonia for a little longer than just for Congress, you are welcome to search for different activities on the list below.

 

BEST SPAS AROUND
TARTU COUNTY

EVENTS AROUND ESTONIA

SIGHTSEEING IN TARTU COUNTY

 

 

SPAS AROUND TARTU

Rakvere and Aqva Spa

Rakvere (about 130 km and a 1.5h drive from Tartu) is famous for its castle on Vallimägi Hill and the largest animal statue – Tarvas – located on the edge of Vallimägi Hill.

Aqva Spa Rakvere offers a wide variety of relaxation and fun. In Aqva Spa there is a Sauna centre with 8 different saunas as well as a Water park with slides and different pools. In the Spa centre, you can choose different treatments or enjoy the day packages that include different water park and sauna centre visits and procedures.

More info from their homepage http://www.aqvahotels.ee/en

 

Kubija Hotel & Nature Spa

In the middle of South Estonian pine forests and lakes, you can find the cosy and comfortable hotel Kubija Hotel & Nature Spa. In the hotel, you can enjoy pampering body treatments, visit the spa and sauna centre or find harmony with nature and with yourself.

More info from their home page https://www.kubija.ee/en/.

 

 

 

Pühajärve

On the shore of Lake Pühajärve, you can visit Pühajärve Spa & Holiday Resort. In addition to the traditional hotel and spa, the complex includes a modern and bright 2-storey water and bowling centre. The surroundings of Lake Pühajärve and the nearby town Otepää offer lots of opportunities for different activities (even an adventure park!) as well as just relaxing and enjoying the beautiful Estonian nature.

More info from their homepage www.pyhajarve.com/en/

 

Värska

Close to the Russian border, Setomaa and its capital Värska offers an interesting insight into the unique, centuries old Seto culture. There are several museums and historical places nearby, as well as many interesting natural sights to visit.

Värska Water park with its many attractions, pools and saunas is an ideal place for relaxing, as waterfalls and intense jets of water give you good massages and the leisure area with bubbles shakes your body.

More info from their homepage https://spavarska.ee/en/water-park-2/

 

SIGHTSEEING IN TARTU AND IN TARTU COUNTY

Alatskivi Castle

The snow-white Neo-Gothic castle (built 1880-1885) in the Heart of Alatskivi was inspired by the Balmoral castle in Scotland. In 2011 the completely restored castle was opened to the public. Today, the visitors of the castle can admire the fascinating interior and learn about the history of the building and living in it, or just enjoy the surrounding park and hiking trails.

More info from their homepage http://www.alatskiviloss.ee/en

 

 

Viljandi

77 km from Tartu (about 1h drive), this adorable little town boasts impressive castle ruins, a former home of the ruling Livonian Order. The scenic views of the nearby lake and wooden architecture makes Viljandi a place of interest for both nature and culture lovers. The cherry on top of the cake is the large nearby lake beach, offering boat rentals and lovely opportunities for a swim.

More info from their homepage https://www.visitestonia.com/en/where-to-go/south-estonia/viljandi

 

 

Boat ride on River Emajõgi

Every summer it is possible to enjoy a boat ride on River Emajõgi with the barge called "Jõmmu". Jõmmu is an archaic wooden cargo sailboat, the like of which sailed on Lake Peipus and River Emajõgi from the Hanseatic League to the middle of the 20th century. Built on the model of the historical barge, Jõmmu was launched in the spring of 2006 and is the only representative of this unique type of ship in the world. Jõmmu is 12 m long, 8 m wide, weighs 25 tons, has a sail area of 100 m2 and a mast reaches 14 m above the water. There are usually 3 people on the team.

We will update this info during the summer of 2022 when the boat ride schedule is available!

 

EVENTS IN ESTONIA IN JULY

Vibration 2022

If you enjoy good music and beach parties, this is one of a kind opportunity for you!​ Every year, Estonia's only travelling cultural festival, Võnge (in English called Vibration), arrives in a new wonderful place in Estonia and brings with it dozens of different artists from Estonia and the rest of the world, abundant taste, art and cultural experiences and, of course, a completely unique festival life. The event will take place on 8-9 July at the Ranna Holiday Base in Peipsiääre Parish, Tartu County.
Dozens of different artists and DJs will perform on the stages planted in nature.

 

Emajõgi Festival

Emajõgi is a river in Tartu, one of the largest rivers in Estonia. The river flows from west to east, from Lake Võrtsjärv to Lake Peipus. Every year in July, Emajõgi fills up with lots of boats for the Emajõgi Festival. The Emajõgi Festival is the largest inland water festival in the world, with a history of more than a dozen years. It will take place on 9 July 2022. The festival is mainly dedicated and aimed at those who operate on River Emajõgi on a daily basis and are otherwise connected to the river, as well as those who simply love water and water-related activities. To enjoy this festival, you are welcome to gather at the riverside and enjoy the passing boats. This event also welcomes the next big event happening in Tartu, Car-Free Avenue.

 

Car-Free Avenue

For the third year in a row, from July 9-August 8 2022, the main street next to Tartu's Town Hall Square will host a Car-Free Avenue where the traffic will be closed to make room for a labyrinth of swings, a beach bar, outdoor reading room, picnic tables, meadow boxes with diverse flora, food trucks, a meeting area, market and flea market, programmes and workshops, a ping-pong table, an outdoor cinema, and more. Car-Free Avenue was among the six best environmental and climate success stories in an international competition.

 

WRC Rally Estonia

The biggest motorsport event in the Baltics held for the 12th time is again an official round of FIA World Rally Championship, WRC Rally Estonia will be taking place 14-17 July, on the roads of Tartu and the surrounding areas of Otepää, Elva, Kanepi, Kambja, Peipisiääre and Mustvee. Rally Estonia will be hosting the world's top drivers from WRC teams on the curvy and bumpy roads of South-Estonia and to top up the competition, all the best drivers from the Baltics, Russia and Scandinavia will also enter the event. If you are a rally fan and would like to come to Tartu earlier, then this is the best thing to do before the Congress starts. Get your tickets HERE.

 

Summer concert of the Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra

In 2010, the Vanemuine Theater restored a beautiful tradition - its summer garden concerts with a classical repertoire, which took place in the first quarter of the 20th century. For the eleventh time, a free summer concert of the Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra will take place in a natural amphitheatre in the historical heart of the city - Kassitoome Valley on the last Sunday of July, 31 July 2022. This year's open-air concert will be conducted by Vanemuine Music Director and Chief Conductor Risto Joost. This event is for free and welcomes you to enjoy a beautiful warm night in the midsummer Tartu.

 

XXIX Viljandi folk music festival

One day before the Congress ends, the XXIX Viljandi folk music festival starts. It takes place on July 28–31, 2022. The folk music festival that takes place in Viljandi Castle Hills and the city centre every July is the ultimate expression of the unique way of thinking that started spreading at the beginning of the 1990s. It values tradition, heritage and local identity and tries to adapt the spiritual values that people have developed over hundreds and thousands of years to the contemporary way of life. The aim of all of it is to keep Estonian traditions alive, strengthen our national character and invigorate our musical mother tongue. If you are interested in this event you can buy tickets and read more about it HERE.