Arrival and Housing
Tartu is the second-largest city in Estonia and a compact university city, making getting around easy. The city is well known for its sustainable transport system, and most places participants need during the summer school are within walking or cycling distance.
As a long-established centre of education, Tartu offers a variety of accommodation options. Participants may choose to stay in a student dormitory together with other international students or arrange accommodation independently in a hotel or apartment.
On this page, you will find practical information to help you plan your arrival in Tartu and organise your accommodation in advance.
We have provided detailed guidance on arrival and housing below.
Important to know
- We recommend arriving on 26 July, as studies begin on the morning of 27 July.
- Accommodation and travel arrangements are not included in the course fee.
- All participants are responsible for booking and paying for their accommodation themselves.
- For the convenience of UniTartu Summer School participants, a limited number of rooms have been pre-reserved at the University of Tartu student dormitory (Tartu Downtown Hostel) and can be booked by accepted participants once they receive detailed booking instructions from the UniTartu Summer School team.
- Participants who prefer other accommodation options (hostels, hotels, apartments) may arrange these independently.
- Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to Tartu (flights, buses, trains).
- Detailed arrival and accommodation information will be shared after confirmation of acceptance.
Tartu Downtown Hostel
UniTartu Summer School participants can stay at the student dormitory in Tartu Downtown Hostel (University of Tartu Student Dormitory), which offers apartment-style accommodation. Each apartment contains three rooms, and rooms are allocated by gender.
Shared rooms (21,50 EUR/per night) or single rooms (38 EUR/per night) are available, with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. The hostel is located within walking distance of the city centre, with grocery stores nearby and excellent bus connections. Free Wi-Fi is provided. The hostel has a 24-hour reception. Please note that breakfast is not included. For a short-term stays, bedding is provided by the Hostel.
Visit the Tartu Downtown Hostel website for detailed information.
Accommodation bookings for the dormitory must be made exclusively through the accommodation registration form, which will be sent to participants via email upon acceptance to the programme.
Please note that rooms are limited, so early registration is recommended.
The University of Tartu has a few dormitories that accommodate international and local students during the school year and in the summer for short-term stays.
During Summer School, the dormitory at Raatuse 22 will accommodate participants in the summer courses. This accommodation option is very close to the city centre and most of the study buildings, making it one of the most affordable and convenient accommodation options for participants.
For more information, please see the Tartu Downtown Hostel website.
In Tartu, there are several hostels for a good price. As there are many events in Tartu during the summer, it is important to book the rooms in advance. You can book the rooms through Booking.com. You can also book the rooms through the websites of the hostels.
See some options below:
If you prefer a fancier place with breakfast included, we suggest booking a room at one of the hotels in Tartu. You can book the rooms through Booking.com. You can also book the rooms on the hotels' websites.
Please see some options below:
If you wish to share a room with one of your study pals or enjoy a quiet evening alone, you can also book an apartment through Airbnb.com. You can find some very interesting places to stay for a lower price. This is a great option if you are travelling with a friend or partner and wish to see how the locals live.
Travelling to Tartu
Please note that students are responsible for arranging their own travel to Tartu, as travel costs are not included in the course fee. The UniTartu Summer School Organisation Team does not assist with booking transportation tickets.
While the University of Tartu cannot cover any travel expenses, we are happy to assist with any questions you may have regarding the logistics of travelling to Tartu. If you require guidance or further clarification, please feel free to reach out to us.
Express buses operate between Tallinn Airport and Tartu, picking up passengers directly from the airport on their way to Tartu. The airport bus station has a self-service ticket machine that accepts card payments. As buses on the Tallinn–Tartu route are often fully booked, we strongly recommend purchasing your ticket in advance.
You can purchase your online ticket T-pilet (Tallinn airport-Tartu bus station).
Please note that if you arrive before midnight, the last bus from Tallinn Airport to Tartu Bus Station departs at 23.59 and arrives at 02.20. The next scheduled bus departs at 06.05 in the morning.
Tallinn Airport is small and easy to navigate, so the transfer from the aircraft to the airport bus station is usually quick.
If you arrive after midnight and before the morning departures, the Mercure Tallinn hotel is located within walking distance of the airport and may be a convenient overnight option.
You can find the flight schedule and more information on the Tallinn Airport webpage or call +372 605 8888 (04:30-01:00).
Tartu Airport is located approximately 11 km from the city centre. There are regular flights between Tartu and Helsinki (Finland).
A shuttle bus operates between the airport and the city centre, taking passengers to the airport in the early mornings and back to the city centre late in the evenings. It is also possible to travel by taxi.
You can find the flight schedule and further information on the Tartu airport webpage or call +372 605 8888 (04.30–01.00).
You can also easily reach Tartu from Riga Airport (245 km from Tartu).
LuxExpress buses operate between Riga Airport and Tartu.
Tartu bus terminal is located near the city centre and is close to the University of Tartu dormitories as well as the town hall square.
Buses between Tallinn and Tartu leave almost every 30 minutes, and tickets can be purchased online or from the ticket office inside the bus station. To get a student discount, you need to present your International Student Card (ISIC).
Please note that it is advisable to buy your ticket in advance as Tallinn-Tartu buses are often full.
It takes 2.5 hours to travel from Tallinn to Tartu. The buses are comfortable, and most of them are equipped with WiFi. Express buses also have touch screens, and you can watch movies (we advise you to bring your own headphones, but you can also purchase a pair from the bus driver for 1.5-2 EUR, depending on the bus).
Tartu has great connections with all of the biggest towns in Estonia as well as Riga, Warsaw, etc.
More information about international connections can be found here: Luxexpress, Ecolines and Eurolines.
Tartu railway station is located in a historic station building approximately 1.5 km from the city centre. Daily train services operate on routes to Tallinn (including Jõgeva, Tapa, and Aegviidu), Valga (including Elva), and Koidula (including Põlva and Piusa). By using connecting services, it is also possible to travel to Tartu from Narva and Jõhvi, as well as from Riga via Valga and Valka.
Wi-Fi is available on trains. The journey from Tallinn to Tartu takes approximately 2–2.5 hours, depending on the service. Tickets can be purchased online, on board the train, or at the Baltic Station ticket office in Tallinn. Further information and tickets are available on the Elron webpage.
Please note that travelling by train from Tallinn Airport requires additional time and a transfer to Tallinn Baltic Station.
Transportation in Tartu
Tartu is a compact and walkable city, and most places you will need during the summer school are easy to reach. The city centre is largely pedestrian-friendly during the summer months, which makes walking a practical and pleasant way to get around.
Tartu has a well-developed and environmentally conscious transport system, including buses, smart bikes, electric scooters, taxis, and car-sharing options. Many participants find that walking or cycling is the most convenient way to travel between accommodation, university buildings, and the city centre, as most destinations are close by.
Sustainability plays an important role in the city’s transport planning. Public buses operate on green gas, city institutions use renewable energy, and cycling infrastructure continues to expand as part of Tartu’s long-term goal to become a climate-neutral city.
Detailed information about different transportation options in Tartu is provided below.
The best way to move around the city in the summer is to rent a smart bike. You can choose between a regular bike or an electric one. The city is full of bike docs to take and park the vehicle easily.
For prices and instructions, see the Smart bike website.
You can also rent an electric scooter for a very low price to get to your destination quickly. You just need your phone with an internet connection to unlock the scooter, and you are ready to go!
Read all about this service on the Bolt website.
You can easily use public transport to reach your destinations. If you have the tapping option on your card or phone, you can buy a ticket with just one swipe.
All of the information about public buses in Tartu can be found on the website tartu.ee.
There are several taxi services in Tartu, but the easiest, quickest and cheapest is to use the same Bolt app, which unlocks the electric scooters.
Learn about the fastest way to order a taxi on the Bolt website.
If you prefer to drive around yourself but have no way of bringing your own car, the City Bee is the perfect option for you. You need your phone, and driver's licence, and you are ready to go!
To see how to rent a car in Tartu, please see the CityBee website.
