Welcome to Tartu!
Tartu (formerly known as Dorpat or Yuryev) is the second largest city in Estonia with a population of 94,000 (2019). Tartu (South Estonian: Tarto) is the second-largest city in Estonia, after the political and financial capital, Tallinn. It is 186 kilometers (116 miles) southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometers (152 miles) northeast of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi (‘Mother river’), which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia, Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake Peipus. The city is served by Tartu Airport.
Tartu is often considered the intellectual center of Estonia, especially as it is home to the nation's oldest and most renowned university, the University of Tartu. Tartu houses the Supreme Court of Estonia, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian National Museum, and the oldest Estonian-language theatre, Vanemuine. It is also the birthplace of the Estonian Song Festivals.
Tartu will be the European Capital of Culture in 2024.