By plane: 

• Tallinn Airport, located 185 km from Tartu, is the most common destination for international flights. 
• Riga Airport is also a usual choice as driving to Tartu takes only 3,5 hours.
• Tartu Airport, located 10 km from the town center, has 12 connections per week with Helsinki (operated by Finnair).

By bus: 

• Travelling from Tallinn to Tartu is a short journey, taking just 2.5 hours by bus. Some buses go directly to Otepää. Buses form Tallinn city center and airport leave every 30 minutes. You can easily check schedules and purchase tickets through Tpilet or directly from the Lux Express website.
• There are bus connections between Tartu-Otepää-Elva. See more at Tpilet
• If you're coming from Riga, Latvia, you can also board a Lux Express bus and enjoy a direct route to Tartu. Buses available both from city center and Riga airport.

By train: 

Several times a day between Tallinn and Tartu. See more.

By car: 

Race centre (bib pick up location) situates in Tartu and it is well approachable by car. In the race day there are traffic jams at the start and finish areas, so please arrive early to avoid stress. Finish area parking is paid.
 

By ferry: 

You can also travel by ferry from Helsinki or Stockholm to Tallinn, and take a train or bus from there to Tartu.

Race location:

Race center is located in Tartu, start areas in Otepää and Arula, finish venue in Elva. Organizers offer a shuttle bus service between Tartu and the start and finish locations. 

Distances:

Tallinn – Tartu 186 km
Riga – Tartu 244 km
Tartu – Otepää 43 km

Tartu – Arula 47 km 
Tartu – Elva 25 km
Otepää – Elva 22 km

Otepää – Arula 14 km

Arula – Elva 23 km

OFFICIAL MARATHON SHUTTLE BUSES 14.02 and 15.02

Traditionally, on marathon day special shuttle buses run from Tartu and from the Elva finish parking area to the start locations at Tehvandi Stadium (Otepää) and Arula, and after the finish back to Tartu and to the start locations.

Travel on the shuttle bus is paid. TICKET PRICE: 6 EUR in presale, 10 EUR when purchased on the bus.

Presale of bus tickets also takes place at the marathon race centre (Lõunakeskus): 13.02.2026 12:00–20:00 and 14.02.2026 10:00–19:00.

A seat on the shuttle buses to the start is guaranteed only with a presale ticket!

A ticket bought for the bus to the start is a day ticket and is also valid for the return trip. After the finish, buses depart from the finish parking area to Tartu and to the start locations every full hour, except for the last bus, which departs 30 minutes after the finish closes (see more detailed info below). When purchasing the ticket, you must choose a suitable return departure time. If skiing takes longer, the purchased ticket is also valid for later departures subject to seat availability.

NB! Tickets for buses departing from the Elva finish parking area to the start locations also include a parking ticket.

When buying a bus ticket, you must indicate whether you want a parking ticket and enter the vehicle registration number. Tickets are sent to the email address provided in the order.

Bus departures that include a parking ticket:

14.02.2026

• Elva – Arula at 08:30 (Vintage and Relay Marathon start)
• Elva – Arula at 09:30 (31 km Freestyle start)
• Elva – Otepää at 20:00 (if you wish to take the car to the finish before the next days race)

15.02.2026

• Elva – Otepää at 07:30 (63 km start)
• Elva – Arula at 11:00 (31 km start)

When purchasing the ticket, please choose the departure time intended for your start and arrive at the bus a few minutes earlier. The bus departs exactly on time, latecomers will not be waited for!

14.02.2026 – buses departing to the start locations

Bus departing from Elva to Arula (departure time is approximate/subject to change)

You can buy a ticket for the bus going to the start HERE.

15.02.2026 – buses departing to the start locations

You can buy a ticket for the bus going to the start HERE.

After the finish, buses depart on both days starting at 13:00. The following buses depart every full hour, except for the last bus, which departs 30 minutes after the finish closes:

You can buy a ticket only for the return bus departing from the finish HERE.

Locations of bus departure and final stops:

Tartu = Vanemuise lower parking lot

Otepää = Tehvandi Stadium access road parking lot

Elva = bus parking area at the 2nd km of the Elva–Hellenurme road

Parking in the parking lots of Tehvandi stadium is free. Parking in the 31 km start (Arula) and service points is free. Follow the directions of traffic officers.

To park in the finish parking lots (Elva) a parking permit must be bought. The parking fee is €7*, and the parking zone is marked EP500.
The parking fee must be paid before entering the car park or immediately after parking.

*An activated parking session is valid for 72 hours and will end automatically. If you need parking on multiple event days, do not end the parking session manually.

If you end the session and start a new one on the following day, an additional parking fee of €7 will apply. 

Payment options for parking:

• Mobile Payment
  • send a text to short code 1902, using the following format: vehicle registration number, space, designation of the parking zone (123ABC EP500).
  • Parking session ends automatically after 72 hours
  • If you need parking on multiple event days, do not end the parking session manually
  • To end your parking call 1903

• Parking App for Smart Devices
  • Open the appropriate parking app (pargi.ee or EuroPark)
  • Select the correct parking zone: EP500
  • Press "Start Parking" or "Start"

• QR code
  • Scan the QR code displayed on the parking sign
  • Open the web link that appears on your screen
  • In the opened view, enter your vehicle's registration number and press "Confirm"
  • Choose a suitable payment method
  • If you have Google Pay or Apple Pay installed, you can use them
  • If not, enter your card details manually
  • Press "Start Parking"

When parking via SMS or using the pargi.ee app, a Telia service fee of €0.49 will apply.
When parking via a QR code, a Spinnistart service fee of €0.45 will apply.

Free parking with Subaru! 

Subaru gives you free parking at Tartu Maraton. Subaru car park

Location of the parking lots in Google Maps

Finish car park (PDF)

The travel agent of Tartu Maraton is E-Turist. Feel free to contact them for the travel questions, accommodation possibilities as well as sightseeing options: e-turist@e-turist.ee, www.e-turist.ee.

See their official marathon package here. 

Information about accommodation suitable for skiers in the city of Tartu, Tartu County and Otepää can also be found on the Visit Tartu website.