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: https://www.elron.ee/en/soiduinfo/soiduplaanid

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

Tartu Maraton track is 63km long and covered with natural snow. The course is maintained throughout the winter. Both classic skiing and free style are possible. The track of Tartu Maraton is one of the most popular ski courses in South-Estonia for practising and recreational skiing. The course is open for public use throughout the season for free. However, there is one exception: the marathon weekend on 14.-15.02.2026, where the whole course is closed for the participants of Tartu Maraton.

There are also many other ski tracks in the region, with various length and level of difficulty.

An up-to-date overview of Tartu Maraton track as well as other ski tracks in the region can be found on the map of terviserajad.ee. In addition to the location, there is also information about services provided in each place (equipment rental, washing and dressing facilities, track lightning, etc.).

ESTONIA

Estonia is the smallest and the northenmost country of the Baltic States. Covering  45,227 km2, the state is slihgtly bigger than Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. There are 1,3 million inhabitants and the official language is Estonian. 

Estonia is perfect for active holiday – ca 50 % covered with forest, over 2000 lakes, over 1500 islands, numerous national parks and nature reserves. On the other hand – it is a very modern country with WiFi almost everywere. 

More info: visitestonia.com

TARTU - THE CAPITAL OF SOUTH ESTONIA

Tartu, with its population of around 100,000 in an area of 154 square kilometers, is the heart of South-Estonia and the second largest city in Estonia. The first written records of Tartu date from 1030, making it the oldest city in the Baltic States.

Tartu has all the best of the globally new but with the local advantage – the costs are lower, security is higher, and the air is cleaner than in Tallinn, Helsinki or New York. The city successfully combines modern infrastructure and facilities with a green and friendly environment.

At every corner in Tartu, there are concert venues, exhibition halls, theatres, churches, museums, and charming little cafés as well as various pubs and restaurants. An inseparable part of the city is its students who comprise around a quarter of the population and generate a lot of fun and energy.

Find the most exciting places and events to visit on visittartu.com. 
Explore the whole South-Estonian region HERE.