Ceramics workshops at Alatskivi Castle

After you visit the Estonian National Museum, look for a special souvenir in the ERM museum shop to capture the uniqueness of Estonian culture. The museum shop offers a wide selection of products to suit every taste. Here, anyone who appreciates Estonian design and crafts will find something special, such as a unique handmade product or beautiful jewelry. A souvenir from the ERM shop is an excellent memento of your visit and will remind you of Estonian history and traditions once you arrive home.

Weaving a chipwood basket is the most popular attraction in the wooden handicraft centre and if there's a place in Estonia where this craft is known, it's Avinurme. Everyone can learn the basics of weaving a basket in the workshop with the help of an instructor: you pick out chipwood, weave a berry basket from the chips and finally apply a finish. All the participants will be given the necessary tools for weaving a basket and at the end of the workshop you have your own basket.We have seen the most genuine joy over something made with your own hands in the basket weaving workshop.

The University of Tartu Art Museum is located in the historical University Main Building and has Pompeian-style interior. The museum’s permanent exhibition consists of sculptures, mostly from the antiquity – original size plaster cast copies of the best works of Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic Greece. The Art Museum also displays many ancient originals: coins, vases, clay lamps, and cuneiform tablets. There is also the mysterious mummy chamber, where you can find a genuine Egyptian mummy. You can also visit the beautiful Assembly Hall of the university and the student lock-up in the attic.

Theatre House, situated in Tartu Old Town, is a theatre inspired by a museum, forming a part of the Tartu Toy Museum. The Theatre House takes its inspiration from our childhood, the games we played, the dreams we had, and the fantasies we brought to life. The Theatre House stages plays, but you can also put on your own show, play games, make handicrafts, and discover what goes on behind the scenes in the theatre world. There is a children’s studio on the first floor, in which children’s groups can take part in theatre-themed programmes. Visitors find a museum, an automated puppet theatre, and several exciting theatre-themed exhibitions in the basement level.

The KGB Cells Museum, known as the "Grey House", is a historical museum in Tartu, where the NKVD/KGB was located in the 1940s and 1950s. The basement of the building, where the cells were located, is open to visitors. Several cells, the punishment cells, and the basement corridor have been restored to their historical form. The prison cells are filled with an exhibition that provides an overview of Estonia's post-war struggle for freedom and the crimes of the communist regime. Here you can see photographs and objects from Siberian prison camps, as well as materials on the history of the Forest Brotherhood and secret resistance organizations. Step into history and experience the meaning of freedom!

A wonderful morning or day tour to explore the Onion Route and Peipsi region! The tour starts from Tartu and takes you to the shores of Lake Peipsi, where you will find Alatskivi Castle and the Old Believers Museum, and encounter the charming and authentic local community. The culinary experiences will lead straight to the heart of Peipsimaa. We'll try our hand at fun workshops, enjoy delicious onion pies, tea ceremonies, and craft wine, and dive into the legends of onion braids. The bravest can also take part in an exciting ghost tour. Transportation from Tartu and back is included in the tour price. Babelhouse tours are flexible and tailored according to the group's wishes and time constraints. During the tour, you can purchase local Peipsi onions, crafts, wine, and other souvenirs. The Onion Route tour is perfect for culture enthusiasts, foreign visitors, pre- and post-conference programs, and groups of friends who want to experience the authentic culture of the Old Believers together. Book your trip and enjoy an unforgettable day by Lake Peipsi!

Peipsiveere Samovar House is a small museum in the Old Believers' village of Varnja that introduces visitors to the world of samovars and tea culture along Lake Peipsi. The private collection, accumulated over decades, contains more than 200 diverse samovars. From simple tin samovars to rare ones with elaborate engravings, reflecting the skills and traditions of masters from different eras. The exhibition, located in an authentic Old Believers' house, offers visitors insight into why the samovar was more than just a kettle for centuries. Stories reveal the origins of samovars, manufacturing techniques, usage methods, different design types, and tea-drinking traditions in the communities along the lake. Every guest can taste genuine samovar tea and the famous Ivan chai, and try traditional boiled sugar with the tea, an integral part of Old Believers' tea culture. If desired, one can also explore handmade samovar accessories and hear stories from the hostess of Mesi Tare about preparing, serving, and respectfully preserving tea.

Piusa Pottery is a ceramics studio open to the public. Visitors can watch traditional, as well as unique works of art and handicraft items being created before their very eyes. There is an exhibition of ceramics created by Signe and Meelis Krigul. You can also buy items that take your fancy. In addition, you can order custom-made ceramic items according to your requirements and wishes. If you register in advance, we can organize ceramic courses and workshops. Piusa Pottery is located in a former railway station building not far from the Piusa caves and sandstone bluff.