Estonian National Museum

AHHAA is family-friendly, with activities for both young and old science enthusiasts. At AHHAA, science comes to life, and the joy of discovery never ends. Interactive exhibitions, engaging science shows and workshops, and exciting planetarium sessions take you to the heart of science and technology. Our guided tours open doors that you might not otherwise notice. We believe that science is a driving force in the world. Our goal is to spark curiosity, inspire thinking, and encourage you to ask why and how. Come to the AHHAA Science Centre in Tartu to get your hands on science and see the world from a new perspective.

The museum features the home of Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (1803-1882), a physician and the founder of Estonian national literature, in Võru and gives a good overview of his activities. His living quarters reflect the interior design typical of the time; the garden house accommodates literary exposition. In the storehouse there is an exhibition of art inspired by Kreutzwald’s writings, reprints and translations of his works. The stable features different vehicles and the fairy-tale room several ethnographic objects. There are also a cellar, sauna, well, garden and an arbour in the museum complex. The activity room is designed for handicraft, drawing and constructing.

The Mõniste Museum is the oldest open-air museum in Estonia; here you can light a fire in a Stone Age tepee or practice archery, slinging or lassoing. You can also learn how to make bone and earthenware objects, weave fishing nets and fabric, grind grain or bake a loaf of Stone Age bread. The threshing barn dating back to Czarist times features the interior of the 19th century building, tools, household utensils and clothing. The farmhouse from the times of the first Republic of Estonia exhibits the tools that blacksmiths used, horse necessaries, handicraft tools, national costumes, folk music instruments, etc. You can also try what farm works felt like at that time.

A visit to the Tartu Observatory Visitor Centre in Tõravere represents one of the places worth exploring in South Estonia, marked with a yellow National Geographic window. It is highly recommended for space enthusiasts. What you can see at the observatory: An outdoor area and the Stellarium with space attractions The hilly landscape of Tõravere through the yellow window The largest telescope in the Nordic countries, with a 1.5 m mirror Exhibitions and activities for schools and businesses. Come and visit us; we've got the cosmos here! In autumn, winter, and spring, tours are by appointment only. They are held on weekdays for a minimum of ten people.

The Estonian Road Museum showcases the development of roads and traffic in Estonia, from the horse era to the present day. Exciting thematic events are organized here, educational guided tours are offered, and rooms are rented for seminars and celebrations. The heart of the museum is the historic Varbuse horse post station, which, together with the outdoor exhibition environment Teeaeg, forms a unique look at history. The Machine Hall is the museum's technical park and interactive traffic education center. It also houses a rotating car and the Estonian Road Museum's traffic safety simulator, which offers an immersive experience and a clear understanding of how seat belts save lives. The standout features of the outdoor areas are the historic road room, where you can seemingly travel back in time, and the recreation area with a traffic city, which offers activities for the whole family, especially during the summer season. Temporary exhibitions are held in the main building of the post station, and the second floor houses a children's museum created specifically for younger visitors.

Tunnels dug in the bright sandstone of Piusa's caves are undoubtedly one of the best-known tourist attractions in ancient Võromaa. For several years now, a fun bat-shaped visitor centre has been waiting here for visitors. The Piusa visitor centre has a cafe, seminar room, craft room, cinema hall and numerous exhibits. Guests can watch a movie about bats, the most important inhabitants of caves, in the cinema hall, and then head along with a guide to the museum cave viewing platform. There are no bats in the caves in the summer because they only come here to winter. Right behind the museum cave is Piusa sand quarry, Estonia's largest sandbox. The Piusa visitor centre and the picturesque sandy hills offer a unique experience where nature and history intertwine – the mysterious caves of former glass sand mines can be discovered here and the most beautiful views of the sand quarry in Estonia can be enjoyed. With its steep slopes and sandstone outcrops, the Piusa sandy hills are like a natural adventure park that captivates both hiking enthusiasts and photographers.

Linocut — where the printing form is cut out of linoleum by hand — is one of the simplest graphic arts techniques. In the workshop, each participant will make a linocut printing plate (10x15 cm) according to their own design, with which they will first print a clean, blind-embossed image and then color images. Prepare for the workshop by thinking of a design in advance or searching the Internet for an image to inspire you. Tip: The image should have strong contrasts and clear lines, like a black and white image, because smooth color transitions cannot be printed with linocut.

Discover Setomaa's unique culture, traditions, and authentic local foods. On this Babelhouse day trip from Tartu to Setomaa, you will explore different places and learn about life in the region. During the tour, we visit the Värska Farm Museum, where you can get a glimpse of traditional Seto farm culture and experience how life was lived in the past. We try authentic Seto cuisine, where local flavors have deep meaning. If desired, the program can be supplemented with a Seto leelo workshop, dressing in Seto clothes, a cheese-making workshop, or a raft ride on Lake Värska. Babelhouse guided tours are flexible and tailored according to the group's wishes and time limits. During the tour, it is also possible to purchase souvenirs and local handicrafts. The Setomaa tour is perfect for business partners, conference guests, and foreign friends to get to know Estonia in a different yet authentic way. Book the trip and enjoy an unforgettable experience in Setomaa!