Tartu Observatory Visitor Centre

A private guided tour gives you the opportunity to explore the parts of Tartu that most interest you. On this private tour, we will walk at a leisurely pace along the streets of Tartu's Old Town, admire the best examples of Tartu's classicism, and also explore the parks in the area. You will receive answers to your questions in a relaxed manner. Instead of being crowded into a large group, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself calmly in the city's rhythm, allowing you to truly feel it. If you wish, we can walk along the Emajõgi River to the Tartu market, which is filled with delicious local foods. As the name of the tour suggests, each tour is unique and "tailor-made" to your wishes.

Explore the home and inspiring work of one of Estonia's most famous writers and poets at the Juhan Liiv Museum. The museum offers interactive experiences where poetry comes to life through sound and video, highlighting the region's unique characteristics. It tells the story of Kodavere's rich cultural heritage, and in summer, you can stroll around the beautiful garden. The Liiv Museum also offers activities for children, and families are welcome to visit with their four-legged friends. You can order a guided tour introducing the museum's story if you wish. Come and let the Liiv Museum inspire you!

The permanent exhibition Earth. Life. Story. includes nearly 8,000 scientific exhibit items, which tell the development story of planet Earth from the beginning of the universe until the modern day. At the exhibition, you can explore the traces of life from millions of years ago, admire shiny minerals, watch the so-called night airport of butterflies, or track the movement of the placoderm fish from the Devonian era. You can look the first jackal caught in Estonia in the eye and experience the human body through the eyes of a reptile. Visitors will be glad to see the favourites of several generations: the elk, bison, and giraffe. We also have live animals, such as the Python Regius, a turtle, a green iguana, and many other small exotic animals. See you at the Natural History Museum!

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.

Who are the Russian Old Believers? How and when did they arrive in Estonia? Why did they settle in the Peipsi region, and what are their customs? Why have they grown onions this way for centuries? The Old Believers Museum in Kolkja is located on the Onion Route and tells visitors the story of the Peipsi Region's Russian Old Believers. The exhibition is in Estonian, English, and Russian and includes virtual reality, where you can experience the Old Believer prayer. We also offer hour-long guided tours in Estonian and Russian. There is an observation tower overlooking Lake Peipsi at the museum! Come and discover the world of the Old Believers in Kolkja!

Tartu Toy Museum, situated in the Old Town of Tartu, takes adults back to the brighter days of their childhood and offers children plenty of interesting things to see and do.The permanent exhibition displays toys that Estonian children have played with throughout the years. Artist-made dolls, souvenir dolls of different nations, and Finno-Ugric traditional toys are also exhibited. Playrooms and workshops are also open. You can see puppets from Estonian puppet films and temporary exhibitions in the outbuilding. The museum also has a theatre building named ’Teatri kodu’ (The Home of Theatre) with a theatre hall, a museum of puppets, and a children’s studio.

The Kodavere Heritage Center in Tartu County breathes new life into the historical Pala Town Hall, which has been the heart of the local community for years. The center showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Peipsi region and is a place where old stories, languages, and traditions are revitalized. Visitors can gain a comprehensive overview of the history of Kodavere parish municipalities and town halls, and view the intriguing photo exhibition "People of Kodavere Parish in Oskar Tõrva's Glass Negatives," which reveals the everyday and festive life of rural areas a century ago. Additionally, they can admire the handicraft exhibition "Kodavere Kupuliud," highlighting the skills of local craftsmen and folk aesthetics. A separate display is dedicated to the Kodavere dialect, an essential part of the region's identity. The center also features a memorial room for poet Anna Haava and an exhibit "Song Festivals in Pala 100 Years Ago." Guided tours and heritage culture workshops are offered by reservation, suitable for both school groups and adults.

The A. Le Coq Beer Museum lets you see, hear, and taste the story of beer. You'll learn brewing history from ancient Egypt to the present day. The museum displays the ingredients needed to brew beer, describes the brewing process, and exhibits old production facilities. The heart of the museum is the historic malt tower, where the exciting 200-year history of A. Le Coq unfolds. At the end of the visit, you can enjoy a cold beer or lemonade at the museum's bar and peruse the gift shop. You can visit the museum on your own or with a guide.