Tartu Toy Museum

Karilatsi Open Air Museum is a unique open air museum in Southern Estonia which provides an overview of the life of Vana-Võromaa County about 100 years ago.On the 5-hectare territory of the museum, you can experience moments from the school life and farm work of that time and get to know everyday simple tools. Workshops and lessons on traditions and customs: smoke sauna customs, Võromaa wedding customs, celebrations, folk calendar year, and many other experience programmes (e.g. court session in Võru language, old school lesson). You can see a school, a court, and an almshouse with their smaller buildings, a granary, a barn-dwelling, a cottar farm, and a Dutch windmill. Agricultural machinery and vehicles are also on display. Ticket sales to the museum end one hour before closing.

Fairytale Alatskivi Castle awaits visitors in South Estonia, about 40 km from Tartu. In the castle, you travel back in time to the 19th century, get acquainted with the life of a noble family and the manor's daily routine, and meet the servants who worked here a hundred years ago, brought to life with wax figures in the basement. Castle guides share captivating stories, and visitors can create a personal souvenir in the ceramic workshop. Allocate at least 1.5 hours to explore the exhibition, which spans three floors. On the castle's third floor is the museum of composer Eduard Tubin, which presents the life and works of one of Estonia's most famous musicians. The former carriage-horse stable next to the castle offers insight into the manor's management and daily operations. Alatskivi Castle is part of the Onion Route, which can also be explored through the bright yellow National Geographic windows. Stroll in the castle park, enjoy nature on the Alatskivi hiking trail, stay in romantic castle suites, and taste local dishes at the castle restaurant.

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.

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.

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.

The Medieval Theme Park and Pilgrim House at Vastseliina Episcopal Castle is a unique destination in South Estonia, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the medieval world. This place combines the ruins of a 14th-century castle, a sanctuary, interactive exhibitions, and activities suitable for history buffs, families, and pilgrims alike. At our interactive museum, you can explore the medieval-themed exhibition, learn about the castle's history, discover knights' equipment and Hanseatic merchants' wares, visit an alchemist's corner, and participate in various workshops. There is a children's room and the Castle Tavern, open in summer, which serves dishes inspired by the Middle Ages.

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.

Katre Arula`s Handicraft Workshop, where you will find crafter Katre Arula, is located in the courtyard of Põltsamaa Castle. In the workshop's store, you will find high-quality unique original creations and genuine Estonian handicraft items picked personally by Katre. The selection includes: clothes, bags, scarves, belts, gloves, jewellery, candles, ceramics, household textiles and small sweet knick-knacks.Groups can book an introduction of Katre's creation and work. She will demonstrate the items and explain their origin. She also makes custom-made items according to the client's specification.It is possible to book workshops.