For those coming from Tallinn, Estonia’s shiny, orange trains operated by Elron (www.elron.ee/en) offer a fast and comfortable way to reach Tartu at roughly the same price as the buses. Eleven trains make the trip from Tallinn’s Baltic Station (Balti Jaam) each day, with journeys taking around two to two and a half hours, depending on whether it’s an express service. Trains come with free Wi-Fi throughout, while first-class offers more comfortable seating, extra legroom and a guaranteed table and power socket. There’s no catering on board, so bringing snacks is a wise move. Booking ahead is recommended, especially for Friday and Sunday departures, when services tend to fill up.
As of 2026, rail connections have improved further with the introduction of a new line linking Tallinn, Tartu, Riga and Vilnius. Travelling requires a change of trains in Valga, on the Estonian–Latvian border, but the journey is straightforward. Travel time is approximately 3 hours 40 minutes from Riga and around 8.5 hours from Vilnius, making rail a more practical option for exploring the Baltic region.

Getting to town: Tartu's train station, located at Vaksali 6, is about 1.5km from the centre, so walking isn't out of the question. A taxi should only cost about €4-5. Buses N°3 and 25 will also get you there.