City of Tartu

🚴♀️ Tartu Ranks 4th in Europe for Bike-Sharing Usage! According to a data-driven study by Cycling Industries Europe, Tartu citizens are the fourth most active users of bike-sharing services across Europe! The “Shared Ambition” report provides an overview of the future of the European cycling industry and its impact on the environment and society. The analysis covered 148 European cities and identified the top-performing cycling cities and the reasons behind their success. Tartu has emerged as a shining example, with the number of rides per capita placing us among Europe’s major cycling cities. The report confirms that Tartu is truly a cycling city with significant potential for further developing its cycling culture. Bike-sharing has been one of the city’s greatest success stories, encouraging more people to embrace cycling. Notably, Tartu is the only city with a Nordic climate to rank at the top, despite the challenges of snowy months. While weather conditions can sometimes make cycling less convenient, year-round biking is very much possible! Some key insights from the report: * Tartu ranks 4th, with an average of 20.4 rides per day per 1,000 residents. * In 2023, Tartu’s bike-sharing system recorded a total of 706,000 rides, with 90% of those on electric bikes. * The total distance covered by Tartu residents using shared bikes? Almost 2 million kilometers! The report highlights the importance of having a sufficiently large fleet of rental bikes, affordable pricing, and strong cycling infrastructure to drive bike usage. It’s fantastic to see Tartu leading the way, not just in Estonia but across Europe. Can you guess which three cities lead Europe in bike-sharing usage? 🌍🚲 #CityofTartu #Sustainability #BikeSharing #GreenTransport #SmartCity

✨ Tartu Shines as a Cultural Destination The summer of 2024 was a successful season for City of Tartu’s tourism industry. According to Statistics Estonia, the city hosted 80,272 guests, who spent a total of 131,224 nights in Tartu. This marks a 7% increase in visitors compared to last summer, with international tourists rising by an impressive 15%. The title of European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 has undoubtedly contributed to this growth, drawing more international attention and visitors to the city. Notably, there was a significant increase in tourists from Germany (+78%), Lithuania (+69%), Finland (+6%), and the UK (+329%). In August 2024, Tartu saw 14,502 foreign visitors, up 13% from August 2023, while foreign overnight stays increased by 22%. The average stay duration for international visitors in August was 1.81 nights, slightly higher than in the previous months of July (1.74) and June (1.66). Room occupancy rates in Tartu averaged 72% over the summer, peaking at 75% in July. With the highest bed occupancy rate in Estonia in August (64%), Tartu was one of the top destinations in the country, second only to Tallinn in room occupancy. Tartu offered 1,108 rooms and 2,312 beds in 36 registered accommodation establishments in August 2024. Southern Estonia as a whole also saw strong tourism activity, hosting 217,258 guests who spent 390,668 nights in the region. Overall, 16% of all overnight stays in Estonia during the summer took place in Southern Estonia. Tartu’s thriving tourism scene reflects the city’s ability to captivate and inspire, setting the stage for even greater success in the future. 📸 Mana Kaasik 📸 Eva Maria Tartu

Did You Know City of Tartu Has Been on the Top 100 Green Destinations List for Five Years? Discover the inspiring success stories that highlight Tartu's journey toward sustainability and community engagement. #CityofTartu #GreenDestination #VisitTartu

🍽️ School Food in Tartu: Celebrating Diversity and Engagement City of Tartu schools are committed to offering nutritious, diverse, and culturally rich meals to students, and we are excited to highlight two initiatives this October! 🌍 Asian Theme Days  This week Tartu schools are hosting Asian Theme Days, where students can enjoy dishes inspired by Asian cuisine in their school cafeterias. This initiative, part of our international cuisine days held three times a year, introduces students to new flavors and cultures while providing a refreshing change from everyday meals. All the meals are carefully prepared to be both delicious and school-kitchen friendly! 👩👩👧👦 Open Cafeteria Week  Earlier this month, Tartu municipal schools hosted Open Cafeteria Week, welcoming parents and other visitors to taste the daily meals served to students. This event provided an opportunity to showcase the organization of school meals and the wide variety of nutritious and balanced options available. 🥗 A total of 1,238 people visited school cafeterias in Tartu during this event! Guests could enjoy meals offered at the same price as a regular school lunch, experiencing firsthand the healthy and varied food choices that students receive daily. 🌱 Tartu is proud to participate alongside 70 other schools across Estonia, ensuring that students experience the benefits of healthy, diverse, and well-balanced meals. These initiatives are part of Tartu's ongoing efforts to ensure that school meals are not only nutritious and diverse but also engaging for students and the wider community. Through these events, Tartu schools promote a deeper understanding of different cultures and encourage greater appreciation of the benefits of healthy eating. #CityofTartu #HealthyFood

🌟 Celebrating the Best of Tartu Business: Tartu Entrepreneur Awards 2024 At a gala event held in the Athena Centre last week, City of Tartu's top entrepreneurs were recognized for their exceptional achievements. The winners of the "Tartu Best Entrepreneur 2024" awards were selected based on their performance in the previous fiscal year. The city takes pride in honoring the businesses that contribute to Tartu’s growth, not only through physical infrastructure but also through innovation and vision. These entrepreneurs are driving sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and the well-being of the community. In a rapidly changing business environment, they are leading the way with creativity and resilience. Some of the key highlights from the awards include: 🏆 Foxway Recommerce – Recognized for job creation and export growth, this circular economy leader expanded its operations in Western Europe and significantly increased sales via online platforms. 🏆 Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ – Honored as the best investor, having opened a new 1,600 sqm facility for producing therapeutic antibodies and proteins for clinical trials. 🏆 Ehitustrust and AS Tartu Ehitus – Awarded best small and large businesses, respectively, both excelling in the construction industry. 🏆 Difrotec OÜ – Named Tartu Science Park’s top entrepreneur for its impressive portfolio of optical measurement devices. 🏆 Franz Raver – Recognized as the leading company at the Tartu Creative Industries Centre for providing high-quality, comfortable design uniforms. 🏆 Vectiopep – Acknowledged as University of Tartu's spin-off of the year for developing innovative cancer immunotherapies. 🏆 Antegenes – Honored as the top biotech company, advancing personalized medicine in collaboration with leading global research center 🏆 TORM Metall OÜ – Recognized for its long-term partnership with Tartu Vocational College, contributing significantly to practical education. 🏆 Saunasell – Awarded best young entrepreneur, now with over 50 distributors across 30+ countries. 🏆 Dealum – Named the top start-up for simplifying the investment process for early-stage companies. 🏆 AS PK Oliver – Tartu Business Advisory’s award for Best Productivity Growth, and Weertu OÜ was named the Top New Business, developing cutting-edge freight software. 🏆 Finantstarkus OÜ – Celebrated as the Top Student-Founded Business, known for promoting financial literacy, especially among young people. 🏆 CELVIA CC AS – Chosen by Tartu Postimees readers as Product of the Year, for creating a unique DNA test to combat fraud in honey production, safeguarding both consumer and producer interests. 🏆 Knorringu Aadlimaja – Tartu County Tourism Foundations' award. These awards highlight the diversity and strength of Tartu's entrepreneurial landscape, from biotechnology to construction and creative industries. Congratulations to all the winners for their dedication and impact! #CityofTartu #business

Breakthrough in Equine Science: Tartu Leads Estonia’s First Horse Cloning Success In a groundbreaking achievement for equine science, scientists at the Estonian University of Life Sciences have successfully cloned a horse, resulting in the birth of Estonia's first cloned foal this August at Luunja Stud. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as the cloned foal, developed using advanced stem cell technology, is the first of its kind in the country. The foal was implanted into a surrogate mare and is expected to play a key role in the preservation of endangered horse breeds. The cloning process, completed this summer, is especially important for conserving rare breeds such as the Estonian native horse, the Tori horse, and the Estonian draft horse. With this achievement, Estonia joins a select group of countries capable of horse cloning, offering hope for endangered breeds and enhancing elite breeding opportunities. In addition to the cloned foal, another major success was the birth of Estonia's first test-tube foal, Endex, in late August. Endex was created in a lab and implanted into a surrogate mare over a year ago. His biological parents are top-level sport horses, while his surrogate mother, Miss Dior, is caring for him at Luunja Stud. Both of these projects reflect the cutting-edge reproductive technologies being developed in Estonia. Luunja Stud, in collaboration with the Estonian University of Life Sciences, is set to open a new biotech center, offering cloning and embryo technologies to breeders across Europe. These technologies not only help preserve endangered breeds but also enable breeders to clone elite horses, reduce risks in breeding, and ensure the best genetic combinations for future generations. #CityofTartu #Innovation #Biotechnology 📸 Illustrative photo by Mana Kaasik

🏡We have beautiful homes in Tartu! This summer, City of Tartu proudly celebrated the beauty of its homes and gardens through the Eesti Kaunis Kodu 2024 (Beautiful Home of Estonia 2024) awards, where several stunning properties were honored by the President. These awards recognize exceptional homes that combine creativity, sustainability, and a deep connection with nature, making Tartu a greener and more beautiful city. 🌿 Among the award-winning properties were the Altroff family home in Ihaste, known for its perfect blend with the surrounding forest, and the garden at Herne 54a in Supilinn, featuring a serene natural pond. The Tähnase family garden in Tammelinn also stood out with its cozy seating areas and innovative landscaping. 🌼 The esteemed judging panel included Tartu Deputy Mayor Elo Kiivet, landscape architect Sirle Salmistu, Eesti Kaunis Kodu 2022 laureate Kertu Rajasaare, Mirjam Võsaste, the urban nature coordinator and city design specialist Erge Jõgela. Their expertise ensured that the winning homes were not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally sustainable. 🌱 The awards were handed out on Tartu City Day, recognizing these homes for their contribution to the city’s unique charm and natural beauty. #CityofTartu #TartuHomes Photos: Erge Jõgela

Tartu City Government Extends Its Remote Work Certification! 🏙️ We are pleased to announce that City of Tartu has renewed its Remote Work Certification for another three years! 💼 This certification reaffirms our commitment to offering flexible work options that empower our employees to thrive—whether working remotely or in the office. By fostering a supportive and innovative work environment, we promote a healthy work-life balance. The City of Tartu continues to advance its remote work initiatives and is a partner in the Remote-IT project, through which we share best practices with other countries. *Remote Work Certification is awarded by Smart Work NGO/NPO and recognizes employers that promote flexible work arrangements and remote-friendly environments. #CityofTartu #kaugtöö #töökeskkond #remotework

Have you ever thought Tartu could be in a computer game? 🎮 If all goes well, it could be! Souptown Matty is a brand-new computer game (currently demo version) developed right here in Tartu, and it takes place in the vibrant Souptown neighborhood. 🌍 In this game, you’ll explore familiar streets, uncover hidden gems, and join Matty the dog on exciting adventures that showcase the charm of our city. It’s amazing to see Tartu’s creativity and culture come to life through gaming! Tartu can be on a map in a whole new way. We can't wait to see Souptown Matty in full action! #CityofTartu #Gaming

European Mobility Week comes to Tartu! City of Tartu is once again celebrating European Mobility Week, from September 16 to 22, promoting sustainable and eco-friendly transportation. 🌍 This year’s theme, “Shared Public Space”, encourages us to rethink how we move and share our urban spaces, highlighting diverse road users. What is European Mobility Week? Since 2002, cities across Europe have participated in this initiative, aimed at encouraging healthier and more environmentally conscious travel choices. With free bus rides for everyone throughout the week, Tartu continues to push for cleaner urban living and reduced car dependency. Here’s what’s happening in Tartu: 🚍 Free Bus Rides (Sept 16–22): All city buses are free, so hop on and enjoy! 🚶♂️ Walking Tour – Tartu’s Secret Shortcuts (Sept 19, 17:00): Discover hidden pathways through the city with urban planner Indrek Ranniku. Meet at the University of Tartu Library. 🏙️ Discussion – “Streets for All: A Nuisance or Freedom?” (Sept 19, 18:00): Let’s talk about reclaiming streets for people. Featuring city planners and local experts. 🚴♀️ Group Bike Ride – Exploring New Routes (Sept 20, 19:00): Pedal through car-free streets and join the community ride, finishing with a party under Sõpruse Bridge! 🎤 Party – “Shared Bridge Space” (Sept 20, 20:00): Music, dancing, and good vibes under Sõpruse Bridge. Featuring DJ tunes and Comedy Estonia’s Karl-Alari Varma. 🛹 Car-Free Day (Sept 22): Leave your car at home and explore alternative transport options. 🌟 Let's celebrate Mobility Week together and enjoy cleaner and greener city!