How to Explore Street Art in Tartu, Estonia: A Visitor’s Guide

Almost every time I put “street art in [insert the first city that comes to mind]” in an article title, I feel a little contempt for myself. After countless discussions about what street art is and isn’t, reading all the books from my Kallax street art shelf, and even writing my master’s thesis on a street-art-related subject, I know perfectly well that these days, equating murals with street art isn’t fair. And yet, I use this phrase so that people who spend considerably less time pondering the definition of street art can more easily find a guide to murals rather than street art.

And finally, today, nodding approvingly, I’m putting “street art” in the title and happily adding “Tartu” to it. Because, Dear Reader, in Tartu, street art really does come first. And on a scale that much bigger (both in kilometres and population) so called street art cities might genuinely envy.

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Street Art in Tartu: Why Is It a Must-Visit in Estonia?

I added Tartu to my “must-see” list on the fridge a long time ago. All thanks to Stencibility – an international street art festival that takes place right here. What makes this event particularly cool is that it bravely resists muralitis, openly supports illegal street art, and, even when working within official frameworks, tries to give artists as much creative freedom as possible.

Sounds almost unreal these days? Totally. Which is exactly why you should come here!

I had only one day (only! :<) to explore Tartu, which I split between a guided tour and wandering around on my own. In this post, I’m going to share my impressions rather than a specific route – there’s so much art in Tartu, and the city itself isn’t exactly so huge that there’s any point in sticking to one “correct” trail. I often strayed from my route myself because an “unplanned” mural would suddenly peek out from around a corner and wave at me. But I’ll tell you where to find a nice little map that will definitely come in handy. 🙂

Street Art in Tartu: This Is What You Have to See!

There’s a ton of street art in Tartu. So much that I completely abandoned my carefully prepared plan. But I ended up seeing way more than I’d even hoped for! Here are a few pieces that made the biggest impression on me.

Plan B

I saw his work in Paris too, but still – it’s always nice when good art finds its way around the world.

Von Bomb

A stencil artist from Estonia. His work was among the first pieces I saw in Tartu, and I loved it. Simply and bold. Besides his stencils, there are plenty of his stickers in different styles scattered around Tartu.

Stina Leek

A very distinctive style. Besides seeing Stina’s work on the walls, I also had the pleasure of visiting her gallery, KETT Gallery.

What’s more, I accidentally came across one of her murals outside the city, in Ahja, where my travel and life companion happened to be playing a gig at the Kullaaugu festival. The world isn’t that big after all, is it?

Kairo

Without Sirla’s (our street art guide) stories about Kairo, I probably would have walked past her work, thought “pretty,” and carried on. But hearing Sirla talk about Kairo – her painting style, her approach, her background, and, on top of that, the fact that she has hundreds of strawberry stickers scattered around the city – made me look at Kairo’s work completely differently. Sometimes a bit of context can add so much to the way we see art!

Edward von Longus

Each country has its own Banksy, and Estonia is no exception. Even though his work can be bought at auctions, you can still find his pieces out on the streets.

Käppadele kukkuv kass (A cat falling on its paws), concept: Kudrun Vungi, production: Mihkel Joala, Kerttu Kuslap, Robot Muralist

Have you ever heard of printed murals? Well, in Tartu, we managed to spot two of them!

…and here’s the second!

Live fast, die young by MinaJaLydia

Probably one of the oldest, biggest and famous illegal stencil works in Tartu. 

MS Reet by MTO

This mural is from 2014 but still makes impression.

Stickers, stickers everywhere!

In Tartu, you should definitely pay attention not only to the bigger pieces, but also to the space around them. There are plenty of small, hidden art treasures waiting to be discovered on lampposts, little utility boxes, drainpipes, and the backs of traffic signs.

Supilinn 15 by Sepe & Chazme

That was number one on my list things to see in Tartu. Sepe and Chazme murals in Poland have a habit of getting covered up, so I was really happy to see this one here in such good condition!

Daleko od domu (Far from home) by Jay Pop

It was a bit unexpected, but also really nice, to come across this piece so far from home. In the background, you can see a work by Danny Rumbl.

Anastasia Papaleonida & Seikon

Murals Among the Charming Houses

In Tartu, plenty of murals are quietly waiting to be discovered among the charming little houses. It’s a perfect combination – interesting architecture and street art, all in one.

Art on Utility Boxes

Last but not least, art on utility boxes. I love it when artists take over these sad little metal boxes and turn them into something inspiring. There were quite a lot of them in Tartu, but these are the ones I remember the most. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the artist’s name.

Street Art in Tartu: Exploring the City with a Local Guide

I usually choose to explore cities solo. I like doing my research, reading about a place, saving spots on a map, wandering at my own pace, and changing my route whenever I feel like it. But every now and then, for one reason or another, I decide to join a guided walk.

In Tartu, I knew I wanted to see the city through a local’s eyes. More specifically, I really wanted someone from the Stencibility team to show me around. I couldn’t make one of their group walks work, but luckily, Stencibility also offers private tours. So that’s what I went for.

And once again, it turns out that exploring a city with a local is one of the best things that can happen to you on a trip. Sirla, our guide and one of the festival’s organizers, didn’t just show us Tartu – she brought the city to life in the best possible way: through her own experiences, observations, and the people who shape it. We covered a lot of ground, from the history of the festival to the city’s relationship with street art, all told through the stories and personalities of the artists. So if you ever get the chance to explore a city (especially Tartu!) with a local guide, don’t hesitate for a second.

Street Art in Tartu: The Map

Tartu is also a great city to explore using the map available on the festival’s website. I spent the entire afternoon and evening wandering around with it, discovering its streets one by one.

Even though I have more than 200 photos on my camera roll from that day, there are still many spots on the map waiting to be discovered. And I honestly hope I won’t keep them waiting too long.

Street Art in Tartu: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

You don’t need to spend ages preparing before heading to Tartu. It’s super easy to get here by train from Tallinn, with several connections a day. There’s also the option of coming from Riga or Vilnius, although I haven’t tried that route (yet).

Once I arrived, I mostly walked everywhere. My only bus trip was to the village of Ahja, just outside Tartu, where I could easily buy a ticket from the driver and pay by card. So yes, public transport is visitor-friendly, too.

What is worth thinking about, though, is how long you want to stay. I spent one day in Tartu, and it was definitely not enough. For your first time, I’d suggest spending a weekend here. That gives you time to check out the independent galleries (they’re well worth a visit!), wander around and stumble upon unexpected gems, and simply enjoy the city – breakfast with good coffee, evenings over a glass of wine, and, of course, the parks.

WOW, you made it this far!

If you enjoy what I’m doing here, you can support Part of Streets with a coffee. It helps me keep this little website alive, kicking and hopefully getting better.

So, what should you sort out in advance? Definitely accommodation, while there’s still a decent choice; train tickets, if you want to save a few euros; and a guided tour (for instance, with the Stencibility team).

The rest will take care of itself. 🙂

Is There Street Art in Tartu?

I’m asking this purely for formality’s sake, so the algorithm has no doubts. Yes, there is street art in Tartu – and there’s definitely more of it than murals and graffiti (at least in the city centre!).

So if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all those polite, colourful, generic, official murals that cities are so fond these days, come to Tartu.

Here, the artists taking part in the street art festival actually come from the streets.

So, is Tartu going onto your must-see list?

See you by the wall!

Karolajn