Photo courtesy of Huanita

And you thought you could simply “do Tallinn” and be done with Estonia!

Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city—just two and a half hours away from capital Tallinn by bus—can be reached for a mere EEK70 (€4.50; $6.10.) You do get what you pay for, though: dated Spaghetti Westerns on cracked bus TVs, no room for your big legs, etc.

There’s plenty to see around Tartu, whose Old Town is pleasantly compact and walkable. Our favorite sights: the bombed and decaying St. John’s Church, which no longer has an interior; the palm house at the Botanical Gardens; and the original deathmask of everyone’s favorite Enlightenment philosopher, Immanuel Kant. At night, students at the renowned Tartu Ülikool (University of Tartu) keep the bar scene hopping.

Exciting cultural events run all year long—and include a beery Midsummer’s Eve Party—so check out Tartu tourist sites, like this one from the fantastic In Your Pocket series.

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