Valga-Valka is one of the easiest day trips from Tartu, and one of the most unusual: in a few hours you can walk through two countries, see Estonia’s only oval church and get back for dinner. Take an Elron train or drive about an hour and a quarter south, walk the centre on both sides of the border, and head back in the late afternoon.

Getting there

• Train: Elron runs between Tartu and Valga several times a day. The station in Valga is a short walk from the centre and close to the border. Check elron.ee for the timetable, as it changes with the season and occasional track works.
• Bus: regular buses run between the two towns. Check peatus.ee.
• Car: about 90 km. Parking in the centre is easy.

Bring an ID card or passport. There are no border checks, but you should carry ID when you are in another country.

A walking route (about 4 to 5 hours with stops)

1. Valga railway station. Start where the train drops you. The station is a heritage-protected building from 1949, and the steam locomotive outside is a nod to the town’s history as a railway junction.

2. Säde Park and the Nipernaadi statue. A few minutes’ walk. The bronze is of Toomas Nipernaadi, the wandering hero of August Gailit’s novel.

3. Cross into Valka. Walk south to the border. Take the one-foot-in-each-country photo. Read the history of the split on the way so you know what you are looking at.

4. Lunch in Valka or back in Valga. 

5. St John’s Church. Back on the Estonian side. Built in 1816 with an oval floor plan, the only one in Estonia.

6. Kesk street. The main street of Valga. Stop by our shop for a card or a souvenir. 

7. Pedeli River path. If you have time and the weather is good, end with a walk along the river before your train.

If you have a car

Add one of these:

• Valga Military History Park, on the edge of town, with tanks and military vehicles. Good with kids.
• Karula National Park, around half an hour away, for a forest walk among small lakes.
• Kaagjärve Manor, an 1880s manor with a viewing tower.

Seasonal notes

• Summer: the river beach is open, and the days are long enough to add Karula.
• Winter: shorter days, so start early. See things to do in Valga in winter.
• November: if you are here on the 10th or 25th, you may meet children in costumes going door to door for Mardipäev or Kadripäev.

Want a guide?

We are starting year-round guided walks around Valga-Valka. 

The Estonian version of this post is also available.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Tartu to Valga?

Elron trains run between Tartu and Valga several times a day, and there are buses too. By car it is about 90 km, roughly an hour and a quarter.

Is a day enough to see Valga-Valka?

Yes. The centre of both towns is walkable, and you can see the main sights on both sides of the border in four to five hours.

Do I need a passport to cross into Valka?

There are no border checks because both countries are in Schengen, but you must carry a valid ID card or passport when travelling, as with any trip abroad.