Tartu Celebrates European Mobility Week with Free Bus Travel and Community Events
Tartu City Government Press Release
/ From 16 to 22 September, Tartu will celebrate European Mobility Week, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of sustainable transport options and encouraging people to travel more by walking, cycling and public transport. During Mobility Week, residents can enjoy free travel on city buses, join popular walking tours, and take part in a traditional community bike ride.
Further information and registration for the walking tours: tartu.ee/en/mobilityweek
To encourage residents to choose environmentally friendly modes of transport and to introduce the benefits of public transport, the City of Tartu will offer free bus travel to everyone throughout Mobility Week. To receive a free ticket, users must answer a question about their daily travel habits on the City of Tartu website. They will then receive a ticket with a QR code by email, which can be used for free travel on city buses throughout the week. Each trip must be registered by scanning the QR code at the validator located at the bottom of the ticket machine. Nothing will change for passengers who already have a valid period ticket.
The registration form for obtaining free travel rights will be published on the City of Tartu website closer to Mobility Week. The survey will help the city gain a better understanding of how many people make use of the free travel opportunity.
This year’s Mobility Week programme also includes walking tours, which have proven highly popular in previous years. Participants can explore the city through the eyes of Marco Tasane, discover stories from Tartu’s nightlife with Juhan Kari, follow the traces of historic cafés and restaurants with Tartu City Museum curator Ants Siim, or enjoy a walk with dogs. Historian Jaak Juske will guide participants along the routes of Tartu’s medieval city wall, while Sirla, organiser of the Stencibility street art festival, will introduce Tartu’s street art scene to English-speaking visitors.
All six walking tours are free of charge, but advance registration is required at tartu.ee/en/mobilityweek.
Mobility Week concludes on Tuesday, 22 September, with Car-Free Day, which encourages people to leave their cars at home and travel instead by foot, bicycle or public transport. At 19, a large community bike ride will set off from the city centre and finish on Kompanii Street. The evening programme there will continue with wheelchair-themed comedy and a quiz. These events invite participants to consider how urban space can be made more comfortable and accessible for all road users.
European Mobility Week is celebrated annually from 16 to 22 September. More than 3,000 cities across Europe take part in the initiative, which promotes sustainable mobility and aims to create healthier urban environments.
Last changed 03.09.2026
