Otepää
Estonia · Valga · 180 m
Description
Otepää is the winter capital of Estonia, set among the highest hills the country has in the south east, which reach barely two hundred metres but are enough to hold snow and carry a serious cross country skiing culture. The Tehvandi stadium hosts a World Cup round each winter and the Tartu Marathon runs sixty three kilometres from here in February. The Estonian flag was consecrated in the church in 1884, which makes the town a patriotic site as well. In summer the same hills are walked and cycled and the lakes are swum in.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 4 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: January – March or June – August
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Cross country ski trails around Tehvandi (December - March)
- Tartu Marathon ski race (approx. February)
- Pühajärv lake and its shore path
- Otepää church and the flag consecration site
- Tehvandi ski jumping hills and the tower
- Hill country cycling in summer
- Sangaste Castle and its rye estate(Day trip)
- Energy Column stone on the ridge