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Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
OTEPÄÄ
“
In Your Pocket
: A cheeky, well-
written series of guidebooks.”
The New York Times
Winter 2009/Spring 2010
Winter fun guide
More than just skiing
What’s on?
Seasonal events
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Contents
3
Get In Your Pocket before you go
E S S E N T I A L C I T Y G U I D E S
The full In Your Pocket range is available to purchase online at:
www.inyourpocket.com/clickandbuy
Contents
Foreword
4
A quick word from the IYP team
Arriving in Otepää
5
Photo: Aldo Luud
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
ST. PETERSBURG
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
TIRANA
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
BUCHAREST
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
WARSAW
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
PRAGUE
Find your way to the winter capital
The Basics
Sightseeing
16
2006 - 2007
April - May 2006
August - September 2006
April 2006
August - September 2006
6
Put on your boots and grab your camera
Helpful hints to get you started
Culture & Events
Active Otepää
18
A New Look
We‘ve never looked
better: In Your Pocket
gets a makeover
Blogging
Bucharest
Our guide to the best
politically incorrect
comment online
8
Snowboarding, winter golf and more!
The best of everything that’s happening
Where to stay
Going to the
chapel
Karlštejn’s renovated
jewel
Let’s rock
Visiting the Bohemian
Paradise
Useful addresses
Easter Greetings
Egg breaking & church
walking…
Russian in Russia
The best ways to discover
the language
Culture & Events
Simple Minds, t.A.T.u. &
Cosmonaut’s Day
20
Shopping fever
Tirana’s first malls
Facade art
Painting the city pink
Wilanów
Explore the Polish
Versailles
Out of town
Poland‘s top spa town:
Nałęczów
9
Internet connections and other necessaries
Maps
Otepää centre map
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A bed for every budget
Dining & Nightlife
14
From gourmet restaurants to casual pubs
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21
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
KRAKÓW
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
TALLINN
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
BELFAST
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
COLOGNE
Otepää district map
22
August - September 2006
April - May 2006
August - September 2006
June - July 2006
Football events
Win or lose, this is
where to party
River tours
Wine and dine on the
Rhine
The Great
Outdoors
Cycling, skydiving and
country pursuits
Gastro Tourism
Seafood, whiskey and
St. George’s Market
Tarnów
Explore the Pearl of the
Renaissance
Leisure
Getting active in Kraków
Touring Narva
Cool sights at the EU‘s
eastern border
IYP gets a new
look
The inside scoop on the
new look inside
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Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
BERLIN
August - September 2006
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
GDAŃSK
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
RIGA
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
ŁÓDŹ
HAMBURG
SOPOT & GDYNIA
Including
August - November 2006
April - May 2006
June - July 2006
September - December 2006
Kashubia
Exploring the Polish Alps
Hot spots
The Baltic’s Beaches
Hollyłódź
Poland‘s cinema city
Stars in your
eyes
From Polanski to Max
Factor, read about the
famous natives.
Hockey Fever
Everything you need to
know about IIHF World
Championship in Riga
Explore Latvia
Take a day trip to
the seaside towns of
Jūrmala and Liepāja
Harbour tours
Down in the docks
Football events
Win or lose, this is
where to party
Museum night
100 museums in one
night
Floating the
boat
Spree river tours
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SKOPJE
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FRANKFURT
August - September 2006
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
SHKODRA
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
PRISTINA
Hotels Restaurants Cafés Nightlife Sightseeing Events Maps
KAISERSLAUTERN
2006 - 2007
2006 - 2007
2006 - 2007
June - July 2006
Football events
Win or lose, this is
where to party
Feature 2 - max
2 lines
Short description of the
feature. Should be max.
3 lines.
Skopje
snapshots
The Marubi photo
collection
Around town
Daytrips to the lake,
beach and mountains
Shkodra
snapshots
The Marubi photo
collection
Around town
Daytrips to the lake,
beach and mountains
Football events
Win or lose, this is
where to party
Going Palatine
Strolling in the forest
Nuustaku Holiday Homes. Photo: Marianne Aldur
Beach bars
Cocktail in hand, toes
in sand
Dram tram
Sipping ebbelwei on the
cider express
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otepaa.inyourpocket.com
Winter 2009/Spring 2010
   arriVing
ForeWorD
4
5
5
For winter getaways in Estonia, there’s only one name you
need to know: Otepää. Officially dubbed Estonia’s ‘Winter
Capital’, this town of 3,925 is located 227 km southwest
of Tallinn in the hilly corner of the country. That bit of
geographical luck means Otepää is ringed with ski resorts
– including the nation’s only downhill ski resorts – and
attracts thousands of skiers and snowboarders from
around the Baltic region and beyond during its winter high
season. Otepää is also the centre of annual international
ski events such as the Tartu Marathon and the FIS Cross
Country World Cup.
Europe In Your Pocket
Otepää sits in the southeastern part of Estonia, 227km
from Tallinn. Whatever mode of transport you use to get
here, chances are you’ll be using southern Estonia’s larg-
est city, Tartu, as a gateway. Once you reach Tartu, getting
to Otepää is a snap.
Because so many activities and attractions are out of
town, we highly recommend having your own set of wheels
to get around. That said, with a little planning, it’s com-
pletely feasible to arrive by bus and get to where you’re
going by foot or taxi.
By bus
The bus ride from Tallinn takes 4 to 4.5 hours. Though there
is one direct bus each morning, the more convenient (and
faster) routes from the capital involve an easy transfer in
Tartu. Check www.bussireisid.ee or www.peatus.ee for the
schedule details and for booking the tickets. You can buy a
single ticket for the entire trip on one of the six daily routes,
or assemble your own trip by hopping one of the three dozen
daily buses to Tartu and catching the next bus to Otepää
from there. The whole ride will cost you about 175kr. If you’re
already in Tartu, you’ll find about 10 daily buses to Otepää.
These take 45 minutes to an hour and cost 35 - 50kr. From
Riga, you should take the daily Eurolines bus to Tartu and
continue from there.
Otepää Bus Station
Tartu mnt. 1.
It’s more of a bus stop
than a proper station, but it’s conveniently connected to the
Otepää Visitors’ Centre and an R-Kiosk shop.
By car
Travelling by car is by far the easiest and most convenient way
to get to Otepää. From Tallinn, the trip to Otepää takes roughly
3 hours. When you reach Tartu, follow the signs to find the road
to Valga. Otepää is another 43km south from here.
Th e r e’s p l e n t y t o d o h e r e fo r n o n - s k i e r s a s we l l .
Snowtubing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides and any other
kind of snow-related activities are on offer. The town itself,
with its historic church, smart hotels and quirky pubs,
is the per fect place to relax with a cup of hot chocolate
after an action-packed day. If your idea of a good time is
a bit slower paced, you can book a relaxation package
in one of the town’s two health spas, or check into one
of the area’s countryside tourist farms to get a taste of
rural hospitality and a first-hand glimpse of the nation’s
stunning, wintertime landscapes.
By plane
Reaching Otepää from abroad just got easier thanks to the
introduction of international flights to nearby Tartu. Check
www.estonian-air.com and www.airbaltic.com for details on
routes from Stockholm and Riga. If you’re flying to Estonia
from elsewhere though, chances are that you’ll be landing in
Tallinn (see
Tallinn In Your Pocket
for arrival details).
By train
Starting from January 2010 it will be possible to reach Otepää
by train... almost. The nearest station is Palupera, 12km from
Otepää. Estonia’s passenger train operator Edelaraudtee
will offer two connections from Tallinn to Palupera each
day, one direct and one requiring a change in Tartu. The
trip takes about 4 hours and costs 117kr. For schedules,
see www.edel.ee.
Whatever your agenda, you’re bound to have a fantastic
time in Otepää, and we’ve put together this first stand-
alone
Otepää In Your Pocket
guide to help you make
that happen. So turn the page and start planning your
winter escape!
If you have any questions or comments feel free to write
us at nsi@inyourpocket.com. If you want to get even more
interactive be sure to check out our Facebook fanpage.
It has been another great year for
In Your Pocket
.
We now publish a record
57 guides
and mini-guides
across
22 European countries
. We print more than
four million
In Your Pockets
annually. This year we
launched new guides in
Maribor
,
Bled
,
Portoroz
,
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,
Banja Luka
,
Brasov, Lviv
and
Odesa.
Next year you can expect to see
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,
Vienna
and
Glasgow
- amongst others -
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We welcome enquiries from anyone who would
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up an IYP. Send us an email to
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.
Town layout
Cover story
Getting your bearings in Otepää is fairly easy once you get to
know its basic layout. Just about everything here including
the Tourist Information Centre, the bus station, banks and
food shops is built around Lipuväljak (Flag Square). The
‘square’ is actually almost triangular in shape, bordered
by Tartu mnt., Valga mnt. and Lipuväljak tn.
The hills of Otepää are a haven for
cross country skiers. This photo,
taken in 2006, shows the trails
of the Tehvandi ski centre and
surrounding forests in all their
wintry glory.
Tourist information

Otepää Tourist Information Cen-
tre
I-2, Tartu mnt. 1, tel. (+372) 766
12 00, turism@otepaa.ee, www.ote-
paa.ee.
Conveniently located right next
to the bus station in the middle of town,
the Tourist Information Centre can provide
you with all the maps, info and advice you’ll need about
Otepää and the surrounding Valga county. Here you can
also buy souvenirs, make photocopies and pay to use the
internet.
Q
Open 09:00 - 17:00, Sat 10:00 - 15:00. Closed
Sun. Also stays open when major events are on.
The second built-up zone is about 1km southeast, in the
more residential – and scenic – area around Pühajärve
lake. From the centre, you reach it by heading out from the
square along Pühajärve tee. This is where you’ll find the
large spa hotels and several more guesthouses.
Photo by: Geoview OÜ
It’s important to remember though that many of the
attractions, such as downhill ski resorts, are actually
a few kilometres out of town. Most of these are to the
south, reachable via Valga mnt.
Editorial
Editor-in-chief
Nat A. Singer
Editor
Steve Roman
Layout & Design
Küllike Johannson
Singer
Photography
Steve Roman, Aldo
Luud, Marianne Aldur, Geoview OÜ,
Otepää Tourist Information Centre’s
photo bank.
Copyright notice
Text and photos copyright OÜ
Linnajuht 2005-2010. Maps copyright
cartographer. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced
in any form, except brief extracts for
the purpose of review, without written
permission from the publisher and
copyright owner. The brand name In Your
Pocket is used under license from UAB
In Your Pocket (Vokieciu 10-15, Vilnius,
Lithuania tel. (+370-5) 212 29 76).
Editor’s note
The editorial content of In Your Pocket
guides is independent from paid-for
advertising. Sponsored listings are
clearly marked as such. We welcome all
readers‘ comments and suggestions.
We have made every effort to ensure
the accuracy of the information at the
time of going to press and assume no
responsibility for changes and errors.
E S S E N T I A L C I T Y G U I D E S
Otepää In Your Pocket
Vana-Viru 4, Tallinn 10111
Estonia
tel./fax +372 644 64 70
advertising tel. +372 631 33 50
otepaa@inyourpocket.com
www.inyourpocket.com
ISSN-L 1736-8782
ISSN 1736-8782
©OÜ Linnajuht
Printed by Chaser OÜ, Tartu
3’000 copies
Twice per year
Sales & Circulation
General /Ad Manager
Küllike Johannson Singer
Sales & Circulation
Marek Pärn
Advertising Representative
Kätlin Kuus
Accountant
Marian Puusepp
Publisher
OÜ Linnajuht
Cover:
Geoview OÜ
View of Otepää. Photo: Geoview OÜ
Otepä
ä In Your Pocket
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Winter 2009/Spring 2010
 BasiCs
BasiCs
6
7
Basic data
Key phrases
National holidays
Otepää
Population:
3,925
Density:
18,05 inhabitants/km
2
Estonia
Population:
1,299,371
Density:
30 inhabitants/km
2
Ethnic composition:
Estonians 67.9%, Russians
25.6%, Ukrainians 2.1%, Byelorussians 1.2%, Finns
0.9%, Others 2.3%
Territory:
45,227km
2
Elevation:
The highest point in Estonia (and the Baltics)
is Suur Munamägi (318m) in Võru County
Islands:
1,521. The three largest are Saaremaa
2,673km
2
, Hiiumaa 1,023km
2
, and Muhu 206km
2
Lakes:
Lake Peipsi, on the Russian border, covers an
area of 3,555km
2
, of which 1,529km
2
is in Estonia. It
also holds the title as the 4th largest lake in Europe.
Rivers:
Estonia’s longest rivers are the Võhandu 162km,
Pärnu 144km, and Põltsamaa 135km.
Other cities:
Tallinn 396,375, Narva 67,144, Kohtla-
Järve 46,032, Pärnu 43,788.
Local time:
Estonia is in the Eastern European Time
Zone (GMT+2hrs). Summer time (GMT+3hrs) is in effect
from the last Sunday of March until the last Sunday of
October.
Distances
Otepää is 224km from Tallinn, 42km from Tartu, 165km
from Pärnu and 52km from Valga by road.
Hello
Tere
Goodbye
Head aega
Please
Palun
Thank you
Aitäh
Excuse me
Vabandust
Yes
Jah
No
Ei
Maybe
Võibolla
Zero
Null
One
Üks
Two
Kaks
Three
Kolm
Four
Neli
Five
Viis
Six
Kuus
Seven
Seitse
Eight
Kaheksa
Nine
Üheksa
Ten
Kümme
Hundred
Sada
Thousand
Tuhat
Push (on a door)
Lükka
Pull (on a door)
Tõmba
I would like...
Ma sooviksin...
Big
Suur
Small
Väike
Where is... ?
Kus asub...?
How much does ... cost?
Kui palju maksab...
Bon appetit!
January 1
New Year’s Day
February 24
Independence Day (1918)
April 02 (2010)
Good Friday
April 04 (2010)
Easter Sunday
May 1
May Day
June 23
Victory Day (1919 Battle of Võnnu - Cēsis)
June 24
St. John’s Day (Midsummer)
August 20
Day of Restoration of Independence (1991)
December 24
Christmas Eve
December 25
Christmas Day
December 26
Boxing Day
Making the call
Calling an Otepää number
To call an Otepää number
from any phone in Estonia (including Estonian mobiles), just
dial the 7-digit number as is. Because Estonian city codes
were phased out in 2004, a few old-timers might quote you
a 6-digit number. If this happens, just put a ‘7’ on the front
and, presto, you’ve got your 7-digit Otepää number!
Calling other phones in Estonia
To call any Es-
tonian number, fixed or mobile, from within the country,
just dial the number as written.
International calls
To call Estonia from abroad, dial
your country’s international access code, then Estonia’s
country code, +372, then the number. To phone abroad from
Estonia, dial ‘00’ then the country code and number.
Roaming
If you’ve brought your mobile in from abroad
and want to call a number in Estonia, you may have to
dial Estonia’s country code, +372, before continuing with
the rest of the number.
Tehvandi ski jump tower.
Borders
Until 1998, Estonia stood staunchly by the conviction that its
border with Russia was set by the Tartu Peace Treaty of 1920.
In reality, however, border controls have been maintained
along the line unilaterally set by Russia in 1991. Estonia
and Russia initialled a border agreement on March 5, 1998,
ceding the disputed territory to Russia and now that Estonia
belongs to the European Union, its border with Russia is also
the border between the EU and Russia. Schengen border zone
- Estonia belongs to the Schengen visa area, which includes
22 EU countries, Norway and Iceland. It means that if you are
travelling to Estonia from within the Schengen border control-
free area, you will not be required to show any documentation
when you arrive in Estonia, whether it be by ship, plane or by
car. In fact you will not have to go through customs at all, but
each individual country still maintains the right to perform
intermittent checks. Of course if you arrive in Estonia from
outside the Schengen zone you will still be required to show
your passport or EU identity card if applicable. For more
information on Schengen and how it might apply to your trip
to Estonia, logon to the Estonian Foreign Ministry’s website
at www.vm.ee/eng.
Customs
European alcoholics rejoice! When you leave Estonia headed
to another EU country, you can take out as much booze as
you can carry (or convince inspectors is for your personal
use). Coming into Estonia from another EU country, each
individual aged 18 and over may carry in duty-free 90 litres
of wine and 110 litres of beer and 10 litres of hard alcohol
(over 21%alc/vol), 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars
and 1kg of pure tobacco. When leaving, beware of stricter
tobacco restrictions if you’re headed to the UK, Sweden or
Finland. Relatively unlucky travellers from non-EU countries
can carry in a measly 2 litres of wine (not exceeding €175EUR
in combined value), 2 litres of beverages up to 21%alc/vol
and 1 litre of hard alcohol; 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos
or 50 cigars or 250g pure tobacco. How much booze and
smokes you can take home depends on your own country’s
restrictions. For more information, contact the Customs
Department, Narva mnt. 9j, tel. 696 74 36/696 74 35, info@
customs.ee, www.emta.ee.
Head isu!
One beer, please!
Palun üks õlu!
Cheers!
Terviseks!
Will you marry me?
Kas sa abielluks minuga?
Electricity
The electrical current is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Sockets take
the standard, round-pinned European plugs.
Ethnic groups
About 68% of Estonia’s population is made up of ethnic Esto-
nians, descendents of Finno-Ugric tribes that settled this area
about 5,000 years ago. The largest minority in today’s Estonia
is by far the Russians, at roughly 26% of the national population.
Along with Ukrainians and Byelorussians, thousands of Russians
moved or were sent here during Soviet times, and chose to
remain after independence. Though some integration is taking
place among the younger generation, language and cultural bar-
riers tend to keep Estonians and Russian-speakers apart.
Language
Confused? Join the crowd. Estonian is completely unrelated
to Russian, Latvian, Swedish, German or any other Indo-Eu-
ropean tongue. Along with Finnish and Hungarian, Estonian
belongs to the Finno-Ugric group of languages, thought to
have originated somewhere beyond the Urals thousands of
years ago. Luckily, the younger generation and those in the
tourist industry speak English. You can find some of the more
essential words and phrases on the opposite page.
tional systems are ever present. Credit cards are easy to use
in Tartu - major hotels, most restaurants and a pretty much all
downtown shops accept Visa, Mastercard and EC.
Taxis
Religion
Some locals will tell you that Estonians are all tree-worshiping
pagans at heart, but the truth is that this isn’t a very religious
country at all. There is no state religion, and according to
the 2000 census, only 31.8% of the population claims any
religious affiliation. Of those that do, about 180,000 are
Lutheran and 170,000 Russian Orthodox.
Otepää Taksoteenus
tel. (+372) 507 12 56.
4-,
6- and 8-passenger vehicles.
Q
25kr + 10-12kr/km.
Otepää Takso
tel. (+372) 51 48 745.
Q
25kr +
12kr/km.
Oti Takso
tel. 1200/(+372) 516 44 55.
Q
25kr
+ 12kr/km.
Money
The Estonian kroon (rhymes with ‘tone’) is pegged to the Euro
at €1 to 15.65kr. Keep in mind that Euros are not legal cur-
rency here yet since Estonia won’t join the common currency
for several years to come. Paper bills come in denominations
of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500kr. ATMs operating on interna-
Otepä
ä In Your Pocket
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Winter 2009/Spring 2010
 CULtUre & eVents
Where to stay
8
9
Because of its small-town setting, most of Otepää’s in-
town accommodation comes in the form of tiny hotels and
guesthouses, though there are a couple of larger spa hotels
catering to those in search of a pampered getaway. For the
purposes of this guide, ‘in-town’ also includes establishments
in the built-up Pühajärve area as well as parts of Nüpli. Many
visitors also opt for out-of-town accommodation, including
tourist farms and rental cabins, to take advantage of the area’s
nature. Prices listed here are for the high season (Dec - March).
They include VAT and breakfast unless otherwise stated.
Festivals and major events
Here are some of the bigger goings-on in Otepää this
winter season:
Otepää BIG Air
January
15 – 17, Tehvandi Sport
Center, www.bricole.ee.
Snowboarders take to the air
in this international snowboard
jumping competition, held in
conjunction with the FIS World
Cup, see the box below.
Golden Fish 2010
February 13, Pühajärve lake,
www.kuldkala.ee.
Cut a hole in the ice, drop your line,
and wait. It might not be everyone’s idea of a good time,
but ice fishing has a strong following, and this international
ice fishing contest is the
biggest in the Baltics. In the
past, prizes have included
1kg of gold, 100,000 cash
a n d f i s h i n g g e a r. F o o d
and entertainment will be
provided on the shore of
the lake.
Tar tu Marathon
February 21, Tehvandi Sport
Center and marathon ski track, www.tartumaraton.
ee.
The biggest event of the winter sports season, the
39th Tartu Marathon is a long-distance ski race that starts
at Tehvandi and runs on a
63km track all the way to the
town of Elva. Along the way
fans will be out in full force with
their cow bells. There’s also a
31km variation for those not
q u i te s o wel l t ra i n e d. Th e
programme comes with other
little events and activities for
the spectators.
Sauna culture
Symbol key
Some people insist they’re part of
an important health ritual, a way
to keep clean, or an unbeatable
hangover cure. For most Estonians,
however, saunas represent a way
to relax, spend time with family and
friends, and to warm up after a day
out in the bone-chilling extremes of
the Nordic winter.
Though Estonia’s northern neighbour, Finland, is the
undisputed sauna capital of the world, the practice of
confining steam or heat to a confined area for bathing
purposes is found in a number of world cultures.
Japanese, Native Americans and Russians all have their
versions of steam and sweat baths.
The Estonian saun is thought to come from a rural
sauna tradition that extends from the Baltic region to
the Urals, so it’s no surprise that the development of
sauna culture and practices here has a lot in common
with that of Estonia’s neighbours.
These days, while saunas are often still used for bathing
by country folk, it’s much more common to find them
used for de-stressing, for warming up, and for parties.
Because advances in technology mean that saunas are
no longer confined to separate buildings or little huts in
the woods, a lot of hotels and sports clubs have one
or more saunas built in. To find out which guesthouses,
tourist farms, etc, offer saunas, look for the sauna
symbol next to their listings in this guide.
If you’re a first-time visitor to Otepää, or just someone
who’s curious about this important part of Estonian life,
you’ll definitely want to make at least one sauna stop
while you’re here.
The many faces of sauna
Finnish Sauna
What Estonians simply call an ordinary
‘sauna’ is also referred to here as ‘Finnish sauna’ for
clarity’s sake. The most typical type of sauna, this one
involves a wood-fired stove (or sometimes an electric
heater, though purists scoff at this innovation) with a
collection of fist-sized stones on top. When the stones
are hot enough, the water poured over them instantly
vaporises. Sauna interiors are almost always made of
wood, which gives them a pleasant, distinct fragrance.
Smoke Sauna
This older type of sauna is gaining a
newfound popularity lately, and many people swear by
it. It’s only found in the countryside, built into small huts
usually made of logs. The idea of the smoke sauna is
that, instead of having a chimney pipe, the stove lets all
its smoke into the room. This smoke-out harkens back
to the time before Estonians had chimney technology. A
small window in the opposite wall is opened to let the air
clear before people use the sauna.
Steam Sauna
Much less common than the Finnish
and smoke saunas, steam sauna is what most English
speakers would refer to as a ‘Turkish bath.’ As the name
implies, large amounts of steam are pumped into the
room, which is usually lined with tile, rather than wood.
Infrared Sauna
The very latest in sauna technology is a
recent arrival in Estonia. In fact, there are only a handful
of them at the country’s health resorts. Usually build into
a smaller sauna booth, the infrared sauna uses heat
lamps, rather than a stove, to warm up your flesh and get
your sweat glands going. We tried this one out and found
it relaxing enough, but with the strange light you may feel
like a rotisserie chicken in a restaurant window.
N
Payment in cash only
H
Conference facilities
U
Facilities for disabled
R
LAN connection
L
Guarded parking
F
Fitness centre
G
Non-smoking rooms
K
Restaurant
I
Fireplace
D
Sauna
C
Swimming pool
6
Pets allowed
Upmarket
Bernhard Spa Hotell
H-4, Kolga tee 22a, tel. (+372)
766 96 00, fax (+372) 766 96 01, hotell@bernhard.ee,
www.bernhard.ee.
Partly built on stilts and perched on a
lakeside slope, Bernhard has the look and feel of a miniature
Swiss resort. The rooms here are decent, and each one comes
with its own drying cupboard and sweeping lake view. Where
Bernhard really shines though is in its spa offerings, which
include a variety of treatments, a sun room, saunas, multiple
pools and even a heated, outdoor pool.
Q
32 rooms (singles
1050 - 1250kr, doubles, triples 1250 - 1550kr, 4 suites 2200
- 2700kr). Extra bed 400kr. Pets 200kr. Spa packages avail-
able.
TH6UIKGLDCW
GMP Clubhotel
G-4, Tennisevälja 1, tel. (+372) 501 05 04,
clubhotel@gmp.ee, www.clubhotel.ee.
Families with kids, or
anyone who likes a bit of spacious luxury, should check out this
super-modern apartment hotel near Pühajärve lake. Each of the
stylishly decorated flats comes with a full kitchen, laundry and sat-
TV. There are saunas with roof access at the top of the buildings,
and management are introducing a trendy restaurant here this
winter.
Q
11 apartments (1-room 1600 - 2000kr, 2-room 1600
- 3000kr, 3-room 2400 - 5000kr).
RFLKDW
Karupesa
I-2, Tehvandi 1a, tel./fax (+372) 766 15 00, tel.
(+372) 506 45 28, karupesa@karupesa.ee, www.karupesa.
ee.
You’ll recognise this old favourite by the carved, wooden bear
in front - not to mention the old-fashioned, ski-lodge architecture.
W
WiFi connection
Built in 1996, it’s one of the town’s few full-service hotels. There’s a
restaurant, conference room, a beautiful sauna/party room, drying
cupboards for wet ski clothes, and even a billiards table. A sports
equipment rental office operates in the same building, offering skis
or bikes, depending on the season.
Q
30 rooms (singles 638 -
850kr, doubles 808 - 1100kr, triples 978 - 1300kr, 4 suites 1145
- 1850kr). Extra bed 250kr. Pets 200kr.
H6IKDW
Pühajärve Spa Hotell
G-3, Pühajärve village, Otepää
vald, tel. (+372) 766 55 00/(+372) 504 42 38, fax (+372)
766 55 01, pjpk@pjpk.ee, www.pyhajarve.com.
By far the
best equipped and most bustling establishment around these
parts, the Pühajärve is a great choice for those who want the
full monty. Not only does it offer spa treatments, a beauty salon,
solarium, swimming pool and multiple restaurants, there’s also
sports equipment rental and even a bowling alley. The spa was
built into a grand, historic manor house on the edge of Pühajärve
lake, so you can add fresh air and natural beauty to its list of
attractions. The smart rooms here can be rented individually or
as part of health and relaxation packages.
Q
98 rooms (singles
750 - 850kr, doubles 950 - 1100kr, 12 suites 1550-2190kr).
Extra bed 300kr. Pets 250kr.
HFKDCW
Budget
Sprinting on skis
Hostel Allik
H-2, Pärna 4, Otepää, tel. (+372) 56 65
06 41/(+372) 501 41 14, asallik@hot.ee, www.kite.
ee/majutus.
What’s essentially a residential house in the
centre of Otepää has been kitted out as low-price guest-
house/hostel. Breakfast isn’t included in the price, but guests
can use the kitchen.
Q
25 beds (150 - 300kr/person). Tent
site 60kr.
J6IND
Kikka Guesthouse
G-4, Tamme pst. 9, tel. (+372) 765
59 82/(+372) 58 11 80 17, info@kylalistemajakikas.ee,
www.kylalistemajakikas.ee.
This friendly establishment in
the residential area near Pühajärve lake has its own grill bar,
which operates during the high season. Rooms are warm and
wood-lined. The higher-priced ones have their own showers,
but all share WCs.
Q
8 rooms (1 single kr, 3 doubles kr, 3
triples kr, 1 5-person room). 8 rooms (1 single, 3 doubles, 3
triples, 1 five-person). 300 - 350kr/person.
IDW
Tamme Guesthouse
G-4, Tamme pst. 6, tel. (+372)
766 37 47, info@tammemajutus.ee, www.tammemaju-
tus.ee.
This unpretentious, little guesthouse in the so-called
‘garden area’ of town has a friendly, personal feel. Rooms
are basic - most share shower/WC. The room price includes
breakfast, and other meals can be arranged upon request.
Q
11 rooms (5 doubles 250 - 300kr, 5 triples 250 - 300kr, 1
Family Room 700 - 800kr). Extra bed 200kr.
NDW
Viessmann FIS Cross Country World Cup
January 16 – 17, Tehvandi Sport Center, www.
tehvandi.ee/mk.
This is Otepää’s proud, annual
contribution to the FIS World Cup calendar. Expect the
town to fill with international athletes and spectators
for the two-day event, which includes 10- and 15-km
races for men and women on Saturday, and sprinting
on Sunday.
photo: Indrek Uri (www.trenn.ee)
Otepä
ä In Your Pocket
otepaa.inyourpocket.com
otepaa.inyourpocket.com
Winter 2009/Spring 2010
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