Otepää punches well above its weight when winter arrives. This small Estonian hill town transforms into one of the liveliest cold-weather destinations in the Baltics, and in February 2027 it takes centre stage as the host of the Biathlon World Championships. Whether you are here for the races or simply chasing a proper winter weekend, the things to do in Otepää in winter go far beyond watching athletes sprint across the snow. Mornings before the evening races, rest days, and full leisure weekends all deserve a plan, and we have put together ten ideas to fill every hour.
Why is Otepää worth visiting in winter?
Otepää earns its reputation as Estonia’s winter capital honestly. The town sits among forested hills and frozen lakes inside Otepää Nature Park, and when snow covers the landscape the whole area becomes a natural playground. Cross-country trails, downhill slopes, guided wilderness trips and a genuine sense of Nordic quiet all exist within a short distance of the town centre, making Otepää in winter a genuinely complete destination rather than a one-activity stop.
The Biathlon World Championships in February 2027 bring an extraordinary atmosphere to the Tehvandi Sports Centre, but the surrounding countryside stays calm and accessible throughout the event. Mornings are ideal for outdoor activities before the stadium fills up in the afternoon and evening. Rest days on 11 and 15 February open up even more time to explore.
If you are still planning the practical side of your trip, our race-day guide to the championships covers what to expect at the venue, and our guide to where to stay near Otepää will help you find the right base for your visit. Once logistics are sorted, the ten ideas below will take care of the rest of your time.
1. Cross-country skiing on Otepää’s trails
Cross-country skiing in Otepää is the activity that defines the destination, and the trail network around the Tehvandi area gives skiers of every level a reason to get out early. The Tehvandi Sports Centre is the hub, with groomed tracks radiating into the surrounding forest. A lit trail means that shorter winter days do not have to cut your session short.
The Kääriku area, a short drive away, offers a quieter alternative with its own trail system. One of those trails carries the name of former Finnish president Kekkonen, a nod to the deep Nordic skiing tradition that connects this corner of Estonia to its northern neighbours. We recommend checking local trail and snow information before you head out, as conditions can change quickly in a single day.
One practical note for championship visitors: during the Biathlon World Championships, some Tehvandi trails may be in race use on competition days. It is worth confirming which sections are open to recreational skiers on any given morning so you can plan your route accordingly.
2. Ski a section of the Tartu Marathon track
The Tartu Marathon ski track is one of the great classic routes in Estonian sport. It starts at the Tehvandi stadium and runs approximately 63 kilometres south to the town of Elva, passing Väike Munamägi along the way. Skiing the full distance is a serious undertaking, but nobody says you have to go the whole way.
Picking a section of the Tartu Marathon ski track for a morning outing gives you a taste of a genuinely historic route through rolling forest and open farmland. The scenery away from the stadium is peaceful and distinctly Estonian, and the track is wide enough to feel comfortable even for intermediate skiers. Check current trail conditions locally before setting out, and plan your turnaround point in advance so you are back in time for the evening programme.
3. Downhill skiing on the local slopes
The Otepää area has three downhill ski centres, which means that alpine skiers are not left out of the winter picture. The hills here are modest by Alpine standards, but they are well suited to families, beginners and anyone who wants a few relaxed runs without the crowds or complexity of a large resort.
Downhill skiing fits naturally into a morning slot during the championships, especially on days when the cross-country trails are busier. Slopes tend to be quieter on weekday mornings, so arriving early pays off. Check local conditions and lift information directly with the centres before your visit, as snow cover and operating status can vary across the season.
4. Sledding and snow tubing for families
Families travelling to Otepää in winter with children will find that sledding and snow tubing are among the easiest and most immediately enjoyable Otepää winter activities on offer. The area has both a dedicated sledding hill and a snow tubing hill, which means there is something for different ages and levels of courage.
Snow tubing in particular requires no prior skill and no special equipment, which makes it a reliable choice for a mixed group. Even adults who have not touched a sled in years tend to rediscover the appeal quickly. It is a good option for rest days when you want activity without effort, and it pairs well with a warm drink and a slow afternoon afterwards.
5. A guided winter trip on snowshoes, fatbike or snowmobile
If you want to get deeper into the winter landscape without navigating it alone, guided trips on snowshoes, fatbikes and snowmobiles are organised in the Otepää area throughout the winter season. Each format offers a different relationship with the terrain and a different pace.
Snowshoe hikes move slowly and quietly through the forest, making them ideal for anyone who wants to observe the winter environment up close. Fatbike trips cover more ground and suit people who are comfortable on a bicycle and want a bit more physical challenge. Snowmobile safaris are the fastest option and the most dramatic, cutting through open fields and tree lines in a way that feels genuinely remote even when you are close to the town. We recommend booking guided activities in advance, particularly during the championships period when demand is higher than usual.
6. A winter walk by Lake Pühajärv and in the nature park
A walk along the shores of Lake Pühajärv and into the surrounding nature park is one of the simplest and most rewarding things to do in Otepää in winter. The lake freezes in cold winters, the forest paths are quiet, and the light on snow-covered hills in the morning or late afternoon is genuinely beautiful.
Otepää Nature Park covers a large area of hills, lakes and wetlands, and winter strips the landscape back to its essentials in a way that summer does not. The walking is unhurried and accessible, with no specialist equipment needed beyond warm layers and sensible footwear. If you want to understand what makes this corner of Estonia feel different from the rest of the country, a slow walk through the quiet of Otepää Nature Park in winter is the most direct answer. It is also a genuinely good way to decompress between race days.
7. A rest-day trip to Tartu
The rest days on 11 and 15 February are the natural moment to leave the hills for a few hours and visit Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city and its university town. Tartu sits about 37 kilometres from Otepää and is easy to reach by car or public transport, making it a comfortable half-day or full-day excursion.
Tartu was a European Capital of Culture in 2024, and the cultural energy that came with that year has left a lasting mark on the city’s museums, galleries and public spaces. The old town is compact and walkable, the university buildings are worth seeing, and the café culture is warm and genuinely welcoming in the way that Estonian cities tend to be in winter. For a fuller picture of what the city offers alongside the Otepää region, our guide to a Tartu city break is a good starting point for planning your day.
8, 9 and 10: Sauna, golf simulator and dinner at Otepää Golf & Country Club
Otepää Golf & Country Club sits about six kilometres from Tehvandi Sports Centre in a straight line, tucked inside the nature park with views across the Mäha and Saagjärv lakes. The club is best known as a summer golf destination, but three of its facilities make it a genuinely useful stop in winter as well. Here are the final three ideas on our list.
8. Sauna at the clubhouse
The clubhouse has saunas, and after a morning on skis or a long day at the stadium, that matters more than it might sound. Sauna culture is taken seriously in Estonia, and warming up properly after time in the cold is both a practical recovery tool and a cultural experience worth having. The setting inside the nature park adds to the appeal. We recommend checking availability in advance, especially during the championships period when demand across the region is high.
9. Indoor golf simulator
We have a Fullswing Golf winter simulator from the USA at the club, and it is one of the better ways to spend a rest-day afternoon if you play golf or are curious about trying it. The simulator runs full course experiences and practice modes, which means it works equally well for a serious player keeping their game sharp and for a complete beginner having a first go in a relaxed setting. For more on what to expect, our page on indoor simulator golf at the club covers the details. Book early, particularly around the championship dates.
10. Lunch or dinner with a lake view
Our restaurant overlooks the nature park, the Mäha and Saagjärv lakes and the golf course, which makes it one of the more unusual dining rooms in the region. The view in winter, with frozen lakes and snow-covered fairways stretching out beyond the windows, is genuinely worth the short drive from town. We offer group menus for visiting parties, and we ask that the number of guests and the chosen menu are confirmed by email at least one week in advance so we can prepare properly. You can browse the restaurant’s group menus on our website, and a full overview of what we offer is available on our golf centre facilities page. To reserve your table or ask any questions, contact the team by email at restoran@otepaagolf.com or by phone at +372 5300 8850. We speak both English and Estonian and are happy to help you plan your visit.
From cross-country trails at dawn to a warm sauna and a lake-view dinner, the things to do in Otepää in winter add up to a genuinely full programme. Whether you are here for the Biathlon World Championships in February 2027 or simply exploring Estonia’s winter capital on a quiet weekend, Otepää rewards the effort of making the trip.