The Emajõgi (Mother River) runs through the center of Tartu, and the riverside walk on both banks is the city's most pleasant outdoor space. The stretch from the old town bridge north toward Supilinn passes parks, boat landings, and the Tartu Art Museum building. In summer, open-air cafés set up along the bank and a small beach appears near the Kaarsild bridge.
The Kaarsild (Arch Bridge) is worth stopping on for views both ways along the river. In clear summer evenings, the light on the water and the wooden houses of Supilinn on the far bank is one of the more genuinely beautiful urban views in the Baltic states.