Exploring Estonia: Tartu. AHHAA Science Centre

AHHAA Science Centre in Tartu

Honestly speaking, the main reason we went to Tartu at all was to visit the AHHAA Science Centre. I found this place on the widely advertised visitestonia.com - the information appealed to me, and it was even available in Latvian. Text in our native language was not lacking inside the centre either, as all instructions could be read and recordings could be listened to in Latvian as well. Involuntarily the question arose: in how many museums in Latvia does a tourist from the neighbouring country of Estonia have the opportunity to read explanations in their own language?

Although the ticket was on the pricey side (12 EUR per adult), everything seen and tried fully justified the cost. The attractions began right at the ticket desk, where instead of a ticket you were asked to leave your fingerprint, which was later scanned to gain entry to the centre itself.

There is plenty to do, explore, and observe for adults and children alike. Adults try out all the installations with even greater enthusiasm and genuine joy of discovery. Visitors are first surprised by a large transparent ball suspended on cables high up at the ceiling, which periodically expands and contracts, sometimes drawing close to the ground and then moving away again. Two people together can use cables and nimble hands to ascend the Munchausen Tower and observe everything from above. A special attraction is a bicycle ride along a cable stretched across the hall. Various optical illusions make an impression, as does the opportunity to photograph your own shadow, to visit the tilted room and experience something similar to swaying on a ship's deck. You can play a stringless harp and meditate by crawling into one of five cocoons with sound-dampening walls.

The entire centre is divided into what might be called two large halls or wings. In one of them - the wonders of physics, optics, and multimedia; in the other - living nature, water, and a robot city. To walk through the centre and manage to try most things without becoming tired or starting to feel bored, the optimum is two hours. One can also rest one's feet by sitting down in one of the distinctive chairs that take on the shape of your body but straighten out again when you stand up.

An interesting attraction is a lift that sinks into the ground, in which you seemingly descend first to a scientific laboratory and then deep underground. For 5–6 minutes you feel as though outside of reality. For those with claustrophobia this attraction could cause more than a few unpleasant moments.

I particularly enjoyed the mirror maze, in which upon entering one loses all ability to navigate by visual cues. Everywhere you see only your own reflection. The only way out of this maze is to feel your way along the mirrors (having first put on gloves so as not to leave fingerprints), sensing where the wall ends and where the passage continues.

AHHAA map and address

The centre is located at Sadama tee 1, Tartu. Open every day from 10:00 to 19:00, Fri. and Sat. until 20:00. Can be found in a sat-nav by the coordinates 58°22'36''N 26°44'3''E.