Up-and-coming European city with new flights home to kissing festivals and award-winning beers
AN airline has launched flights to a lesser-known destination in Europe - offering a new connection for Brit holidaymakers.
Finnair has confirmed that a new route will operate between the Finnish capital of Helsinki and Tartu, Estonia.
The new route will mark the return of commercial flights to the Estonian city, with Finnair being the only airline to offer a direct route.
While the new route doesn't technically touch down in the UK, it has been designed to give Brit holidaymakers flying with Finnair from airports like London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh the best possible connection.
The new route, which will operate between Helsinki and Tartu, will launch on March 31, 2024.
Twelve weekly flights will operate between the two cities, with one flight departing Helsinki in the early afternoon and another late in the evening.
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Brit holidaymakers looking to visit Tartu will be able to board existing Finnair services from London Heathrow, Manchester or Edinburgh, before connecting onto the new route at Helsinki Airport.
According to Finnair, passengers will need at least 35 minutes to make their connection at the Finnish Airport.
Journeys from the UK to Tartu, including the layover, can be completed in 4 hours and 30 minutes, with return flights from London starting from £212.
Anssi Partanen, Finnair Market Director Europe, said: "As the only airline to offer scheduled flights to Tartu, we are proud to be connecting this youthful and vibrant university city with the world as it celebrates its new title as the European Capital of Culture."
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For those holidaymakers who prefer to fly to Estonia directly, then there are other routes, including direct flights from the UK to Tallinn.
Both Ryanair and Wizzair operate direct flights from the UK, with fares starting at £17 for a one-way ticket.
From Tallinn, holidaymakers will need to drive 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Tartu.
Along with Bad Ischl in Austria and Bodø in Norway, Tartu has been named a European Capital of Culture in 2024.
To coincide with the accolade, there are several events taking place across the city throughout the year.
One of those events is set to be a mass kissing festival, which is inspired by a well-known statue in the city.
The statue depicts students kissing by a fountain in the heart of a public square in the city.
While a date for the festival has yet to be revealed, it's set to coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest in some capacity.
Tartu is home to plenty of tourist attractions too, including Tartu Cathedral - a gothic structure that is just a short walk away from Town Hall Square.
During the summer months, holidaymakers can climb the cathedral's towers to take in views of the city.
Other quirky attractions include The Leaning House - a pale pink building that leans ever so slightly to one side.
The Leaning House is home to an art museum where entrance tickets cost just €1 (£0.86).
There's also the upside-down house, which has been described as a must-visit attraction in the city.
Back in 2022, a museum dedicated to the history of beer opened in the city.
Beer World gives visitors an insight into how beer is made, and it has other exhibits including a 100-year-old malt tower.
There's also a gift shop on site where visitors will be able to purchase a glass of A. Le Coq beer.
A. Le Coq beer is an Estonian beer that has won several awards, the title of Best Alcohol-Free Beer and the Best Pilsner and Pale Lager at the in 2022.
Entry tickets into the museum cost €10 (£8.60) for a full-paying adult.
These are the 19 destinations with new flights from the UK this year.
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Budget airline Ryanair is launching flights to Spain, Portugal, and Malta, from Norwich Airport.
Ryanair is also launching flights from Cornwall Airport and Cardiff Airport, with new routes to Paris and Faro among some of those announced.
