The Estonian Maritime Museum is an interactive wonderland, full of hands-on exhibits including simulators, life-size craft and children’s play areas. The museum’s collection is displayed across two separate sites. Learn about Estonia’s relationship with the sea at the Fat Margaret cannon tower and see genuine watercraft, including a 1937-built British submarine, at the Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour.
Tallinn’s maritime museum was founded by a group of seafarers, including former sailors and captains, back in 1935. The museum has moved location several times over the decades and is now stationed at two separate sites. Find the main exhibition at the 500-year-old Fat Margaret tower in Tallinn’s Old Town and further displays at the Seaplane Harbour in the district of Kalamaja.
Start at the Fat Margaret cannon tower, where four floors of seafaring-themed exhibits await. Learn about the development of Estonian sea travel and fishing practices, from prehistoric times through the present day. More than 100 ship models are on show here. Climb up to the rooftop terrace for views over the Old Town and the harbor.
To see original watercraft up close, head for the Seaplane Hangars. This vast space hosts the Lembit, a British-built 1930s mine-laying submarine, as well as the 16th-century Maasilinn shipwreck, which is thought to be one of the oldest sunken crafts to have been discovered in Estonian waters. Use simulators to get a feel for traveling by sea, watch a maritime-themed video in the cinema room and let the kids run wild in the children’s play area.
Venture outside the Seaplane Hangars to explore the site’s working port. Several museum ships are moored here, including the Suur Tõll, a mighty steam-powered icebreaker from the early 20th century designed specifically to navigate the often-frozen waters of the Baltic Sea.
Check the official website of the Estonian Maritime Museum for the specific seasonal opening times of both sites. Purchase individual tickets for the Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour or Fat Margaret, or opt for a discounted combined ticket, which allows access to both sites.
