Estonian Maritime Museum

About

Anchoring Estonia’s rich seafaring legacy, the Estonian Maritime Museum in Tallinn offers a deep dive into centuries of nautical history. Located in the historic Fat Margaret Tower and the innovative Seaplane Harbour, the museum seamlessly blends medieval heritage with modern exhibition design. Visitors can explore everything from Viking trade routes and Hanseatic shipping to Cold War submarines and Arctic exploration. Highlights include full-scale ships, maritime artefacts, flight simulators, and even the 1930s-era submarine Lembit, dramatically displayed in a vast hangar-like space. Interactive displays and family-friendly activities bring maritime stories to life, making the experience as educational as it is immersive. Whether you’re drawn to ancient navigation tools or towering naval vessels, the Estonian Maritime Museum charts a compelling course through the nation's connection to the sea—offering insight, wonder, and a fresh perspective on Tallinn’s coastal identity.

Tallinn Estonia

Location

The Estonian Maritime Museum in Tallinn operates at two main sites: the Seaplane Harbour at Vesilennuki tn 6 and the Fat Margaret Tower at Pikk 70, both located near the city’s historic waterfront. The Seaplane Harbour is renowned for its dramatic seaplane hangar and an impressive collection of maritime artifacts, including the 1937 submarine Lembit, the Short 184 seaplane, and the icebreaker Suur Tõll. This site also features interactive exhibits, a children’s play area, simulators, and the MARU café, making it popular with families and maritime enthusiasts alike. Fat Margaret Tower, at the edge of Old Town by the Great Coastal Gate, houses exhibitions on Estonia’s maritime history from the Middle Ages to the present, with nearly 700 artifacts and a rooftop observation deck offering panoramic views of the city and harbor. Both locations are close to Tallinn’s Old Town, the harbor area, and the main passenger terminals, with easy access to cafés, shops, and scenic waterfront promenades, making the museum a perfect addition to any visit to Tallinn.