Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour
The Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour showcases nearly 200 authentic exhibits, including the submarine Lembit, icebreaker Suur Tõll, and seaplane Short 184, narrating Estonia’s maritime history.
Planning your visit
The Seaplane Harbour's building is the exhibit as much as anything inside it: a hangar of 1917, built for the Russian imperial navy, whose thin reinforced-concrete shell domes were the first of their kind anywhere in the world. It stood derelict for decades and reopened as a museum in 2012.
Under those domes sits Lembit, a British-built submarine delivered to Estonia in 1937, which served through Soviet annexation and the war and can be walked through — one of the very few surviving pre-war submarines anywhere.
A replica Short 184 seaplane hangs above, and around 200 other exhibits fill the floor.
The icebreaker Suur Tõll of 1914, moored outside, is the largest surviving steam icebreaker in the world and is included.
It is a short walk from Tallinn's old town. Allow two to three hours. Bookable options include guided tours. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour?
Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour is in Tallinn, Estonia.
How long should I allow for Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour?
Allow two to three hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Estonian Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbour in advance?
Guided tours run to a fixed schedule and small group sizes, so they are usually booked ahead.
