Paks Margareeta

About the museum

Paks Margareeta is a gun tower at the end of Pikk Street, by the Great Strand Gate. It was built in 1518–1529 as part of the Tallinn city wall. The tower received its present name in 1842; it was earlier called Rosencrantz. In 1683–1704 the tower was rebuilt and its upper floors were replaced by a high stone roof.

In the 1830s the tower became a prison and remained one even after Tallinn Fortress was removed from the list of Russian fortresses in 1857. During the February Revolution of 1917 the prison was set on fire and political prisoners were freed. In August 1940 the rooms of the Tallinn City Museum opened in the former prison building and gate tower.

The Estonian Maritime Museum was founded in 1935. It opened in the Pikk 70 building in 1965, and after the complex was rebuilt (1977–1981) it reopened in full on 27 April 1981. The current permanent exhibition covers the history of Estonian seafaring from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its central exhibit is a nearly 20-metre medieval cog found in Tallinn in 2015.

Highlights

• Nearly 20-metre medieval cog, found in Tallinn in 2015
• Around 700 historical objects and a collection of ship models, including 17 models made for the exhibition
• Nearly 50 digital and hands-on installations
• Halls on sailing ships, steamships and modern shipping, with a navigation bridge and loading tasks
• Roof terrace on the 5th floor (open depending on the weather)

Permanent exhibition

• Püsinäitus – The history of Estonian seafaring from the Middle Ages to the present across four floors: Tallinn’s medieval sea route and cog, the age of sailing ships, the steamship hall and today’s shipping, with ship models and digital and hands-on installations.

Founded

1965

Operated by

SA Eesti Meremuuseum

Admission & discounts

Also free, on presentation of proof: persons who were repressed, members of the Estonian Defence Forces and conscripts, certified guides of the Estonian Maritime Museum, Estonian museum staff, holders of ICOM, press, Tallinn Card, museum card, MM card and WFTGA Cultour Card, teachers accompanying museum lessons (one adult per six pre-school children or ten school children), bus drivers accompanying groups (up to two), members of the Estonian Deep-Sea Captains’ Club, and members of the Young Eagles and Girl Guides in uniform or with a membership card. The price list applies from 1 January 2026.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

About 90% of the museum is accessible by wheelchair. The entrance is through a brown wooden door about 10 m to the left of the main entrance, which is open during opening hours; a ramp leads to the atrium on the first floor (reception). The gatehouse and corner tower rooms on the 3rd and 4th floors cannot be reached by wheelchair because of narrow passages. The tower lift (announces floors, tactile buttons, door width 80 cm) leads to the roof terrace on the 5th floor. The accessible toilet is on the ground floor and has a changing table. The museum has no car park or disabled parking spaces of its own; the Old Town parking rules apply. Each floor has tactile plans, a guide line to the lift, Braille, tactile ship models and an audio guide with Braille numbers. An audio tour with audio description runs through the exhibition. The permanent exhibition has seven Estonian Sign Language videos. The ticket desk, shop and tours have a permanent induction loop. Keep your ticket: it must be scanned to move between floors. The cloakroom is unattended; lockers can be used with €1 or 50-cent coins (refunded).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children can pick up a route map free of charge at the ticket desk. In the halls they can try things out: in the cog hall they can take part in a medieval harbour activity, in the sailing ship hall they can tie knots, build a small sailing ship and raise an anchor, in the steamship hall they can load and unload in a harbour, and in the motor ship hall they can load containers and look at the bridge of a cruise ship. Family and school offers include family Sundays, museum lessons, city summer camps, interest clubs and birthday parties. The accessible toilet has a changing table.

Getting there & parking

From Town Hall Square it is about 700 m to the museum, 800 m from terminals A, B and C of the Old Harbour, 1.3 km from terminal D and 1.2 km from the cruise terminal. A bicycle parking area is in front of the museum. In summer a museum train runs between Lennusadam and Paks Margareeta.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

The rooftop café Reval Cafe is open only in the summer season (June to August) and offers a view of the harbour. The museum shop sells maritime souvenirs; an e-shop is also available. The cloakroom is unattended; lockers work with coins (€1 or 50 cents, refunded).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 75 guests.

The cog hall holds standing receptions for up to 50 and banquets for up to 30 people; two classrooms suit seminars and meetings for up to 20 people; the roof terrace hosts up to 75 guests for spring and summer events. Enquiries: events@meremuuseum.ee.

Plan your visit