Seaplane Harbour
Ideal: Ideal for families, maritime history enthusiasts, and interactive museum lovers.
The museum sits inside seaplane hangars built for the Russian navy in 1916–17; these reinforced concrete shell domes were among the world's first of their kind at the time, and with no supporting columns inside, the space can hold an entire ship. The centerpiece Lembit submarine was built in England in 1936 for Estonia and is the only surviving vessel from the pre-war Estonian navy; you can go inside and walk through its narrow corridors. The exhibitions are built around simulators and touch stations.
Did you know?
Why is the museum building special?
The 1917 seaplane hangar is one of the world's earliest reinforced-concrete shell domes. The vaults stand without a single internal column — pioneering engineering for its time.
Can you go inside the submarine?
Yes. The 1937 submarine Lembit is open to walk through and preserved with its original equipment — one of the oldest surviving submarines in the world.
What else is in the museum?
Around 200 full-size exhibits: an icebreaker, sailing ships, mines, a seaplane and historic boats. Vessels moored in the outer harbour can also be boarded.
Why go?
- For a unique museum experience in historic hangar architecture
- To see submarine and Baltic maritime history up close
- For a family-friendly, interactive route in the harbor district
Travel tip
Allow at least 2–3 hours because the museum is large; an ideal indoor option on rainy days.
