Fat Margaret, Paks Margareeta in Estonian, is the broad round artillery tower that guards the Great Coastal Gate at the north end of Pikk Street. It was built in the sixteenth century, when the city rebuilt its gate defences for the age of cannon, and its walls are several metres thick. Today it houses the Estonian Maritime Museum, the sister site of the Seaplane Harbour, with exhibitions on Estonia’s long relationship with the sea: shipbuilding, trade, shipwrecks, lighthouses and life on the Baltic. The roof gives a view over the Old Town walls and toward the port. The Tiqets venue page sells a skip-the-line ticket and a combined ticket with the Seaplane Harbour, the better-value choice if you plan to see both.
What to see: the tower’s thick-walled floors hold displays arranged by theme, including ship models, navigation instruments and stories from the Baltic, and the rooftop terrace is the reward at the top. Next to it, the Great Coastal Gate opens onto the road to the port, so Fat Margaret is a natural first or last stop for ferry passengers.
Planning: allow about an hour. The museum lists daily opening hours, and the combined ticket with Lennusadam lets you see both sites on different days. There are stairs throughout, which can be hard for those with limited mobility.
Pairing: walk down Pikk Street afterward past the House of the Blackheads and the Great Guild Hall to the Town Hall Square, or walk west through Kalamaja to the Seaplane Harbour, about fifteen to twenty minutes on foot.
What to expect
The experience
A maritime museum inside a sixteenth-century cannon tower, with a rooftop view at the top.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon; any weather.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Buy the combined ticket with the Seaplane Harbour, and expect plenty of stairs.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A compact museum in one of the Old Town’s best towers.
- Families
- A manageable size for children, with ship models and a roof to reach.
- Couples
- A quick stop at the end of a Pikk Street stroll.
- Pair with
- Seaplane Harbour, the Great Guild Hall and the Old Town walk.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
What is Fat Margaret?+
A sixteenth-century cannon tower at the Great Coastal Gate, now home to the Estonian Maritime Museum.
Where is it?+
At Pikk 70, at the northern end of the Old Town near the port.
Is there a combined ticket with the Seaplane Harbour?+
Yes, a combined skip-the-line ticket covers both maritime museum sites.
Can you go on the roof?+
Yes, the rooftop terrace gives views over the walls and the harbour.
Is it accessible?+
There are many stairs, so it is difficult for wheelchair users.