Fat Margaret
A former cannon tower, today home to the maritime museum
Overview
On the harbour-side edge of Tallinn’s Old Town rises the grand Fat Margaret, a cannon tower dating from the 16th century. Over its long history the tower has played many different roles, serving among other things as a food store and a prison. After the fire of 1917 it lay neglected until the sailing regatta of the 1980 Moscow Olympics held in Tallinn, when it was renovated and became home to the Estonian Maritime Museum.
The real breakthrough came in 2015, when a rare 14th-century cog was found in the sand at the former Tivoli construction site in Kadriorg. This medieval Hanseatic ship is today the undisputed heart of the maritime museum’s new permanent exhibition, offering visitors a rare chance to see centuries-old seafaring heritage with their own eyes.
Alongside the unique cog find, the tower holds fascinating models of sailing ships, steamships and motor vessels, and interactive screens let you dive deeper into their history and that of Estonian seafaring. In summer, a terrace café awaits visitors on the tower’s fifth floor, where you can enjoy delicious treats along with an enchanting million-dollar view over Tallinn’s harbour and Old Town.
Until 30.08.2026 Fat Margaret hosts maritime museum artist Roman Matkiewicz’s exhibition “Estonian Lighthouses on Postage Stamps 1995–2025.”
Important Info
Fat Margaret ticket prices can be found here.
The Fat Margaret tour can be combined with the 7 Legends of the Tallinn Old Town tour or a Seaplane Harbour excursion.