The 10 Best Military Museums in Estonia, Estonia

The Museum of Naissaar is located in Manniku village in the residence of a Soviet re-enlisted conscript and introduces the oldest and most immediate military history of the island. Here you can have an overview of the origin and development of sea fortresses, life on the island during the war and the Soviet period. All this is illustrated by shell fragments, details of weapons and photos. A large part of the exhibition is made up by attributes of the soldier of the Soviet Army and Soviet propaganda publications. Useful to know: Naissaar is the sixth largest island of Estonia, situated 12 km from Tallinn.

Sorve Military Museum is at the very end of Sorve peninsula, in former Border Guard barracks. Founded in order to preserve and promote local history, this modest museum showcases local life and has displays of the military presence and activities here. Among its exhibits there is a very old stone blackboard, parts of an old Swedish military vessel and rifles that have seen better days! There is also a marked track starting from the museum which highlights the military history of the area.

The Estonian national war museum was restored on 1 March 2001 under the official name of Laidoner Museum. The expositions in the museum provide an overview of the Estonian War of Independence and it is also possible to see the exhibition “Estonia and the Cold War” there. Through the text, picture, sound and video material you can see all the most important events of the Cold War. While visiting the exhibition, you will become a part of the exhibition – you can record your name and the time of your visit on the Berlin Wall or put your knowledge to the test in a quiz-questionnaire.Interesting to know:- The end of the Cold War meant the restoration of independence for Eastern European countries, incl. Estonia.

This property is temporarily closed. Located in the cannon tower Fat Margaret, this four-story museum features more than 7,000 objects, 30,000 photographs and 15,000 documents all relating to Estonia's maritime history including ship building, navigation instruments, lighthouses, fishery and marine education.

Sinimaed have been a visible landmarkfor navigators for a long time. For soldiers it has been a fighting arena. Today You can see a partially restored trench line in Tornimae and a monument, establised to honor those who died fighting in the battles of Sinimae. You can learn about the history of Sinimae by visiting Vaivara museum of war-history nearby or travel along Vaivara historical path.Interesting to know: Sinimae is a quite unique relief in Estonia. Three conjunct hills located on a flat plateau are large clods that were teared from the edge of limestone bluff during the incursion of inland ice.

The museum managed by the Hiiumaa Military History Society is located in Tahkuna. The crown jewel of the exposition is the BB-316 cannon barrel from the Tahkuna Kukeraba battery. The museum exposition covers Hiiumaa’s coastal defence structures, armaments, and ammunition. In a barracks atmosphere, visitors can examine surveillance and communications equipment. There is a reconstruction of a border strip in the yard.The armament collection is still modest. In the diesel house, there is a generator ready to start up. Simple fuel drums also comprise a collection: a riveted drum from the beginning of the last century, from the German Wehrmacht and Finnish Lentojoukut, as well as a Russian armament oil drum.