At the edge of the Viimsi peninsula, where land meets the sea and you feel no urge to turn back, stands the Estonian Coastal Folk Museum in the historic Pringi fishing village near Tallinn. The museum is located in a former schoolhouse and invites visitors to discover the life, history and maritime culture of Estonia’s coastal communities. It is a place where stories of fishermen, seafaring traditions and coastal village life come together in an authentic and meaningful way.

The Estonian Coastal Folk Museum presents the heritage of Northern Estonia’s coastline and the everyday life of the Viimsi peninsula’s fishing villages. Here, traditional coastal lifestyle, historical architecture and fishing culture form a unique cultural experience that reflects centuries of life by the sea.
Inside the museum, you can explore how coastal people lived, worked and travelled at sea. The collection includes over 13,000 items, including around 7,000 photographs and archival documents, offering a deep insight into Estonia’s maritime heritage.

The museum’s mission is to collect, preserve and research coastal cultural heritage while making it accessible to both locals and international visitors. Through exhibitions, events and educational programmes, the stories of Estonia’s coastal people are brought closer to today’s audience. The Museum of Coastal Folk is a recognised partner in international maritime heritage networks and is known across Estonia as a distinctive coastal museum near Tallinn that introduces the authentic seaside way of life.