Iconic Lighthouses
Beacons on the world's most dramatic coasts. 18 places, mapped and ready to build a trip around.
Plan a trip on Trailwind →Lighthouse of Alexandria
EgyptBestMay–OctClimate52–90°FCurrencyEGPLanguageArabicThe Lighthouse of Alexandria, sometimes called the Pharos of Alexandria, was a lighthouse built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. It has been estimated to have been at least 100 metres (330 ft) in overall height. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, for many centuries it was one of the world's tallest man-made structures.
Tower of Hercules
SpainBestJul–AugClimate45–75°FCurrencyEURLanguageSpanishThe Tower of Hercules is the oldest known extant Roman lighthouse. Built in the 1st century, the tower is located on a peninsula about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in northwestern Spain. Until the 20th century, it was known as the Farum Brigantium. The Latin word farum is derived from the Greek Φάρος, Pharos, for the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. The structure stands 55 metres (180 ft) tall and overlooks the North Atlantic coast of Spain. The tower was renovated in 1791.
Maiden's Tower
TurkeyBestApr–OctClimate39–86°FCurrencyTRYLanguageTurkishThe Maiden's Tower, also known as Leander's Tower since the Byzantine period, is a tower on a small islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 m (220 yd) from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul, Turkey.
Cordouan Lighthouse
FranceBestVariesClimate41–79°FCurrencyEURLanguageFrenchCordouan lighthouse is an active lighthouse located 7 kilometres at sea, near the mouth of the Gironde estuary in France. At a height of 67.5 metres (221 ft), it is the tenth-tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world.
Keri Lighthouse
EstoniaBestJun–AugClimate28–66°FKeri lighthouse is a lighthouse in Estonia, located on the Keri (Kockskär) island in the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The light is at an elevation of 31 metres (102 ft) above sea level, while the lighthouse is 28 metres (92 ft) tall.
Kõpu Lighthouse
EstoniaBestMay–JunClimate28–68°FThe Kõpu Lighthouse is one of the best-known symbols and tourist sites on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. It is located in the village of Mägipe. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, having been in continuous use since its completion in 1531. The lighthouse is quite unique with its shape and exceptional among lighthouses because it has gone through all the stages from a medieval landmark up to a modern electrified lighthouse.
Lighthouse of Genoa
ItalyBestVariesClimate41–84°FCurrencyEURLanguageItalianThe Lighthouse of Genoa, often known as simply La Lanterna, is the main light serving the Port of Genoa, the capital of Liguria, Italy. Besides being an important aid to night navigation in the vicinity, the tower serves as a symbol and a landmark for the city of Genoa.
Kiipsaare Lighthouse
EstoniaBestMay, Jun, AugClimate30–70°FKiipsaare Lighthouse is located on the tip of the Harilaid peninsula on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia, in the territory of Vilsandi National Park.
Jeddah Light
Saudi ArabiaBestNov–AprClimate66–97°FJeddah Light is an observation tower, port control tower and active lighthouse in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With a height of 431 ft (131.4 m), it "has a credible claim to be the world's tallest light tower". It is located at the end of the outer pier on the north side of the entrance to Jeddah Seaport.
Rubjerg Knude lighthouse
DenmarkBestMay–JunClimate36–68°FCurrencyDKKLanguageDanishRubjerg Knude Lighthouse is on the coast of the North Sea in Rubjerg, in the Jutland municipality of Hjørring in northern Denmark. It was first lit on 27 December 1900. Construction of the lighthouse began in 1899.
Eddystone Lighthouse
United KingdomBestApr–JulClimate46–64°FCurrencyGBPLanguageEnglishThe Eddystone Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks, 9 statute miles (14 km) south of Rame Head in Cornwall, England. The rocks are submerged, and are composed of Precambrian gneiss.
Stanislav-Adziogol Lighthouse
UkraineBestApr–OctClimate32–84°FThe Adziogol Lighthouse, also known as Stanislav–Adzhyhol Lighthouse or Stanislav Range Rear light, is one of two vertical lattice hyperboloid structures of steel bars, serving as active lighthouses in Dnieper Estuary, Ukraine. It is located about 30 km (19 mi) west of the city of Kherson. At a height of 211 feet (64 m), it is the sixteenth-tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world as well as the tallest in Ukraine.
Westerheversand Lighthouse
GermanyEst. 1908BestApr, JunClimate37–70°FCurrencyEURLanguageGermanThe Westerheversand Lighthouse is located in Westerhever, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Considered to be one of the best-known lighthouses in northern Germany, it was built in 1908. Its cast iron tower is 40 metres (130 ft) high. The lighthouse is often used for weddings, and one of the two keeper's cottages has been adapted for use by the local registrar.
Sõrve Lighthouse
EstoniaBestMay, Jun, SepClimate30–68°FSõrve Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in Saaremaa Parish, on the island of Saaremaa, in Estonia. The current lighthouse is a cylindrical concrete tower, which was built to replace a temporary wooden structure lighthouse that served as a signal point between 1945 and 1960.
Thridrangaviti Lighthouse
IcelandBestJun–SepClimate34–54°FCurrencyISKLanguageIcelandicÞrídrangaviti Lighthouse is an active lighthouse 7.2 kilometres off the southwest coast of Iceland, in the archipelago of Vestmannaeyjar. It is often described as one of the most isolated lighthouses in the world. Þrídrangar means "three rock pillars", referring to the three named sea stacks at that location: Stóridrangur, Þúfudrangur, and Klofadrangur. The lighthouse was commissioned on 5 July 1942.
Bell Rock Lighthouse
United KingdomBestAug–SepClimate41–61°FCurrencyGBPLanguageEnglishThe Bell Rock Lighthouse, off the coast of Angus, Scotland, is the world's oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse. It was built between 1807 and 1810 by Robert Stevenson on the Bell Rock in the North Sea, 11 miles (18 km) east of the Firth of Tay. Standing 35 metres (115 ft) tall, its light is visible from 35 statute miles (56 km) inland.
Yokohama Marine Tower
JapanBestVariesClimate34–88°FCurrencyJPYLanguageJapaneseYokohama Marine Tower is a 106 metres high lattice tower with an observation deck at a height of 100 metres in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan.
Bengtskär lighthouse
FinlandBestJun–AugClimate30–64°FBengtskär Lighthouse is located in the Archipelago Sea about 25 kilometers south west of Hanko, Finland. It rises 52 meters above sea level and is the highest lighthouse in the Nordic countries.