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Lindau Lighthouse, Germany
The Lindau Lighthouse is located on Lake Constance in Lindau, in southern Germany. Completed in 1856 in the medieval style, this approximately 33-meter-tall structure is unique because it features a giant clock visible from the city. The lighthouse switched to electric power in 1936 and acquired an automatic mechanism in the early 1990s.
The lighthouse is now open to visitors, providing information about the local natural environment and the city's maritime industry.
Hercules Lighthouse, Spain
The Hercules Lighthouse sits atop a 57-meter-high rocky outcrop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, at the entrance to the port of La Coruña in Galicia, northwestern Spain. In use since the late 1st century AD, it is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the world, still in use for navigational signals. The Hercules Lighthouse is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Maspalomas Lighthouse, Gran Canaria, Spain
If you're planning a trip to the Canary Islands, don't forget to include the island's impressive lighthouse on your list of destinations. It's the Maspalomas Lighthouse, located at the southernmost tip of Gran Canaria. Built in 1890, it's become one of the island's most attractive sights. You can enjoy lunch and admire the sea views at the restaurant inside the Maspalomas Lighthouse.
Fanad Lighthouse, Ireland
This stunning lighthouse is situated in a picturesque location in County Donegal, Ireland. Following the sinking of a large ship in 1804, the inhabitants of the Fanad Peninsula requested the construction of a lighthouse on the mainland. In 1818, the lighthouse, over 27 meters tall, was completed and lit. In 1909, a new lamp was installed, powered by a clockwork mechanism, flashing six times every 15 seconds. This system operated until 1975, when electric lights replaced it. Not only famous for the beauty of this lighthouse, Donegal was also voted one of the best travel destinations on the planet in 2017.
Low Lighthouse, Somerset, England
You'll find something quite different at this fascinating lighthouse. Not all lighthouses are situated in such a beautiful, elevated location, but the Low Lighthouse, located on the beach of Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, is different. While not as beautiful as some others, it is very captivating. Situated on the sandy beach of Bridgewater Bay, the Low is square in shape, was built in 1832, and is listed as a Grade II Heritage structure. Currently, the Low is the only operational lighthouse in the Burnham area.
This charming little wooden lighthouse has become a favorite photo spot for tourists thanks to its nine cute wooden "legs".
Cape Byron Bay Lighthouse, New South Wales, Australia
Located in New South Wales, the Cape Byron Lighthouse is the most remote lighthouse in eastern Australia. Standing 22.5 meters tall, the Cape Byron Lighthouse boasts a beautiful, retro design reminiscent of the colonial era, having been built in 1899 and now maintained by the Cape Byron Conservation Fund. From atop the lighthouse, you can enjoy stunning panoramic sea views and spot whales and dolphins. The renovated building below is available for rent right next to the lighthouse. When you're not whale watching or taking beautiful photos of the seascape, you can relax and enjoy a drink at the lighthouse café.
Kovalam Coast Lighthouse, India
The Vizhinjam Lighthouse, also known as the Kovalam Beach Lighthouse, sits atop a rocky outcrop surrounded by lush green coconut trees, overlooking the golden sands of the Kerala coast in southern India. The lighthouse is constructed of stone and painted red and white, set against a magnificent backdrop of the ocean. Reaching the lighthouse requires climbing 144 steps and stairs, making it unsuitable for children and the elderly. If you don't mind the climb and avoid the monsoon season, you'll be treated to a stunning sunset as the sun sinks into the turquoise waters of Poovar Island, with the Beemapalli Mosque also visible in the distance.
Chania Lighthouse, Greece
The Chania Lighthouse, built in the Egyptian style in the late 16th century, is located opposite the Firkas Fortress in the old harbor of the town of Chania in Greece. The lighthouse was destroyed during the Turkish occupation and rebuilt between 1824 and 1832 on the same site. It is one of the oldest lighthouses not only in Greece but in the entire Mediterranean. Although no longer operational, it remains a highlight for visitors with its magnificent architecture, creating a picturesque scene at night. While entry into the lighthouse itself is not permitted, visitors can walk along the harbor and climb the exterior stairs for stunning views of the sea and the island of Crete.
Tourlitis Lighthouse, Greece
Perhaps this lighthouse has the most unique location, perched atop a narrow rock tower jutting out into the Aegean Sea off the Greek island of Andros, like a scene straight out of a cartoon.The Little MermaidA Walt Disney creation, this lighthouse, built in 1897, was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt on rock in the early 1990s, retaining its original stunning design. Additionally, a winding, carved stone staircase connects to the Tourlitis lighthouse.
Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, Denmark
Surrounding the Rubjerg Knude lighthouse is a striking contrast of yellow and blue sand and seawater. In the 1900s, when the lighthouse was built, it was surrounded by lush greenery and quite far from the sea. Over time, erosion has brought the tower closer to the sea, and sea winds have blown sand across the coastal surface, burying the once vibrant blue color.
Kjeungskjaer Lighthouse, Norway
Norway's only octagonal lighthouse, standing 20.7 meters tall, has a very unique operating schedule. From May 16th to July 21st each year, the area is considered a "white night" zone because the sun is still visible at midnight. Therefore, the lighthouse is "closed" during this period. For the rest of the year, the lighthouse operates normally, flashing its light every six seconds in mysterious shades of red, white, and green.
Eldred Rock Lighthouse, Alaska, USA
The Eldred Rock Lighthouse is an octagonal structure located on Eldred Rock, a small island in southwestern Alaska. It was built between 1902 and 1905 to observe and monitor ships, as well as several recent catastrophic shipwrecks. The lighthouse was first lit in 1906 and ceased operation in 1973.
Eldred Rock is also the oldest original lighthouse in Alaska and is located in one of the most remote places in North America, amidst stunning mountain scenery.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse, California, USA
One of the tallest lighthouses in the United States, Pigeon Point—35.5 meters high—is part of a State Historic Park located 50 miles south of San Francisco. First lit on November 15, 1872, the lighthouse remains an active maritime rescue facility for the United States Coast Guard to this day.
If you want to wake up to stunning views of the lighthouse and the Pacific coast, book a room at Hostelling International Pigeon Point Lighthouse, located right next to the lighthouse.
The Big Red Lighthouse in Holland Harbor, Michigan, USA
The Michigan lighthouse, also known as the Big Red in Holland Harbor, is located south of the Channel between Lake Michigan and Lake Macatawa and was built in 1907. Distinguished by its red wood color, the lighthouse is one of the most popular photo spots in the state. However, visiting hours are limited to early morning to late afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Currently, the Big Red is preserved by the Holland Harbor Lighthouse Historical Society.
Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine, USA
In Portland, visitors can choose to visit over 60 lighthouses scattered along the Maine coast, with the Portland Head Light being the most famous. This historic lighthouse is located at the entrance to Portland Harbor in the town of Cape Elizabeth. Completed in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States. Since its construction and numerous renovations and upgrades, the lighthouse, situated on a rocky promontory, now stands 24 meters above ground and 31 meters above sea level. As a structure over 200 years old, the oldest of the seven lighthouses, Head Light has become a legendary symbol of Maine. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973 and is currently managed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Yaquina Lighthouse, Oregon, USA
This magnificent tower is believed to be the oldest structure in Newport, Oregon, situated on the shores of Yaquina Bay. The Yaquina Lighthouse was completed in 1871. However, after only three years, it ceased operation following the construction of a new lighthouse.
In 1946, it was slated for demolition, but the Lincoln County Historical Society raised funds to preserve it. In 1951, the Yaquina Lighthouse was designated a historic landmark, serving as a county museum for 18 years. In 1970, the lighthouse became a National Historic Landmark and underwent restoration under the Historic Preservation Act. In 1996, after more than 100 years of inactivity, the lighthouse was relit and reopened to visitors.
Boston Lighthouse, Massachusetts, USA
This is the oldest lighthouse in the United States, located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, and was built in 1716, during the time when America was a British colony. Since the development of satellite-based global positioning systems, the U.S. Coast Guard has automated 278 other federal lighthouses, except for the Boston Lighthouse, which still has a regular caretaker. The Boston Lighthouse has guided sailors for three centuries and is known by locals and tourists alike as "America's iconic lighthouse."
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, Argentina
Located in the Beagle Channel, off the coast of Ushuaia on the southern tip of Argentina and quite close to the South Pole, this lighthouse, commissioned in 1920, is decorated with red and white stripes. Les Eclaireurs sits on a small island surrounded by the stunning snow-capped peaks of Tierra del Fuego. Visitors cannot directly enter the lighthouse; they can only view it from afar via boat tours. Not only famous for its unique location, Les Eclaireurs is also a frequent resting place for penguins and sea lions.
