Świnoujście Lighthouse

Why it is worth it

Świnoujście Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the Polish Baltic coast. The tower itself is 67.7 metres high and the light shines 65 metres above sea level. It is also considered the tallest brick lighthouse in the world.

Exactly 308 steps lead to the top. The reward is a view you cannot get anywhere else in town: the mouth of the Świna with its breakwaters, the port, Warszów, the wide beach on the other bank and, in good weather, the German part of Usedom.

A little history

Construction began in 1854 and the light was first lit on 1 December 1857. Originally the tower was an octagon tapering towards the top. At the beginning of the 20th century it was rebuilt into its present round shape of clinker brick. During an air raid on 12 March 1945, bombs exploding nearby cracked the tower, but the lighthouse survived the war.

It still works as a navigation light and is managed by the Maritime Office in Szczecin. Visitors have been able to climb it since 2000.

Planning your visit

• The lighthouse stands in the Warszów district on the right bank of the Świna. From the centre and the seaside district you cross on the free Bielik ferry.
• From the ferry landing to the lighthouse it is about 2 kilometres, around half an hour on foot.
• Right next to it stands Fort Gerharda with the Coastal Defence Museum, and a little further on the wild Warszów beach begins.
• The stairs are steep and narrow. If you are afraid of heights or have bad knees, take the flat walk along the western breakwater to Stawa Młyny instead: from there, too, you can see the mouth of the Świna and the ships entering the port.

Opening hours and ticket prices change with the season. Check them before you go, especially outside the summer holidays.

Frequently asked questions