Czołpino Lighthouse

Czołpino Lighthouse (say "chow-PEE-no") is a red-brick tower from 1875 standing on a forested dune inside Słowiński National Park, on Poland's central Baltic coast. Unlike most Polish lighthouses it is far from any town – you reach it by a forest path – and its gallery looks out over the sea, the white Czołpino Dune and Lake Łebsko. Combined with the park museum in the old keepers' settlement, it makes a rewarding half-day stop.

History

The lighthouse was designed by German engineer E. Kummer in 1872, when this coast belonged to Prussia. Building materials had to be brought in by barge from the sea. The light was first lit on January 15, 1875, survived World War II undamaged, and was relit on December 7, 1945. Oil lamps were replaced by electricity in the interwar years. The tower has been open to visitors since 1994; it is still an active aid to navigation, administered by the Maritime Office in Gdynia, while tours are run by the national park.

What to see

• The tower – a tapering brick cylinder 25.2 m tall on a dune about 55 m above sea level, so the light shines from 75 m and is visible for roughly 40 km.
• The viewing gallery – sea, forest, dunes and Lake Łebsko.
• The Lighthouse Keepers' Settlement (1871), about 900 m away, now home to the Słowiński National Park Museum.
• Czołpino Dune – a quieter alternative to the famous Łącka Dune, crossed by a marked trail.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• May 1–June 15 and September: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; June 16–August 31: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• October 1–April 30: groups of 10 or more only, booked at least three days ahead, Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Individual visitors cannot climb the tower in winter.
• Tickets: 10 PLN, reduced 5 PLN; under-7s free. The "Czołpino Complex" ticket (park entry, museum and lighthouse) costs 30/18 PLN.
• The museum is open Tuesday–Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. until December 31, 2026, plus selected Saturdays.
• Last tickets 15 minutes before closing; no dogs inside the tower.

How to get there

Czołpino lies west of Gdańsk; the usual approach is via Słupsk. Drive to Smołdzino ("smow-JEE-no") and follow the road north to the national park parking lots (20 PLN per day for a car); from there walk through the forest to the museum and the lighthouse. Allow 2–3 hours for the tower, the museum and a short dune walk. Information on site is mostly in Polish.

Tips for your visit

The climb is on a narrow internal staircase and is not suitable for people with a fear of heights or limited mobility; children must be accompanied by an adult. Only one group of up to 10 people is allowed in the tower at a time, so in July and August expect a short wait. The keepers' settlement buildings, a two-story house with barns from 1871 clad partly in slate against the wind, are worth a look even if you skip the exhibition.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, from May to September, when you can climb the tower; in winter, the museum and dune walk are still worthwhile, but the lighthouse is group-only. Czołpino is part of Poland's Lighthouse Trail, between Ustka and Stilo.