Gąski Lighthouse

Gąski Lighthouse (GOWN-skee) is one of the tallest and most photogenic lighthouses on Poland's Baltic coast: a slender red-brick tower rising from the trees about 100 m from the shore in the village of Gąski, roughly 22 km (14 miles) east of Kołobrzeg in northwest Poland. Climb the spiral stairs to the gallery for sweeping views over the sea and the coastal resorts, and explore the historic keepers' complex at its foot. It's one of the best short trips from Kołobrzeg or Ustronie Morskie.

History

The lighthouse was built between 1876 and 1878, when this coast was part of Germany and the village was called Funkenhagen. Building materials arrived by ship and were unloaded on a purpose-built pier; construction was paid for with French reparations from the Franco-Prussian War. It originally burned kerosene behind a Fresnel lens, was electrified in 1927, and after wartime damage was relit in 1948. Since April 2020 it has been managed by the Maritime Office in Szczecin. The tower appeared on a Polish postage stamp in 2006 and is regarded as the boundary point of the Pomeranian Bay.

What to see

• The tower: Sources differ: 49.8 m (163 ft) or 41.2 m, with the light 51.1 m above sea level. It is the second-tallest lighthouse in Poland.
• The climb: a winding staircase leads to the top – sources disagree on the number of steps (roughly 190 to 226).
• The view: across the Baltic and along the coast to Sarbinowo, Chłopy and Mielno.
• The keepers' complex: tower, keepers' house, barn, outbuilding and walls are a listed heritage ensemble.
• The light: visible about 43.5 km (23.5 nautical miles) out to sea.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

The lighthouse is open to visitors, but we couldn't find an official 2026 schedule or price list. Travel websites report that it's typically open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. through the end of October, with visits from November to March by phone arrangement only, and tickets of around PLN 15 (adults) and PLN 10 (reduced). Treat this as a guide and confirm on site. Allow 45–90 minutes. The steep spiral stairs are not wheelchair accessible.

How to get there

• By car: from Kołobrzeg via Ustronie Morskie and Sarbinowo; the lighthouse is on ulica Latarników (Lighthouse Keepers' Street), with parking nearby.
• By bus: regional PKS buses between Kołobrzeg and Mielno stop in Gąski.
• By bike: the EuroVelo 10 Baltic coast route runs right past.
• From farther away: the nearest airport is Szczecin-Goleniów; Gdańsk is several hours east by road.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes – especially on a clear day, and at sunset when the lamp comes on. Cafés and souvenir stands next to the tower operate mainly in summer. Gąski itself is a small resort with a lifeguarded summer beach and a neoclassical manor house set in a park. In 2012 the village was considered as a site for a nuclear power plant; residents voted against it in a local referendum, and the investor dropped the plan in 2016. Combine it with the beach at Gąski or Ustronie Morskie, or the medieval church in Rusowo.