Darłowo Lighthouse

A brick tower with a white dome stands right at the mouth of the Wieprza River, on the east side of the harbour channel in Darłówko, the seaside district of Darłowo. It is just 22 m tall, and its walls are so exposed to storms that the seaward north wall has been built up to a thickness of 54 cm. The lighthouse is open to visitors, and from the top you can see the Baltic, the harbour, the beach and the movable bridge over the Wieprza.

History: from lights at the river mouth to a white dome

In March 1715 an order was issued to set up navigation lights on both sides of the Wieprza estuary, but a proper lighthouse only came more than one and a half centuries later. In 1885 a single-storey pilot station of red facing brick with a square tower was built on the east bank. The keeper lived in the tower and made sure the lamp shone with a steady red light; the lens sat in a window 12 m above the ground. In 1927 the tower was raised by one storey and given a gallery and a lantern with a white dome – and that is how it still looks today. Only the light sources have changed over the years.

A lighthouse fighting the sea

Its position right at the river mouth is tough on the building: in autumn and winter storms it can be completely flooded, and in winter the seaward wall is sometimes encased in ice. Damp, salt-laden walls kept tourists out for a long time. According to the regional tourism portal, major repairs in 2015 – including desalination and restoration of the historic brickwork – allowed the lighthouse to reopen to visitors.

Interesting facts

In 2023 the main navigation light was moved to the roof of the "Marina Royale" apartment building on the other side of the channel, about 130 m west of the tower. The historic tower kept a three-colour sector light – white, green and red – that guides ships into the harbour. The lighthouse also has a radio beacon which, on request, transmits the letter D in Morse code.

What to see

• The red-brick pilot station of 1885 with its attached tower; the top floor once housed the room of the pilot who ran the light.
• The view from the gallery over the Baltic, the Wieprza estuary, the beach and the harbour.
• Boats in the channel – fishing cutters and excursion boats pass right below the lighthouse.

Tripto tip

The lighthouse is at ul. Wschodnia 14 in Darłówko, on the east bank of the channel. We could not confirm opening hours or prices from a current official source, so check them on site or at the Darłowo tourist information office. Allow 30–45 minutes for the climb and the view. The best photo of the tower is from the west quay of the channel, ideally with a fishing boat passing by. Combine your visit with a walk on the beach at Darłówko Wschodnie and around the harbour.