Świnoujście Lighthouse

The Świnoujście Lighthouse (roughly "shvee-no-OOY-shcheh") is the tallest lighthouse on the Polish coast and a striking piece of 19th-century engineering. Its brick tower rises 67.7 m (222 ft) above the mouth of the Świna River, on Wolin Island right next to the German border. Climbing its 308 steps rewards you with sweeping views over the harbor, the breakwaters and the Baltic, and since 2023 the trip there has involved a boat ride, which makes it a small adventure in itself.

Where it is and how to get to Świnoujście

Świnoujście is Poland's westernmost seaside town, spread across several islands at the Baltic end of the Szczecin Lagoon. It sits about 100 km north of Szczecin and right on the border with Germany's Usedom Island; Berlin is the nearest big international hub, roughly a three-hour drive away. The lighthouse stands on the eastern bank of the Świna, in the Warszów district, while the town center, beach and spa quarter are on the western bank (Usedom). A free road tunnel under the Świna, opened in 2023, links the two banks for cars, and passenger ferries carry pedestrians and cyclists.

History in brief

A simple wooden light with mirrors was set up on the breakwater head in 1805 and replaced with a steel one in 1828. Construction of today's tower started in 1854, and the light was first lit on December 1, 1857. Until 1945, when the town was German Swinemünde, it was the tallest lighthouse in Germany; it is often described as the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. The tower was octagonal and faced with yellow brick until 1902–1903, when it was rebuilt in its current round form. An Allied air raid on March 12, 1945 cracked the masonry, which was only properly reinforced in 1959. After a major renovation, the lighthouse opened to visitors on August 5, 2000. It is a listed historic monument and is still managed by the Maritime Office in Szczecin.

What to see

• The gallery at the top – after 308 steps you stand just below the lantern, with views over the river mouth, ferry and cargo terminals, and the forests of Wolin Island.
• The lantern – a first-order Fresnel lens; the white light has a nominal range of 25 nautical miles.
• The red-brick annexes – the buildings attached to the tower once housed the radio beacon (1958–1999) and today hold a small maritime exhibition.
• Fort Gerhard next door – one of Europe's best-preserved 19th-century Prussian coastal forts; a visit is included in the same ticket package.

How to get there: boat only

Since April 13, 2023, the only road to the lighthouse (Ku Morzu Street) has been closed because of the security zone around the nearby LNG terminal. The volunteer society that runs visits says the lighthouse can now be reached only by boat. Adler Schiffe operates the service from the town center pier on Wybrzeże Władysława IV street, with a stop at the Bielik ferry crossing in Warszów.

From April 1 to October 31, 2026, boats leave the center every hour from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, returning from the lighthouse hourly from 10 am to 6 pm.

Winter 2026/27: no timetable has been published for November to March. If boats do not run, the lighthouse cannot be visited, so call ahead before planning an off-season trip.

Tickets and opening times (as of October 2026)

• Combined ticket (round-trip boat, lighthouse, guided tour of Fort Gerhard): PLN 90 adults, PLN 64 children aged 6–14; under-5s free.
• Organized groups: PLN 74 adults, PLN 64 children.
• In practice, your time at the lighthouse is set by the boat schedule; no separate winter opening hours for the tower have been confirmed.
• Boat and lighthouse information: +48 91 321 60 63; Adler Schiffe: +48 502 691 878.

Prices are in Polish złoty (PLN). Information on site is mainly in Polish.

Is it worth visiting? Practical tips

Yes, if you like lighthouses, military history or big harbor views. Plan 3–4 hours for the boat trips, the climb and the roughly 75-minute tour of Fort Gerhard. The climb is steep and narrow, so it is not ideal for toddlers or anyone with knee problems or a fear of heights, and strollers stay at the bottom. Go on a clear morning outside the peak summer weeks, and bring a windbreaker, because it is usually breezy at the top.

Nearby: Back in the center, the Sea Fishing Museum occupies the old town hall on Plac Rybaka. On the western bank you will find Fort Anioła (Angel's Fort) and Fort Zachodni (West Fort), and the beach promenade leads to Stawa Młyny, the white windmill-shaped beacon on the breakwater. A few kilometers from the lighthouse, the Underground City on Wolin Island is a Cold War bunker complex that you can still reach by road.