Ustka Lighthouse

Ustka Lighthouse is a red-brick tower from 1892 guarding the harbor entrance of Ustka (say "OOST-kah"), a seaside resort on Poland's central Baltic coast. Attached to a handsome red-brick pilot station with stepped gables, it is the town's signature landmark, and in summer you can climb to its gallery for views over the harbor, the swing footbridge, the river mouth and miles of sandy beach. Lighthouse fans know it as a stop on Poland's Lighthouse Trail.

Where it is and how to get there

The lighthouse stands at the root of the eastern breakwater, at the western end of Ustka's seaside promenade. Ustka lies about 120 km west of Gdańsk as the crow flies; the nearest major airport is Gdańsk (GDN). By rail, travel to Słupsk ("swoopsk") and take the local train to Ustka (about 20 minutes), then walk roughly 15 minutes from the station. Driving from Berlin is about 400 km via Szczecin.

History

A mast with an oil lamp was set up at the pilot station in 1871, showing a red light. The current octagonal brick tower and pilot house were completed in 1892; the building was enlarged in 1904, when the light became white. Back then the town was the German port of Stolpmünde. The lighthouse came through World War II undamaged and was relit by the new Polish authorities on November 15, 1945. It has been a protected monument since 1993, and its last keeper retired in 2010 — the light is now automatic.

Key facts

• Tower height: 19.5 m (some sources say 21.5–22 m).
• Light height: 22.2 m above sea level.
• Range: 18 nautical miles (about 33 km).
• Managed by Poland's Maritime Office in Gdynia; the old pilot house is used by a weather station.
• Part of Poland's Lighthouse Trail, which runs the length of the coast from Świnoujście to Krynica Morska; the next towers east are Czołpino, inside Słowiński National Park, and Stilo.

Visiting: opening hours and tickets

Admission is paid, and visits are mainly a summer affair — in July and August the tower is typically open daily, while off-season hours vary. We could not confirm an official 2026 schedule or winter 2026/27 hours, so check with the Ustka tourist information office before you go (as of October 2026). Payment is in Polish złoty (PLN). The climb up the concrete-and-steel staircase takes a few minutes; allow 20–30 minutes in total.

Is it worth visiting?

If you are in Ustka, yes: it is the best viewpoint in town and a photogenic piece of 19th-century maritime engineering. The stairs are not suitable for wheelchair users or anyone uneasy with heights.

Heads-up: since July 2025 the harbor breakwaters have been under reconstruction (scheduled completion September 2026), so the pier next to the lighthouse may still be fenced off.

Nearby

The "People of the Sea" memorial and — temporarily during the harbor works — the bronze Ustka Mermaid stand right next to the lighthouse. A few steps away the pedestrian swing bridge crosses the harbor to the Blücher Bunkers museum, and to the east the promenade leads past the Mineral Museum.