Lighthouses in Germany: 9 excursions with stunning views

Westerheversand: Through the salt marshes to the lighthouse

Westerheversand lighthouse ©DZT (Jens Wegener)

A red-and-white tower, two lighthouse keepers’ houses and the vast Wadden Sea landscape all around: the Westerheversand Lighthouse stands near St. Peter-Ording. On foot or by bike, you can approach this distinctive ensemble surrounded by salt marshes. Another 157 steps take you to the top. During the visiting season, you can enjoy views across the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of the Wadden Sea. To learn more about the landscape, combine your visit with a guided tour organised by Schutzstation Wattenmeer, a nature conservation organisation based in one of the former keepers’ houses.

List-Ost on Sylt: A splash of colour between dunes and sea

Lighthouse in List on the island of Sylt ©Lookphotos (Heinz Wohner)

At Ellenbogen, the northernmost tip of Sylt, the List-Ost Lighthouse rises above the dunes. Its red band stands out against the white tower, with the open sea stretching beyond. Its beacon still helps ships navigate today. The interior is closed to visitors, but the surrounding coastal landscape and views of the tower make the walk worthwhile. Take your time to discover different perspectives: dune grass in the foreground, changing clouds overhead and the lighthouse standing firmly between them.

Dornbusch on Hiddensee: High above the Baltic Sea

Winter picture of the Dornbusch lighthouse ©MV-T (Voigt & Kranz UG)

Even the climb to Dornbusch Lighthouse is worth a stop: from the Inselblick viewpoint, Hiddensee stretches out before you. A signposted path leads from Kloster harbour into the island’s hilly uplands. Here stands the white lighthouse with its red top. Climb the 102 steps inside for views across the island, the Bodden lagoons and the open Baltic Sea. Plan your visit for a dry day with good visibility, as the tower closes in strong winds. Sturdy footwear makes the uphill walk easier.

Cape Arkona Direction-Finding Tower: Maritime history with a view

Cyclist in front of the Kap Arkona observation tower ©MV-T (outdoor visions)

An unusual tower adds another stop to your lighthouse journey in northern Rügen. The direction-finding tower at Cape Arkona was built in 1927 for military maritime radio communications. Its purpose was to determine positions using radio signals. Close to the remains of Jaromarsburg, this brick tower tells another chapter of maritime history. Today, 111 steps lead to the viewing platform. In good weather, views extend across the Wittow Peninsula and the Baltic Sea as far as Hiddensee. A rewarding stop for anyone wishing to combine coastal scenery with history.

Schleimünde: By boat to the green-and-white lighthouse

Schleimünde lighthouse ©AdobeStock (eyewave)

Where the Schlei meets the Baltic Sea, a green-and-white lighthouse welcomes arriving boats. The journey itself makes this excursion special: visitors can only reach the Schleimünde pilot island by water. Pilots once set off from here to guide ships safely through the Schlei. Today, the small harbour, pilot house and lighthouse offer glimpses into this maritime past. There is time to sit by the water and watch the boats coming and going. Plan your visit around the seasonal excursion boat timetables.

Sassnitz on Rügen: A walk out to sea

Sassnitz: Lighthouse in Sassnitz harbor on the island of Rügen ©Adobe Stock (Benno Hoff)

In Sassnitz, the route to the lighthouse takes you far beyond the harbour basin. The outer breakwater stretches for around 1,450 metres, with the green-and-white tower at its end. With every step, the view back towards the town changes as the Baltic Sea takes up more and more of the horizon. The octagonal lighthouse marks the destination of this walk. Back in the harbour, you can continue your excursion on the water: passenger boats depart from Sassnitz for Rügen’s chalk cliffs. Swap views out to sea for a panorama of the striking white cliffs.

Bremerhaven: A slender landmark by the harbour

Bremerhaven: Willy-Brand-Platz with the lighthouse Bremerhaven front light ©DZT (Florian Trykowski)

An unusually slender red-and-white tower catches the eye at Willy-Brandt-Platz in Bremerhaven. This leading light was built in 1893 and earned the local nickname “Minaret” because of its curved shape. One unusual chapter in its history came in 1992, when the listed tower was moved 56 metres because ships moored at the quay were blocking its light. It continued to serve as a navigational aid. Discover it on a waterfront walk as a distinctive landmark in a city closely connected to ports and shipping. Incidentally, Bremerhaven is also home to the oldest mainland lighthouse on the North Sea coast: the Simon Loschen Lighthouse, which has guided ships since 1856.

Moritzburg: A maritime setting in the heart of Saxony

A lighthouse just outside Dresden? There really is one in Moritzburg. Beside the Niedere Großteich pond, the tower and its small harbour create an unexpected scene. In the 18th century, the Saxon court staged mock naval battles here, complete with ships, a pier and cannons. The lighthouse was part of this elaborate spectacle. Even its façade is deceptive: what looks like red brickwork is actually painted on. Today, you can discover the site on a walk by the water. Combine your visit with the nearby Little Pheasant Castle (Fasanenschlösschen) and explore the pond landscape surrounding Moritzburg Castle.

Lindau: From the harbour to Alpine views

Lindau: Liner on Lake Constance leaving the port with lighthouse at dusk ©Bildarchiv BayTM (Gert Krautbauer)

At Lake Constance, your lighthouse journey takes on a different backdrop: on clear days, the Alps rise beyond the water. Lindau’s New Lighthouse was completed in 1856, and its viewing platform offers views across the island town and the border region where Germany, Austria and Switzerland meet. Along the 139 steps to the top, drawings and stories about Lindau and Lake Constance provide opportunities for short breaks. Look out for the tower clock, too: it once showed the time to passengers at the railway station opposite. If you are planning a special moment together, you can even hire the tower exclusively for a marriage proposal.