Lighthouses were a beacon of light and hope for sailors besieged at sea, and today many of these lighthouses lie empty and unused – history testifies to their incredible role. Often made of stone and built on inaccessible coastlines of islands or headlands, these maritime signposts are part of the country’s cultural heritage and maritime tradition. Greece has 120 traditional lighthouses that are around 200 years old and some of them are in excellent condition. Discover the most popular of them!
- Lighthouse Akrotiri
The Akrotiri Lighthouse (Santorini Lighthouse) attracts attention with its striking white tower set against the azure Aegean Sea, providing a breathtaking view. Located on the southwestern coast, Santorini is one of the island’s attractions.
Visitors do not have access to the tower itself, but the grounds and surroundings offer stunning panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. It is an ideal place for both photography enthusiasts and nature lovers.
2. Cape Lefkatas Lighthouse
On the southwestern tip of Lefkada, near Porto Katsiki beach, you will find Cape Lefkatas with its beautiful lighthouse, a must-see for visitors of the island.
The Doukato lighthouse was built in 1890 at the Lefkatas cape, where in the ancient times were the temple of Apollon Lefkatas, protector of the seamen. Its tower has a height of 14 meters and focal plane 70. From that spot the view reaches to Kefallonia & Ithaki and it’s located 50 km away from the Lefkada town.
3. Chania Lighthouse
The Chania Lighthouse stands at the entrance to the Venetian Port of Chania and is one of the most recognizable monuments in Crete.
Originally built by the Venetians in the late 16th century, the lighthouse was part of a larger fortification system intended to protect the harbor. The Egyptians rebuilt the lighthouse in its current form, adding a decorative tower resembling a minaret, which gave it a unique character.
4. Lighthouse of Alexandroupoli
The famous lighthouse it is one of the few working lighthouses. As a nautical symbol of Alexandroupolis, during the celebration of Sailing Week in 1994, the Club of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage placed a marble plaque with its history on the gate.
Its height is 18 meters (60 ft) above the ground and its height above sea level is 27 meters (88.6 ft). The lantern emits three white flashes of light every 15 seconds. The light produced reaches a distance of 24 nautical miles, or approximately 44 km.
5. Cape Tainaron Lighthouse
The lighthouse dominates Cape Tainaron (the famous Cavo Matapa). The 16-meter-high square tower is still topped by a two-story metal cabin with a lighting machine and a rotating reflector. The southernmost lighthouse was built in 1882. The first renovation of the lighthouse took place in 1930, and in 1984 the lighthouse was replaced with an automatic lighting machine.
6. Lighthouse in Armenistis
The Armenistis Lighthouse on the island of Mykonos is worth visiting due to the wonderful landscapes around it. From there you can see all the boats arriving and leaving Mykonos.
The lighthouse is located in the northeastern part of the island, 7 km from Mykonos town. You can get there by following the Fanari signs. This lantern (Armenistis) was manufactured in 1891. The height of the tower is 19 meters and the height of the focal plane is 184 meters.
7. Lighthouse of Monemvasia
The famous lighthouse It is located in the castle in the city of Monemvasia. The structure on the island’s steep rocks in a dramatic scene with blue sea and sky adds to the character of the place.
The lighthouse was built in 1896 just outside the castle gates, a tourists can reach the lighthouse via an easy path towards the old fort, visit the surrounding ruins and climb the stairs to the lighthouse, which offers a wonderful view of the sea from above.
8. Skinari Lighthouse
Skinari Lighthouse is located on a cliff on the northern tip of the Greek island of Zakynthos. Located near Korithi above Cape Skinari, which has a magnificent set of arches and blue caves. The lighthouse was built in 1897. The height of the stone tower is 9,5 meters and its focal plane is 67 meters.
The building is a ground floor house with a hallway, three rooms, a kitchen, a WC and two storerooms, covered area of 103m². The tower is a stone-built, with an external and an internal circular shape of 1.60m diameter. The access to the lighthouse is by car from Volimes towards the homonymous Skinari cape.
9. Gythio Lighthouse
The local lighthouse, which offers stunning views of the Laconian Gulf and the Aegean Sea, is an ideal place to explore, and next to the lighthouse is a 17th-century fortress. The Gythio lighthouse not only makes it easier for ships to navigate the nearby waters, but is also an attraction on the coast when looking for a picturesque spot.
The lighthouse is occasionally open to the public, allowing visitors to see the inner workings of the structure, as well as visit the small Maritime Museum. The nearby Tzanetakis Fortress was built around 1700 to protect the city and port of Gythio. Today it also houses the Mani Historical and Ethnological Museum.
10. Lighthouse Tourlitis
The famous Tourlitis lighthouse on Mount Andros, the only lighthouse in Europe built on a rock. It is 7 meters high and was built in 1887. Head to Nimborio Beach and find the perfect photo spot. The fact that it is the first “automatic” technology-enabled lighthouse in Greece gave it high credibility as it did not require constant supervision.
11. Rethymno Lighthouse
Rising at the end of a small stone breakwater, the lighthouse is the second largest Egyptian lighthouse in Crete. The lighthouse as it stands today was built during the short-lived Egyptian occupation of Crete in the 1830s. It is believed that this lighthouse was built as a reconstruction of an older Venetian lighthouse that stood in this place.
The total height of this building is 9 meters and it measures 21 meters. Its structure has oriental elements and somewhat resembles a minaret. The focal plane of the light is 49 meters. Unfortunately, today this building no longer serves its original function, but it is a place eagerly visited not only by tourists.
