The first lighthouse on Sõrve promontory, just a primitive beacon, was built in the 17th century; the current 52m erection dates to 1960. To climb it, it's necessary to buy a ticket to the nearby visitor centre, occupying the old lighthouse-keeper's residence, and presenting displays split over several floors, including a 'nature room', a 'sea room' (devoted to shipwrecks and the rescue service) and a children's playroom.
Sõrve Lighthouse & Visitor Centre
Western Estonia & the Islands
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
28.03 MILES
Majestic Kuressaare Castle stands facing the sea at the southern end of the town, on an artificial island defended by stone-faced earth bastions and…
22.83 MILES
Watching the Baltic swells crash into the blue swells of the Gulf of Rīga is mesmerising. Find a spot away from the summertime crowds on the narrow beach;…
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Slītere National Park protects 265 sq km of land back from the coast on the Kolka peninsula. The park's focal point is the Slītere Lighthouse, a towering…
27.89 MILES
Kuressaare's jauntiest statue, created in 2002, features Saaremaa's legendary gigantic hero, Suur (meaning 'the great') Töll and his wife, Piret, carrying…
28.01 MILES
Occupying the keep of Kuressaare Castle since the late 19th century, this museum is devoted to Saaremaa’s nature and history. A large part of the fun is…
26.89 MILES
Founded in 1957, this reserve covers an area of 26 sq km, with a 26m observation tower at Saaremaa’s highest point, Raunamägi (a vertigo-inducing 54m)…
25.71 MILES
This Cold War–era site contains a large radio telescope now run by an academic institute and used for astronomical studies. Hidden in the forest 24km…
28.33 MILES
Built by Catherine the Great in 1790, Saaremaa's oldest Orthodox church has twin steeples and an impressive dolomite and wrought-iron gate. A faint image…
Nearby Western Estonia & the Islands attractions
0.54 MILES
Based in former Soviet border-guard barracks, this ramshackle museum showcases military detritus, much of which was scavenged from the surrounding area…
18.44 MILES
Opened with great pride in 1939, this art deco-ish cultural centre hosts gatherings of Liv descendants (the Liv Festival on the first Saturday in August…
3. Tehumardi Night Battle Monument
19.87 MILES
On the night of 8 October 1944 a gruesome battle took place in the coastal village of Tehumardi between retreating German troops and a Soviet Estonian…
21.33 MILES
Slītere National Park protects 265 sq km of land back from the coast on the Kolka peninsula. The park's focal point is the Slītere Lighthouse, a towering…
22.61 MILES
Centuries ago, bonfires were lit at the cape’s tip to guide sailors around the protruding sandbar. Today, the solar-powered lighthouse guides vessels to…
22.76 MILES
This modern centre provides a good introduction to local Livonian culture, including their love of berries, songs and their unique red-checked wool socks…
22.83 MILES
Watching the Baltic swells crash into the blue swells of the Gulf of Rīga is mesmerising. Find a spot away from the summertime crowds on the narrow beach;…
25.71 MILES
This Cold War–era site contains a large radio telescope now run by an academic institute and used for astronomical studies. Hidden in the forest 24km…