Most Estonian lighthouses close outside the summer season

Most of Estonia’s lighthouses that welcome visitors are open only in summer, although some can be visited by appointment, ERR reported. A group of Latvian visitors recently saw the coast of Latvia from the Sõrve lighthouse on Saaremaa, and one visitor travelled from London specifically to see the tower.

Of Estonia’s 14 open lighthouses, 13 are closed from autumn to spring or open only by prior arrangement. At least three cars with foreign number plates arrived at the Sõrve lighthouse car park within half an hour on Friday.

Andro Roosileht, head of the organisation that operates the Sõrve lighthouse, said visitor numbers were expected to match last year’s total of just over 25,000 ticket buyers. Most visitors come from May to the end of September, but the lighthouse can be visited outside that period by booking through its website or by email.

The three lighthouses on Hiiumaa, Kõpu, Tahkuna and Ristna, are currently closed to walk-in visitors. More than 37,000 people visited them during the summer season. Hiiumaa municipal leader Hergo Tasuja said the figures showed a sharp drop after July, when Kõpu received more than 10,000 visitors. Visits at other times can be arranged in advance.

The Transport Administration has not set opening restrictions for lighthouse operators. It cited Tallinn’s upper lighthouse as an example of a tower open year-round, where visitors can buy a ticket and pay contactlessly at the entrance.

Roosileht said a woman from London contacted him in September to arrange a visit late that month. She travelled from England to Saaremaa, rented a car and spent more than two hours at the lighthouse, including about 45 minutes in the tower.