8 Oldest Lighthouse in the World

Before permanent lighthouses were constructed, fires set on hilltops guided sailors at sea. To enhance visibility, platforms were erected to elevate these fires, which eventually led to the emergence of lighthouses. Unlike modern ones that serve as navigational warnings, ancient towers primarily marked harbor entrances.

As per Homeric legend, Palamidis of Nafplio is credited with inventing the first lighthouse. Among the ancient lighthouses, only one is well-documented and included in this list.

With one exception, all the lighthouses featured here are still in operation today.

8. Boston Light

Year Established: Original in 1716; current version in 1783
Location: Little Brewster Island, Boston, Massachusetts
Height: 27 m (89 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

Boston Light, positioned on Little Brewster Island, holds the distinction of being the first lighthouse constructed in the United States. The initial tower was lit on September 4, 1716. To fund its maintenance, a tax of one penny per ton was imposed on all vessels, except coasters, entering or leaving Boston Harbor. Before the American Revolution, the British seized the island in 1774 and later blockaded the harbor. During the war, American forces demolished the lighthouse to prevent its use by the British, effectively disabling their ships.

A replacement lighthouse was funded by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1783 and still stands today. It remains the only U.S. lighthouse actively staffed by the Coast Guard, despite being automated in 1998. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

7. Eddystone Lighthouse (Winstanley’s Lighthouse; Rudyard’s Lighthouse; Smeaton’s Tower)

Year Established: First in 1698; subsequent versions in 1709, 1759, and current in 1882
Location: Rame Head, Devon, England
Height: Presently 49 m (161 ft); previous versions ranged from 18 m (59 ft) to 22 m (72 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

The Eddystone Lighthouse is notable for its extensive history, being the fourth lighthouse built on the perilous Eddystone Rocks. Prior to the lighthouse, the region witnessed numerous shipwrecks due to its significance as a naval route. The earliest tower, known as Winstanley’s Lighthouse, was illuminated in 1698, marking the first offshore lighthouse globally. However, it was short-lived, as the Great Storm of 1703 destroyed it.

John Rudyard was commissioned to construct a second version, completed in 1709, but it was lost to a fire in 1755. John Smeaton designed the third iteration in 1759, which played a crucial role in shaping modern lighthouse architecture and advancing concrete technology. The current lighthouse, established in 1882, stands adjacent to the remains of Smeaton’s Tower.

6. Cordouan Lighthouse

Year Established: 1611
Location: Gironde, France
Height: 68 m (223 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

The Cordouan Lighthouse (Tour de Cordouan) is France’s oldest and ranks as the world’s tenth tallest masonry lighthouse. Prior to its construction between 1584 and 1611, beacon towers had existed on the islet since at least 880 CE.

The earliest recorded structure, about 15 m (48 ft) tall, was erected under the authority of Edward, the Black Prince when the region was an English province. Passing ships paid two groats (ancient English silver coins) to navigate the area, marking one of the first known instances of lighthouse fees. By the mid-16th century, the original lighthouse deteriorated, threatening the Bordeaux wine trade’s navigation.

Parisian architect Louis de Foix designed the current structure, which included apartments for keepers and a royal suite. The lighthouse was refurbished in 1855 and designated a historic monument in 1862.

5. Kõpu Lighthouse

Year Established: 1531
Location: Hiiumaa, Estonia
Height: 36 m (118 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

Kõpu Lighthouse has remained functional since its completion in 1531. The concept dates back to before 1490, as ships traveling the key East-West Baltic Sea route passed near the Hiiu sandbank. Hanseatic merchants had long petitioned for a navigational landmark, finally receiving authorization from the Bishop of Ösel-Wiek in 1499. Initially, only a large stone pillar was permitted, delaying further construction due to war.

Most of the lighthouse was constructed between 1514 and 1519, with its first beacon lit in autumn 1531. Over the centuries, some sections have been renovated, and today, it serves as a symbol of Hiiumaa and a major tourist site.

4. Hook Lighthouse

Year Established: Approx. 1201 – 1240
Location: Hook Head, County Wexford, Ireland
Height: 35 m (115 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

The Hook Lighthouse, also known as Hook Head Lighthouse, ranks as the second oldest continuously functioning lighthouse globally, following the reconstruction of the Lighthouse of Genoa in 1543. While constructed in the 12th century, Irish tradition suggests that Dubhán, a missionary, set up an early beacon in the 5th century. William Marshall, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, commissioned the lighthouse to ensure safe passage to the new port town of New Ross. Built from local limestone, the original structure remains intact.

Monks originally maintained the lighthouse. Today, it is remotely operated from Dún Laoghaire by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. Since 2001, the site has functioned as a tourist attraction, with former keepers’ quarters repurposed as a visitor center.

3. Lighthouse of Genoa

Year Established: Initial in 1128; reconstructed in 1543
Location: Genoa, Liguria, Italy
Height: 76 m (249 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

Known as Lanterna, the Lighthouse of Genoa has represented the city for centuries. The original tower, erected in 1128 (some sources suggest 1161), was reconstructed in 1543 after sustaining damage from battles and lightning strikes. One caretaker perished in 1481 due to a lightning strike.

Among the tallest lighthouses worldwide, it held the record as the tallest from 1543 to 1902. In 2004, the Museo della Lanterna was established next to the lighthouse and opened to the public in 2006.

2. Tower of Hercules

Year Established: Approx. 2nd century CE
Location: A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Height: 57 m (187 ft)
Still Operational: Yes

As the oldest functioning lighthouse globally, the Tower of Hercules has stood since at least the 2nd century CE. It may have been constructed or reconstructed under Roman Emperor Trajan, inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

An inscription credits its architect, Gaius Sevius Lupus of Aeminium (modern Coimbra, Portugal), who dedicated it to Mars, the Roman god of war. Restorations took place between 1788 and 1791, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009.

1. Pharos of Alexandria

Year Established: Approx. 280 – 247 BCE
Location: Pharos, Alexandria, Egypt
Height: 120 – 137 m (394 – 449 ft)
Still Standing: No

The Pharos of Alexandria, one of the earliest lighthouses, was built during the Ptolemaic era between 280 and 247 BCE. After Alexander the Great’s death, Ptolemy I Soter initiated the project in 305 BCE, completing it 12 years later. It influenced all future lighthouses.

As one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it remained one of the tallest human-made structures for centuries until earthquakes in the 10th and 14th centuries caused its collapse.