The northern tip of Naissaar runs out into the Gulf of Finland as a long stony spit, and ships entering Tallinn Bay have steered by a light here for more than two centuries. The first wooden beacons on the island were put up in 1788; a stone lighthouse followed in 1805 and a taller one, 38 metres high, in 1849. That tower was blown up in 1941.
The present Naissaar lighthouse was completed in 1960: a slim reinforced-concrete tower, white below and red above, 45 metres tall with its light 48 metres above the sea. It was opened to visitors in 2019, and when the door is open you can climb to the gallery for a view over the whole island, the shipping lane and, on a clear day, the Finnish side of the gulf.
Top things to do: Naissaar Lighthouse
Climb the tower
The lighthouse has been open to the public in the summer season since 2019, usually for a small fee paid on the spot. Opening depends on the keeper and the season, so treat the climb as a bonus rather than a certainty.
Walk the northern spit
Beyond the tower the island narrows to a low point of rounded stones with sea on three sides. It is the wildest corner of Naissaar and a good place to watch ships passing between Tallinn and Helsinki.
Combine it with the northern batteries
The heaviest of the coastal batteries stand in the forest south of the lighthouse, and the northern trail links the two.
Watch for birds
The northern point is a natural landmark for migrating birds in spring and autumn, and seabirds and waders use the stony shore all summer. Bring binoculars.
How to get to Naissaar Lighthouse
- From the harbour: the lighthouse is at the opposite end of the island, roughly 8–10 km from the harbour by forest road depending on your route. Allow about three hours on foot each way, or around 45 minutes by bike.
- Day-trippers: check the return boat time before you set off. On foot, the lighthouse and back takes most of a day; cyclists and truck-tour passengers have a much easier time.
- To the island: see getting to Naissaar.
Insider tips
- Carry all the water and food you need: there is nothing to buy in the north of the island.
- The spit is exposed. Even on a warm day a windproof layer is worth the space in your bag.
- If climbing the tower matters to you, ask the boat operator before booking whether the lighthouse is open that day.
- Staying overnight on the island turns the lighthouse from a route march into a relaxed day out.
Best tours & tickets: Naissaar Lighthouse
These experiences are the easiest way to see Naissaar Lighthouse:
Private island trip from €796 per group From Tallinn: Half-Day Guided Tour to Naissaar Island
The only Naissaar trip listed on GetYourGuide: a private half-day outing from Tallinn with the crossing and a guide on the island. It is new and has no reviews yet, and the price is for the whole group — it makes most sense when you can share the cost.
- Boat crossing of Tallinn Bay with your own group
- Guided visit to the island’s nature park and military heritage
- Priced per group, not per person
Sailing cruise from €65 Tallinn: Sunset Cruise on a Luxury Yacht
A relaxed evening sail in the same bay you cross to reach Naissaar, with a small group on board. It does not land on the island, but on a clear evening you see its long, low silhouette on the horizon.
- Small group on a sailing yacht
- Tallinn’s skyline from the water at sunset
- Calm two- or three-hour cruise in Tallinn Bay
