Greece has thousands of islands, and its coastline is over 13,000 kilometers long. It’s no wonder that Greece has a very extensive network of lighthouses. They were first built in the 15th century, and the first lighthouse of the modern Greek state was in Aegina in 1829. Although many of Greece’s lighthouses were destroyed in the 2nd World War, many were since rebuilt by the Hellenic Navy. Today, there are 120 lighthouses still standing in Greece. Each one is unique and many of them are listed as Historic Monuments by the Greek Ministry of Culture. In this article, we display some of Greece’s most famous and picturesque lighthouses.
Chania Lighthouse
In the beautiful city of Chania in Crete, the Chania Lighthouse has a big presence. It was built in Venetian times in the 16th century, and was rebuilt in the 1800’s by the Turks to resemble a minaret. Today it is known as the “Egyptian lighthouse” because its current form was built at a time when the city was occupied by Egyptian troops.Today, it is a great place in Chania town for a nice stroll and to take photos. It has amazing views of Chania’s harbor and is a great place to take in the Cretan sunset.
Rethymno Lighthouse
We’re not going far for the second lighthouse in our list. The Rethymnon lighthouse is the second-largest standing Egyptian lighthouse in Crete and is located in the old harbor of Rethymno. Just like Chania’s lighthouse, the Rethymno site was built during the Egyptian occupation in 1830. Historians say that every before the current version of this lighthouse was built, there was an older Venetian one like in Chania. The current lighthouse is closed to the public and doesn’t operate anymore. It is still a great spot for sightseeing and photographs at sunset.
Tourlitis Lighthouse
This is one of the most impressive lighthouses in Greece and is found in Andros Town on the island of Andros. It has been operating for 120 years and is found next to the Venetian Castle in Chora. Tourlitis Lighthouse is one of a kind because it is built onto a rock in the sea, lighting up the water for 11 nautical miles. It was first built in 1887 and was later reconstructed in 1994. It’s hard not to wonder how this lighthouse was constructed when watching the sunset on Andros.
Saint Theodore Lighthouse
This lighthouse is found near the village of Argostoli in Kefalonia, which is the capital of the island. Instead of being just a single tower, the Saint Theodore Lighthouse is a circular structure with 20 Doric-style columns. It was built in 1828 when the island was ruled by the British. It is a perfect spot for a long walk or pictures of the Kefalonia sunset.
Korakas Cape Lighthouse
The lighthouse of Korakas in Paros Park on the island of Paros is one of the most important lighthouses in Greece and takes part in International Lighthouse Day celebrations in August. It was built in 1887 at the end of a cape, so you have to hike to it from near Naoussa village. It is a square white building that is about 10 meters tall. Between Paros, Antiparos, and the surrounding small isles, there are 17 automatic lighthouses.
Cape Lefkatas Lighthouse
The cape of Lefkata on Lefkada island has a tall lighthouse that can be seen for miles, and which is set on the location of the ancient temple of Apollo. The lighthouse also goes by the name of Doukato Cape lighthouse. It is 14 meters high and has a view of Kefalonia and Ithaki. The temple at Cape Lefkatas was used for pan-Hellenic ceremonies to the gods of the sea. Famously, the poetess Sappho threw herself off the cliffs to escape her love for Phaon, another mythological character.
Alexandroupoli Lighthouse
Alexandroupoli is a port city in northern Greece, not far from Thessaloniki. The lighthouse in Alexandroupoli is a major landmark in the region of Evros, and it was built first in 1850 by the French Company of Ottoman Lighthouses. The lighthouse has continually operated since 1880 and it taller than many of the Greek island lighthouses, standing a total of 18 meters in height. You need to walk 98 stairs to reach the top.
Gavdos Island Lighthouse
The island of Gavdos is a hidden gem. It is the southernmost place to visit both in Greece and in Europe. The island of Gavdos belongs to Crete and is technically in the Chania prefecture. Gavdos is closer to Africa than to Athens and is about 26 miles from the city of Chora Sfakion (Sfakia) in Crete. Its impressive lighthouse was built in 1880 and then again in 2003. It is worth visiting the lighthouse in the evening for the sunset, paired with a walk along the pristine beaches of Gavdos.
Methoni (Sapientza) Lighthouse
This lighthouse in the Western Peloponnese is on the tiny island of Sapientza, across from Methoni. This area of Greece is a hidden gem, since many tourists do not make it this far south. But it is definitely worth the trip. The lighthouse was built in 1885 and is 8 meters tall. You can only reach it with a short boat ride from Methoni.
