Westerheversand Lighthouse

The Westerheversand Lighthouse near the village of Westerhever is the icon of the Eiderstedt peninsula on Germany's North Sea coast and one of the country's most photographed lighthouses. Its red-and-white striped tower rises from a man-made mound in the salt marshes of the Wadden Sea National Park, flanked by two red-roofed keepers' cottages. The walk across the marsh and the view from the top make it a memorable stop on any trip to Schleswig-Holstein's west coast.

History of the lighthouse

Built in 1906 on a pile foundation with walls of cast-iron plates, the lighthouse was first lit on May 26, 1908. It guides ships into the Hever channel and toward the port of Büsum. The tower stands about 40 meters tall, and its white light reaches roughly 21 nautical miles. Today it's monitored automatically from the town of Tönning.

Since 1977, the former keepers' houses have served as a nature station for bird research and environmental education, run by the conservation group Schutzstation Wattenmeer. The tower opened to visitors in 2001. Germans may recognize it from beer commercials and from a 2005 postage stamp.

What to see

• The climb: 157 steps lead to a viewing platform about 37 meters up, with views over the salt marshes, the North Sea, its islands and the small Hallig islets, and the beach resort of St. Peter-Ording.
• Exhibits in the keepers' cottages on the lighthouse's history and the lives of its keepers.
• Wildlife: sheep graze the marsh, and the Wadden Sea is one of Europe's great bird habitats.
• Free audio guide via the Hearonymus app (in German).

Tickets and opening hours

From Easter to the end of October, the lighthouse is open daily except Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extra evening openings on Mondays and Wednesdays from about 6:30 p.m. until sunset. Tickets cost €8.50 for adults and €4 for children, and only card payments are accepted (as of October 2026). Children under 8 aren't allowed on the tower, and only eight people can be at the top at once, so expect a wait in peak season. Storms or high tides can close it at short notice.

How to get there

The lighthouse is on the Eiderstedt peninsula, about two hours by car from Hamburg. Park at Ahndelweg 4 in Westerhever, then walk or cycle about 2.5 kilometers from the outer dike, roughly 45 minutes on foot each way. Cars aren't allowed on the marsh, and the foreland can flood during storm surges, so check the weather and tides first. By public transport, the nearest train stations are on the Husum–St. Peter-Ording line, from where you'll need a bike or a taxi to cover the last stretch.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially at golden hour, when the marsh glows and photographers line up for the classic shot. Allow two to three hours including the walk. Bring a windbreaker and sun protection, since there's no shade along the way. The path is flat, but the tower itself isn't accessible for wheelchairs.

Nearby

• St. Peter-Ording with its huge beach and stilt houses.
• Tönning and its Wadden Sea visitor center, the Multimar Wattforum.
• Friedrichstadt, a charming little town founded by Dutch settlers, with canals and gabled houses.