In 2025, a total of 82,140 people visited Estonian lighthouses, marking the lowest figure of the past five years. Compared to the previous year, visitor numbers decreased by 13.2%. The overall result was strongly influenced by the decline in popularity of Kõpu Lighthouse.
For the fourth year in a row, Sõrve Lighthouse was the most popular, attracting 25,153 visitors. Compared to the previous year, it welcomed 137 more visitors. The ranking by number of visitors was as follows:
- Kõpu Lighthouse – 12,284 (2024: 22,955)
- Tahkuna Lighthouse – 11,982 (12,877)
- Kihnu Lighthouse – 7,761 (8,026)
- Narva-Jõesuu Lighthouse – 4,900 (3,500)
- Ristna Lighthouse – 4,645 (6,833)
- Naissaar Lighthouse – 4,346 (3,553)
- Pakri Lighthouse – 3,032 (5,276) (closed from the second half of summer due to renovation)
- Saxby Lighthouse – 2,935 (2,887)
- Ruhnu Lighthouse – 1,798 (1,694)
- Vilsandi Lighthouse – 1,518 (1,602)
- Tallinn Upper Range Lighthouse – 1,240 (opened in summer 2025)
- Osmussaar Lighthouse – 546 (735)
“The biggest decline occurred on Hiiumaa, specifically at Kõpu Lighthouse. While in 2024 they hosted 22,955 visitors, last year that number was more than 10,000 lower. At the same time, there were several lighthouses where interest increased,” said Andres Unn, administrator at the Transport Administration.
In cooperation with partners, the Transport Administration has been working to open more lighthouses to the public. Thirteen lighthouses were open last year, the latest being the Tallinn Upper Range Lighthouse, which welcomed its first visitors in the summer of 2025. This year, Mehikoorma Lighthouse is expected to be added to the list. In total, Estonia has 55 operational lighthouses, all of which belong to the Transport Administration.
