Bengtskär lighthouse in Gulf of Finland in summer.

© Jamo Images/Shutterstock

Bengtskär Lighthouse

Turku & Finland's South Coast


Towering 52m above the waves 25km offshore from Hanko, the Nordic countries' tallest lighthouse was built in 1906 to protect ships from the perilous archipelago waters. It was damaged extensively during the Continuation War by the departing Red Army but has been refurbished. There are historical exhibits downstairs and fabulous views from the top.

In the summer months, you can reach Bengtskär with Marine Lines from Hanko and with the Rosala & Bengtskär Booking Office from Kasnäs or Rosala. If you wish to spend the night, the lighthouse also contains simple but panoramic accommodation (single/double/family rooms €120/188/280).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Turku & Finland's South Coast attractions

1. Örö Fortress

8.68 MILES

Örö was long a military island, first containing a defensive fortress built under Russian rule and later serving as training grounds for the Finnish…

2. Rosala Viking Centre

9.37 MILES

Rosala isn't just a museum but a Viking village, complete with homestead, chapel and moored Viking ship. An introductory video provides an informative…

3. Hitis

11.65 MILES

About 8km south of Kasnäs, the island of Hitis (Hiittinen) harbours a charming wooden church. The free ferry MS Aura runs up to eight times daily from…

4. Hauensuoli

15.41 MILES

This narrow strait between Tullisaari and Kobben is a protected natural harbour where ships from countries around the Baltic Sea once waited out storms…

5. Hangon kirkko

17.87 MILES

Originally built in 1892, this neo-Gothic church was damaged in WWII but has been thoroughly renovated.

6. Monument of Liberty

17.88 MILES

Where Bulevardi meets the beach is the Monument of Liberty, commemorating the landing of liberating German forces in 1918. The monument was taken down…

7. Water Tower

17.89 MILES

Zip up the lift to the top of the 50m-high water tower on Vartiovuori Hill for sweeping views across town and out to sea.

8. Neljän Tuulen Tupa

19.08 MILES

On Little Pine Island, 1.5km east of the town centre, is the House of the Four Winds, where locals snuck swigs of ‘hard tea’ during the Finnish…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "finland/kimito-island-archipelago-national-park/attractions/bengtskaer-lighthouse/a/poi-sig/1191983/1318288",
      "destination": "Turku-&-Finland's-South-Coast",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Finland",
      "region": "Turku-&-Finland's-South-Coast",
      "position": "superzone"
    }