Finding the right accomodation can make or break a vacation, but it’s rare to come across lodging so cool you’re compelled to plan an entire trip around it. Lighthouse hotels are that cool. Location is an obvious draw: designed to help sailors find safe passage through rough or rocky waters, lighthouses occupy precious oceanfront real estate where the view is unobscured and mind-blowingly wild. For a truly singular getaway, head to one of these nine lighthouses across the globe that you can actually sleep in.
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9 Lighthouses You Can Actually Stay in for Unbeatable Views of the Ocean
1. Clare Island Lighthouse, Ireland
Photo: Clare Island Lighthouse/Facebook
If you like the idea of sleeping in a lighthouse but generally like a bit of luxury, this is the accommodation for you. The beautiful property overlooks Clew Bay and has been gussied up to give guests a more glamorous experience. The rooms are sleek and clean, but the common areas are what really stand out at Clare Island Lighthouse. There are books, games, and even a piano over which guests are encouraged to mingle. A minimum two-night stay is required with rooms starting at $650 per person for both nights.
2. The Lighthouse on Cape d’Or, Canada
Photo: Dennis Jarvis/Wikimedia Commons
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Booking a stay at the Lighthouse on Cape d’Or is like getting a VIP pass to the Bay of Fundy, one of North America’s natural wonders. The lighthouse keeper’s quarters have been turned into a four-bedroom inn (guests can reserve individual rooms for $145/night or rent the entire property for $530/night) and a neighboring restaurant. Guest rooms are simple, yet comfortable, and breakfast and dinner are home-cooked and as locally sourced as possible. The only hard part about staying at the Lighthouse on Cape d’Or is trying to decide which is more breathtaking: the view of the Bay from the tower or the panorama of the lighthouse set against the craggy Nova Scotia cliffs. Note that the inn only runs from May to November.
3. Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon, US
Photo: Kyle Kephart/Shutterstock
Lighthouse keeping can be a lonely lot, which is why many lighthouses constructed large keeper’s houses so that the person running the light could invite friends who wanted a place to stay. At Heceta Head Lighthouse, the house has been turned into a bed and breakfast with six rooms that can accommodate up to 15 guests per night. Prices vary by room and throughout the season. The views are stunning, set atop a cliff on the Oregon Coast where waves crash against the rocks as you enjoy dining al fresco on the house’s front porch. The lighthouse still operates, and the light has been described as the “strongest in Oregon.” So, if you’re looking for a well-rested weekend, maybe pack a sleep mask.
4. Cape Otway Lightstation, Australia
Photo: superjoseph/Shutterstock
Cape Otway Lightstation is the oldest working lighthouse in Australia, though you’d never guess that the bright white landmark dates back to 1848. Guests get their pick of accommodation between the Lightkeeper’s Cottage, Lighthouse Lodge, and Lightstation Studio. There are several possible sleeping arrangements depending on party size — the Lightkeeper’s Cottage alone can sleep up to six guests — with nightly costs ranging from about $250 to $400. Worth visiting in its own right, Cape Otway Lightstation is also a top attraction on the Great Ocean Road, making it a perfect pit stop for anyone driving along the Victoria Coast.
5. Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Scotland
Photo: ChrisAndF/Shutterstock
Rua Reidh Lighthouse sits at the mouth of Loch Ewe in northwest Scotland, facing the Isle of Skye and Outer Hebrides. Built in 1912 and still operational, the lighthouse doubles as a popular backdrop for wedding photography, as well as a special place to hang your hat for a night or two. The lighthouse keeper’s and assistant lighthouse keeper’s houses have been converted into a guest house and self-catering apartment, which sleeps up to five. The accommodations have been made warm, cozy, and colorful touches like embroidered rugs and small artworks have made the place really shine. Room rates start around $350/night.
6. Porer, Croatia
Photo: Anton Unkovic/Shutterstock
You don’t just get access to the lighthouse when you visit Porer — you get an entire island, granted one that only takes a minute or two to circumnavigate. Porer sits roughly a mile and a half off the southern tip of Croatia, so visitors get an eyeful of the Adriatic Sea at all times. There are two four-bed apartments on the ground floor of the lighthouse, both of which are outfitted with fully equipped kitchens and modest decor. Apartments go for around $80/night during the low and off seasons and $150/night between June and September. If you love a good sunset but don’t feel like sharing the view, Porer should be next up on your to-stay list.
7. The Lighthouse in Island Bay, New Zealand
Photo: Airbnb
It may not be the tallest or oldest lighthouse, but this Island Bay fixture is not without its charm. It’s located in a suburb of Wellington and comes well-equipped with a kitchen, bedroom, and lounge area, which has killer views of both the South Coast and South Island in the distance. Better still, the lighthouse sits just 10 minutes from downtown Island Bay, so guests always have something to do, as well as somewhere to escape to. You can rent a room with breakfast for $200/night between Monday and Thursday or splurge on a Friday or Saturday reservation, which costs $230/night with breakfast.
8. Haig Point Lighthouse, South Carolina, US
Photo: Haig Point
This lighthouse sits in the swanky golf resort at Haig Point, where guests can spend their nights before hitting one of the top golf courses in the state. The lighthouse was built in 1873 not far from Hilton Head, originally constructed to help guide ships safely between Point Royal Harbor and the Savannah River. Now it serves as a two-story guest house, complete with a modern kitchen, air conditioning, two bathrooms, a powder room, and two bedrooms with views out over the water. You can’t get up into the actual light tower, but the large front porch makes up for it. When you’re enjoying twilight with a cold beer in a rocking chair, looking out over the water from an historic lighthouse, antique details like old lamps only add to the experience.
9. Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel, California, US
Photo: Booking.com
Towering 115 feet over the Pacific, perched midway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, Pigeon Point Lighthouse was one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States when it was built in 1872. And it still is today. Though the lighthouse is currently closed pending restoration, Hosteling International has converted the four three-bedroom, Coast Guard-built houses on the grounds into a fun and affordable accommodation. Communal sleeping quarters are separated by gender, with three male and female bunk rooms per house, though private rooms are also available. In addition to shared bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces, guests also have access to amenities including a BBQ and fire pit, a games room, an on-site cafe, and an ocean-facing hot tub. Nightly rates start around $300. 