Cape Arkona lighthouses
Putgarten, Germany
Rügen’s northern tip, with two lighthouses, a naval tower and chalk cliffs above the Baltic. Cars must stay in the paid car park at Putgarten; walk 1.5 km or take the little road train.
Cape Arkona lies at the northern tip of Rügen. Two lighthouses stand here: the Schinkel Tower, first lit in December 1827 and taken out of service in 1905, and the 35 m new lighthouse of 1902, which has been in operation since 1 April 1905. There is also the direction-finding tower of 1927, where an amber artist now has a studio. Within the ramparts of the medieval Jaromarsburg fortress, radio antenna fields stood from 1911 to 1925, and their foundations survive. The newer tower is the tallest and is regarded as the best viewpoint.
Cars must stay at the paid car park at the entrance to Putgarten, about 2 km from the cape. You cover the rest on foot or on the Kap Arkona tourist train. Gellort, the northernmost point of Rügen, is about 500 m from the lighthouses; beach access has been closed since the cliff collapse of 2011/12, so follow the signs. Keep well back from the edge. The fishing village of Vitt, about 2 km away, is crowded at midday, so go before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Nearest town
- Putgarten, Germany
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 54.6772, 13.4336
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- DrewoldkeCampsite6 km from Cape Arkona lighthousesTentsCaravansMotorhomesShowersToilets
- Caravancamp OstseeblickCampsite15 km from Cape Arkona lighthouses · 60 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Banzelvitzer BergeCampsite18 km from Cape Arkona lighthousesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Naturerlebniscamp RügenCampsite21 km from Cape Arkona lighthousesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-FiFree
- Störtebeker CampCampsite22 km from Cape Arkona lighthouses · 40 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping SchaprodeCampsite25 km from Cape Arkona lighthousesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Cape Arkona lighthouses?
Cape Arkona lighthouses is in Putgarten, Germany, at GPS 54.6772, 13.4336. It is about 19 km from Königsstuhl.
Can you camp near Cape Arkona lighthouses?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Kap Arkona, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 31 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Cape Arkona lighthouses?
Cape Arkona lighthouses is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Rügen and Usedom: capes, piers and the Imperial Baths.
What is there to see near Cape Arkona lighthouses?
Places worth a stop nearby: Königsstuhl chalk cliffs (19 km), Prora (28 km), Granitz Hunting Lodge (35 km) and Sellin Pier (37 km).
When is the best time to visit Cape Arkona lighthouses?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)