Uzava Lighthouse
A white tower standing on a dune on the open Kurzeme coast, one of the more isolated lights in Latvia.
Updated 20 October 2026
The lighthouse at Uzava stands on a dune above the open Baltic on the western Kurzeme shore, a round white tower of about nineteen metres completed in 1925, which replaced the first lighthouse of 1879, with the keeper's buildings beside it and pine and marram grass around. What makes it worth the drive is the isolation: the coast here is empty, the beach runs for kilometres in both directions with nothing on it, and the tower is the only vertical thing in the landscape. Climbing is not routinely available and is arranged when it is. The beach below is sand and shingle with driftwood, used by walkers and for amber searching after storms.
History
The present tower, 19 metres high, was completed in 1925, and the year 1924 on the weather vane marks the start of the work (Wikipedia, Užava Lighthouse).
Highlights
- The white tower - the lighthouse of 1925 on its dune.
- The empty coast - the long beach running either way.
- Dune and pine - the vegetation around the light.
- Driftwood and amber - the beach after storms.
When to go
May to September for the beach and the walking; autumn storms bring amber and driftwood ashore. The coast is windy year round. Sunset over the open sea is the best light.
Good to know
The tower is not routinely open to climb. There are no facilities at the site. The access track through the dunes is sandy. The coast is exposed and cold in wind.
Nearby
Ventspils lies north; Jurkalne bluffs are south.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q16354987, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Uzava Lighthouse
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Loose, light, long clothing - Covering up beats bare skin in the desert - and locals dress this way for a reason. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A wide-brim hat + sunglasses - Shade for your face and eyes where there is none overhead. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
