Söderskär lighthouse, 19th century lighthouse in Porvoo archipelago, Finland
Söderskär lighthouse is an octagonal tower on Majakkasaari island in the Porvoo archipelago. Its granite base supports brick sections that rise above the Gulf of Finland to guide maritime traffic.
The lighthouse was built in 1862 to replace an earlier unlit daymark for navigation. Between 1914 and 1917, reinforcements with steel and concrete were added to address structural weaknesses.
The lighthouse inspired Finnish author Tove Jansson when she wrote Moominpappa at Sea. This connection between maritime life and literature remains part of how locals and visitors understand the place.
You can reach the lighthouse by ferry from Helsinki's Kauppatori or Vuosaari's Aurinkolahti between May and September. The island is only open to visitors during these months, so plan your trip accordingly.
It is one of only three octagonal lighthouses in Finland and retains its original Fresnel lens for long-distance illumination. This rare architectural form combined with the working original optics makes it distinctive among similar structures in the country.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
