The New Lighthouse at the harbour entrance was built in 1856 and has guided ships into Lindau ever since. At 33 metres it is the tallest structure on the island, and the view from the top — on days when it is open to visitors — takes in the whole of the eastern lake, the Austrian shore, and the Alps. The climb is 139 steps.
The lighthouse is painted in a distinctive white and red colour scheme and works as a navigational mark for the busy ferry and pleasure boat traffic on Lake Constance. It stands next to the Bavarian lion on the southern breakwater, and together they form the entrance gate to the harbour — a composition that has appeared in travel images of Bavaria for over 150 years.