The old lighthouse (Alter Leuchtturm) was built in 1856 and still stands in what is now the village centre — a situation that reflects the island's slow eastward drift over time. It no longer functions as a navigational aid but has been converted into a viewing tower open to visitors in summer. The climb rewards with a panoramic view across the island's dunes, the village, and the Wadden Sea to the south.
The red-brick tower is the most prominent landmark on the island and a useful orientation point. At its base, a small information display explains the geology and history of Wangerooge's migration. The second lighthouse, built in 1969 at the western end where the old one used to stand, is visible from the top.