Piers outside the UK
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS

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Piers, jetties and other pier-like structures have been built in a number of countries outside the United Kingdom. The most significant of these structures will be listed on this page with links either to the pier’s own website or an alternative reference website, if this is not available.

Australia

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BUSSELTON JETTY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA At 1841 metres, Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden jetty (pier) in the southern hemisphere. Construction began in 1853 with continual extensions up to the 1960s. It was closed to shipping in 1972, and maintenance was discontinued for a time, but it has since been restored, and is now the site of an underwater observatory and an interpretive centre.. ***

MANLY PAVILION, NORTHERN SYDNEY Built in 1933 as a dressing room and tea rooms for bathers, the heritage listed Manly Pavilion underwent a meticulous renovation to open in 2010, restored to its original grandeur boasting soaring ceilings, a marble terrazzo balcony, and unrivalled views of greater Sydney Harbour. The Boathouse Group reopened the historic Pavilion in April 2022, having made a number of aesthetic updates to the venue’s interior to compliment its heritage features. ***

MANLY WHARF, NORTHERN SYDNEY The first Manly Wharf was a fifty foot pier built on the present site. The current Manly Wharf is Sydney Harbour’s premiere waterfront restaurant, shopping and entertainment precinct. Every year over 6 million commuters travel across Sydney Harbour to Manly Wharf on the scenic ferry or jet cat. ***

PRINCES PIER, MELBOURNE Completed in 1915, the 580m long Princes Pier was originally known as the New Railway Pier – it was renamed after the Prince of Wales visit in 1920. It later became disused and deteriorated badly, finally being closed to the public in the early 1990s. Further deterioration followed until a major restoration commenced in 2006 with only the first 196 metres of the pier being restored and the remaining pylons preserved. A full restoration was estimated to cost $60 million. A contract for the work was awarded in June 2007 and the refurbished section of the pier reopened to the public in December 2011. ***

SHORNCLIFFE PIER, QUEENSLAND Completed in 1872, the pier is a very popular attraction for residents and visitors to the area. It was extensively refurbished and repainted in late 2000 and was further enhanced by major renovation of the adjacent boardwalk in 2008. In early 2012, the pier was closed due to its poor condition caused by marine borers.The pier removal works commenced in November 2014 and the new Shorncliffe Pier was opened to the public on Good Friday, 25 March 2016 ***

Asia

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BLAKE PIER, STANLEY, HONG KONG Built in 1900 as a reception point for visiting dignitaries and colonial governors, the Blake Pier was demolished in 1965. Its ornate Edwardian pavilion which had been added in 1909 was dismantled and rebuilt in Morse Park. In 2006, the structure was once again transferred to Stanley, and the pier was recommissioned on 31 July 2007. *** ZHANQIAO PIER PIER, CHINA Built in 1891, this 440 meter long pier and its iconic octagonal pavilion are recognized all over the world on bottles of Tsingtao beer. Huilan Ge Pavilion (loosely translated as the Billowing Back and Forth Tower) stands at the end of the pier and was constructed in 1930. ***

South America

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FISHERMEN’S CLUB DE PESCADORES, RIO DE LA PLATA, BUENOS AIRES The pier was built in 1930 to replace an earlier pier which had been destroyed in a storm in 1905. The iconic building on the pier was designed by José N. Quartino and officially opened on 16 January, 1937 and was declared a national historic monument in 2001. ***

LA ROSA NAUTICA, MIRAFLORES, LIMA Strictly speaking La Rosa Nautica is actually the pier restaurant on Pier 4 of the Lima Beach Circuit rather than the pier itself which is partly of solid breakwater construction. However, the elegant Victorian style structure has many similarities to traditional UK pier construction and is a major tourist attraction for the Miraflores area.

USA

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ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK, NEW JERSEY Although not exactly a pier, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is a huge pier-like wooden deck running parallel to the beach and made of thousands of lengths of Brazilian hardwood and Long Leaf Yellow Southern Pine. Originally constructed in 1870 to prevent sand blowing into the adjacent hotels, the street side of the boardwalk is now home to a bewildering array of tourist attractions including hotels, restaurants, casinos, shops and, on the ocean side, there are several real piers. See the links below. [ USA Top ]

ATLANTIC CITY CENTRAL PIER, NEW JERSEY The Central Pier was built in the mid 1880’s, making it one of the oldest buildings on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The Art Deco pavilion was added in the late 1920’s. It is currently home to an amusement arcade, shops, and go-kart rides. The current owners have plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment of the pier. [ USA Top ]

ATLANTIC CITY STEEL PIER, NEW JERSEY First opened in June 1898, the Steel Pier is a 1,000 foot long (300 m) amusement pier located opposite the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The current concrete structure dates from 1993, the original wooden pier with steel underpinnings having been destroyed by fire in 1982. The pier will reportedly be redeveloped into retail and entertainment attractions along with luxury condominiums [ USA Top ]

ATLANTIC CITY GARDEN PIER, NEW JERSEY Opened in 1913, the Garden Pier occupied an uptown location apart from the other piers in Atlantic City, although ultimately its uptown location made it less commercially successful. The part of the pier near, and on, the beach was restored and the pier now houses an Art Center and Historical Museum. [ USA Top ]

BALBOA PIER, NEWPORT BEACH, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Balboa Pier was constructed in 1906 as a sister project of the Balboa Pavilion, both structures being built to mark the opening of the southern terminus of the Pacific Electric Railway Red Car line from Long Beach. In the 1980s, Ruby’s Diner, a 1940s nostalgia-themed restaurant, opened on the pier and has since become a famous Orange County landmark. [ USA Top ]

BELMONT VETERANS MEMORIAL PIER, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA The current 1620 feet long concrete pier was built in 1966/67 to replace the original wooden pier which opened on Christmas Eve 1917. Its unique setting, protected by the Long Beach Wall allows for a particularly wide range of boating and fishing activities and the pier has a restaurant with patio and enclosed upper deck. [ USA Top ]

DAYTONA BEACH MAIN STREET PIER, FLORIDA Over the years, the pier has withstood the constant pounding of the Atlantic surf, fire and hurricanes, but it still stands, just as it was built in 1925. It has been known as the Ocean Pier, Keating Pier, Pier Casino, Main Street Pier and now the Daytona Beach Pier, but to most people it is simply known as “the pier” – the most recognizable landmark on Daytona Beach and source of many Daytona memories. [ USA Top ]

DAYTONA BEACH SUNGLOW PIER, FLORIDA A large, well lighted fishing pier that features fish cleaning areas, a bait shack, bench seats, a full service restaurant, and pole rentals, situated in Daytona Beach Shores. Crabby Joe’s is a small seafood restaurant on the pier that offers traditional seafood while you can sit and take in the beautiful view of Daytona. [ USA Top ]

GALVESTON ISLAND HISTORIC PLEASURE PIER, TEXAS Opened in 2012, the current pier features rides, arcade games, food venues and retail shops and was built where the original Pleasure Pier stood from 1943 until destroyed by a hurricane in 1961. This was replaced in 1965 by the Flagship Hotel, built over the water but demolished after damage by Hurricane Ike in 2008. [ USA Top ]

HERMOSA BEACH PIER, CALIFORNIA The first pier at Hermosa Beach was built in In 1904. It was 500 feet long and constructed entirely of wood, including the pilings. However, this pier was partly washed away in 1913 and later demolished to make way for the existing pier which is 1000 feet long and of concrete construction. A pavilion was added in 1914. [ USA Top ]

HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER, CALIFORNIA Huntington Beach is Surf City USA and the Huntington Beach Pier is the iconic heart of the city. There have been piers at Huntington since the early 1900s. The current pier measures 1,853 feet and is built in the historic architectural style of its 1914 predecessor. [ USA Top ]

JACKSONVILLE BEACH PIER, FLORIDA The current 1,320 feet long pier was built in 2004 to replace the earlier pier, built in 1959, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and subsequently demolished. The new pier was designed to withstand the worst that the Atlantic Ocean can dish out but was built some distance from the original pier’s site. [ USA Top ]

JENNETTE’S PIER, NORTH CAROLINA Primarily a fishing pier, Jennette’s Pier was was 754 feet long, 16 feet wide, with a 28-foot-wide “T” on the end, when first completed in 1939. Numerous storms battered the structure over the years but now, with its 1,000-foot long fishing platform, 16,000-square foot pier house and numerous educational opportunities, this state-owned and operated facility celebrates Fishing, Families and Fun! [ USA Top ]

MALIBU PIER, CALIFORNIA A Southern California icon in an area once called the Riviera of America, this historic landmark is located in the heart of California’s surf culture. With its festive seaside atmosphere of good food and fun, Malibu Pier is popular with the surfers from around the world come to the adjacent Surfrider Beach. [ USA Top ]

MOREY’S PIERS, WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY First opened by the Morey brothers in 1969 as a single pier, Morey’s Piers has now grown into a seaside amusement park featuring a group of three large piers – Surfside Pier, Adventure Pier, and Mariner’s Landing Pier – famous for their spectacular roller-coaster rides. [ USA Top ]

NAVY PIER, CHICAGO Located on Lake Michigan, just East of Chicago’s Downtown, Navy Pier has been a Chicago landmark since it first opened in 1916. The pier now showcases a unique collection of restaurants and shops in addition to unequalled recreational and exhibition facilities – in a setting like no other. [ USA Top ]

OCEAN BEACH PIER, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA A pier has existed here since 1888 but in several different locations to the current one which was erected in 1966. This is one of the longest piers on the West Coast at 1971 feet, just under 1/3 mile long and has restrooms, a bait and tackle shop, snack shop, fish cleaning stations, benches and lights. [ USA Top ]

OCEANSIDE PIER, CALIFORNIA Oceanside has had six piers altogether, the first one dating from 1888. The concrete approach to the current pier was built in 1925; the wooden portion in 1988. At 1,954 feet, this pier is the longest wooden pier on the west coast. [ USA Top ]

PIER 39, CALIFORNIA Opened in 1978 and incorporating authentic 1910 wood from Piers 34 and 3, Pier 39 is located in Fisherman’s Wharf on San Francisco Bay and provides a festival marketplace featuring 110 specialty shops and 14 full-service restaurants serving great seafood, and California cuisine accompanied by beautiful Bay views. [ USA Top ]

REDONDO PIER, CALIFORNIA Built originally in 1889, today the Redondo Beach Pier and International Boardwalk are a family destination featuring over 50 dining, entertainment and shopping choices and within walking distance to beautiful seaside accommodations. [ USA Top ]

SANTA CRUZ WHARF, CALIFORNIA The Santa Cruz Wharf is a popular location for fishing, boat tours, viewing sea lions, dining, and gift shops. The current wharf was built in 1914, the last of six built on the site, and is operated by the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Office. [ USA Top ]

SANTA MONICA PIER, CALIFORNIA First opened to the public in September 1909, the beautiful Santa Monica Pier now offers a variety of entertainment, dining and shopping experiences, including the thrill rides of Pacific Park; a historic 1922 Carousel, and an interactive aquarium. [ USA Top ]

ST PETE PIER, FLORIDA The Inverted Pyramid Pier first opened its doors in January 1973. That pier was closed in 2013, and the new 26-acre Pier District opened on July 6, 2020, a $92 million dollar project that includes five restaurants, a playground, an environmental education center, and numerous artworks. [ USA Top ]

EUROPE

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BLANKENBERGE PIER, BELGIUM Built originally in 1933 and subsequently greatly restored, this 350m long pier is often referred to just as the Belgium Pier. It is a listed structure and the only one on the Belgium coast built as a pleasure pier. The total floor area of 5,000 square meters is divided over four floors, including an auditorium and 3-D cinema built 4m below sea level. *** LA PALAIS DE JETEE,NICE,FRANCE (LOST) The incredible Palais de la Jetée was a beautiful crystal palace at Nice in the South of France but now exists only in paintings, postcards and a few old photographs. The pier and casino opened in 1891, 18 years after the idea was first raised and was a huge success with visitors. Tragically it was destroyed during World War2. *** SEEBRUECKE AHLBECK, GERMANY The historic Ahlbeck pier features a beautiful clock in Art Nouveau style. The pier itself was completed in 1899 and is the only one along the entire Baltic Sea coast whose original structure has been preserved. ***