We present some of the world’s most famous and interesting piers

Umhlanga Pier, South Africa
Umhlanga Pier won a national architectural award in South Africa thanks to its unique fish bone plan. The pier is at heart the extension of an underground sewage pipe, yet architects transformed it into a one-of-a-kind wonder. It’s been deemed one of the finest piers in the world. Umhlanga Pier entices huge crowds of pedestrians, who come here to stroll and pose for photos.

Huntington Beach Pier, California
Measuring 560m long and built in 1914, Huntington Beach Pier is the oldest pier on the West Coast of America. It’s a splendid place for visitors to watch the sun rise and set over the sea. In World War II, Huntington Beach Pier was used to store submarines and ammunitions. Visitors can browse through documentary photos of this pier at nearby souvenir shops.

Scheveningen Pier, the Netherlands
Scheveningen is the longest pier in the Netherlands. Construction began in 1959. The pier is famous for its unique design, with a platform like a tiered island. Visitors come to stroll, rest on benches, and shop in the souvenir stores scattered around the pier. In 2001, Scheveningen Pier was acquired by Van der Valk Hotel for a nominal value of less than US$1. The hotel restored the site adding new restaurants, a casino and a kid’s playground.

Brighton Pier, England
Brightly lit by 67,000 lightbulbs every night, Brighton Pier attracts up to 4 million visitors each year. In World War II, parts of the pier were demolished to hinder invaders. It’s the only pier left in Brighton as most others were destroyed by fire. Brighton Pier has been refurbished and includes a recreational compound with a unique dome-shaped shopping mall.

Busselton Jetty Pier, Busselton, Australia
Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden pier in the Southern hemisphere, reaching nearly 2km into the sea at Busselton town in Western Australia. The pier was constructed in 1853 to export timber. It was later extended and restored. The pier boasts a railway, now popular with tourists, that was once part of the route connecting Busselton to Bunbury. This railway carries visitors along the pier to an underwater observatory that was launched in 2003.