Guernsey – everything travelers need to know

The island of Guernsey, along with its big brother Jersey, are the two largest islands in the English Channel. Although Guernsey is a charming island with a fine culinary tradition, stunning views and a fascinating history, it has never become a favorite destination for Israelis. In my opinion, the reason for this is not only the tiny size of the island (71 square kilometers, including all its satellite islands) but also the fact that it is not the easiest to get there. However, if you ignore all of this, you will find that this is one of the most magical places you have ever visited. I know because I lived there for almost 3 years (2016-2018).

The goal of this article is to try to gather the most relevant information for those who plan to travel to Guernsey (I'll write about Jersey on another occasion), and to try to answer the most common questions related to it. If you have any more questions that the article doesn't answer, you are welcome to comment at the end of the article and I will try to answer them. So let's set off and sail to this magical island using the following short video!

When should you come to Guernsey?

In my opinion, the best time to spend your holiday in Guernsey is the summer (July-August). The reason for this is that while the country is turning into hell andFrance There may be a heat wave, as the weather in Guernsey is sunny but not particularly hot (around 25 degrees). The problem is that this is also the peak of the season in Guernsey, so hotel prices will be at their peak and the island may be flooded with tourists.

So, if you don't feel like coming in the summer, try the early fall months (September and October) or the late spring months (May-June). During these periods, the weather is not as cold as in winter and there is also less rain and wind.

Whatever you do, try not to come to Guernsey between January and March because the weather there can be really freezing, which can make it difficult for you to travel (especially if you suffer from cold more than heat).

How long should it take to get to Guernsey?

Since both getting to Guernsey and the return trip take at least a day each way, there's no point in allocating less than 4-5 days to a vacation in Guernsey in my opinion. In my opinion, the ideal time is a week, as it will allow you to get to know Guernsey with its many landscapes and attractions, as well as the two islands next to it (more on what to do in Guernsey later in the article).

How do you get to Guernsey?

Guernsey is an island and therefore the ways to get there are by flight or ferry.

Flight to Guernsey via London or other cities in England

This is the shortest and least complicated route. The official airline of Guernsey is called Alderney And she flew to Guernsey from London's Gatwick Airport (I heard that flights have recently started from Stansted, so it's worth checking that out). There are also usually flights from other cities in England such as Southampton, Leeds, and Birmingham, so if there are direct flights from Israel there, that's also an option.

Since the cost of flights is not exactly cheap, it is highly recommended to compare prices and find the route that is most affordable for you. In the past, I created An article that contains all the sites I use to get cheap flights to France And you are welcome to enter it in order to use those sites for your flights to England and Guernsey.

Ferry from Saint Malo to Guernsey

This is a much more fun way in my opinion that will allow you to kill two birds with one stone: both traveling in Guernsey and inBrittanySo how do we do it?

• First, find a direct flight to the city. Nantes (There are flights with Transavia and Easy Jet.) Since most direct flights arrive in Nantes late at night, you will have to sleep at the airport or in the city itself. In that case, you are welcome to read the article Hotels in Nantes And choose one of the recommended hotels there or at the airport.
• From Nantes, take a train to Saint-Malo, from where you will take the ferry to Guernsey. If you do not have time to make it to the ferry or want to stay a day or two in Saint-Malo before your trip to Guernsey, you are welcome to visit the article Saint Malo – recommended hotels And find a hotel.
• The company that operates the ferries to Guernsey is called Condor Ferries And it operates the ferry several days a week (depending on weather conditions and high and low tides). The ferry ride is very comfortable and takes about two hours.

Is Guernsey an expensive place?

In the past, Guernsey was considered an expensive place due to its high standard of living and its island status, which reduces competition and drives up prices. However, Guernsey’s currency is the Guernsey pound, which is pegged to the British pound. Since the pound took a hit following Brexit, prices in Guernsey have fallen along with it. Add to that the fact that there is no VAT in Guernsey and you’ll find that it’s definitely worth shopping there (it’s no coincidence that one of the best-selling products on this island is a Rolex watch 🙂 ).

Please note that you can pay on the island in Guernsey pounds, Jersey pounds, British pounds and most likely they will also accept euros from you. Since you cannot pay in Guernsey pounds outside of Guernsey, I highly recommend asking vendors and waiters to give you back any excess in British pounds. If you still have quite a few Guernsey pounds left, you can exchange them for regular pounds at banks in St. Peter Port, the capital of Guernsey.

Recommended hotels in Guernsey

Guernsey is not a cheap place, but nowadays, due to the low pound exchange rate, it is not really expensive either. Therefore, I would recommend not “getting caught” and living in some moldy guesthouse (and there are some), but rather investing in and taking 3-star hotels or higher in the town of St. Peter Port. The reason I chose this town is that it is the capital of Guernsey and as such has quite a few restaurants, shops and good public transportation. Also, the ferries to the islands of Sark and Herm leave from there, which I will talk about later.

So here are some of my favorite hotels:

The Duke Of Normandy

This is without a doubt my favourite hotel when visiting Guernsey (my boss loves it too). It is located in the heart of the capital of Guernsey, St. Peter Port, a short walk from the town's shops and restaurants. The hotel is clean, the rooms are relatively large and the service is excellent. I don't think you need anything more than that.

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Duke of Richmond

If you want to upgrade your accommodation experience in Guernsey or there are no rooms left at the Duke of Normandie, you are welcome to try staying at another Duke.

This hotel is located next to Cambridge Park and the Guernsey Museum and is a 5-minute walk from the city center. The rooms at this hotel are luxurious and even have a pool, making it one of the favorite hotels in Guernsey. Although it is a little further from the center than the previous hotel, it is definitely highly recommended.

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The Old Government House Hotel & Spa

If your bank account allows it (or if you happen to get a hotel deal), this is without a doubt the best hotel in Guernsey (and the only one with 5 stars). The hotel is located in a building where the Governors of Guernsey lived for many years and the interior design is accordingly. It is right in the center of St. Peter Port and has luxurious rooms, an excellent spa, two high-class restaurants and of course a pool. If you can afford this hotel, I recommend not thinking twice and taking it.

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Are all the hotels I recommended booked?

Don't worry. You can find more hotels in Saint Peter Port atLink thisIf you decide to live outside of St. Peter Port then I recommend living in the picturesque town of St. Martin and you can find recommended hotels there. In this link.

Transport in Guernsey

There are two ways to get around the island: public transportation and a rental car. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Public transportation (buses and taxis)

The main bus station is in the capital of Guernsey, St. Peter Port, and buses depart from there to all parts of the island. The price is cheap (a pound for a ticket) and the buses depart with a relatively reasonable frequency (you can learn about the different routes HERE) Using the buses you can reach almost all the interesting places on the island, and the only drawback in my opinion is that sometimes you will have to wait a while for the bus to take you from the attraction to St. Peter Port.

There are two taxi ranks in Saint Peter Port (one near the city's main church and one near Le Petit Bistro restaurant) but their prices are quite expensive. Also, you can't hail a taxi in the middle of the street (only at a taxi rank or by phone) and Uber-style apps are still unheard of on this island.

Car Rental

If you rent a car, you can travel around Guernsey very freely and reach places that tourists don't usually go to, as they are not on the bus routes. However, if you decide to do this, keep in mind that Guernsey drives on the left and that the roads in Guernsey are very, very narrow and winding (luckily the drivers are super polite and nice).

Personally, I have never dared to drive in Guernsey for the above reasons, but if you are not afraid of this and want as much flexibility and freedom as possible, you can find recommendations for car rental sites in the article. Car rental in France (The websites are of course relevant to any destination you travel to).

What do people eat in Guernsey?

Guernsey cuisine is an interesting mix of French and British cuisine. So what should you absolutely not miss when visiting the island?

• Guernsey butter – is rightly considered one of the best butters in the world. The reason for this is that the milk produced by Guernsey cows contains more fat than average.
• Fish and seafood – Guernsey is an island, so it is not surprising that a large part of its residents' diet consists of seafood. If you like seafood, you will be happy to know that the fish and seafood here are very fresh, and alongside the famous fish and chips (after all, the island belongs to the British Crown), you will find mussels, octopus and shrimp here that will remind you of those of Brittany and Normandy (as Shamir famously said, "The sea is the same sea, etc.").
• Beef raised on the island – Guernsey cows are known not only for their famous milk, but also for their fine meat. So if you are a steak lover, I guarantee you won’t go hungry.

Recommended restaurants in Guernsey

Here are some restaurants where I used to eat quite a bit and which were excellent when I lived on the island (I believe they remain so now, but if not, then my apologies).

• The Petit Bistro: A French restaurant with a pleasant atmosphere and not bad food at all (try the frog legs and the bouillabaisse soup).
• Octopus: An excellent and not particularly expensive fish and seafood restaurant, located right on the seafront of Saint Peter Port.
• Red – A simply wonderful steakhouse. Every time the big boss came to Guernsey we would book a table there and we were never disappointed.
• Dyed– The tapas restaurant that belongs to the owners of Red. Excellent, young atmosphere and fine food that changes from time to time.
• China Red – Without a doubt the best Chinese restaurant in Guernsey and one of the best I have ever eaten at. A great restaurant if you fancy something a little different.

And one last thing, if you come to Guernsey during October, you will find that Tennerfast is happening at that time. Originally it was a month-long event during which restaurants offered 2-3 course menus for £10. Prices have since gone up, and you can still find quite a few very reasonably priced business meals during this period.

A week-long trip plan in Guernsey

After we've finished talking about all the logistical matters, it's time to get to the most important part. What do you do in Guernsey? To answer this question, I have created a rough one-week itinerary for you that you can use to build your travel plan.

Sunday: Arrival in Guernsey

Chances are you're flying from Israel to London and from there to Guernsey (you can make it to the last flight to Guernsey if you take a morning flight from Israel), so this day is pretty much wasted. In that case, you're welcome to use it to leave your luggage at the hotel, take a preliminary tour of St. Peter Port, and have dinner at one of the restaurants I recommended.

Monday: Visit to Saint Peter Port

I would use this day to visit St. Peter's Port. Especially for you I created A hiking trail following Victor Hugo With its help you can discover most of the interesting places in this town. Do not miss the Victor Hugo House, because unlike the Victor Hugo Museum inParis, this house was designed entirely by the writer, who was also a very talented interior designer.

After you've finished touring the city, you can spend the remaining time shopping or visitingCornett CastleThis is a castle built in the 13th century to protect Guernsey from the French and is located at the end of the pier of St. Peter Port.

Tuesday: Trip to Herm Island

Haram Island is the closest island to Guernsey (20 minutes by ferry). It is a small island with fascinating nature and you can spend at least half a day there (in fact, if you come in the summer, you can spend a whole day there if you like to swim). To learn more about the island, I recommend you read the article Herm – The pleasure of traveling on a deserted island.

Wednesday: Book Club and Potato Peel Pie or a trip to follow the German occupation of Guernsey

The German occupation of Guernsey left behind quite a few fascinating relics and stories (on which the novel and film “The Guernsey Literary Club and Potato Peel Pie” are based). Therefore, I recommend that on this day you go visit some of the places on the island that are related to this period:

• A German bunker that contains a museum dealing with the occupation period
• Underground German hospital (A little scary if you ask me)
• Museum of the German Occupation (A private museum of a man who dedicated his entire life to researching the German occupation of Guernsey).
• German watchtower in Pleinmont
• Driving along the beach and looking at German bunkers and gun emplacements (they are everywhere).

If the German occupation interests you a little less but you don't want to give up on the subject completely, you can visit only some of the places I mentioned and devote more time to nature (see Day 5).

Thursday: Sark Island

Sark is about a 40 minute ferry ride away and is worth spending a full day there. It is a car-free island (you get around by horse and cart) and has no street lights (if you like stargazing this is the place for you). If you have enough time I would consider staying there for one night.

You can find quite a bit of information about the island in the article. Sark: The Magical Island of Guernsey That Takes You Back in Time.

Friday: Discover the landscapes of Guernsey

I would dedicate this day to visiting some of the most beautiful places in Guernsey. It is worth dedicating two days to this part of the trip, because as you will see, there is quite a bit to see and do.

• Visit Saumarez Manor – a mansion that belonged to Nelson’s deputy. It has gardens and interesting furniture, most of it from the 18th century.
• Visit to the town of Saint Martin and the Icart lookout
• Visit to the Guernsey Reservoir (an artificial lake surrounded by a kind of park with walking trails)
• Le Gouffre – a charming area of ​​cliffs and stunning views in the southeast of the island
• Visit to the Cup and Saucer (a small fort built by the English to prevent invasion) FrenchIf there is a low tide, you can reach Lihu Island on foot.
• Visiting the town of Saint Saviour and walking around (it's a great pleasure to walk there among the farms and trees. Feels like Switzerland).
• Visit the St. Peter Port Museum and the charming park surrounding it.

Day Seven: Leaving the Island

Whether you're taking a ferry to France or flying to England and then to Israel, you probably won't have much time left on this day. If you do have a little time left before heading to the airport or ferry, you can use it for some last-minute shopping or a final stroll around St. Peter Port.