Guernsey Channel Island is the perfect island break for couples, friends and families to travel due to the many things to do on Guernsey and the fact that it has something for everyone! (You can even travel there solo and have a great time as I did!)
Guernsey gives you time to relax and enjoy nature by going on hikes, island hopping, finding wildlife and doing adventure watersports.
It offers history and museums with a focus on WW1 & WW2 to turn the trip into an educational one for adults and children.
And it offers luxury with boutique shopping along the cobbled lanes of St Peter Port and high-class restaurants and spa’s if that’s what you want from a break in the British Isles!
For more information on Guernsey, how to get there, how to get around and where to stay, check out my Guernsey Travel Guide & Itinerary post here!
In this post you’ll find the best things to do on Guernsey with the top Guernsey attractions to see and visit.
So whether you’re planning a weekend in Guernsey or 1 week in Guernsey you’ll have plenty to add to your Guernsey things to do list!
Things To Do On Guernsey!
Things To Do in Guernsey Map
Here is a map of all of the things to do in Guernsey that I have detailed below so you can plan what to do in Guernsey based on where you’re staying on the island and how much time you have.
Although be aware that the island is only very small so journeys are between 5-20 minutes and you can see a lot with one day in Guernsey!
1. Visit the Mosaic Little Chapel
The Little Chapel is indeed little but it is incredibly impressive and unique because it is decorated in Mosaics and it’s so interesting to see the different pieces of china used.
Little Chapel in Guernsey is one of the top Guernsey tourist attractions, it’s free to enter with parking outside and by Martin Guille Silversmiths shop next door.
TOP TIP – The Little Chapel is best visited on the way from the airport or to the airport as it’s only 5 minutes away.
2. See The View From Victoria Tower
For the best viewpoint in St Peter Port and for one of the top things to do in St Peter Port, check out the 360° view from the top of Victoria Tower.
To be able to enter the tower you must go to Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery to get the key from reception which is a 3 minute walk away.
The best thing about that is you’ll then have the whole Tower to yourself when you go to the top!
3. Explore Castle Cornet in St Peter Port
Another one of the top things to do in Guernsey in St Peters Port is to visit Castle Cornet.
It’s location at the end of the harbour can’t be missed and although it looks impressive from the outside, it’s even bigger inside!
This 800 year old castle offers multiple museums inside and therefore makes one of the good things to do in Guernsey in the rain, because a museum is always a good rainy day option!
TOP TIP – Once you’ve finished, stop at Fishy Tales Tea Room which is by the entrance to the castle for some real Guernsey ice cream!
4. Lunch at Moulin Huet Tearooms
Talking of Tea Rooms, there are many tea rooms in Guernsey and whilst you’re in Guernsey you need to try Guernsey Cream, Guernsey Ice Cream, and a Guernsey Crab Sandwich at least!
During my coastal hike in Guernsey (more on that below) I had a lovely break at Moulin Huet Tearooms eating a Scone with Guernsey Cream which overlooks the ocean, has plenty of outdoor seating and is a hit with Guernsey locals!
To get to Moulin Huet Tearooms, follow the road to Moulin Huet Bay and at the end of the road before the footpath begins there is a car park with toilets.
TOP TIP – If you’re looking for beaches in Guernsey to visit, Moulin Huet Bay is a good place to visit at the same time, especially for children!
For more information on Guernsey, how to get there, how to get around and where to stay, check out my Guernsey Travel Guide & Itinerary post here!
5. Try Coasteering, Kayaking or Paddle Boarding with Outdoor Guernsey
Watersport activities are easily the top things to on Guernsey because wherever you are on the island, it’s easy to get to the water and the terrain of the island offers many places for safe swimming and lots of wildlife spotting!
Outdoor Guernsey offer lots of water activities in Guernsey such as Coasteering, Kayaking and Paddle Boarding!
TOP TIP – I was due to go Coasteering but it was cancelled because of the weather so keep your Guernsey itinerary flexible for cancellations so you can re-book your activity before you leave if this happens!
6. See Wildlife from a RIB Ride
For some water sport adrenaline, without getting (too) wet, I suggest going on a RIB Boat Ride!
I love going out in a RIB because you’re so close to the water and therefore so close to the wildlife! Be sure to look out for dolphins and seals in the right seasons.
A RIB Ride is great for children making it one of the best things to do in Guernsey for families!
Island RIB Voyages offer various types of rides in Guernsey all with a knowledgeable guide.
7. Have a Go at Surfing
Surfing in Guernsey is another one of the popular watersports in Guernsey on offer and is particularly popular with the locals.
But as a tourist and visitor to Guernsey, you can still give surfing a go whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro with Guernsey Surf School.
8. Take a Coastal Walk
There is a coastal footpath surrounding the channel island of Guernsey and walking a long a section of it is a great way to get some exercise, fresh sea air and see the island in a different way!
Visit Guernsey have a Walking Trails page on their website where you can pick the length and difficultly of the walk you want to take!
I decided to do this 2.5 Hour, Hard Walk around the South West of the island parking at Buho Restaurant near Fermain Bay. I walked in a circle with a detour and stop at Moulin Huet Tearooms on my way!
TOP TIP – Download Maps.me to follow the footpaths in Guernsey, because Google Maps doesn’t show any footpaths, but there are loads on the island and they all show on Maps.me!
9. Swim in La Valette Bathing Pools
Wild Swimming and Outdoor Swimming is all the craze these days and as well as swimming in the ocean in Guernsey, you can swim at the beautiful La Valette Bathing Pools with the locals!
These pools were built 150 years ago and they are filled by the sea each night at high tide and by daytime give a calm place to swim, heated by the sun.
If you have outdoor swimming in Guernsey on your list of things to do in Guernsey, be sure to head here for one of the top unique places to visit in Guernsey.
10. Discover La Vallette Underground Military Museums
There’s a huge amount of war history to be learnt in Guernsey due to the German occupation of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands.
La Valette Underground Military Museum close to St Peter Port is situated in a German underground tunnel complex constructed by slave workers and is a great place to visit to learn more about the occupation on Guernsey and for genuine military collectables and books from the gift shop.
If you have children in high school age, this is definitely one of the top Guernsey attractions to visit to help them learn more about WW1 & WW2!
11. Eat Fish & Chips at Cobo Bay
If you want to live local life in Guernsey you need to visit Cobo Bay on the North Side of the island, get chips from Cobo Fish Bar and eat them on the beach wall!
Cobo Fish Bar is known as the best place for Fish & Chips in Guernsey and I can confirm that they are very good!
I went on a sunny Friday evening and there was quite a queue but the wait is worth it.
TOP TIP – Cobo Bay Beach is known as one of the best beaches in Guernsey so spend some time enjoying the beach and going for a walk to its neighbouring beaches like Grand Rocques Beach!
12. Day Trip to Sark, Herm and Alderney Islands
When planning your Guernsey itinerary you HAVE to plan a day trip to another island!
Sark, Herm and Alderney are 3 islands you can visit from Guernsey and because they are all part of Guernsey, they are on this top things to do in Gurnsey post and are the best places to visit in Guernsey!
Herm & Sark are both car-free islands and for a unique experience I really recommend visiting one of them!
I took a day trip to Sark from Guernsey getting the 10:00 am boat there and 16:00 pm boat back. I hired a bike in advance to pick up when I arrived and it was the perfect way to explore with the right amount of time.
My highlight was biking from Big Sark to Little Sark via the impressive La Coupee bridge as seen below.
TOP TIP – Boats to these islands from Guernsey must be booked in advance and sell out quickly, especially in summer and school holidays. If tickets to Sark have sold out, tickets to Herm might be available as the trip is much shorter.
13. Low Tide Causeway Walk to Lihou Island
Lihou island is another one of the best places to visit in Guernsey and things to see in Guernsey!
The best thing about visiting Lihou Island from Guernsey is that you don’t need to book a boat because the way to get to Lihou is to walk along the causeway during low tide which makes it an even more fun and unique thing to do!
Although Guernsey is pretty relaxed, spending time on Lihou island will relax you even more and give you the chance to look for wildlife, visit some lovely beaches and go outdoor swimming in Guernsey in Venus Pools.
For more information on Guernsey, how to get there, how to get around and where to stay, check out my Guernsey Travel Guide & Itinerary post here!
14. Visit the TikTok Famous Guernsey Candles
Candle Making on an island like Guernsey with a family who have been making Candles since 1973 always sounds like a lovely thing to do,
But recently Guernsey Candles has become famous after their videos went viral on TikTok and is now one of the top Guernsey tourist attractions!
Charlotte is the grandchild of the family who started making the videos for TikTok.
Pre-contacting them, especially if you want to make a candle rather than buying some is a good idea. Contact them on Facebook or by calling them.
@charlotte__martel plop ##wax ##fypツ ##gsycandles ##plop
♬ original sound – chartel
15. Shopping in St Peter Port
St Peter Port is a lovely town to explore and is the main town on the island.
Many of it’s streets are cobbled with a Mediterranean feel, you do not feel like you’re in the British Isles here!
Shopping in St Peter Port is one of the great things to do on Guernsey because of it’s many independent and boutique shops as well as many high street stores.
16. Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery
One of the other things to do in St Peter Port is to visit Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery.
As an adult, I didn’t find the museum that great to be honest, however for things to do with children in Guernsey the museum is a must visit as it is really interactive and a great place to learn.
17. Relax at St Pierres Park Spa
If you’re coming to Guernsey Channel Islands for some relaxation, St Pierres Park Spa is the best place to go as it has been awarded as the best spa in the Channel Islands!
18. Marvel at The Fairy Ring
Also known as Table des Pions, The Fairy Ring in Guernsey is an interesting place to visit, a good way to factor in another walk to your Guernsey itinerary and see the Western side of the island.
Guernsey holds a lot of folklore tales of Witches, Elves and Fairies (which you can learn more about at the Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery) and The Fairy Ring, which is a ring of stones in the grass, relates to these stories.
From what my friends say about The Fairy Ring, the actual story of the ring isn’t so magical, however, it does date back to 1837.
TOP TIP – This side of the island is a great place to watch the sunset in Guernsey so going on the Fairy Ring Walk around sunset is a great idea.
19. Indulge in Seafood
If you visit Guernsey and don’t try it’s seafood, you are seriously missing out!
The seafood here is incredibly fresh as it is caught locally and I found dishes to be cheaper than in mainland UK because of this.
For the best seafood restaurants in Guernsey check these places out, you’ll find that most are seafood restaurants in St Peter Port:
- Le Nautique Restaurant
- Mora Restaurant & Grill
- Pier 17
- Roc Salt
- Crabby Jacks
- Octopus Restaurant
20. Wander Around Sausmarez Manor
Sausmarez Manor is one of the lovely places to visit in Guernsey for all the family.
Sausmarez Manor is Guernsey’s only stately home and when you arrive to walk around the house and the gardens you’ll read signs to say that it was one of the few big houses on the island that avoided German occupation as it had no electricity.
The Manor House is often open for house tours, there is a tearoom on sight, a garden and sculpture park to walk around, a little train for children around the gardens and a pitch and putt course,
So it really does work as great as one of the things to do in Guernsey for families.
21. Watch the Sunset
Make sure you spend at least one night watching the sunset in Guernsey! The island is so small it won’t take you long to drive to the western side of the island to see the sunset all year around!
I loved seeing it from around Cobo Bay.
22. Self Drive the Island
If you happen to arrive in Guernsey to a wet weather forecast, don’t dispare!
Follow one of Visit Guernseys Driving Routes, I like the look of the Island Occupation Route covering 23 miles to see the island from the comfort of your car popping out at the suggested spots.
Hiring a car is the best way to explore Guernsey and despite the narrow country lanes with a limited speed limit, it’s possible to see a lot of the island in a fairly short time.
Guernsey FAQ
How many days do you need in Guernsey?
To make a good trip out of Guernsey you need at least 2 days in Guernsey ideally with 3 nights. 3 days in Guernsey is a good amount of time to see a lot but even with 1 week in Guernsey there is plenty to see and do in Guernsey.
Do you need a car in Guernsey?
Driving is the best way to get around Guernsey and visit all of the top things to do in Guernsey therefore hiring a car at the airport is recommended. However, the bus system in Guernsey is very good so a car is not mandatory.
What can kids do in Guernsey?
There are plenty of things to do with kids in Guernsey like the many museums, beaches and tourist attractions in Guernsey like Little Chapel.
I hope this helps you plan things to do on Guernsey for your trip!
- More of my UK and Channel Islands posts:
- 17 UK Staycation Ideas For This Year!
- 16 Beautiful Staycations in Wales To Feel Like You’re Abroad!
- The Perfect Weekend in Jersey Channel Island Itinerary!
- How to Visit The Channel Island of Jersey on a Budget!
This blog post has been written following my press trip to Guernsey with Visit Guernsey.