Highlights
Mont Orgueil Castle
A medieval castle that towers over the harbour at Gorey on the east coast. Its passages, towers and battlements tell the story of Jersey's centuries of defence against France, and the views reach the French coast.
Elizabeth Castle
A fortress on a tidal island in St Aubin's Bay, off St Helier. At low tide you can walk across the causeway; when the tide is in, an amphibious vehicle makes the crossing.
Jersey War Tunnels
A network of tunnels dug by forced labourers during the German occupation of 1940 to 1945, now a museum about life on the island during the war.
Jersey Zoo
Founded by the naturalist Gerald Durrell in 1959, the zoo focuses on breeding endangered species and is the headquarters of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
St Ouen's Bay
A five-mile sweep of sand on the west coast, popular with surfers, with dunes and nature reserves behind it and La Corbière lighthouse at its southern end, reached on foot at low tide.
La Hougue Bie
One of the largest and best-preserved Neolithic passage graves in Europe, around 6,000 years old, topped by a medieval chapel, with a museum alongside.
Low-tide walks
On the south-east coast, the sea retreats a long way at low tide, revealing a rocky moonscape and reefs. Guided walks lead out safely; tides come in quickly, so never explore far without local knowledge.
Green lanes and coastal paths
A network of rural lanes where walkers, cyclists and horse riders have priority and the speed limit is 15 mph, plus cliff paths along the north coast.
Interesting facts about Jersey
- Jersey has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world, with a difference of more than 12 metres between high and low tide on big spring tides.
- Jersey is not part of the United Kingdom or the European Union; it is a Crown Dependency with its own parliament, the States Assembly.
- Jersey Royal potatoes, grown on the island's sloping côtils, have protected designation of origin status.
- Liberation Day on 9 May marks the end of the German occupation in 1945 and is a public holiday.
- The Battle of Flowers, a parade of floats decorated with flowers, has been held in August since 1902.
Best time to visit
May to September is the best time to visit, with the warmest weather, long evenings and the most attractions open. The Battle of Flowers in August and food festivals in summer draw visitors. Spring brings wild flowers and the Jersey Royal potato season, and early autumn is often settled and quieter. Winter is mild but windy, some attractions close or reduce opening hours, and ferry sailings are more often disrupted by weather.
Practical information
| Capital | St Helier |
|---|---|
| Currency | Pound sterling (GBP), with locally issued Jersey pounds at par |
| Languages | English |
| Plugs | Type G |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 999 or 112 |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Similar to the UK: around 10 percent in restaurants if service is not included, and rounding up taxi fares. |
Getting around
Jersey is about nine miles by five, so nowhere is far. Buses run from the Liberation Station in St Helier to most parts of the island. Cycling is popular, with a flat cycle path around St Aubin's Bay and quieter green lanes inland. Hire cars are widely available, but roads are narrow, the island-wide maximum speed limit is 40 mph and parking in St Helier often requires a disc or payment. Ferries sail from England, France and Guernsey, and flights link Jersey with UK and some European airports.
Staying connected in Jersey
Mobile coverage is good across most of Jersey, with 4G widely available and 5G in places. Signal can be weaker in some valleys and at the foot of the north coast cliffs. Because France is so close, phones on the east and south coasts sometimes connect to a French network. Jersey is not part of the UK for mobile purposes, so some UK plans charge roaming there. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See Jersey eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Jersey
- Google Maps: Bus routes, walking and cycling directions around the island.
- Komoot: Planning walks along the cliff paths and cycle routes through the green lanes.
- Windy: Checking wind and sea conditions before ferry crossings or beach days.