Jersey is a 9 by 5 mile island in the Channel, just off the coast of France (14 miles to be exact). I lived on Jersey for the last three months of my mission. Most people see all of the beauty that the surrounding countries offer but, I believe, have no clue that Jersey is even there.
Jersey is a British Crown Dependency and utilizes the Jersey pound. You can use GBP there just make sure if you are given any Jersey specific currency you spend it before leaving, as the Jersey pound bill is not accepted in the rest of the UK. The main language spoken on the isle is English. Other languages used are Portuguese, Polish, and Jerrais (the Jersey language, closely related to French).
Due to its prime location in St Malo Bay, Jersey tends to have a more temperate climate with warmer weather and more sunshine/longer days. This makes Jersey an ideal getaway spot all year long, though high season is between May & September. From the unbelievably beautiful locations to the amazing people to the rich culture & history, I love it all!
What to see in Jersey
Though the island is small there are loads of free and paid things to do! From beautiful beaches to one of the largest and best preserved Neolithic grave sites in Western Europe, whatever your niche there is something for you. Having lived there and visited, these are my recommendations to make the most of your time in Jersey.
JERSEY BEACHES
I love being able to enjoy a beautiful beach any time of the year and Jersey does not disappoint! Plémont Bay is the most beautiful beach in all of Jersey. Hands down. When visiting make sure to check the tides. Parts of the bay are only accessible during low tide so make sure to check the tide schedule before planning on when to go.
Another incredible beach is St Brelade’s Bay. Some may argue it is more beautiful than Plémont Bay, but I think it is a solid runner up. St Brelade’s Bay is ideal for chilling on the beach due to the many restaurants and cafés near by. It is also great for water sports, but that can arguably be said about most beaches along the isle.
You can’t think of Jersey beaches without thinking of this next one. St Oeun’s Bay, also known as 5 mile beach, literally spans 3 miles along the west side of the island. I dare say this is one of the most recommended beaches to visit in Jersey simply due to how much of the island it covers. If you are feeling up for it, I recommend walking from one end to the other. There are many more beaches I could write about, if you are interested in more please leave a comment below.
Jersey cows
When it comes to things to see on the isle of Jersey, you can not miss catching the famous Jersey cows. These are the most beautiful cows in the world. They have a beautiful coat ranging from fawn brown to almost black. You can easily identify Jersey cows by their beautiful long eye lashes and bone structure. That sounds funny to say, but there is really no other cow like them.They are so feminine and truly beautiful.
When we were last in Jersey, we found a little farm that allowed us to go pet the calfs. Seriously, one of my most favorite things from our trip! In St Peter’s there is a place, the Classic Farm Shop, that had some baby calfs for us to see. Unfortunately, since we were last there they have closed their shop. However, driving around the isle of Jersey you are bound to run across a herd of Jersey cows or ask a local if they can direct you to see these beautiful creatures.
Historical Sites
When living on Jersey, I learned so much about the many historical things to see on the island. I had no idea that Jersey was invaded during WWII, or of the many castles, or of the ancient grave preserved on this tiny island.
The Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles to be invaded & occupied by German forces during WWII, between 1940-1945. Because Jersey was occupied, there are many historical sites to see from WWII. A major site is Liberation Square. Germany surrendered and the official arrival of allied forces in Jersey was on May 9, 1945, which is celebrated as Liberation Day. Every May 9th there are huge celebrations in Liberation Square (St Helier). Among other WWII historical sites on the isle of Jersey are the Jersey War Tunnels. The tunnels were built by the use of slave labor from the Germans & shows a realistic picture of what life was like in Jersey during the war. You can tour the Jersey War Tunnels exhibit and/or enjoy an escape room experience here.
I mentioned there was many castles on Jersey, by far my favorite is the Mont Orgueil Castle in Gorey. Built in 1212AD to help protect Jersey from French invasions, this real life medieval castle is full of history. Though I highly recommend touring the castle and learning all the history, if your time is limited just walking the surrounding grounds is worth the stop. Mont Orgueil overlooks the fishing village of Gorey and it is work stopping for lunch with a great view of the castle, Mont Orgueil.
Another historical site is La Hougue Bie, which is one of the ten oldest buildings in the world. La Hougue Bie is a passage grave from the Neolithic time period, about 6,000 years ago (that is 2,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids). Visit the museum to learn more about this ancient site.
Honorable mentions
There are so many things to see on the isle of Jersey it is hard to limit my list. Some other honorable mentions include:
La Corbiere Lighthouse is in St Brelade and is a lovely thing to see. At low tide you can walk the causeway out to the lighthouse and along the way enjoy the tidal environment.
Howard Davis Park is in St Helier and is a beautiful park. If you are looking for a peaceful area to eat lunch this is the place. There is a rose garden and it is really central to the city center.
Elizabeth Castle is in St Aubin’s Bay and easily reachable by foot or duck (aka an amphibious ferry). Many people recommend this castle but I think it is second to Mont Orgueil.
Jersey is full of amazing views, things to see and do that it is hard to just pick a few. I would love to hear your favorite things to see in Jersey! Leave a comment below with anything I missed.
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