10 Best Things to Do in Guernsey

Castle Cornet is a 13th-century island castle with a collection of museums that chronicle the fortress's rich history, as well as gardens and an outdoor performance venue. Located on Cornet Rock, the castle served as a defense for the space and a breakwater for St Peter Port’s harbor. Castle Cornet was constructed between 1206 and 1256 and consisted of a keep, courtyards, curtain walls and a chapel. The castle itself is now a museum that illustrates its storied past. Inside, you’ll also find other museums, such as the Maritime Museum, the 201 Squadron RAF Museum and the Royal Guernsey Militia Museum. Each day, a cannon is fired at noon. You can visit the castle to take a guided tour, see the period gardens or attend an outdoor performance in summer.

The Old Government House is a boutique hotel and spa in Guernsey and is the only 5-star hotel in the region. This hotel and spa offers outstanding food at its sit-down restaurants and a unique bathing pool where you can relax all day long. It's also a historic building, full of stunning architecture that dates to 1796. Even if you're not staying here, it's worth a visit to see the historic decor and architecture that’s like taking a walk into the distant past.

Bluebell Woods is a stunning forest that experiences a blanket of colorful bluebells in bloom in the spring, providing a beautiful landscape to explore. The woodlands have numerous hiking trails that allow you to take in the sights of the bluebells and other beautiful, natural scenery, as well as a cliff walk that offers coastal views of sandy beaches and turquoise seas. The trail begins near the Guernsey Aquarium in St Peter Port and travels to Fermain Bay, giving you plenty to see along the route.

La Vallette Underground Military Museum chronicles Guernsey’s military history with artifacts, memorabilia and exhibits on many important moments in the island’s history, from the World Wars to the island militia. Some of the exhibits feature the tunnels that were used by Germany for fuel storage during the occupation, authentic military uniforms, firearms and weaponry, signs and other pieces of wartime memorabilia. The museum also has a gift shop where you can purchase genuine military pieces and collectables from the time period.

Victoria Tower marks the spot where Queen Victoria stepped ashore from the harbor on her 1846 visit – the island's first-ever visit from a monarch. The spectacular tower monument stands in St Peter Port and is a must-see attraction on your trip. Along with seeing the monument, you can see the Town Arsenal on the grounds, which was once used to house artillery for the Royal Guernsey Militia, and walk the trails in a public garden. Several weapons are displayed in the garden, including 2 German guns.

The Candie Gardens are a set of historic gardens on the grounds of the Candie House that boast an array of plants, flowers and sculptures. The gardens have pathways that travel through a representative Victorian public flower garden that includes a variety of plants from all over the world and historic greenhouses. You’ll find unique attractions in the gardens as well, such as a statue of Victor Hugo and a statue of Queen Victoria, complete with imperial regalia and a scepter. Near the top, the Priaulx Library offers an incredible collection of books, documents and maps of local history.

Royal Guernsey Golf Club offers a championship course and game play for all skill levels, from beginner to veteran, and amenities like a restaurant, a pro shop and locker facilities. The course is par-70 links and offers challenging play and stunning views of the surrounding landscape and coastline. The club also features a driving range, a pitching green and putting greens. The Royal Guernsey Golf Club is a premier Guernsey club where you can enjoy a fun golf day on your trip.

Little Chapel is a unique attraction that showcases a fully functional, miniature version of the Rosary Basilica and an exemplar of French-influenced mosaic art. Located in the Les Vauxbelets valley, the chapel features a grotto and basilica created from pebbles, seashells and broken china to form a replica image from far away. Up close, the individual materials used to create the look become more evident, which is in the style of pique-assiette, a French mosaic style. All the more impressive, the tiny chapel can fit up to 8 people inside and is non-denominational.

The Hauteville House was the home of Victor Hugo during his exile in Guernsey and now stands as a museum that holds many of his design touches and personal artifacts. In addition to being the site where Hugo created many of his famous works, the house itself was designed and decorated to his specific taste. Described by Hugo as ‘an autograph on 3 floors and a poem in several rooms’, the house features unique touches and objects, such as a tapestry room, a photography study, a workshop leading to a garden, porcelain ceilings, an oak gallery and Chinese curios. Touring the eclectic and atmospheric home gives you a glimpse into Hugo's creative mind.

St James Concert Hall is a lively performing-arts venue in a former garrison church that hosts concerts and other performances. Housed within the former St James-the-Less, the St James Concert Hall offers a diverse mix of concerts, plays, recitals and other performances in a massive auditorium on the island. The hall has several features, including the Whittaker Hall for theater and concerts, 2 boardrooms, a coffee shop, smaller auditoria and the Bailiwick of Guernsey Millenium Tapestry. The tapestry is a community project that showcases a millenium of local history in vibrant embroidery on canvas, which is on display in the hall.