a small island in the middle of a body of water

Jersey

Go to Jersey for tidal beaches, medieval castles and Second World War tunnels, all on an island about nine miles by five.

Find a room in Jersey Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Jersey

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, a Crown Dependency about nine miles by five. It is not part of the UK or the EU, though it lies a short sea crossing from the coast of Normandy, France. The sea goes far out at low tide on Jersey's beaches, leaving wide sand. Medieval castles stand on the coast, including Mont Orgueil on the east side and Elizabeth Castle, which is reached on foot from St Helier at low tide. Underground tunnels built by German forces during the occupation of the Second World War are open to visitors.

A long weekend covers the main sights, and three days leaves time for both castles and the tunnels. Plan beach days for summer, and use spring or early autumn for walking the coast. Check the current entry rules and your ferry or flight before you book, since Jersey's status differs from the rest of the UK.

Jersey in five

Get an ETA before you fly or sailJersey applies the UK's rules: from 23 April 2026 most visa-exempt visitors, including US and EU citizens, need an ETA. A UK, Guernsey or Isle of Man ETA also covers Jersey.UK ETA explained
Carry photo ID from the UK, a passport from IrelandThe Common Travel Area has no routine immigration checks, but airlines and ferry lines still ask for ID. Arrivals from Ireland or outside the area need a passport.Entry rules on gov.je
Choose ferry or flight before you book a baseDFDS sails from Poole, Portsmouth and St-Malo all year, while flights from many UK airports take about an hour. The car decision follows from that choice.Ferry or flight to Jersey
Check the tide before you walk the coastJersey has the third largest tidal range in the world, and at low tide the island nearly doubles in size. Read the tide table before any beach, causeway or reef walk.Jersey tide times
Spend sterling, accept Jersey notesSterling is the currency, and Jersey pounds circulate beside it, so you may get them as change. British money is accepted everywhere and cards are widely taken.

Things to do in Jersey

See all attractions in Jersey

a black and white butterfly sitting on a green leaf

Zoo · JerseyJersey ZooBook tickets online in advance; advance booking is recommended, and online tickets have been reported as cheaper than buying at the entrance.

Castle · JerseyMont Orgueil CastleAllow 2 to 3 hours to explore the castle fully.

Castle · JerseyElizabeth CastleAsk at the ticket office about tide times before setting out on the causeway.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to JerseyPut the places you like in Jersey on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Jersey Airport (JER) in St Peter; bus 22 reaches St Helier in about 20 minutes
Getting there: Flights from UK and some European airports; DFDS ferries from Poole, Portsmouth, St-Malo
Getting around: Liberty Bus from Liberation Station, St Helier; car or e-bike for the north and west
Best base: St Helier for transport; Gorey or St Brelade for beaches and quiet
Time needed: 3 days for the highlights; 5 with coastal walks

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain17 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Quiet, short days
FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Quiet, mild
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low8°Spring starts
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Spring walks
MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Walks, quieter
JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low14°Long days
JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Beach season
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Warmest, busy
SeptemberRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low15°Warm, calmer
OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low13°Autumn color
NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Cool, short days
DecemberRain17 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Cold, quiet

Average daily high and low in St Helier, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Jersey

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 73%
Wind: 42 km/h
Chance of rain: 30%

Jersey

09:16 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today13°11°30%Monday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 30%.
Tue12°8°38%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 38%.
Wed10°7°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu11°7°10%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Fri10°8°10%Friday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sat12°8°13%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 13%.
Sun11°8°9%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 9%.

Updated 05:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP

Amount

Converted to

GBP · British Pound

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Day trips from Jersey, the full guide

Before you go to Jersey

Jersey castles and toursCastles, tunnels and tidal walksCompare tours

Jersey staysSt Helier, Gorey, St Brelade basesCheck availability

eSIM for JerseyMost UK networks do not reach hereRead the guide

Insurance for island tripsHealthcare is not NHS; check coverRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Jersey, checked

ETA to visit Jersey from 23 April 2026: £20, valid 2 years or until the passport expires; a UK, Guernsey or Isle of Man ETA is accepted.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Common Travel Area: no routine immigration checks, but photo ID is required; arrivals from Ireland or outside the area need a valid passport.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
DFDS lists ferries to Jersey from Poole, Portsmouth and St Malo; its fastest Poole crossing is about 4 hours 30 minutes.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

All Jersey guides

Where to stayWhere to stay in Jersey: St Helier, Gorey, St Brelade and moreChecked Oct 4, 2026

Head to headFerry or flight to Jersey: routes, ID and the ETA explainedChecked Oct 4, 2026

ItineraryJersey in 3 days: Elizabeth Castle, Mont Orgueil and the War TunnelsChecked Oct 4, 2026

Plan around Jersey

The United Kingdom

What applies to the UK and what Jersey sets itself

Read the guide Isle of Man

Another Crown Dependency with its own ETA

Read the guide St-Malo

The French ferry port, under two hours away

Read the guide UK ETA explained

Who needs it, what it costs, how to apply

Read the guide

Jersey FAQ

Is Jersey part of the UK, and do I need an ETA?

No, Jersey is a self-governing Crown Dependency, but it follows UK entry rules. From 23 April 2026 most visa-exempt visitors need an ETA, and a UK, Guernsey or Isle of Man ETA also works. British and Irish citizens do not need one.

How do you get to Jersey from the UK?

By air from many UK airports in about an hour, or by DFDS ferry from Poole or Portsmouth, with an overnight cabin option from Portsmouth. Poole is the fastest ferry, at around 4 hours 30 minutes. Compare them in Ferry or flight to Jersey.

How many days do you need in Jersey?

Three days cover Mont Orgueil, the War Tunnels, St Helier and a coastal walk. Five days let you add the west coast, Jersey Zoo and a day on the Tidal Trail without rushing the tides.

Do you need a car in Jersey?

Not for a first trip based in St Helier, Gorey or St Aubin, since Liberty Bus links the main sights. A car or e-bike helps in the north and west. Country lanes include 15 mph Green Lanes, so allow more time than the map suggests.

When is the best time to visit Jersey?

May to September for beaches, long days and open attractions, with July and August warmest and busiest. Spring and autumn suit walkers. Castle hours shorten from late October, so check each site.