Travel guide
Getting around Guernsey, and over to the other islands
Guernsey is small enough to explore by bus or e-bike, with a hire car or taxi when you need one. Here's what each option costs, the local rules that catch visitors out, and how to handle the fog and cancellations that can disrupt a trip.
Compare your options
Before you travel
Delays and cancellations: how to plan for them
21%
of visitors said travel to and from the island was the least enjoyable part of their trip, mostly because of delays, cancellations and poor communication.
Source: States of Guernsey, Travel and Visitor Annual Report 2025.
Leave slack around fog-prone flights
Fog can close Guernsey Airport for hours at a time. Avoid tight onward connections, and don't book the last flight before something you can't miss.
Know where to check live updates
Aurigny disruption updates, Guernsey Airport arrivals & departures and Brittany Ferries sailing updates. Save them before you go.
Book accommodation you can change
Choose free-cancellation rates where you can, so a delayed arrival doesn't cost you a night. If you're stuck on the island, find a room for tonight.
Get travel insurance that covers disruption
Look for cover for delays, missed departures and extra accommodation, and check the policy includes the Channel Islands. UK visitors get immediately necessary healthcare under the UK–Guernsey agreement, but it doesn't cover getting you home if you're ill.
Check your phone plan before you land
UK mobile roaming charges can apply in the Channel Islands, which matters when you're checking for updates. Check with your provider, or use a travel eSIM.
By bus
The bus is the most popular way to get around: 48% of visitors use it. Routes run around the coast and between the main villages, with most starting from the town terminus in St Peter Port.
- £1.70 a journey paying by card, or £1.25 with a Puffinpass (fares from 30 March 2026)
- Passes: £10 for one day, £15 for a two-day visitor pass
- Family pass: £20 for one day, £30 for two days
Download the Buses gg app for live times, or see bus information on Visit Guernsey.
By e-bike or bike
Cycling is the best way to find the quiet lanes. Look out for the Ruettes Tranquilles, lanes where the speed limit is 15 mph and walkers, cyclists and horse riders have priority. The island is hillier than it looks, so an e-bike is worth the extra.
Go Guernsey Bike Hire rents e-bikes from £45 a day or £165 a week, plus guided e-bike tours (2025 price list). On Sark you can hire bikes from A to B Cycles, Bam's Bikes and Avenue Cycles.
By hire car
Hertz and SIXT have desks in the airport arrivals hall and can arrange pick-up and drop-off at the harbour. Europcar Guernsey and Value Rent a Car also operate on the island, and the EVie car-share scheme has electric cars to hire by the hour at the harbour.
Compare car hire at Guernsey AirportBy taxi
A quarter of visitors (25%) use taxis. There are ranks at the airport, in St Peter Port town centre and at the Bridge in St Sampson. You can book through the Guernsey Taxi app or the 1st Call Taxis app, and chauffeur firms cover airport transfers and evenings out.
Tip: book ahead for early-morning flights and evenings, when demand is highest. Your hotel can usually arrange it for you.
Over to Herm, Sark and Alderney
A third of visitors make the hop to Herm, Sark or Alderney. Herm and Sark are car-free.
- Herm: about 20 minutes on the Travel Trident ferry from St Peter Port. Buy tickets at the kiosk or on board.
- Sark: year-round sailings with Isle of Sark Shipping, bookable online.
- Alderney: a short Aurigny flight from Guernsey (direct flights from Southampton too), or the Alderney Ferry Service passenger boat from St Peter Port. All the ways to get there.
Driving rules that catch visitors out
Speed limits
35 mph maximum, 25 mph in towns and near schools, and 15 mph on Ruettes Tranquilles.
Filter in turn
At junctions signed 'filter in turn', no road has priority: drivers take turns from each direction.
Free parking, with a clock
Most parking is free but time-limited. Display a parking clock set to your arrival time.
Narrow lanes
Many lanes are single-track with high walls. Go slowly and be ready to reverse to a passing place.
You drive on the left, as in the UK.
Common questions
Do I need a car in Guernsey?
Not necessarily. The island is small and the bus network covers the coast and main villages, so many visitors manage with buses, e-bikes and the odd taxi. A hire car is handy for families, lots of luggage or seeing everything in a short stay.
How much is the bus in Guernsey?
From 30 March 2026 a single journey is £1.70 paying by card (£1.25 with a Puffinpass), visitor passes are £10 for one day or £15 for two, and family passes are £20 for one day or £30 for two days. Buses only take contactless payment, not cash.
Can I take a car to Herm or Sark?
No. Both islands are car-free. Herm is about 20 minutes by the Travel Trident ferry from St Peter Port; Sark is served by Isle of Sark Shipping. On Sark you get around on foot, by bike or by horse and carriage.
What is 'filter in turn'?
At junctions signed 'filter in turn', no road has priority: drivers take turns from each direction, one car at a time.
Do I have to pay for parking in Guernsey?
Public parking is free, but most areas are disc zones: you display a parking clock showing your arrival time. Clocks are available on the ferries, at the Information Centre and at the police station — hire cars usually come with one.
What happens if my flight or ferry is cancelled?
Fog and strong winds can disrupt flights and sailings. Check your operator's live updates, contact them about rebooking, and keep your accommodation flexible. Travel insurance that covers travel disruption can help with extra nights and costs.