Once a hub for ship builders, privateers, and merchants, St. Peter Port is now a town written in history, with charms that visitors adore and views that everyone, new and old to the country, can be enchanted by.  A popular read is "The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society" which is a tale about the island during the German occupation.  St. Peter Port has a coastline rimmed with gray and white stone buildings, then dotted with playfully colorful row-houses and quaint little shops. St. Peter Port has been a trading town since before the Roman Empire.  There are several islands in this chain with Guernsey being the second largest located only 30 miles off of the Normandy coast of France.

St. Peter Port, Guernsey's main town, is built into a steep valley with spectacular island and coastal views. This port has been rated as one of the 50 most historic towns in all of England and Wales. The brightly painted houses and medieval castle overlooking the harbor make this a picture perfect port of call with a mild climate and scenic sandy beaches.

Ship Location

This is a tender port.  Anchoring in the harbor, passengers will take a tender to the shore which will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. From there, walking into the downtown is easy.

Getting Around

St. Peter Port is walkable BUT some may wish to take taxis (available on the pier and at stands along the Esplanade). There are local busses as well that will take visitors up the steep hill to several principal sites. The island's excellent bus network takes you directly to all the important attractions and provides a scenic circular drive via Routes 7 and 7A, operating both clockwise and counterclockwise every half hour.

If you get out of town you will find very narrow lanes through small settlements, passes farms raising the prized Guernsey cows and, in places, rugged coastline. The flat one-pound fare for any distance is payable to the driver as you board. From the pier, the main bus terminal is located left, a 15-minute walk along the South Esplanade. Closer boarding locations along the Esplanade for northbound or clockwise bus routes are located outside the Tourist Information Centre and at the roundabout (traffic circle) as you leave the port access road. A Bus Timetable booklet is handy to have and easily obtained at tourist information outlets and at the main bus terminal.

Attractions

Attractions in St. Peter Port are not hard to find. The most famous building in the town is Castle Cornet, a fortified castle built in the 13th century. The Bailiwick of Guernsey Millennium Tapestry is an interesting thing to observe, a colorful representation of the Channel Island's history. There are also many museums and historic attractions found throughout the town's downtown, while beautiful beaches line the shores, perfect for relaxing, walking, and picnicking. Shopping within the town is low duty and plentiful, many merchants selling locally made goods and souvenirs.

Staying in Touch

If you own your own devices many restaurants and cafes along the boardwalk provide Wi-Fi.  Internet facilities are available in the towns' Library and Internet Cafes:  Gias Web on the High Street and Guille-Alles Library next to the town market.