How to Spend a Day in St Peter Port

Situated on the east coast of Guernsey with views out to our neighbouring islands of Herm and Sark, St Peter Port is a charming town with cobbled streets that blends a rich history with excellent restaurants and local shops.

If you are looking to spend the day in St Peter Port, there is so much to do. Explore museums and art galleries, have adventures on land and sea, experience delicious local food or take part in seasonal activities - there's something for everyone. In this guide, we've shared our recommendations for making the most of your day in St Peter Port.

Breakfast

A good breakfast before a day filled with adventure is essential. There are many places in St Peter Port that serve delicious breakfasts, whether you want pastries and coffee, pancakes and waffles, or a full English breakfast. A few of our suggestions include:

Pastries with a view of Havelet and Castle Cornet at Coco Mini Brasserie.
Classic breakfast dishes with inspiration from across the Atlantic at Fat Rascal.
The works: from freshly baked pastries and granola to eggs however you like them and a full English, at Christies, with views over St Peter Port harbour on their balcony.
Relaxed cafe dining with a great menu selection at Cafe Emilia.

Culture

St Peter Port is a town filled with culture and history, documented in a variety of museums, art galleries and local attractions. Spend the morning at one of the following spots, or you can try and fit in a few.

Hauteville House and Gardens, the former home of writer Victor Hugo, which he decorated himself whilst living on Guernsey during his exile from France. Open April to September.
Castle Cornet is an 800-year-old fortification that documents our Island's history. With four individual museums within the castle that house a variety of exhibitions, history in action shows and beautiful gardens to explore, it's worth spending a few hours exploring.
If you’re visiting Castle Cornet, continue along the pier to Castle Breakwater Lighthouse. Used as an aid to vessels coming into St Peter Port, it is also a popular destination for local fishing and provides a scenic walk.
La Vallette Underground Military Museum covers Guernsey's military history, including World War One and the German Occupation of the island during World War Two, as well as the island's own militia and is set in a complex of air-conditioned tunnels.
The Guernsey Museum at Candie has a museum and art gallery with a rolling programme of exhibitions, as well as an interactive room for kids, a cafe and a gift shop, all of which are housed in a Victorian Bandstand. From 30th September - 15th December the only Renoir exhibition in the world in 2023, 'Renoir in Guernsey, 1883', will be taking place with a fine art exhibition at Candie.
Whilst visiting Candie Museum, make sure you explore Candie Gardens. The gardens have a range of beautiful flowers, benches and patches of grass to sit and relax on and a statue of Victor Hugo overlooking the sea.
For a taste of the local art scene, head to the Art for Guernsey Gallery in the Old Quarter, which hosts a range of exhibitions celebrating art inspired by Guernsey, and take a visit to see what's on in the George Crossan Gallery in the Market Place

Activities

There are plenty of exciting activities to get try during your visit to St Peter Port. From swimming and water adventures to in-land exploring.

Wild swimming can be enjoyed at the Bathing Pools, a group of saltwater pools that are constantly topped up by the sea, providing a chance to enjoy wild swimming in a safe and contained environment. The Bathing Pools have recently been renovated, with new changing rooms and a cafe just above the pools to warm up with tea or coffee and a piece of cake after your swim.
For the more adventurous swimmer, you could join local swimmers and head to Havelet Bay. At high tide, you can swim directly off the inland slipway. You can swim to the slipway out at Castle Cornet or around to the Bathing Pools. After your swim, rest on the beach or sea wall, look out over the bay and enjoy an ice cream from the van parked at the top of the slipway or the ice cream hatch at Octopus Restaurant (currently closed for refurbishment).
Island Rib Voyages operate out of St Peter Port and offer exhilarating tours of our waters. You can see Puffins and Seals up close with Wildlife Voyages, delve into our Island’s past with tower and bunker tours, or explore from a new perspective with the Hanois Lighthouse adventure tour and more.
If you’d prefer to stay on land, the Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides and Tours of Guernsey offers guided tours of St Peter Port and beyond. Local, knowledgeable guides will take you around town, revealing its secrets and showing you areas you might not have seen before.
To see more of the coastline, visit Guernsey Coastal Cruises, who operate from Albert Marina (opposite the St Peter Port bus terminus). They run daily trips to locations around the north and southeast coastlines, as well as to Herm and Jethou, perfect for seeing hidden coves and unique wildlife. Check their website for the most up-to-date sailings.

Lunch

After a morning filled with exploration and adventure, it’s probably worth having a rest and sitting down for some tasty lunch. We have a whole host of options, from al fresco cafes to rooftop bistros and more, and here is just a selection.

Anni's Hideaway, an authentic Austrian Patisserie, is hidden away about St Peter Port and has a menu catering to all tastes and dietary requirements.
Waffle and Co offers homemade waffles with ice creams and all the toppings that can be enjoyed with views out over the harbour. Their newest addition, an aero-stream van by the al fresco seating area, has a range of Berlin-inspired street food made to order.
Mylk Market Kiosk is a popular kiosk in the Market Place offering coffees, milkshakes, paninis, salads, crepes, ice cream and more. You can enjoy your food on the benches outside the kiosk, or sit and people-watch on the benches in the middle of the bustling Market Square.
Dix Neuf in the arcade has room to sit inside or outside in their al fresco dining area. They offer traditional cuisine, modern fusion dishes and French classics; there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The Terrace overlooks St Peter Port and the harbour and has a menu that focuses on Thai food. With extensive options, including sandwiches and sushi, there is sure to be something for all tastes.
Fukku's menu is inspired by modern Japanese street food. From ramen and poke bowls to tempura dishes and katsu curry, they offer a wide selection of dishes to eat in or take away.

A relaxed afternoon

There are plenty of relaxed ways to spend your afternoon in St Peter Port. You’re sure to find something that will interest you, whether you’re a literary lover, someone who loves being creative or looking for some retail therapy.

We have a range of independent retailers and boutique stores, as well as some more common chains, where you will often find discounted prices as Guernsey does not charge VAT. Whether you’re interested in fashion, makeup, jewellery or looking for that perfect unique gift to take home, explore our shops to your heart's content. Some places to visit for a souvenir or gift include Indica, Make & Made, Maison Demain, Evie & Me, Cadeaux and more.
The Guille Alles Library is a beautiful older building that has thousands of books in its collection for all literary tastes. You can sit and read on their comfortable window seats, find a desk to set up at or join in one of the many activities they have planned, from children's story times and games to book clubs and craft workshops for adults.
Iris and Dora, Guernsey's premier art studio, has recently opened a new studio in St Peter Port in the arcade called ‘The Hub’ as well as the 'Make and Made Community Crafthouse' next door. They offer pottery painting, host art workshops and have a gift shop selling locally made items.
A great way to pass a relaxing afternoon, we have a range of places to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea, with campaign and prosecco on offer, homemade sandwiches and cakes and wide selections of tea. You can view our full afternoon tea offering here.
The Petit Train offers sightseeing trips with onboard commentary around St Peter Port. The train departs from Albert Pier and tours last between 35 to 40 minutes.

Cocktails and pre-dinner drinks

Start the evening off right with some pre-dinner cocktails, wines and other beverages on offer from a range of bars.

Rouge is a wine and cheese bar. The wine list boasts over 120 options, which can be enjoyed with a cheese and charcuterie platter.
Tinto serves traditional Spanish tapas with wine or gin and tonics from their extensive collection.
Koi Koi is a Japanese-inspired fusion restaurant and bar tucked away off the main street of St Peter Port. You’ll find a great drinks menu, including classic cocktails and shooters as well as fusion twists.
Fifty-Seven is a Mediterranean-style restaurant with a contemporary lounge-style bar on the top floor offering great wine and cocktails with a view.
The Crown Club at the OGH is the perfect spot to enjoy drinks with a view. Their drinks menu is expansive, offering everything from cocktails and spirits to wine and champagne. You can sit inside the bar area, or outside on one of their two terraces with spectacular views.

Dinner

Guernsey is known for our delicious food, and we have a range of eateries in St Peter Port, many of which have great views and offer food cooked with the freshest local ingredients. A few of these options include:

Red serves delicious streaks and a range of tasty side dishes. They also have a bar upstairs with an extensive drinks menu.
Rosso offers traditional stone-baked pizza and pasta with views over the harbour and beyond.
Balthazar serves locally caught seafood, steaks and a selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. You can relax with a G&T, champagne or cocktail in the cosy bar area whilst you wait to be seated.
The Hook is the Islands premiere sushi and seafood restaurant, serving the freshest local seafood with views over Victoria Harbour. After your meal, head upstairs to their bar, the Hook and Sling, for delicious cocktails and great music.
The Cornerstone is a bar and bistro serving traditional pub food.
Gusto is a small Italian restaurant with a focus on Italian heritage dishes made with the freshest ingredients.
The Copenhagen Restaurant at the Hotel de Havelet, just up the hill from Victor Hugo's house, serves delicious food with a Scandinavian nod.

You can find a full list of restaurants, bistros, bars and cafes here.

After dinner entertainment

After your meal, it's time for some evening entertainment. We are lucky to have a thriving theatre and live music scene, with many performances and concerts to choose from, as well as visiting talent.

St James, at the top of St Peter Port, has a long list of scheduled performances and events, hosting local and visiting music artists, comedy acts and bands frequently.
A short walk out of town, the stage at Beau Sejour is a popular venue with local and international theatre companies to perform. From Shakespeare to musicals, and even hypnotists, there is a wide range of performances to choose from.
Many of our bars host local artists and DJs, so if you decide to continue exploring our bars and restaurants, you might stumble across a local musician adding to the atmosphere of the establishment or a DJ playing great music for a night of dancing.
Guernsey may be small, but we still have a buzzing nightlife. We have a handful of bars with dancefloors, such as Amigos, Bad Habits and Mojito, and two nightclubs, Canvas and Les Folies D'Amour, where you can spend the evening listening to music and dancing.

For even more ideas for how to spend an evening in St Peter Port, read this blog.