In an era of growing anti-tourism sentiment across Europe, from water gun antics in Barcelona to mandatory reservations for day-trippers to Venice, it’s easy to feel as if our friends across the pond aren’t exactly in their most welcoming mood these days.
While all the most famous hotspots shout a big, resounding NO to more visitors, this small European island, filled with medieval sights and scenic beaches, is actually begging for more tourists year-round.
Ok, that may not be the exact wording they used, but what else are we supposed to take away from the fact they’re launching a full-fledged year-round campaign to draw in foreign guests?
Guernsey Firing On All Cylinders This Year
A British-administered island just off the Northern French coast, very few Americans are aware of, Guernsey has big plans for 2026.
More specifically, the local tourism board Visit Guernsey does: while other European destinations are crumbling under the weight of overtourism, the Channel Island is in fact banking on more foreign guests to keep its largely tourism-based economy going.
In practice, this will involve attracting prominent influencer travelers, extending the French ID deal through 2026 (allowing French nationals to enter without presenting a passport), and improving inter-island links between Guernsey and its Channel sister of Jersey.
According to a recent report referenced by the BBC, there has been a 55% increase in ‘general day-trippers’ visiting Guernsey in 2025, compared to the previous year: from 13,968 in 2024, the offbeat island welcomed 21,592 visitors as of the latest count.
As for the target audience, you can expect Guernsey to be promoted among solo travelers, people aged 35+, families, and couples.
That sounds great, but what does it actually have to offer?
One Of Europe’s Last Truly Unspoiled Islands
Guernsey is one of Europe’s most fascinating destinations because it exists in that undefined, centuries-long ‘limbo’ between the Anglo-Saxon and French worlds.
Yes, it is a British Crown dependency (with a high degree of autonomy, at that), but due to lying just 27 miles off the coast of France, versus 70 miles from England, it is not exactly exclusively British in character.
Locals are British passport holders, after all, and they do speak primarily English, so no need to ‘oui oui baguette‘ your way around the 30-square-mile island. If you’re lucky, though, you may catch glimpses of a regional French variation called patois.
Rooted in Old Norman, it is one of the oldest French dialects still in use, but Guernsey’s unique cultural standing and language are not the only fascinating things about it:
A Picturesque Medieval Capital
The island’s capital, St. Peter Port, is a charming harbor town dominated by an 800-year-old fortress, Castle Cornet, formerly used to defend its inhabitants from assailants. It now houses a maritime history museum and a daily, commemorative noon gun firing.
If you’re geeky about WWII, you should know Guernsey, alongside Jersey and other smaller Channel Islands, was occupied by the Nazis from 1940 to 1945, and there’s a landmark German Occupation Museum in St. Peter Port showcasing war-era artifacts.
Still within St. Peter Port’s municipal boundaries, Hauteville House is the opulent former residence of legendary French writer Victor Hugo, whereas High Street is the town’s cobbled main street, flanked by independent boutiques and traditional Guernésiais eateries.
A Chapel Clad In Shells & Pebblestones
Gorgeous as it may be, St. Peter Port isn’t Guernsey’s only trick up its sleeve.
A short 5-minute drive from the main harbor, Ferman Bay is a sheltered cove and snorkeling spot amid rocky cliffs, backed by a cozy cafe with epic coastal views.
Within easy access of the town, the Little Chapel is dubbed the world’s smallest chapel: adorned with over 50,000 shells and pebbles, all forming intricate designs, it is a must-see for visitors to the island.
In summer, when Guernsey is warm enough, but not swelteringly hot like the Mediterranean, Coco Bay offers wide sandy beaches for surfing and coastal walks.
Last but not least, if you can’t get over the unruffled beaches, Saints Bay has plenty more of those secluded swimming sites, as well as clifftop paths and a striking Fort Le Marchant, a military fortress prized as one of the island’s top sunset spots.
Americans Need A Digital Permit To Enter Guernsey
Starting April 2026, Americans will need to apply for a pre-travel permit, called Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) if they’re arriving to Guernsey from outside the UK and any of its Crown Dependencies.
An ETA costs £16 to be processed, or around $21.50, and you can apply online via the official UK Government website.
Once approved, it is valid for stays up to 6 months, for a period of 2 years, or until your passport expires if it’s running out earlier, across the United Kingdom and associated territories, like Guernsey.
Check the official entry requirements for travel to the United Kindgom, which also concerns the Channel Islands, here.
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