Public transport in Guernsey: bus network guide for visitors
How does Guernsey bus work?
Guernsey's public buses are run by Island Wide Travel (formerly CT Plus Guernsey). Key tourist routes: route 91 (airport to St Peter Port, 20 min), route 5/5A (St Peter Port to German Underground Hospital and Little Chapel area), route 7A (circular island tour, about 90 min). Adult single fare is approximately £1.50-2.00. Day passes cost around £8-10. Services are less frequent than the UK mainland and reduce significantly on Sundays.
Getting around Guernsey by bus
Guernsey’s public bus network is operated by Island Wide Travel, a transport company contracted by the States of Guernsey. The network is smaller and less frequent than Jersey’s LibertyBus, reflecting Guernsey’s smaller size (about 25 square miles) and lower tourism volume — but it covers the main tourist routes adequately, particularly for visitors based in or near St Peter Port.
This guide explains the routes visitors are most likely to need, how to pay, and where the network helps most. It also covers the honest gaps: which sights require a car or taxi, and which can be reached comfortably on foot or by bus.
Note on naming: the British Channel Islands — Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Herm and Alderney — should not be confused with Channel Islands National Park in California. See British Channel Islands vs Channel Islands National Park for the disambiguation.
For the question of whether to rent a car, see car rental in Guernsey.
How the Island Wide Travel network works
Island Wide Travel operates a numbered route network centred on St Peter Port town centre (the Picquet House bus stop on the north esplanade, near the harbour). Routes radiate outwards to the north, south and west of the island.
Fares (2026)
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult single | approximately £1.50-2.00 |
| Child single (5-16) | reduced fare |
| Child under 5 | free |
| 1-day unlimited pass | approximately £8-10 |
| 7-day unlimited pass | approximately £28-32 |
Cash is accepted on board; the driver gives change. There is no equivalent of Jersey’s Avanchi smart card — cash or pre-purchased day passes are the main options. Day passes are sold at the bus stops/stands near the harbour and at the tourist information centre.
Timetable
- Most routes run from approximately 07:00-22:00
- Frequency: 20-40 minutes on main routes during peak hours; 40-60 minutes on rural routes
- Sunday and bank holiday services are reduced to approximately every 60 minutes on main routes; some routes do not run at all on Sundays
- Timetables are at islandwidetravelbuses.com and posted at main bus stops
Note: Guernsey buses can be affected by the island’s narrow lanes, particularly if following large agricultural vehicles. Add 10-15 minutes of buffer on rural routes.
Key tourist routes
Route 91 — Airport to St Peter Port
Journey: Guernsey Airport (GCI) → St Martin’s → St Peter Port (Picquet House)
Journey time: 20-25 minutes
Frequency: every 20-30 minutes during the day
Fare: approximately £2
Route 91 (or its variations — check current numbering at the airport) is the main connection between Guernsey Airport and St Peter Port. Buses stop directly outside the airport terminal and terminate near the harbour in St Peter Port. For foot passengers or those happy to take the bus, this is the cheapest way from airport to town (£2 vs £10-15 for a taxi).
Route 5 and 5A — St Peter Port to the German Underground Hospital and Little Chapel
Journey: St Peter Port → St Martin’s → St Andrew’s → German Underground Hospital / Little Chapel area
Journey time: 20-30 minutes
Frequency: every 30-40 minutes
Fare: approximately £2
Route 5 (and its 5A variant) is the most important tourist route for those wanting to see Guernsey’s inland attractions without a car. It passes close to:
- The German Underground Hospital (La Vassalerie Road, St Andrew’s) — Guernsey’s most-visited paid attraction, a network of tunnels built by forced labour during the German occupation 1940-45. Get off at the nearest stop and walk 5-10 minutes.
- The Little Chapel (St Andrew’s parish) — one of Guernsey’s most unusual sights, a tiny chapel encrusted entirely with shells, broken crockery and glass. The nearest stop is a 5-minute walk.
See things to do in Guernsey for a full itinerary combining these two sites.
Route 7A — Circular island tour
Journey: St Peter Port → Cobo Bay → Vazon Bay → L’Ancresse → St Sampson → St Peter Port
Journey time: approximately 90 minutes for the full circuit
Frequency: every 40-60 minutes
Fare: approximately £2 per section; day pass recommended for the full circuit
Route 7A is the closest Guernsey has to a sightseeing bus. It loops around the northern half of the island, passing through the west coast beach resorts (Cobo Bay, Vazon Bay) and the north coast (L’Ancresse Bay). For visitors who want to see more than St Peter Port without renting a car, this route is the best option. The full loop on route 7A gives a good overview of Guernsey’s geography, even if you stay on the bus the whole way.
Key stops for beach visitors:
- Cobo Bay: one of Guernsey’s most scenic west coast bays, with a sandy beach, rock pools and a cluster of cafés and restaurants
- Vazon Bay: a longer, more exposed beach popular with surfers and families
- L’Ancresse Bay: the north coast’s main beach, on a wide bay with sand dunes
Route 91/92 — St Peter Port circular
These short circular routes serve the town centre and inner suburbs of St Peter Port itself. Useful for getting between the harbour, the bus station and the main shopping areas if carrying luggage.
What Island Wide Travel covers well
St Peter Port town centre: all routes converge on the harbour-side bus stands in St Peter Port, making the town very easy to navigate. Castle Cornet, the covered market, Hauteville House (Victor Hugo’s former home) and the main shopping streets are within walking distance of the main bus stop.
Explore St Peter Port with a self-guided audio tourWest coast beaches: routes 7A and connecting services bring you to Cobo Bay, Vazon and L’Ancresse. These are among Guernsey’s most popular beaches and are genuinely accessible by bus.
German Underground Hospital: route 5/5A makes this the most accessible inland attraction without a car.
Airport connections: route 91 connects the airport to St Peter Port directly.
What Island Wide Travel doesn’t cover well
South coast cliffs: Guernsey’s south coast — Icart Point, Moulin Huet Bay, Saints Bay, Fermain Bay — is among the most beautiful cliff scenery in the islands. Most of it is very poorly served by bus. To reach the south coast independently, you need a car, a bicycle, or a taxi. Walking from St Peter Port to Fermain Bay along the coastal path is possible (about 2.5 miles one way), but it requires a taxi return.
Pleinmont and the far south-west: the Pleinmont headland, Guernsey’s south-western tip with its lookout tower and WWII fortifications, is not served by any regular route.
Rural parishes: St Saviour, Torteval and parts of the Forest parish have minimal or no regular bus service.
Late evenings: the last buses from outlying areas depart by around 21:00-22:00. Dining in a restaurant outside St Peter Port means planning your taxi return.
Taxis as a supplement
Guernsey has a reliable taxi service that plugs the gaps in the bus network. Key taxi contact numbers are posted at the airport and at the tourist information centre in St Peter Port. Pre-booking is recommended for airport arrivals during busy periods (July-August). Typical fares:
- Airport to St Peter Port: £10-15
- St Peter Port to German Underground Hospital: £8-12
- St Peter Port to Pleinmont: £15-20
Guided tours as an alternative to the bus
If the bus network feels limiting, guided half-day and full-day island tours are an excellent alternative. These depart from St Peter Port, cover the main sights by minibus, and include commentary. They are particularly good for first-time visitors who want an overview before deciding where to return independently.
Browse Guernsey guided tours departing from St Peter PortSee things to do in Guernsey for a breakdown of tour options by interest.
Tips for using Guernsey’s buses
- Check the Sunday timetable: Sunday bus services in Guernsey are significantly reduced. Some routes that run every 30-40 minutes on weekdays drop to hourly or stop running entirely on Sundays.
- Buy a day pass if you plan multiple trips: at approximately £8-10, the day pass pays for itself after three single journeys.
- Carry cash: Island Wide Travel accepts cash; check their current policy on contactless payments before relying on a card.
- Allow extra time on rural routes: narrow lanes and occasional slow traffic mean buses can run late. Allow 10-15 minutes buffer.
- Combine with walking: Guernsey’s south coast cliff path is best explored on foot. Take the bus towards St Martin’s or St Andrew’s, walk the cliff path, and taxi or bus back.
- Get the timetable app or printed schedule: island WiFi and mobile signal can be patchy in rural areas; print the key route times before you head out.
Comparison: Guernsey vs Jersey buses
| Factor | Guernsey (Island Wide Travel) | Jersey (LibertyBus) |
|---|---|---|
| Network size | Smaller (fewer routes) | Larger (more routes) |
| Frequency | Lower (30-60 min) | Higher (15-30 min on main routes) |
| Smart card | No equivalent | Avanchi card |
| Day pass | ~£8-10 | ~£10 |
| Airport connection | Route 91 (20-25 min) | Route 15 (20-25 min) |
| Sunday service | Very limited | Reduced but functional |
| Sightseeing route | Route 7A (circular) | No dedicated sightseeing route |
Frequently asked questions — Public transport in Guernsey
How do I get from Guernsey Airport to St Peter Port by bus?
Take Island Wide Travel route 91 (or equivalent — check the current number at the terminal) from directly outside arrivals. Journey time is 20-25 minutes; fare approximately £2. Buses run regularly during the day. A taxi costs approximately £10-15 and takes about 15 minutes.
Is there a bus to the German Underground Hospital?
Yes. Route 5 or 5A from St Peter Port passes within 5-10 minutes’ walk of the German Underground Hospital at La Vassalerie, St Andrew’s parish. Get off at the relevant stop and follow the signposted walk. Journey from St Peter Port: approximately 25-30 minutes total.
Can I get to Sark or Herm by bus from St Peter Port?
No. Sark and Herm are separate islands reached by ferry, not bus. Travel Trident ferries to Herm (20 minutes) and Sark Shipping ferries to Sark (50 minutes) depart from St Peter Port’s Albert Pier. See Herm day trip from Guernsey and Sark day trip from Guernsey.
Does the Guernsey bus serve the south coast cliffs?
Very poorly. The south coast — including Icart Point, Moulin Huet Bay and Saints Bay — is not on a regular bus route. To visit the south coast cliff paths without a car, take a taxi to a starting point and walk back to St Peter Port along the coastal path (approximately 4-6 miles depending on route). See Guernsey coastal walks for recommended walking routes.
What time does the last bus run in Guernsey?
Most routes finish between 21:00 and 22:30. Verify the last departure time for your specific route before setting out, particularly for routes from rural areas. Missing the last bus requires a taxi, which is reliable but adds cost.