As the southernmost spot in the British Isles, Jersey is often blessed with brilliant beach weather. There are masses of gorgeous beaches dotted along the coastline, each with a different character, from urban strands and wild dunescapes to secret coves. Many are sandy, none are overdeveloped, and the island’s tidal range makes them excitingly dynamic, altering with every passing hour.
Best of all, in summer, the sea temperature hovers around 18C – similar to, or a touch warmer than, Cornwall, Dorset or Sussex. As well as swimming, there’s everything from rockpooling and snorkelling to sailing and bodyboarding to enjoy.
All our recommendations have been hand-selected and tested by our destination expert to help you discover the best beaches in Jersey. Find out more below or for more inspiration, see our guides to the best hotels, things to do, restaurants, and bars and nightlife.
St Aubin’s Bay
The spacious bay immediately west of St Helier, Jersey’s capital, is superb for dinghy sailing, waterskiing and wakeboarding. It’s fringed by a splendid sweep of sand with a promenade and cycle path – perfect for a breezy leg-stretch.
Insider tip: At low tide, you can cross the causeway to Elizabeth Castle, a medieval defence, steeped in history.
How to get there: Any westbound bus route takes around 10 to 15 minutes from St Helier. There are also several car parks and laybys.
St Aubin’s Bay, just west of St Helier, has a harbour and long stretch of sand
Belcroute Bay
Part sandy and part pebbly, sheltered by wooded cliffs and dotted with rockpools, this serene little cove feels like a special find. The waters closest to shore are often calm enough for stand-up paddleboarding – a blissful way to enjoy the sunrise.
Insider tip: Visit in the morning, since Belcroute faces east and is in shade after midday.
How to get there: The bus 12A takes around 20 minutes from St Helier, then it’s a short walk. There’s also a small car park.
St Brelade’s Bay
Generous and as golden as Jersey butter, St Brelade’s is often voted the island’s best beach. Close your eyes as you kick off your shoes – on a summer’s day, the sand is so soft and warm, you could be in the tropics.
Insider tip: La Brise offers chic all-day dining, and there’s sumptuous local seafood at Oyster Box.
How to get there: Take bus 12, 12A, 14 or 15 from St Helier for around 30 minutes. There are also several car parks in the town.
In the summer, the soft sand at St Brelade’s Bay feels like something from the tropics – Andy Le Gresley
Portelet Bay
Access to this pretty bay is via a flight of steps from the clifftop. It’s worth the effort, as it’s small enough to feel cosy, with south-facing sand and a popular café.
Insider tip: There’s no need to haul a picnic. Grab a takeaway pizza from the Portelet Bay Café instead.
How to get there: Take the bus 12A for 20 minutes from St Helier, then walk half a mile (1km), but be warned it’s a steep descent. There’s also a small car park.
Beauport Bay
Crystal-clear water and scenic surroundings, framed by sculptural rocks, Beauport is a lovely quiet spot for a dip. Although it faces south, the cliffs to the west offer shade in the afternoon.
Insider tip: The jauntily painted Frida Cowlo van in the car park serves jazzy ice creams, coffee and milkshakes.
How to get there: Take bus 12, 12A, 14 or 22 for around 30 minutes from St Helier, then it’s just over a half-mile (1km) walk with a steep descent. There’s a small car park too.
Beauport Bay is a quiet spot with scenic surroundings – Andy Le Gresley
St Ouen’s Bay
Jersey’s surfing, windsurfing and blokarting set favour the western shore. St Ouen’s five miles (8km) of pale sand are scrubbed clean by each tide and frisked by Atlantic breezes. Backing the beach is a dunescape that’s particularly picturesque at sunset.
Insider tip: Absolute Adventures in Le Braye rents out blokarts, and several surf shops, including Splash, offer surfing lessons.
How to get there: Take a 50-minute bus (22 or X22) from St Helier. There are also several car parks.
Sand dunes line the beach at St Ouen’s Bay
Bouley Bay
Peaceful, unspoilt and relatively remote, northeast-facing Bouley Bay is a magnet for scuba divers, free divers and snorkellers. Its pebble-strewn beach and deep, biodiverse waters are flanked by steep cliffs, cloaked in bracken and gorse.
Insider tip: Bouley Bay Dive Centre offers scuba diving, freediving, snorkelling and paddleboarding trips and has equipment to rent.
How to get there: Take bus 4 for around 20 minutes from St Helier, then it’s just over a half-mile (1km) walk. There’s also a small car park.
La Grève de Lecq
With a Jerriais name that translates as Lecq Beach, this north-coast spot suits families as it’s sheltered, there are sparkling rockpools to discover and the car park is close to the shore. It’s in a hamlet with good cafés and pubs.
Insider tip: The Moulin de Lecq pub is worth a visit for its quirky bar, built around the massive cogs of a watermill.
How to get there: Take bus 9 for around 40 minutes from St Helier, or there is a car park.
With rockpools and a choice of pubs and cafés, sheltered La Grève de Lecq suits families
Plémont Bay
Plémont is like a magic trick: at high tide, there’s nothing but rocks, but at low tide, a pristine beach appears, edged by caves and tidal pools that delight curious, adventurous kids.
Insider tip: An endearing sculpture celebrates the small colony of puffins that nest on the cliffs in summer.
How to get there: Bus 8 from St Helier takes around 40 minutes; then it’s a 15-minute walk with a steep descent. There is parking available.
Royal Bay of Grouville
Also known as Long Beach, this east-facing bay was given its rather grand official name by Queen Victoria, who was a fan. It’s calm and sheltered, and good for swimming. It’s also where Jersey’s finest oysters are harvested.
Insider tip: You can guzzle Jersey oysters at an unbeatable price during the daily Happy Hour at The Moorings in nearby Gorey.
How to get there: Take bus 1, 1A or 2 for around 25 minutes from St Helier. There are also several car parks.
Some of Jersey’s finest oysters are harvested at the Royal Bay of Grouville
How we choose
Every beach in this curated list has been chosen by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of areas and styles, from popular city beaches to lesser known corners – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Emma Gregg
Travel journalist Emma Gregg has visited all seven continents and more than 100 islands. She spent a blissful summer in the Channel Islands as a teenager and has had a soft spot for them ever since.
Emma Gregg, Telegraph Travel’s Jersey expert
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