Jersey packs a surprising amount into an island nine miles across. The prehistoric passage grave at La Hougue Bie, the medieval fortifications at Mont Orgueil and Elizabeth Castle, the German World War II tunnels and emplacements, and the Jersey Museum in St Helier together cover most of the island's layered history.
The coastline is the other main draw. St Brelade's Bay on the south coast is the most family-friendly beach; Plémont and Grève de Lecq in the north are quieter and more dramatic. Corbière Lighthouse at the southwestern tip is reached across a tidal causeway — time your visit with the tide table. Cycling is an easy way to see the green lanes of the interior, where speed is restricted and cyclists have right of way.