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Jersey

Jersey is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands. It's a self-governing dependency of the British Crown, but not part of the United Kingdom. It lies 14 miles (23 km) west of the Cherbourg peninsula of France in the Bay of St Malo, rather than in the Channel proper.

With a resident population of around 103,000 (2021), Jersey extends some 9 miles east-west and 5 miles north-south. St Helier on the south coast is the capital, with a third of the population - it's the port, the transport hub, and has accommodation, shops, entertainment and visitor attractions such as Elizabeth Castle.

A broad bay sweeps west from town to St Brelade, which includes the charming village of St Aubin and the popular beaches on its south coast. To the east of the town are the parishes of Grouville and St Clement, which also have sandy beaches, as well as the small village of Gorey, overlooked by Mont Orgeuil Castle. The rest of Jersey is gently rolling country, a quiltwork of small fields with small, straggling villages named for their parish church: St Peter (location of the airport), St Lawrence, St Ouen, St Mary, Trinity, St John and St Martin.

Understand
The Bailiwick of Jersey is the name of the political entity, and Jersey is the only inhabited island. Outlying islets such as Les Minquiers are being eroded and were once much larger. There are many legends of Lyonnesse and lands lost under the sea that hereabouts may have some basis in fact, with other examples around Guernsey, and in the Isles of Scilly across the Channel.

The Channel Islands' odd status arose because in 1066 William Duke of Normandy gained the crown of England, so he and his descendants ruled many parts of France and all of England. A series of wars, and peace treaties followed by more wars, wrested continental territory away from England to the growing kingdom of France, until all that remained were these islands. And so they remain today. The Bailiwick of Jersey, like that of Guernsey, is therefore a Crown Dependency. They have the same monarch as the United Kingdom but are not subject to the UK parliament or legislation or - crucially - taxation in any way. They cede their defence and most international affairs to the UK, but were never part of the European Union.

The defence role in practice meant the British using the Channel Islands to exert their sea power, preferably to the detriment of the French. One 17th century governor, Sir George Carteret, did the King a few favours and was rewarded with lands in America which he named New Jersey. The islands were fortified against invasion during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars but there was little fighting here. And when France was overrun during the Second World War, the British left the islands to German occupation rather than fight a doomed rearguard action. The Germans likewise fortified and tunnelled against a counter-attack that never came. So Jersey has many bastions and bunkers that were never bombarded and are thus in good condition, and interesting places to visit.

Post-war Jersey returned to its staple occupation, agriculture: the Jersey cow remained highly productive, but was no longer a standard component of dowries. Tourism grew on a small scale and never became a mass-market. The big growth factor was Jersey's low tax, which made it an attractive domicile for international companies and for the very wealthy (very wealthy - a mere millionaire doesn't cut it here.) A quarter of the workforce are engaged in the legal and financial sectors, and the mild climate suits prosperous but ageing bones.

Since Jersey is a mainly summer tourist destination, some attractions and hotels are closed in winter.

Talk
Jersey was heavily anglicised in the 19th and 20th centuries so English is universal. You'll see French signage, but if it looks mis-spelled, it's actually the local language of Jèrriais. This is still spoken by a dwindling minority, as a badge of identity rather than practical communication. The problem is that each parish developed its own dialect, so they could barely understand each other or the parent tongue of Normandy French. Jèrriais is taught in schools but this is a modern standardised version, so it feels like a foreign invention not the way grand-methe used to talk.

Entry requirements
If you enter Jersey from the other Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom, there are no regular immigration checks. However, you must carry photo identification and may be asked to confirm your nationality and prove you entered the British Isles legally (this is very rare).

If you enter from the Republic of Ireland, immigration checks will not routinely apply, but unless you are a British or Irish passport holder, you must carry your passport with proof of your right to enter Jersey (see below). EU nationals may carry their ID card in lieu of a passport in some circumstances (see below).

If you enter Jersey from outside the Common Travel Area, immigration checks will apply for all travellers. You must have a valid passport. British & Irish passport holders (who have right of abode) & settled status holders can enter for an indefinite period, much like entering the UK. Otherwise, you may need to get a visa; requirements are aligned with the UK, so many countries have visa-free status. If you are a French national, you can use your national ID card if you are travelling on a day return trip from France.

Customs checks apply for all entries and the current duty free allowances can be viewed online or at the ports of entry.

By plane
Jersey's own airline Blue Islands has direct flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, Exeter, Norwich and Southampton, and connections from several other cities. There are several flights daily from Guernsey and a day trip is possible.

Easyjet flies to Jersey from Belfast International, Glasgow, Liverpool, London Gatwick and Manchester. Jersey also has direct flights from London Heathrow, Leeds Bradford (Jet2), Dublin (Aer Lingus), Dusseldorf (Eurowings) and Munich (Lufthansa). Air links from France are poor, for instance nothing direct from Paris, you have to double back via a UK mainland airport.

is in the parish of St Peter; it's small but modern. There's no currency exchange as most travellers arrive with UK sterling valid on the island, look for a downtown bank or ATM if you need more. There is car hire from Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt and Budget - their desks are in Departures. The deal with fuel is that you'll use very little, so never refill the tank, just return the vehicle and they'll charge whatever you used. The airside departure area has a remarkable entity, a duty-free shop offering genuine bargains. In Sept 2022 a litre of spirits was £11, against a UK supermarket price of £15.

Bus 15 runs from the airport to St Aubin and St Helier every 15 min (20 min at weekends), taking 30 min. Others are Bus 9 from Greve de Lecq and St Ouen, and Bus 22 from L'Etacq, Corbiere and Red Houses. All journeys cost the standard flat fare, see below.

By boat
Condor Ferries sail to Jersey from Poole (4½ hr) and Portsmouth (10 hours) in England, St Malo (90 min) in France and from Guernsey (1 hour). All these ferries are year-round and take vehicles, with daily sailings in summer, but the fast-cat from Poole is more likely to be cancelled in bad weather. Day-trips are possible to and from Guernsey and St Malo.

Manche Iles sail to Jersey from Granville (90 min), Barneville-Carteret (1 hour) and Diélette in Normandy. These are for foot-passengers only and are scheduled for day-trips from Normandy, with one outward sailing in the morning and one return late afternoon. They likewise have day-trips from Jersey to Sark, and between Jersey and Guernsey either way.

in St Helier is the usual landing point, but some of the Manche Iles ferries sail to Gorey on the east coast. You can sail your own boat to one of several marinas, see Jersey Ports for facilities, rules, tariffs and helpful info.

Get around
Jersey as a whole is not an urban place, and getting around is not as easy as a traveller from a big city might expect:

 * Although Jersey sports a comprehensive bus network, peripheral routes operate infrequently (sometimes not more than once an hour) and the service can end as early as 5:30 PM on some routes. If you intend to use buses as your primary transport, you need to plan your visit around the bus timetables. Otherwise, you may spend a lot of time waiting or worse — get stranded in the countryside.
 * There are no ride-hailing apps on the island, and taxis generally don't just drive around idly, so if you need a taxi, you will have to call them. It's a good idea to write down the phone numbers of taxi companies beforehand.
 * Walking can be challenging if you are not used to long hikes in the countryside: the terrain is hilly, footpaths are lacking outside of large settlements, and although Jersey is fairly compact, it's not compact enough for casual walking. For example, the popular railway walk from St. Aubin to La Corbière and back is 13.5 km.

If you have extensive plans around the island, consider hiring an e-bike or a car, especially if your accommodation is not in St. Helier.

Places are referred to locally by parish, the boundaries of which are ancient and idiosyncratic. References to highway numbers such as A12 (for the airport) are met by eye-rolling and "Oh, you mean Route de Beaumont . . . ". But the numbers are how they are indicated on road signage and online, so don't be fazed. You were already marked as an outsider by the big red "H" on your hired car number plate.

By bus
(+44 1534 828555) is the hub for all public buses, operated by LibertyBus on behalf of the Government of Jersey. There's a small cafe, info office, and rental automat for Brompton folding bikes. These are the only bikes that may be carried on the buses, as they fold up into the size of a lunch box. The busiest routes, west to St Aubin and the airport, start from the street outside, as they use double-deckers which can't fit the low garage. The other routes use single-decker Optare "kneelers".

Timings below are for the main routes (as of 2022) M-Sa 08:30-17:30. They're less frequent at other times, and minor routes stop running by 18:00 (or even earlier on Sundays).
 * East to Gorey: Bus 1 runs every 20 min along the coast via Havre le Pas and Le Hocq. 1a hourly is via Samarès Manor and 2 hourly is via Longueville.
 * Northeast towards St Martin's and the zoo are Bus 3 hourly, 13 via La Hogue Bie and Gorey, and 23 via Trinity. Bus 21 also runs to Trinity and La Hougue Bie but not the zoo.
 * North are 4 (circular) via Trinity and Bouley Bay, 5 via Sion to St John's, and 7 hourly via St Lawrence (glass church) and Hamptonne museum to St John's.
 * Northwest: Bus 8 runs every two hours via the war tunnels, St Ouen and Grosnez to Portinfer, and see Bus 9 below. Bus 28 runs to the war tunnels Apr-Oct.
 * West the principal route is Bus 15, every 15 min to St Aubin, Red Houses and the airport, taking 30 min. Others head west hourly then fan out, so cumulatively there's a bus every 5-10 min along the coast. These are Bus 9 to the airport, St Ouen and Greve de Lecq, 12a to St Aubin, St Brelade, Red Houses and Corbiere, 14 to St Aubin and St Brelade, and 22 to the airport, Red Houses, Corbiere and L'Etaq.
 * Circular town routes are Bus 19 to the hospital and north edge, and 16 to the southeast edge.

Bus tickets can be purchased on the bus by using a Jersey AvanchiCard (a smart card like the Oyster card), contactless credit or debit cards, or using cash. A single bus ticket can be used on two connecting journeys (a through-ticket), for instance from St Aubin via St Helier to Gorey. A transfer is valid for one hour.

The standard fare for an adult as of Aug 2022 is £2.50 cash, £2.10 contactless and £1.85 by AvanchiCard. Children of 5-16 pay half the adult fare and under 5s ride free.

Discover Jersey tickets are valid for 1, 2, 3 or 7 days unlimited travel by bus, but you need to make two separate return trips per day to break even. Fare concessions are available for some younger or older people, but UK Concessionary Passes are not valid in Jersey.

By road
If you intend to bring your own vehicle, check your insurance, as some UK & EU motor policies don't cover the Channel Islands. For rental, Hertz, Avis and Europcar are based at the airport, while Zebra Cars and Sovereign are downtown in St Helier. They'll usually require you to be aged 21 or over, and to hold a valid driving licence with no endorsements for dangerous or drunken driving in the last 5 years.

Drive on the left, and most driving conventions and signage are the same as the UK - however there is a Jersey Highway Code that modifies the UK one. Roads are in good condition but even A-roads are often narrow and twisty.

The maximum speed limit on any Jersey road is 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), and many are 30 mph. There are many green lanes, with a speed limit of 15 mph, and you must give way to horse-riders, cyclists and pedestrians. Not that you can get past them anyway, let alone an oncoming vehicle: the lanes are often canyons between high hedges and farmstead walls, so only horse-riders get much of a view.

A yellow line across the road means give way to other traffic. If in doubt, treat these as a full "Stop", as the sight lines emerging from minor roads are poor, even if a mirror has been placed. Even if you're on the priority road, be inclined to stop to let traffic emerge safely.

Yellow lines along the curb mean that parking and loading is prohibited at all times, including for Blue Badge holders.

At a "filter in turn", whoever first arrives at the junction can proceed, then traffic should take it in turns to pass the junction. Take your time, take it slow, and make sure to stay aware of other drivers. At the west end of Victoria Avenue, drivers should use both lanes, and zipper-merge and filter in turn.

Parking in St Helier, St Aubin, Gorey and the beaches is often tricky. Especially for St Helier, always consider taking the bus instead - you might have to wait a bit and have a slower journey, but it beats hunting for a parking spot then continually checking your watch for time up. In St Helier and other busy places you must pay to park M-Sa between 08:00 and 17:00. Simplest way to do so is by the PayByPhone app, which you can download to your phone. Otherwise you can call the paybyphone number or use a Paycard bought from local convenience stores. In 2022 all car parks charge 90p per hour, but vary in how long you can stay - see the government parking page for locations, charges and restrictions.

Other spaces around the island are Disc spaces. You need to buy a Jersey yellow parking disc from Town Hall on York Street or from the Sand Street car park kiosk. They cost £2 and mean you can park free within the designated limit, displaying your time of arrival. You can also display a paycard in a disc space.

Blue badge holders may not park on yellow lines as in the UK. Instead you must find a disabled parking bay; these are free, but you must display your time of arrival.

Taxi ranks are at the airport, outside the arrivals hall at the port, and in the main streets of St Helier. Operators include Liberty (+44 1534 767700), Domino (+44 1534 747047), Yellow Cabs (+44 1534 888888) and Citicabs (+44 1534 499999).

By bike
Jersey has a good tourist-focused national cycle network formed of 12 signposted routes. Most of the routes follow green and quiet lanes and off-road shared use paths, however some routes do have sections on main roads, which on the densely populated island can be quite traffic heavy at times. Often the signage is unclear and requires those on bikes to dismount to use pedestrian crossings on push their bike along the pavement. The island's green lane network (see 'By road') offers cycle-priority tarmacked lanes across the island, with motor traffic restricted to 15 miles per hour.

Route 1 encircles the island, including the segregated cycle track along St Aubin's Bay and the shared use paths between Grouville and Gorey Pier. Another great route is Route 4 and 4a which link to the Northern parishes along the beautiful St Peter's Valley and along the green lanes in St Lawrence respectively.

The Jersey tourism website cycling page links to more resources.

Bike hire
The Jersey tourism guide lists companies that hire cycles. Some close in winter.

One company hiring bikes is Evie. They have an app-operated electric bike rental scheme throughout the Channel Islands. Bikes can be found around the island and are 'dockless', meaning they can be left anywhere, though leaving them outside a designated 'docking point' may incur an extra fee. It can sometimes be difficult to get a bike outside of St Helier, but fairly easy within the town. For charges and more information see their website.

LibertyBus have a joint bike-hire scheme with Brompton Bikes where folding bikes can be rented from Liberation Station.

Jersey Bike Hire is based in St Brelade; April-Oct it's open daily.

By foot
Pavements are quite common in St Helier, and in larger settlements. However they may be hard to come by on the rest of the island. Walking around most of the island therefore can be difficult as it may involve walking on roads: great care needs to be taken to identify yourself to passing vehicles. There are good combined footpath and cycle pathways between St Helier and St Aubin, which are suitable for those who are differently abled. The rest of the walking routes around Jersey, especially outside the south of the island, might involve hiking and muddy paths so appropriate clothing and footwear needs to be used. If you are planning hikes you should also plan around bus timetables as needed to other parts of the island from St Helier.

See
Consider buying a Jersey Heritage Pass for the main attractions. In 2022 this costs £36.75 adult, £33.25 senior, £24.40 child or student. It's valid for four sites over 7 days, so effectively it saves the fourth entry fee. In St Helier it covers Elizabeth Castle (including castle ferry), the Maritime Museum and the Jersey Museum & Art Gallery; elsewhere it covers La Hougue Bie, Mont Orgueil Castle and Hamptonne Country Life Museum. It does not include the War Tunnels, or any other attraction not run by Jersey Heritage.

St Helier

 * Town is mostly modern. It's named for the 6th century Helier of Tongeren (now in Belgium), who moved west seeking ever more remote abodes till he fetched up here. The waterfront is a busy thoroughfare. A few blocks further inland is a warren of small streets, pedestrianised or traffic-restricted; these are pleasant enough but you could be anywhere on the English south coast.
 * in Saint Saviour is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. Normally vistors are only permitted by official invitation (no, your Heritage Pass doesn't count), but they have very occasional open days.
 * is a burial gallery and a dolmen set in a stone circle, from about 2500 BC. Its pottery was in the "Beaker" style of 2000 BC, widely found across Europe. Archaeologists blow hot and cold over whether this was made by a distinct "Beaker People", or was simply a popular style. The site is next to St Andrews Church and free.
 * St Matthews half a mile further west is known as the "glass church". It was built in 1840 and renovated in 1934 with glass decor by René Lalique, characteristically cloudy and uncoloured. The church is on the edge of Coronation Park and open Su-F 09:00-17:00.
 * in Saint Saviour is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. Normally vistors are only permitted by official invitation (no, your Heritage Pass doesn't count), but they have very occasional open days.
 * is a burial gallery and a dolmen set in a stone circle, from about 2500 BC. Its pottery was in the "Beaker" style of 2000 BC, widely found across Europe. Archaeologists blow hot and cold over whether this was made by a distinct "Beaker People", or was simply a popular style. The site is next to St Andrews Church and free.
 * St Matthews half a mile further west is known as the "glass church". It was built in 1840 and renovated in 1934 with glass decor by René Lalique, characteristically cloudy and uncoloured. The church is on the edge of Coronation Park and open Su-F 09:00-17:00.

St Brelade and St Aubin

 * St Aubin is a pleasant fishing village at the west end of the bay, with a number of restaurants and cafés. The parish hall was a busy railway station until the line closed in 1936. Access from town via Bus 12a, 14 and 15 or along A2 Victoria Avenue.
 * stands on a tidal islet; it was built from the 16th century and periodically reinforced, including during the wartime occupation. It's reached by a causeway at low tide and is free to enter.
 * Le Portelet is the headland separating St Aubin's bay from St Brélade's bay to the west. It's dotted with bastions and lookouts: the eastern part along Chemin de Noirmont has a couple of German positions and ends at "Tour de Vinde," a daymark for navigators. On the western headland is Ouaisne Tower (again, primarily a daymark) and the Common, best area for strolling and dog-walking. Between is a small beach.
 * , on the tidal L'Île au Guerdain just off Portelet beach, is a stubby affair built in 1808 that never grew up into a Martello tower. The nickname is from poor Philippe Janvrin, who in 1721 died of plague on his way home to Jersey; the authorities wouldn't let his body come ashore and had him buried here. A later John Janvrin from Jersey became a leading figure in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and gave his name to Janvrin Island there.
 * St Brelade and Red Houses inland and ribbon-developing towards the airport is the only settlement beyond St Helier that could be called a town. St Brelade's parish church was first recorded in 1035 AD. For some reason it was built near the coast a little way from town: the local legend invokes a species of leprechaun-realtors, obviously busy little folk since many mainland churches have a similar legend.
 * next to St Brelade's parish church has remarkable frescoes and is a rare example of a monastic chapel that survived the destructive zeal of the Reformation. It was built 11th / 12th century and expanded in the 14th into a chantry, where monks recited prayers for the dead. So its name of Chapelle-ès-Pêcheurs (for fishermen) would previously have been Pécheurs (for sinners), but from the 15th century it was indeed a chapel for the fishing guild. It's still in occasional use.
 * is the headland at the southwest tip of Jersey. The name means a gathering of crows, though the gulls have seen them off. You can walk here either along the track of the old railway (see "Do"), or along a clifftop path past a modern prison, wartime bunker, and desalination plant. The gaunt concrete wartime Radio Tower is now self-catering accommodation. The Strongpoint is a wartime bunker and artillery position, erratically open as a museum, and there's a memorial to a successful rescue from a shipwreck in 1995. At low tide you can continue across the causeway to the lighthouse on an islet.
 * Table des Marthes is a large stone slab 200 m east of La Corbière car park, probably the capstone of a dolmen that's now lost. The name means "Table of Witnesses" because documents were traditionally signed upon it.
 * La Sergenté is a circular passage tomb 500 m northeast of La Corbière car park. Its beehive vault was a Neolithic engineering challenge - and one they failed, as it soon collapsed, and its design was not repeated.
 * is one man's creation, inland off Route des Genets, St Brelade. Daily 10:00-17:00, donation.

Elsewhere

 * La Pouquelaye de Faldouet is a Neolithic passage grave 5 m long. It's 500 m northwest of Mont Orgueil.
 * is the cap and support stones of a Neolithic burial chamber, circa 3000 BC; the mound over them has eroded away. The guardhouse next to it was built in 1689 for an artillery position.
 * La Pouquelaye de Faldouet is a Neolithic passage grave 5 m long. It's 500 m northwest of Mont Orgueil.
 * is the cap and support stones of a Neolithic burial chamber, circa 3000 BC; the mound over them has eroded away. The guardhouse next to it was built in 1689 for an artillery position.
 * La Pouquelaye de Faldouet is a Neolithic passage grave 5 m long. It's 500 m northwest of Mont Orgueil.
 * is the cap and support stones of a Neolithic burial chamber, circa 3000 BC; the mound over them has eroded away. The guardhouse next to it was built in 1689 for an artillery position.
 * is the cap and support stones of a Neolithic burial chamber, circa 3000 BC; the mound over them has eroded away. The guardhouse next to it was built in 1689 for an artillery position.
 * is the cap and support stones of a Neolithic burial chamber, circa 3000 BC; the mound over them has eroded away. The guardhouse next to it was built in 1689 for an artillery position.
 * is in a wartime bunker on the west coast. It's open daily 10:00-17:00.
 * The North Coast of Jersey has some beautiful bays with excellent beaches. Most are fully serviced, with lifeguards, WCs, cafes, car parks, bus routes and so on. The best are at Plémont, Grève de Lecq and Rozel.
 * in St Ouen near the west coast is a Neolithic passage grave. The skeletons of seven adults and one child were found within. The surrounding Grantez Headland offers stunning views over St Ouen's bay. Access is via a car park at the end of the Le Chemin des Monts road, which turns into a dirt track shortly before the car park.
 * is the ruin of a 14th century redoubt at the northwest tip of Jersey. It was a refuge rather than a fort, and lacked a water supply. Much of its masonry was removed in the 1480s to repair the Manor in St Ouen.
 * La Hougue des Géonnais 1 km east of Grosnez is a passage grave, large but damaged by modern quarrying. It's difficult to see how it was ever covered over, and this has led to the suggestion that it was an open charnel pit, with the dead exposed.
 * is a natural rock formation on the northwest coast. It has a series of ancient remains at its foot, including a Stone / Bronze Age mine for axe heads. Take great care on the path down or you'll join these extinct civilisations.
 * La Hougue des Géonnais 1 km east of Grosnez is a passage grave, large but damaged by modern quarrying. It's difficult to see how it was ever covered over, and this has led to the suggestion that it was an open charnel pit, with the dead exposed.
 * is a natural rock formation on the northwest coast. It has a series of ancient remains at its foot, including a Stone / Bronze Age mine for axe heads. Take great care on the path down or you'll join these extinct civilisations.

Outer islands

 * You might visit these on a boat trip.

 * ("the Minkies") are 9 miles south and at low tide have a larger surface area than Jersey itself. At high tide only a few islets remain, the largest being Maîtresse, all of 50 yards (45 m) long. It has ten dilapidated cottages and no residents, though fisherman, sailors and others land in summer. Les Minquiers are the most southerly point of the British Isles. A group of Wehrmacht soldiers here were among the last to surrender at the end of World War II, three weeks after Germany capitulated. Everyone had forgotten about them.
 * are a group of islands and rocks six miles north-east of Jersey. Only three keep their heads above water at high tide, the largest, Maîtr'Île being 300 yards (270 m) long. There are fishermen's huts but the islands are uninhabited and have no fresh water.

Do

 * What's on? Check the Jersey Evening Post, Jersey.com, or BBC Radio Jersey on 88.8 FM.
 * Check the tides a few days in advance for those attractions reached by tidal causeway, since low tide comes 45-60 min later each day. Elizabeth Castle website (above) posts crossing times that will be close enough for the others. Otherwise check Easytide (free) with the reference port as St Helier.
 * Cinema: Cineworld on the Waterfront shows mainstream releases.
 * Walk the Jersey Railway which plied between St Helier and St Aubin from 1870, later extending to Corbiere and the quarries at La Moye. It was busy with passengers and freight well into the 20th century when road transport undercut it. In 1936 a fire at the St Helier depot destroyed the station and most of the rolling stock, and that was effectively the end of it, though the line briefly re-opened in wartime by the German occupiers for military construction freight. At the St Helier end it's now simply a walkway and cycleway along the promenade. In St Aubin the former station is now the village hall. From St Aubin to Corbiere the route is now a popular shaded walk and cycle path.
 * Walk the Jersey Railway which plied between St Helier and St Aubin from 1870, later extending to Corbiere and the quarries at La Moye. It was busy with passengers and freight well into the 20th century when road transport undercut it. In 1936 a fire at the St Helier depot destroyed the station and most of the rolling stock, and that was effectively the end of it, though the line briefly re-opened in wartime by the German occupiers for military construction freight. At the St Helier end it's now simply a walkway and cycleway along the promenade. In St Aubin the former station is now the village hall. From St Aubin to Corbiere the route is now a popular shaded walk and cycle path.
 * Walk the Jersey Railway which plied between St Helier and St Aubin from 1870, later extending to Corbiere and the quarries at La Moye. It was busy with passengers and freight well into the 20th century when road transport undercut it. In 1936 a fire at the St Helier depot destroyed the station and most of the rolling stock, and that was effectively the end of it, though the line briefly re-opened in wartime by the German occupiers for military construction freight. At the St Helier end it's now simply a walkway and cycleway along the promenade. In St Aubin the former station is now the village hall. From St Aubin to Corbiere the route is now a popular shaded walk and cycle path.
 * Walk the Jersey Railway which plied between St Helier and St Aubin from 1870, later extending to Corbiere and the quarries at La Moye. It was busy with passengers and freight well into the 20th century when road transport undercut it. In 1936 a fire at the St Helier depot destroyed the station and most of the rolling stock, and that was effectively the end of it, though the line briefly re-opened in wartime by the German occupiers for military construction freight. At the St Helier end it's now simply a walkway and cycleway along the promenade. In St Aubin the former station is now the village hall. From St Aubin to Corbiere the route is now a popular shaded walk and cycle path.
 * Golf: courses are St Clements just east of St Helier, Royal Jersey at Gorey, and Les Mielles and La Moye both on the west coast.
 * Jersey Coastal Path runs around the entire coast. Although sections are on roadway or pavement, particularly the East, and South coasts as far as St Aubin, the north coast from L'Etacq to Rozel Bay is superb and in conjunction with the bus services can be done in sections. This path is not suitable for mountain bikes, use the dedicated mountain bike trails running parallel.
 * Rugby: Jersey Reds went bust in 2023, in spite of winning National League One, England's second tier, so the game is now only played in lowly amateur tiers.
 * Football: Jersey is affiliated to the English soccer system. Their leading club Jersey Bulls plays way down in the English regional amateur leagues, with their home ground at Springfield Stadium (capacity 2000) in St Helier. The national team play occasional games there, such as the Muratti Vase versus Guernsey and Alderney, but UEFA have rebuffed their bid to join European tournaments.
 * Trace your Jersey ancestors starting online with the Jersey Heritage catalogue.
 * Work or study: see Channel Islands as the two Bailiwicks have similar regulations.

Events

 * Jersey Boat Show is held in May in St Helier, with displays of sailing and power boats. Dates for 2023 are TBA.
 * Jersey Battle of Flowers is a street carnival held in St Helier on the second Th-F in August.
 * Weekender is a rock festival at the Royal Jersey Showground, Trinity in late August. The next is probably 1-3 Sept 2023, TBC.
 * Jersey Regatta' is based at St Helier marina, with the next 8-10 Sept 2023.
 * Jersey Air Display is held in Sept, with the main viewing area along the Esplanade. The main coast road A2 is closed while it's on, and flights at the airport are disrupted. The next is on Th 14 Sept 2023.
 * Jersey Festival of Words is a 5 day literary event, multiple venues. The next is probably 20-24 Sept 2023, TBC.
 * Triathlon is held in September in St Helier: swim, bike and run. Dates for 2023 are TBA.

Buy

 * Money: The Jersey pound is on parity with the British pound sterling. Notes from Guernsey, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are also accepted in Jersey. But Jersey pounds are not accepted in the UK, so change them for UK pounds before leaving the islands, although they can be paid in over the counter at British banks. ATMs may offer a choice of sterling or local pounds.

 * St Helier has the best selection of stores:
 * - Co-op Grand Marché (their largest type of store) is on A7 La Rue le Masurier, the St Helier Ring Road, open M-Sa 07:30-21:00, Su 10:00-16:00. Free parking, but UK Co-op membership doesn't extend to Jeresey.
 * - Town also has several Co-op Locale, and Alliance (which is Tesco).
 * -Waitrose is on A8 Trinity Hill, north of town, with another branch at Rue des Prés in St Saviour east side of town. They're both open M-Sa 08:00-21:00 and UK myWaitrose cards are accepted.

 * Elsewhere: Waitrose has another outlet on A13 La Route Orange, near Red Houses junction.

Eat
Occasional themed food weeks celebrate the different cuisines of Jersey. Tennerfest in Oct / Nov is a promotion where you can sample top-rated restaurants for a fixed price.

St Helier

 * Midtown places include Quayside Bistro, Casa Paco, Bohemia (below), Colmar (below), Cafe Spice, Abilio's, Mano's and Park House Thai.
 * East of the harbour are Moita's, Roseville, D L'Etang and Thai Dicq.
 * Tassili in the Grand Jersey Hotel (see Sleep) is fine dining Tu-Sa 18:00-21:30.
 * Tassili in the Grand Jersey Hotel (see Sleep) is fine dining Tu-Sa 18:00-21:30.
 * Tassili in the Grand Jersey Hotel (see Sleep) is fine dining Tu-Sa 18:00-21:30.
 * Tassili in the Grand Jersey Hotel (see Sleep) is fine dining Tu-Sa 18:00-21:30.

St Brelade and St Aubin

 * Beau Bistro is within Golden Sands Hotel on St Brelade's Bay.
 * Portelet Bay Cafe is a beach pizzeria down lots of steps from the Inn. It's open M-Sa 11:30-19:30, Su 11:30-17:00.
 * Pizza Express have a branch at 59 Halket Place St Helier and another at Route de la Baie St Brelade, both open daily to 21:00.
 * Portelet Bay Cafe is a beach pizzeria down lots of steps from the Inn. It's open M-Sa 11:30-19:30, Su 11:30-17:00.
 * Pizza Express have a branch at 59 Halket Place St Helier and another at Route de la Baie St Brelade, both open daily to 21:00.
 * Pizza Express have a branch at 59 Halket Place St Helier and another at Route de la Baie St Brelade, both open daily to 21:00.
 * Pizza Express have a branch at 59 Halket Place St Helier and another at Route de la Baie St Brelade, both open daily to 21:00.

Elsewhere

 * There are cafes in the airport and in St Peter's Garden Centre.

St Helier

 * Waterfront has a whole slew of pubs: The Square, The Office, and The Bar & Canteen in the Waterfront Centre. Inland are The Cock & Bottle, Halkett Pub (see Eat), St James, Adelphi Lounge, The Parade and The Shipwright.

Jersey products

 * Liberation Brewery is on Longueville Rd east of St Helier, no tours. They own many of the island pubs, and Randalls own the rest.
 * La Mare Wine Estate near the north coast make wine, spirits and cider; tours available.
 * Channel Islands Liquor Co make gin and rum in St Helier and have another distillery on Guernsey. Tours available.
 * Sippin Gin make gin in St Helier, no tours.
 * The Web Distillery is in St Helier - sorry, they just design websites.

Elsewhere

 * Campsites are all to the north of the island. East to west (from closest to furthest from St Helier) these are Beuvelande (Bus 13, 23), Rozel (Bus 3), Durrell Wildlife Camp (Bus 3, 13, 23), and The Palms (formerly Daisy Cottage) May-Sept (Bus 8, 9).

Stay safe
Jersey law derives from Norman customary law, now supplemented by English law and local statute. United Kingdom law does not automatically apply in Jersey, unless adopted by the parliament, the States of Jersey. Most things are the same as in English law, with the exception of some laws about marriage and divorce. Attitudes towards homosexuality tend to be very similar to those you would find in Great Britain.

Outside of towns and villages, streetlighting is non-existent, and so a torch/flashlight is strongly recommended if walking on the road. Roads are also often tight and narrow, so walk defensively. In particular, take care on weekend nights. Although drink-driving is illegal in Jersey, law enforcement is very limited in more rural areas, and public transport is rarely available later in the evening, meaning most people will drive to and from pubs. This can make narrow, unlit roads particularly hazardous.

Stay healthy
There is a hospital in St Helier which will be able to deal with most regular injuries. For specialist treatment, it is often necessary for patients to be taken to Great Britain.

Going to the doctor's in Jersey will cost you, normally around £40 a time. This can vary considerably, as it is up to the doctor's surgery to set the price.

A bilateral healthcare agreement between the UK and Jersey exists, but this does not cover dental treatment and prescribed medicines. Proof of UK residence is needed.

Respect
Some people from Jersey refer to themselves as British (which is quasi-accurate). Some people refer to themselves as Norman, or some even French! People from Jersey are not English (in the same way the Welsh are the Welsh, the Scottish are the Scottish and the Irish are the Irish). The correct ways of describing persons from Jersey are 'Jerseymen' (Jèrriais) and 'Jerseywomen' (Jèrriaises). Calling them anything else may offend unless you are on good terms.

As a general rule, people from Jersey are very pro-Europe (despite not being a part of the 'European Union') and would describe themselves as being more a part of Europe than Great Britain is, on the basis of geography and French culture. With that in mind, British visitors should be aware that while the island superficially resembles the UK, service culture is more like Paris, and manage their expectations accordingly.

Connect
The dialling code for Jersey is +44, same as for mainland Britain and Guernsey, so to call between them you don't dial +44. It's as if Jersey was a mainland city with dialling code 01534 and domestic call charges.

Except for a very few dead spots, all of Jersey has 4G from each of its three carriers: Airtel-Vodafone, JT and Sure, and there is Wifi in many public places. As of Sept 2022, 5G has not rolled out on Jersey. For the latest info see JCRA, as Nperf doesn't track coverage in the Channel Islands.

Visitors from UK or Europe need to check their mobile provider for roaming charges.

Go next

 * Guernsey: the ferry lands you at St Peter Port, with a much-battered harbour castle and a museum.
 * Sark can be reached directly from Jersey in summer. A dramatic causeway spans the knife-edge ridge between Great and Little Sark.
 * Saint-Malo on the French mainland is a walled citadel, with museums and a chateau.
 * Portsmouth on the English mainland is modern but has the historic dockyards, with Mary Rose and HMS Victory.

title: Jersey


text:
Jersey City

Jersey City is New Jersey's second-largest city. Jersey City sits in Hudson County in the northeastern section of the state, across the Hudson from its older and bigger cousin, New York City and south of Hoboken. It is frequently referred to as New York’s “sixth borough”.

Until the early 1600s, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. The Dutch then settled here as a part of the colony of New Amsterdam, it evolved into an industrial powerhouse, with railroads winding up and down the city (some of these lines are still used today). Although Jersey City lost its powerhouse status and became troubled with decline in the 1960s, the decline would begin to be reversed in the 1980s, and the city would be transformed into what it is today. Most tourists may only come in for cheap accommodation and its proximity to New York City, but Jersey City has plenty of things to offer up for the average visitor, including miles of recreational space with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, diverse neighborhoods, and dining options that rival those found across the river.

Districts

 * Historic Downtown - This area, directly to the west of the waterfront, is characterized by rows of restored brownstones, new condominiums, and some retail (largely centered on Grove Street). This area includes the historic neighborhoods of Paulus Hook along the Morris Canal, and Hamilton Park, Harsimus Cove, and Van Vorst Park further inland.
 * Waterfront - Although considered to be part of Downtown Jersey City by most locals, this area is often categorized as a separate neighborhood because it is so different from the Historic Downtown area. Characterized by high-rise condos and office towers, it's also home to the planned community of Newport, which includes the popular Newport Mall.
 * Journal Square - Named after the Jersey Journal, whose headquarters are here, this is the commercial heart of the city. It's home to the Hudson County Community College, and to the county's courthouse and administration buildings.
 * The Heights - Situated atop the Palisades, this primarily residential neighborhood is home to some of the county's best preserved Victorian mansions. This area has unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline, owing to its location high above downtown Jersey City and Hoboken.
 * Liberty State Park - This district includes Liberty State Park itself, Cochrane Stadium/Caven Point Athletic Complex, and the exclusive Port Liberte development, which is home to luxury townhouses and condominiums as well as the Liberty National Golf Course.
 * Bergen/Lafayette - This neighborhood of brownstones, row houses, and pre-war buildings is slowly feeling the effects of gentrification from the neighboring downtown area and the restoration of the massive Art Deco former medical center to residences and commercial space.
 * West Side - This ethnically diverse neighborhood is home to Lincoln Park, Jersey City's own Central Park, New Jersey City University, and residential developments at the Hackensack River at Droyer's Point.
 * Greenville - This area in the southern end of Jersey City is considered the roughest part of the city, but it is slowly being redeveloped.

Understand
Jersey City is the second-largest city in New Jersey, trailing Newark in population, but far surpassing Trenton, the state capital. It is on a peninsula that includes Hoboken to the north and Bayonne to the south, and is bounded by the Hudson River and Manhattan to the east and the Hackensack River to the west. An interesting geographic feature of the city is that within its borders are the only two cases in the country where a US state has exclaves that are both geographically and politically surrounded by another state: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, both exclaves of New York in New Jersey. As a result of a 1997 federal court decision, most of Ellis Island is now within Jersey City, with New York retaining a small landlocked portion that encompasses most of the immigration building.

Jersey City shares much of its history, geography, and culture with New York City, much moreso than other parts of New Jersey. Like New York City, it was settled by the Dutch in the 1600s, and this is still evidenced today by the prevalence of Dutch place names in both cities, and the use of the Dutch tricolors in their very similar flags. As in Brooklyn, rows of brownstones and other rowhouses started being built throughout Jersey City with the arrival of the steam ferry in the 1820s and continued throughout the 19th century. Ellis Island was a large source of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Ireland that shaped the culture of both Jersey City and New York City from the 1880s until the 1920s.

The opening of the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad tunnels into Manhattan in 1908 caused another population boom, with tenements and grand apartment buildings going up in neighborhoods such as Journal Square and along Kennedy Boulevard in the 1910s and 1920s.

Once a humming center of industry, Jersey City housed the booming factories of Colgate and Dixon-Ticonderoga. It was a railroad hub, where the transcontinental rail lines of the country's great railroads (including the famed Pennsylvania Railroad) converged from all across the country. All the railroads to New York City actually ended on the Jersey side of the waterfront, where passengers transferred to ferries to go into Manhattan. Today, Jersey City is neither of these things. Decades of deindustrialization, railroad bankruptcies, government mismanagement and other disappointments had a profound effect on this once booming town. The automobile era and a fear of urban areas caused significant "white flight" to the suburbs in the middle of the 20th century; once affluent areas became centers of poverty and crime. The city lost 87,000 people, almost a third of its population, and apartment buildings and row houses became vacant lots and parking lots. Jersey City was a mirror of what was happening in New York City, although perhaps to a more significant and depressing degree.

During the 1970s, immigrants began moving to Jersey City in droves, attracted by cheap real estate and a chance at experiencing the storied American dream. Today, these immigrants have helped to shape the city into a melting pot of the world's cultures and ethnicities. Nowhere else in the state is there a city as diverse and as interesting as Jersey City in this respect.

Later, the growing popularity of New York City in the 1990s had a significant impact on Jersey City, too. Old railyards along the waterfront became the sites of gleaming new office towers and high-rise condominiums. Brownstones further inland were fixed up by people moving back into the city. Jersey City's renaissance quickly began.

The city has gone through significant transformations over the course of its lifetime. And it's not over yet. High-rises continue to sprout up along the waterfront like weeds, attracting Manhattanites priced out of the real estate market there, while offering quick commutes to jobs in Downtown Manhattan and Midtown. Office towers continue to fill up with new tenants, including the backoffice functions of many New York City-based companies, earning it the moniker "Wall Street West." (In fact, Jersey City has more Class A office space than downtown Pittsburgh or Atlanta.) New stores catering to Jersey City's new gentry continue to pop up almost weekly. It's a city in transition, and it's exciting and frightening at the same time.

By plane
Jersey City is about a 10-minute ride from Newark Liberty International Airport, which is a major hub for United Airlines, and is one of the three airports serving the New York metropolitan area. A taxi to Jersey City from EWR will set you back about $40.

If you don't have a lot of bags, consider taking the train from the airport. Catch AirTrain from your terminal to the Newark Airport train station. Take a New York-bound New Jersey Transit train one stop to Newark Penn Station, then cross the platform to catch the PATH to Jersey City. On weekdays, you can take the North Jersey Coast Line to Hoboken where you can transfer to the PATH train. The AirTrain/NJ Transit train is $8.25; PATH is $2.75. The ride takes about 45 minutes.

The two other airports in the region are LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, both in the borough of Queens in New York City. A cab from LGA or JFK to Jersey City will cost about $100. From JFK airport it is also possible to take either the A or E subway trains from Howard Beach or Jamaica respectively and transfer at World Trade Center to the PATH.

By car
Driving into Jersey City is not recommended. While driving into Jersey City is only difficult at rush hour, finding on-street parking once you are there is a hassle at all times of day. Many streets -- particularly in downtown Jersey City and Journal Square -- require parking permits to park for longer than a couple of hours. If you park in a permit zone, your car may be booted by the Parking Authority, especially if you have out-of-state plates.

Since Jersey City sits at the western end of the Holland Tunnel, your best bet is to take any highway that leads directly to it. On the New Jersey side, this includes Interstate 78 (look for signs to exits 14-14c), US 1-9, and Interstate 280. On the New York side, take the West Side Highway and Canal Street from Manhattan.

By train
The PATH metro service runs has multiple stops in Jersey City with connections to Newark, Lower Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, and Hoboken. It costs $2.75 one-way.

PATH payment options:
 * You can use contactless payment options (eg a credit/debit card or a smartphone wallet) to pass through dedicated gates via the Total Access PATH Payment (TAPP) pilot. TAPP-enabled gates are available at every PATH station.
 * An RFID-type stored value card called Smartlink affords PATH users discounts: $26 for 10 trips; $52 for 20 trips; $104 for 40 trips. However, the card itself must be purchased ($5, $57 including 20 trips).
 * Single-ride and pay-per-ride MetroCards, compatible with the New York City subway system, can be used on the PATH. You can purchase a single-ride MetroCard from the vending machines near the turnstiles; they accept cash or credit/debit cards. Unlimited MetroCards (i.e., the 7-day and 30-day unlimited ride cards for the subway) cannot be used on PATH.

TAPP and Smartlink are separate from the New York City OMNY payment system. PATH does not accept OMNY RFID cards, and PATH trips do not contribute to the OMNY weekly fare cap.

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, operated by NJ Transit, connects the Jersey City waterfront to Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, North Bergen and Bayonne.

From the Pavonia/Newport PATH station, Lower Manhattan is about seven minutes away, Midtown Manhattan (33rd Street) is about 15 minutes away, and Newark Penn Station is about 25 minutes away. From Newark Penn Station, you can connect to regional New Jersey Transit and interstate Amtrak trains.

The nearest locations that New Jersey Transit trains stop are in Newark-Penn Station and Hoboken -- you will have to switch to either PATH or the Light Rail to get to Jersey City from there.

By bus
NJ Transit and other operators run buses to the Journal Square Transportation Center bus terminal. Greyhound buses stop at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and the bus terminal at Newark Penn Station. From the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, take NJ Transit Buses 125 and 119 which go directly to Journal Square (the fare is $3.10; trip takes about 30 minutes) or NJ Transit Bus 1 from Newark Penn Station.

By boat
NY Waterway operates four ferry routes connecting Jersey City to Manhattan. The routes from Port Liberté and Liberty Harbor connect to Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan. The other two ferry routes leave from Exchange Place, and connect to World Financial Center and West 39th Street in Midtown. Check the NY Waterway website for schedules.

Get around
The best way to navigate within Jersey City, as a tourist, is on foot and via mass transit. As a dense urban environment Jersey City, and especially its tourist and commercial destinations, are well served by PATH, light rail, and bus service.

By taxi
Unlike in Manhattan, taxis can be difficult to come by in Jersey City. You often have to call ahead to have one pick you up, although taxis are stationed at the Exchange Place, Grove Street and Journal Square PATH stations. Taxis in Jersey City can run either metered or unmetered (flat rate); the price is generally the same either way. If you are going unmetered, ask the price before getting into the taxi (or ask the dispatcher when you call ahead). Taxis are not cheap; a cab from Grove Street to Journal Square is about $10.

App based ride share services like Lyft and Uber operate in Jersey City. Via has also partnered with the city to operate an on demand ride share system that only runs within Jersey City. The Via fleet of minivans and SUVs holds multiple passengers and offers wheelchair accessible rides. Via is a discount option with rates starting at $2 per ride but wait times at its 'virtual bus stops' are typically 15-20mins.

By transit
PATH service, in addition to offering outside connections, has four stops in Jersey City: Journal Square, Grove Street, Exchange Place, and Pavonia/Newport. Connections to the light rail can be made at the Exchange Place and Pavonia stops. The Journal Square stop offers connections to the Journal Square Transportation Center and a variety of NJ Transit bus routes.

Bus service covers all corners of Jersey City but service levels vary by route.

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail runs largely north/south through the city. It connects the downtown Jersey City waterfront to Hoboken in the north and to Bergen Lafayette, Greenville, and Bayonne to the south. Note the light rail operates on a proof-of-payment ticketing system which means digital and paper tickets must be activated prior to boarding. Paper tickets must be time stamped using validator machines located at light rail stations. Digital tickets must be activated prior to boarding and will take three minutes before they become valid.

Both the light rail and bus systems are operated by NJ Transit. Download the official NJ Transit app for route information and schedules. The in app ticketing system is especially beneficial for visitors allowing you to navigate the sometimes complex zone and fare system prior to boarding which will save you the time and hassle of trying to figure it out while boarding the bus.

By bike
Citibike provided by Lyft is the exclusive bike share system in Jersey City and has many docks around Downtown Jersey City. The docks are more spaced out the farther you go out of downtown (map). The Citibike system in Jersey City is integrated with neighboring New York City and Hoboken. Accounts, passes, and keys work across all three municipalities. Daily rates range from $3.99 for a single ride to a $15 day pass.

Due to a recent investment by the local government many streets have protected bike lanes. Off road shared use trails can be found along the Hudson River waterfront and in Liberty State Park. The East Coast Greenway, a bike path that runs from Maine to Florida, cuts through Jersey City from Newark, eastward through Lincoln Park and city streets, to the ferries and to the riverfront walkway running north. As of 2022, bike routes across the Hackensack river are limited to the Lincoln Highway Hackensack River Bridge but should be expanded with the completion of the Wittpenn Bridge and the Essex-Hudson Greenway.

Do

 * Walk along the Hudson Waterfront. Take in the breathtaking views. From most points along the waterfront, you can see (on a clear day) from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge all the way up the Hudson River to Midtown Manhattan. Just south of the Exchange Place PATH station is a waterfront pier which extends some 250 m into the Hudson River. From the pier, one will often see locals fishing, tourists taking pictures of the Manhattan skyline, and even people playing chess at one of the tables on the pier. This is one of the most popular locations to photograph the Island of Manhattan, as it is directly across from downtown and the World Trade Center.

Buy
Although Jersey City isn't known for its extensive shopping options, the City's new gentry have begun to bring with it classier and pricier shops. Nevertheless, some "old school" shops and bodegas (delis) continue to be mainstays, particularly for locals. Parts of Jersey City are in the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program, which allows retailers to charge half the state's sales tax (3.4375%) rather than the full sales tax rate, and clothing is not taxed at all. Retailers often have stickers on their doors showing that they participate in the UEZ program.

A short walk south from the Journal Square Path, this multi vendor set-up carries a wide assortment of furniture, vintage goods, collectibles, antiques, housewares, fair trade & artisan direct merchandise, hand made, crafts, and other fineries.

Eat
One of the great things about Jersey City is the diversity of its restaurant options. From wonderfully affordable Indian and Cuban restaurants to uber-trendy hotspots to elegant dining options offering stunning views of Manhattan with dinner, Jersey City has a little something for everyone. The city is also developing its own street food culture, which is somewhat similar to New York's. Vendors are typically around Exchange Place and near other recreational areas throughout the city.

Budget

Sleep
Many budget-minded New York City tourists decide to stay in moderately-priced Jersey City hotels because of its proximity to Manhattan. Hotels along or near the waterfront are quite safe and very well-appointed. Avoid the strip of motels along US 1-9 (Tonnelle Avenue) north of Journal Square. The area is industrial, unsafe, and is a haven for prostitution and other illicit activities.

Connect
Jersey City is served by two area codes - 201 and the overlay area code, 551. This means that 10-digit dialing is required. When dialing locally (within the 201 and 551 area codes), do not dial +1 before the number. For calls to other area codes, you must dial +1 before the number you're calling. Even though New York City is just across the Hudson, it's considered to be a long-distance call. Of course, with the advent of cellphones, long-distance calling is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

As in Manhattan, internet cafes are fairly uncommon in Jersey City as Wi-Fi is becoming more readily available. Notably, Janam Indian Tea on Grove Street and the Daily Grind Coffee Lounge on Morris Street offer free Wi-Fi connections.

Stay safe
Jersey City is very safe for a major city, and its crime rate is comparable to that of New York City. However, it pays to exercise precautions. Outside of Journal Square, Historic Downtown, and the Newark Avenue pedestrian plaza, many streets are virtually deserted after midnight, making those walking alone easy targets. If you must walk alone, stick to well-lit, major streets and don't flash your wallet, cellphone, camera, or iPod.

Try to avoid the southern section of the city, bordering Bayonne, particularly the neighborhood of Greenville. In particular, Martin Luther King Drive and Ocean Avenue should be avoided. This is the most crime-ridden portion of the city and it is a primarily low-income area, which is close to Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, and other areas that would be of interest to tourists. Making a wrong turn near these destinations can lead visitors traveling by car into unsavory neighborhoods. The light rail stations south of Jersey Avenue are within the southern areas of the city, and exercising caution is heavily suggested after dark.

Do not leave any valuables in your car.

Go next

 * Manhattan - Some of the world's finest dining, entertainment, shopping, and nightlife are only a ten-minute train ride away. Leave your car at one of the numerous parking lots and garages around Grove Street or Journal Square PATH stations and take in all that America's greatest city has to offer.
 * Newark - Despite its reputation for high crime and race riots, Newark is undergoing a renaissance of its own. Be sure to check out a show at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), one of the best concert halls in the country. After that, hit up the vibrant Ironbound neighborhood for some amazing Brazilian food.
 * Hoboken - Reputedly, Hoboken has the most bars per square mile of any city in the United States. And it's only a PATH ride away.
 * The Gateway, or North Jersey, is surprisingly diverse.
 * Jersey Shore-a day trip to some of the finest beaches on the East Coast

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Jersey City


text:
Jersey Shore

Probably the most famous and popular destination in New Jersey, the Jersey Shore is a popular oceanfront escape for landlubbers of Metro New York and the Delaware Valley. The shore is also popular with other states in the northeast, including parts of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and even the Canadian province of Quebec.

For New Jerseyans, heading 'down the shore' (never 'to the beach') is a classic summer tradition that sometimes stretches back generations. Many families own, or more often, rent shore houses and stay for a week or two in the summer months of June, July and August. Towns along the coastline vary from large-scale, flashy, amusement-based boardwalks to smaller, quiet and laid-back seaside communities.

The counties of the Jersey Shore also include points further west, including portions of the Pine Barrens.

Cities

 * — the ultimate vacation spot for families, with great dining, nightlife, free beaches and plenty of fun for the whole family.
 * — Victorian town at the southern tip of New Jersey.
 * — the ultimate vacation spot for families, with great dining, nightlife, free beaches and plenty of fun for the whole family.
 * — Victorian town at the southern tip of New Jersey.
 * — the ultimate vacation spot for families, with great dining, nightlife, free beaches and plenty of fun for the whole family.
 * — Victorian town at the southern tip of New Jersey.
 * — the ultimate vacation spot for families, with great dining, nightlife, free beaches and plenty of fun for the whole family.
 * — Victorian town at the southern tip of New Jersey.
 * — Victorian town at the southern tip of New Jersey.

Understand
The culture of the Jersey Shore is quite different from that of the rest of the state. The locals are far gentler and more easygoing. They live and let live. They respect nature and treasure it. Some visitors appreciate that, and respect the local culture. Too many don't. You won't be surprised to know how strongly the locals feel about that.

You will enjoy your visit much more if you adopt the local ways. Speak softly. Listen. Be gentle with everyone. Obey the laws. Take the time to explore the natural wonders like migratory birds, the Pine Barrens, and sunrise on the beach. Don't kill anything except to eat. Never litter.

History
In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano believed he discovered the New Jersey coastline, but it was already inhabited by the Native Americans. New Jersey continued to grow over the next couple hundred years while being fought over by the Dutch, Swedes, and English. It was not until the 1900s that the New Jersey shore became prosperous and popular. In 1916, there was a deadly heat wave that hit the New Jersey area. Thousands of people flocked to the shore for a break from the heat. But in July of that year, 4 people were killed and one injured in shark attacks. Although these attacks scared off some tourists, the New Jersey shore was already a favorite among many others. During the Great Depression, the shore became an ideal vacation spot for both the rich and the poor. While the poor usually traveled for day trips, the rich could relax in the shore's most luxurious hotels.

In the late 20th century, the New Jersey shore became a popular destination for families and young adults looking for a great time during spring break for schools and colleges.

The 'Down The Shore' Myth
Some Northern New Jerseyans and Philadelphians talk about going "down the shore." The locals simply say they're going "to the beach."

The natives tend to be extremely wary of the out-of-towners, or Bennies, who invade their beaches, make too much noise, litter, destroy property, trample dunes, and otherwise damage the natural environment. Bennies can officially be defined as a tourist who visits the Jersey Shore from Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, or New York. At shore towns in southern NJ (ex: Ocean City, Sea Isle, etc), you may hear the term shoobie to describe aggressive out-of-towners from Pennsylvania and New York (named for their stereotypical habit of bringing lunches from home in shoeboxes).

Guido is another popular term associated with the Jersey Shore. Often used interchangeably with "Benny", a Guido refers specifically to out-of-towners in their 20s who are loud, obnoxious, drink, and are generally considered meat heads (As seen on TV). As oppose to Bennie which can be referred to any out-of-towner from the New York Area. A Guido is a specific kind of benny that locals can not stand. Do not associate with these idiots, locals are trying hard to prove to the rest of the country that they are not like the buffoons the media likes to call them.

But if you are polite and respectful, they will respond. They might even point you in the right direction to have a good time. Don't try to use any beach slang. There is none. Also, the "New Jersey Accent" is mostly found in North New Jersey, most people along the Jersey Shore have a standard American accent and will take offense if you start imitating Tony Soprano.

Talk
English is the predominant language at all of the New Jersey shore destinations. However, Spanish is also used. The New Jersey Shore is most commonly referred to as the "shore" by people who live in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. However, people who live in these beach destinations often think it is tacky to call it the shore, and refer to it as the beach. One way for a local to tell if someone is from out of town, is by what they call the beaches.

By car
Most shoregoers will travel by car, usually on the Garden State Parkway (from North Jersey/New York) and the Atlantic City Expressway (from South Jersey). The Garden State Parkway is 173 mi (278 km) long and runs north and south along the state’s eastern seaboard from Cape May north and ultimately connects to the New York State Thruway. The Atlantic City Expressway operates 47 mi (76 km) of roadway and connects the Delaware Valley and Philadelphia metropolitan area with Atlantic City and other South Jersey communities. An alternate route for travelers from the northwest to the southern shore points is to use Route 55, which runs from the Camden/Philadelphia area to the Millville area, not far from Cape May and Wildwood. Travelers from the west can take I-95 to I-195 east to Route 138 toward the shore points.

Parking Street parking at many of the beaches north of Atlantic City is free. South of A.C., and including A.C., the streets close to the beach are metered. There are also lots that charge daily and nightly fees.

By bus
The N.J. Transit operates buses to some Jersey Shore destinations from New York, North Jersey and Philadelphia. Some routes are run more frequently or are only available during the summer. Coach buses can also be accessed with Academy Bus Lines, Coach USA, and Suburban Trails Bus Co.

By train
Shore points from Long Branch to Bay Head are accessible by New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, which runs from Penn Station. The Atlantic City Line also serves the area, offering service from Philadelphia. For more information, see NJ Transit's website. Since a number of stations are small, you will need to arrange for transportation to your destination.

By plane
The closest International airports are Atlantic City International, Philadelphia International , and Newark International. Smaller airports for private planes, small corporate jets, forest fire planes, the Civil Air Patrol and emergency services aircraft include RJ Miller Airport, Central Jersey Airport, and Monmouth Executive Airport.

By boat
Jersey shore destinations can be reached by boat via the New York Waterway. The Belford Terminal ferry can hold 500 cars and runs to Pier 11, Wall Street. The Seastreak serves Atlantic Highlands, Highlands & Pier 11 Wall Street and East 34th Street, NYC. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry runs between Cape May and Lewes, Delaware. It holds both foot passengers and cars and is a seventy minute trip.

The Farley State Marina is located in Atlantic City, NJ and managed by The Golden Nugget. The Marina provides 640 floating docks and can dock yachts up to in length. It is located statute from Cape May and  statute offshore from the Manasquan Inlet. The harbor is well protected with no wakes and little current.

Get around
Most houses are within a reasonable walk from the beach, although there may be a major road crossing required.

NJ Transit offers trains along the North Jersey Coast route between Newark and Bay Head, New Jersey. Trains depart every 1-3 hours.

A car is easier to get around (especially to procure groceries or other necessities), but going to the beach itself may require money for parking lots or meters (varies by town).

Bike rentals are available at almost every Jersey Shore destination. Get the beach feel riding around on your Beach or Boardwalk Cruiser! Also, some beach spots have Surrey rentals.

Atlantic City features such means of getting around as Trolley tours, Royal Rolling Chairs and Jitney Shuttles.

See
Summer after summer, the Jersey Shore lures travelers with its blue skies, refreshing breezes and 127 mi (204 km) of beautiful, white sandy beaches. It is one of the most desired year-round travel and vacation destinations on the East Coast. For the excitement of fun and fast nightlife, there’s Atlantic City with its many casinos and night clubs. For laid back family fun, enjoy famous boardwalks like Wildwood, and Ocean City. Whether it’s Sandy Hook, Cape May or one of the diverse shore areas in between, you’ll find world-famous resorts, an abundance of historical sites, legacies and breathtaking scenery at the Jersey Shore.

There are many lighthouses scattered across the Jersey Shore, including the Barnegat Lighthouse.

Fort Hancock — this historical attraction was once a strategic site for navigational and defense purposes.
 * Monmouth Battlefield State Park — Site of a 1778 battle in the Revolutionary War. There is typically a reenactment of the battle in mid to late June.
 * Gateway National Recreation Area: Sandy Hook Unit
 * Gateway National Recreation Area: Sandy Hook Unit
 * Gateway National Recreation Area: Sandy Hook Unit

 * Sandy Hook Lighthouse — the nation's oldest lighthouse still in operation. Constructed in 1764 to curtail growing number of shipwrecks.
 * Other historical buildings and structures — Sandy Hook Museum, History House, Guardian Park Nike Missile Display
 * Ghost Tours — tour haunted areas in Ocean City
 * Dune Walks — Avalon has one of the only remaining high dune systems on the east coast. Guided Dune Walks are offered by Wetlands Institute staff
 * Lucy the Elephant in Margate.
 * Lucy the Elephant in Margate.

Do
Most of the beaches on the Shore require a beach badge to enter. The badges are purchased for a fee, and are only good for the town in which they were purchased (e.g. a badge bought in Belmar would not be good in Seaside Heights). Badges may be valid for 1 day, a week, or an entire season. These fees go towards beach maintenance. Some hotels may offer guests complimentary badges as a perk. A few communities do not charge for the beach, most notably Atlantic City and Wildwood.

Monmouth County
Visitors have an abundance of activities from bumming on the beach, to testing their extreme sports ability in the “Skateplex” concrete skate park.
 * Allenhurst has a "hometown" feel.
 * Asbury Park — A rock destination of the 1970s and 1980s, this seaside town is enjoying a cultural renaissance. This modern day "ghost town" is the home of many abandoned buildings standing from the early 1900s. Also the home of Bruce Springsteen, Asbury has a boardwalk and a fishing pier.
 * Avon-by-the-Sea — Avon-by-the-Sea is a four season, New Jersey Victorian beach community surrounded by three different bodies of water. Enjoy a snack bar and fishing on the beach.
 * Belmar – Belmar is a draw for young families and singles. This beach has a boardwalk twenty blocks long and snack bars. More than 100,000 seafood lovers gather in Belmar every year at the New Jersey Seafood Festival.
 * Bradley Beach – Bradley Beach is one of the best surfing spots in NJ. It features a half-mile boardwalk and such attractions as mini golf.
 * Deal — The attraction and charm of Deal lies in its beautiful, well-kept mansions. Beach snacks can be enjoyed at a snack bar there.
 * Highlands — The Highlands are river beaches and do not require purchasing beach tags. One can enjoy picnicking and fishing here.
 * Keansburg — Keansburg beach is a bay beach and there is no fee to bathe. Keansburg features fishing, a bathhouse, a boardwalk, and amusements and entertainment.
 * Loch Arbour — Ranging only two blocks wide and five blocks long, Loch Arbour is a charming residential area with an oceanfront pavilion with a snack bar, outdoor showers and a small commercial area.
 * Long Branch — Long Branch was one of the earliest and most glamorous seaside resorts in the country from the 1860s to World War I. Long Branch features a two-mile boardwalk and several attractions along its beaches including Pier Village, a shopping and dining center.
 * Manasquan has a hip club scene.
 * Monmouth Beach – This beach destination features four different beaches to chose from, with snack bars.
 * Ocean grove – Ocean Grove is a tree-lined ocean beach town with some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture north of Cape May. Beaches feature a snack bar and tennis courts.
 * Sandy Hook — There is no beach fee in Sandy Hook, but there is a daily parking fee for visitors. Sandy Hook is a national park that is also home to a military base and lighthouse. The beach features a bathhouse, snack bar, surfing, fishing and bayside wind surfing.
 * Sea Bright — 70 min from NYC, it is a popular destination throughout every season. Home to an abundance of bluefish, albacore, weakfish and stripers for those who enjoy fishing. Snack bar available.
 * Sea Girt – This beach community features clean ocean beaches, fabulous restaurants, upscale shopping, an old-fashioned boardwalk, and the Victorian Sea Girt Lighthouse, dating back to 1896. Snack bar and a boardwalk.
 * Freehold Raceway
 * Monmouth Park Racetrack
 * Keansburg Amusement Park and Runaway Rapids Waterpark
 * Pick-Your-Own fruits and vegetables at various farms around the Colts Neck and Freehold areas

Ocean County

 * Six Flags Great Adventure
 * Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach
 * Popcorn Park Zoo in Forked River

Atlantic County

 * Nightlife – Many fine Atlantic City restaurants transform to night clubs after hours. There are also plenty of trendy night clubs, like the 40/40 Club, owned by rapper Jay-Z, the Blue Martini, Casbah Nightclub, The House of Blues, and the brand new Eden Lounge.
 * Atlantic City Surf – See the Surf, AC’s baseball team, play May through October at Bernie Robbins Stadium on the Black Horse Pike.
 * The Walk – AC features The Walk, an outlet shopping venue with brand outlet stores, great restaurants, and unique entertainment.
 * Steel Pier – Boardwalk attraction features amusements and entertainment.
 * Central Pier Games & Speedway – home to NASCAR Go-Kart racing and “Shoot the Geek” paintball range.
 * Central Pier Arcade – the largest redemption arcade in AC.
 * Absecon Lighthouse – With 228 steps, it is the tallest of NJ’s lights.
 * Atlantic City Aquarium – aquariums, touch tanks, and interactive exhibits
 * Ripley’s Believe it or Not – The amazing, interesting, and just plain weird, right on the AC Boardwalk
 * Brigantine Beach- A welcoming and warm family beach town. Just a drive over the bridge by Harrah's across the Absecon Inlet, visitors find comfort in gorgeous nighttime views of Atlantic City without the hustle and bustle of the city.  The beaches are clean and the community is friendly.  There are wonderful restaurants and hotels throughout the small island of Brigantine.
 * Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township

Atlantic City Casinos and Resorts

 * Bally’s Atlantic City – Boardwalk resort with a health spa, golf course, and two casinos, one being the Wild Wild West casino
 * Borgata – an ultra-modern resort with a spectacular casino floor and a wide variety of restaurants.
 * Ceasar’s Palace – features a health spa, tennis, a pool, eight restaurants, and is located right on the boardwalk
 * Harrah’s – A bay front resort with seven fine restaurants, entertainment, a health spa, and an indoor pool.
 * Resorts – ocean front casino/hotel
 * Tropicana Casino and Resort – the home of “The Quarter”, this resort features dining, entertainment, and shopping

Cape May County

 * Discovery Seashell Museum — A museum located in Ocean City with over 10,00 species of the most finest and rarest sea shells. They also carry an extensive collection of nautical gifts.
 * Historic Cold Spring Village — This Village brings to life the day-to-day activities of villagers living in South Jersey during the “age of homespun". Visitors can make a personal connection between the past and present through the interactive, educational, and hands-on family activities.
 * Wetlands Institute — "The Natural Place to have fun." They promote the conservation and preservation of coastal ecosystems by providing a fun and educational experience for families, school groups and vacationers of all ages.
 * Laura's Fudge Shop-Complete your visit to the shore with a pound of Laura's Fudge, Ocean City, NJ.
 * Cape May Bird Observatory — They are dedicated to research in bird conservation and education.
 * Cape May County Park & Zoo — Has 200 different species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles totaling nearly 550 animals
 * Elaine's Victorian Inn & Dinner Theatre — located to other attractions in Cape May
 * Morey's Piers — Three different Amusement Parks along the boardwalk of Wildwood
 * Sunset Hydrofest — Hydroplanes and flat bottoms compete on the beautiful bay area of Wildwood Crest.
 * Delaware River & Bay Authority — A way of traveling between Delaware and New Jersey
 * Original Fudge Kitchen — They make Home-made fudge for centuries now with a variety of 18 different flavors. This is located in many of the boardwalks located in New Jersey.
 * Sensia Therapy — A store that specializes in aromatherapy, independent music and arts & crafts.
 * Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts — Authorities in charge of events, tours and activities
 * NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum- They want to restore Hangar #1 at the Cape May County Airport, Lower Township, New Jersey, into an aircraft museum honoring the 42 Naval airmen who perished while training there during World War II.
 * Splash Zone Waterpark — A family-friendly water park with the biggest and intense water rides in the East Coast. It's just steps away from the boardwalk.
 * Cape May Jazz Festival — Cape May Jazz Inc, a non-profit organization, develops and implements a jazz event to show great appreciation for this genre of music. It is scheduled annually in the Spring and Fall. [[Image:Giant Ferris Wheel (Morey's Piers) Wildwood NJ Night 2012.JPG|thumb|right|Morey's Pier in Wildwood]]
 * Cape May County Culture & Heritage — They promote public interest in the arts and history and help create an environment that appreciate arts and history.
 * Cape May Beach — A more quieter beach for the residences in the area. It has a promenade filled with food vendors, gift shops, and restaurants.
 * Wildwood Beach — A more hip beach with a boardwalk including games, amusement parks, food, and restaurants.

Buy

 * Freehold Raceway Mall

Eat
When you travel to the New Jersey Shore you will find every type of cuisine. Between cafes, restaurants, and boardwalk shops, one can find exotic international delights, gourmet specialties, seafood, steaks, vegetarian, all American cuisine and traditional takeout.

There are also some great restaurants where one can sit waterside and enjoy the gorgeous view as they enjoy their meal. Try the Pilot House for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. If you prefer fine dining, give the Water's Edge a try, they are right on the bay. Of course when you are on the boardwalk, you have to eat some of the hot dogs, steak sandwiches, pizza, and drink some of the "fresh squeezed" lemonade. Don’t forget the caramel corn and famous salt water taffy, which the original recipe originated in Atlantic City. In Ocean City, visitors can watch salt water taffy being pulled at the store front of Shriver's on the boardwalk. After driving over the 9th Street bridge in Ocean City, you can't miss the Chatterbox, a bright pink restaurant, welcoming visitors to the shore and serving excellent food. Also, don't forget to eat at Mack and Manco's, one of the most popular pizza stops on the boards. A visit to the shore is never complete without a pound of Laura's Fudge, at 9th and Asbury. If you travel to Seaside Heights, you have to try the very large pizza at the Saw Mill or Three brothers. It is excellent and 1 slice is more than enough! Wildwood is home to some fantastic zeppoles and Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches. One big thing about visiting the Jersey Shore and its many boardwalks, promenades and snack bars is that anything can be fried, and it will be delicious. Oreos, candy bars, twinkies and those amazing intertangled webs of dough we know as funnel cakes can all be enjoyed down the shore.

Upon visiting the Jersey Shore, it is necessary to try a Pork Roll sandwich. Pork roll is a breakfast meat rarely found anywhere except New Jersey and Philadelphia. A common pork roll treat is the "Jersey Shore Breakfast" which consists of pork roll, egg and cheese often on a bagel or English muffin. Pork roll originated in Trenton in 1856 and has been a Jersey tradition ever since.

Another Jersey Shore staple is Wawa, a convenience store providing a variety of fresh foods for breakfast and lunch. Along with customized sandwiches and fresh salads, Wawa also provides award-winning coffee at a very low price. Customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic enjoy the convenience of Wawa.

Drink
Seaside Heights has an excellent selection of bars and clubs.

Ocean City is a "dry" town- it has no bars. Sea Isle City is the place to go for bars with cover bands, karaoke, happy hour, and so on. The Ocean Drive has a "No-Shower Happy-Hour" where it is customary to go there right from the beach- wet hair, bathing suit/wet suit, flip-flops, cover ups, what ever. There are a number of restaurants all along the beach and Landis Ave from 35th street to 50th street. Some of the pizza places are open until 3AM or later and are great for wings, pizza and so on after a night out. The Springfield is right on the beach and has an outdoor bar and good food. Some new Italian places have opened up along with BBQ places. The area down by Fisherman's Wharf is alive with delicious, fresh seafood made to order in classic recipes that excentuate the natural, flavorful, taste of ocean fare.

Stay safe
Ocean City is a "dry" town. There are no bars. Sea Isle City is the place to go for cover bands and bars.

Use caution in Asbury Park at night. While the areas around the bars in Asbury are safe, some of the city's residential neighborhoods are less hospitable for outsiders. Also, the highways are extremely dangerous, due to tourist traffic as well as drunk drivers. Police are known to enforce traffic laws vigorously in some smaller towns. Expect to be hit with a hefty fine or possible license suspension if you're caught driving under the influence. Police will also ticket more aggressively than the rest of the state (especially in summer) for parking infractions and driving above the speed limit.

Although Asbury Park is a major LGBT tourist destination, be aware that the rest of the Jersey Shore (with the exception of Atlantic City) is extremely conservative. Intolerance towards LGBT people is uncommon but a definite possibility and being openly gay or transgender on many boardwalks may invite unwanted attention. Local police tend to be very indifferent towards LGBT issues, even though NJ has strong hate crime and anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Wildwood, while generally safe near the boardwalk, has some neighborhoods that aren't as nice as those in most other shore towns. Serious crime against tourists is rare, but use common sense and try to avoid walking alone late at night, especially in the unlit neighborhoods more than a block or two from the boardwalk.

Atlantic City has some crime problems, but these areas are far away from the Boardwalk. Panhandlers on the Boardwalk may become annoying, since there is so many of them, but if you don't want to give anything, just keep walking. Casinos are safe due to the high number of security personnel and video cameras. Do not explore Atlantic City at night. All night life is limited to the casinos.

Go next

When you visit the New Jersey shore there are many nearby attractions and destinations to visit. All of these places can be seen in one-day trips.

 * The rest of the Raritan Bayshore
 * New York City
 * Medford
 * Camden
 * Delmarva, including Lewes
 * Cherry Hill
 * Philadelphia

title: Jersey Shore