St Peter Port

St Peter Port stacks itself up from its harbour in granite tiers - regularly shortlisted among Europe's prettiest small capitals, and arguing the case with cobbled High Street lanes, flower-hung stone steps (the Constitution and Tower steps the classics), Regency terraces along the heights, and a marina forest of masts under Castle Cornet's guard. The market halls trade island produce, Hauteville climbs toward Hugo's house museum, and the seafront's evening promenade - Herm and Sark floating in the Little Russel's silver - completes a capital that functions as its own postcard while genuinely working for its living.

What you actually see

• The harbour amphitheatre - granite tiers over the mast forest.
• The flower steps - Constitution Steps' hung colour.
• The market halls - island produce under Victorian iron.
• The Little Russel views - Herm and Sark from the front.

When to go

April to September for full bloom and ferry schedules; the seafront market and harbour events pepper summer weekends. Cruise-call middays crowd the lanes - mornings restore them.

Honest expectations

The town climbs - flat-shoe cobbles and real gradients everywhere; parking is the resident sport, making feet and buses the visitor's wisdom. Prices run island-premium.

Nearby

Castle Cornet's walls, Hauteville House and the cliff path south.