The charming seaside town of St Ives is the perfect place for a day trip on your Cornish getaway. Whether it’s a beach day or lunch with a view, St Ives has plenty to offer.
What to do in St Ives
Hit one of the many beaches
St Ives has some of the most beautiful beaches in Cornwall. If you’re visiting St Ives for the day, you’re spoilt for choice. Porthmeor is the largest of St Ives beaches and it’s where you can rent surf boards or take a lesson. There is an array of cafes located on Porthmeor Beach where you can grab everything from Greek gyros to pancakes!
Porthminster Beach is located on the east side of St Ives and boasts golden sands and is a little more sheltered than Porthmeor so is great for paddle boarding or having a relaxing day reading.
Porthgwidden is the smallest and most sheltered beach with colourful beach huts available to hire, so you can spend all day at the beach! There’s also a beach cafe/bar for all your refreshment needs.
Walk the coastal path
St Ives is blessed with a beautiful coastline, so why not take a walk along the coastal path to the charming village of Zennor. In Zennor you can enjoy a pint and some lunch in the Tinner’s Arms beer garden or grab a Moomaid of Zennor ice cream from the front courtyard.
Why not take a shorter stroll to the stunning Carbis Bay with its golden sand and turquoise waters? You can enjoy a drink or a spot of lunch at The Beach Club restaurant.
Take a boat trip
From St Ives Harbour there are regular daily boat trips where you can explore the coastline.
Catch a glimpse of some seals up close with a boat trip to Seal Island, a small rocky inshore island just west of St Ives and home to a colony of Atlantic grey seals.
You can also take a boat trip to get a glimpse of Godrevy lighthouse, said to be the inspiration behind Virginia Woolf’s ‘To the Lighthouse’.
Hit the galleries
St Ives is a haven for art lovers with an array of galleries, most notably The Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Gardens. Start your day in The Tate, followed by lunch at the restaurant with stunning sea views, then head over to the Hepworth Museum where you can enjoy a peaceful afternoon sitting in the sculpture gardens.
Have fun in the arcade
St Ives is famed for its family-run harbour arcade. Indulge in a slice of nostalgia with this vibrant and vintage arcade which includes:
- 2p slot machines
- flight simulators
- shooting galleries
- fruit machines
- claw cranes
- pac-man ball
- Point Blank 3
- Mario Kart
- Air hockey
- Photo booth
The perfect way to spend an afternoon and fun for the whole family!
Stroll round the shops
Stroll the cobbled stoned streets of St Ives and explore the array of independent shops. From galleries to favourites such as Finisterre and Goose and Gander, you’ll be spoilt for choice and will be sure to come home with a memento of your day trip to St Ives.
Try some watersports
Why not give some water sports a try on your day trip to St Ives? At Porthmeor Beach you hire a surf board or even take a lesson with St Ives Surf school.
If you fancy something a little more chilled, you can hire a SUP board on Porthminster Beach and explore the coastline.
Where to eat in St Ives
Depending on what you’re in the mood for, there are an array of food choices in St Ives. From Cornish Pasties to sea food, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s our top pick of where to eat in St Ives:
Cornish Pasties:
For something on the go you can’t go wrong with a Cornish pasty!
Our top picks:
- St Ives Bakery
- Cornish Bakery
- Yellow Canary
Small plates:
There’s so many great places in St Ives to enjoy small plates, which are perfect for keeping hunger at bay until dinner.
Here’s our top picks:
Pub grub:
Looking for a classic pub lunch? Here’s our top picks:
- Sloop Inn
- Pedn Olva
- The Balcony Bar and Kitchen
- Hub
- The Lifeboat Inn
Brunch:
Looking for fuel for your day trip to St Ives? Here’s our pick of the best brunch spots:
- Brine
- Crowst
- Porthmeor Beach Cafe
- Yallah Coffee
Where to stay
If you fall in love with St Ives on your Cornish getaway, why not stay?
At Cornish Riviera we have lots of self-catering properties to choose from if you want to extend your trip.
Here’re our top picks:
With views over Porthminster beach, Carrick Widdon sleeps 2 and features all the modern amenities you could need. It’s also a short distance from the train station.
Tucked away, this old fisherman cottage melds modern amenities with original features. Sleeping up to 4, this cosy cottage is just a stone’s throw away from the harbour.
With stunning views of the harbour and beyond this 2-bedroom apartment is an ideal location for exploring St Ives many beaches.
If you’re looking for a more peaceful retreat away from the buzz of the centre, then this 2-bedroom dog-friendly apartment is perfect!
Whether you’re looking for a fun day trip on your Cornish getaway or somewhere to base yourself for a few days, St Ives has so much to offer. With quaint cobbled streets, golden sands, and turquoise water, St Ives feels as if you could just as easily be in the Mediterranean.
