There are some places that instantly make sense the moment you arrive, and for us, St Ives has always been one of them.
Maybe it’s the beaches that seem to appear around every corner, the slower pace of life, or the way the town feels both lively and relaxed at the same time. Whatever it is, it’s somewhere we’ve returned to time and time again as a family – and every visit seems to settle us into holiday mode almost immediately. This year, we’re visiting twice!
A First Timer’s Guide to St Ives, Cornwall
If you’re planning your first trip to St Ives, here are the things I think are worth knowing before you go. Not a strict itinerary or a “must-do everything” guide, just the things that genuinely shape our trips every time we visit.
Slow down your plans
The biggest thing I’d say about St Ives is this: don’t overplan it.
Yes, there are beaches to visit, restaurants to try, and coastal walks to explore, but some of our favourite moments from our last trip, happened completely by accident. Wandering through the harbour with an ice cream, sitting on the beach longer than intended, or finding a sun spot and watching the world go by for an hour or two.
After 3 years, we have realised St Ives is best enjoyed slowly.
Early mornings are magic
If you can, get up early at least once during your trip. For us, it’s a daily ritual.
The beaches before 10am feel completely different to the middle of the day. Quiet, peaceful, and almost untouched. We usually head out early with Bob, making the most of the beaches before restrictions come into place, and those mornings have become one of our favourite parts of every holiday.
Coffee in hand, wandering around the bay while the town slowly wakes up — it’s honestly hard to beat.
Walk everywhere if you can
One of the best things about St Ives is that once you arrive, you can mostly leave the car behind.
The streets are narrow, the views constantly change as you move around the coastline, and walking becomes part of the experience itself. You’ll naturally dip between beaches, bakeries, harbour views, and little side streets without really needing a plan.
Comfortable shoes are definitely worth packing though — there are hills everywhere.
Pick your beach depending on the mood
One thing that surprises first-time visitors is how different all the beaches feel despite being so close together.
Porthmeor has that classic surf beach atmosphere and some of the best sunset views in town.
Porthminster feels calmer and slightly more relaxed, especially for slower afternoons.
Harbour Beach changes completely with the tide and sits right in the middle of the town’s energy.
Part of the fun is finding your own favourite.
Build your days around coffee and food stops
Some of our favourite holiday memories in St Ives revolve around simple food moments rather than big plans.
A takeaway coffee while walking around the harbour. Pastries still warm from the bakery. Fish and chips on the beach. An ice cream before another slow wander through town.
Places like Yallah, St Ives Bakery, Yellow Canary and Porthmeor Café have become part of our holiday routine now. Familiar in the nicest possible way.
Visiting with a dog? It works brilliantly
One of the reasons we love St Ives so much is because it works really well with Bob.
The early morning beach walks are perfect, there are plenty of dog-friendly places to stop for coffee, and being outdoors naturally becomes part of your day. The only thing worth checking before you visit is beach restrictions, especially during busier months.
But overall, it’s one of the easiest places we’ve travelled with a dog.
St Ives with a teenager
Travelling to St Ives looks a little different now George is older.
The bucket-and-spade days have mostly been replaced with slower beach afternoons, bakery stops, shopping in town and relaxed evenings together. But that’s one of the lovely things about St Ives — it seems to grow with you.
It works just as well for families with teenagers as it does for younger children.
Where to stay
Where you stay can really shape your experience of St Ives.
We personally love being within walking distance of the harbour and beaches so we can settle into the slower rhythm of the town without needing to drive everywhere. Waking up on The Digey and walking straight down to the sea with a coffee is part of what makes the place feel so special to us.
Our favourite time to visit
May half-term has become one of our favourite times to visit.
The town feels lively but not overwhelming, the days are longer, and there’s usually enough sunshine to properly enjoy beach days and outdoor evenings. Everything feels like it’s waking up ready for summer.
For the first time, we are returning for a 2nd time this year. At Christmas time and we cannot wait to be back by the seaside.
Why we keep coming back
I think what keeps drawing us back to St Ives is the feeling it gives us rather than any one attraction.
Life slows down there. Mornings feel gentler, evenings stretch a little longer, and the days seem to revolve around simple pleasures rather than packed schedules.
And honestly, that’s probably exactly what so many of us are looking for when we head to Cornwall in the first place.
If it’s your first visit to St Ives, my advice would simply be this: leave room for the unplanned moments. They usually end up becoming the ones you remember most.
A First Timer’s Guide to St Ives, Cornwall
I’m Kerri-Ann or KA as my friends call me, always found with a cup of coffee in one hand and my camera in the other. I have a huge passion for photography, fitness, fashion and family travel. I started this blog in 2014. It began as my creative outlet after becoming a mummy to our little boy George Archie. I started out blogging about parenting and over the years it has evolved into a blog that covers lifestyle, fashion, family and travel. Today TheKAEdit is ultimately a life and style blog. Thank you for reading x x
