How to Spend a Weekend in Cornwall: a 2-Day Itinerary
Wondering how to spend a fantastic weekend in Cornwall? This guide has you covered.
To be frank, a weekend is not quite enough to explore everything Cornwall has to offer. Travelling there from many parts of the UK takes a long time, and getting around the peninsula can also take more time than expected due to narrow country roads, sometimes with single lanes.
However, it is still possible to have a great weekend there if you focus on a specific area. For this itinerary, I have chosen to cover the southwest of Cornwall, which is personally my favourite part of the county.
The itinerary includes charming coastal villages like Mousehole and Marazion, iconic historic sites such as St Michael’s Mount, the dramatic coastal scenery of Land’s End, and the art scene in St Ives.
If this plan for a weekend in Cornwall seems a little intensive, don’t worry. Focus on the sites that resonate with you the most and slow down as much as you need. It’s impossible to see everything in a couple of days anyway, so there’s no point in putting yourself under unnecessary pressure.
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A Weekend in Cornwall Itinerary
On Saturday, we’ll cover many locations of interest in Cornwall’s southwest. Sunday is a going to be more relaxed, although there is still going to be plenty of great spots to experience.
Here is a map to help you plan your trip.
Friday Night – Arrive in Penzance
To maximise your time on a weekend in Cornwall, it’s best to get there on Friday. That way, you will have the whole of Saturday and a good chunk of Sunday to enjoy the area.
For this itinerary, I’d recommend staying the night in the town of Penzance so you can hit the ground running the next day. It is a working town that may not have as much charm as other villages in Cornwall.
However, there are plenty of things to do in Penzance. If you have an evening there, you can enjoy a pint at one of its historic pubs, gorge on a seafood meal, or simply take a stroll along its sea promenade.
Tip: if you’re after a taste of luxury, be sure to book a night at the stylish Artist Residence hotel located right in the heart of the town centre.
Saturday Morning
As part of this itinerary, you will spend the morning exploring the sites and charming towns in close proximity to Penzance. It’s best to start nice and early if you would like to visit all the suggested sites within your weekend.
9.15am – St Michael’s Mount
Start the day by visiting one of the most iconic attractions in this part of Cornwall, St Michael’s Mount. It is an impressive medieval castle perched on top of a small tidal island.
The drive from Penzance to St Michael’s Mount in Marazion, the closest village to the island, only takes 10 minutes. It’s good to get there for the opening time at 9.15am before the crowds set in. At low tide, you can access St Michael’s Mount via a causeway, but when the tide is high, a boat connects the island to the mainland.
Once you are there, you can visit the dramatic castle and learn about its history. You can also explore its stunning terraced gardens and take in the views of Mount’s Bay. This location is so picturesque, it was even used as a background for some scenes in the first season of the “House of the Dragon” TV series.
You can book your combined ticket for both the castle and the garden online. It costs £26 (US $34) per adult. A ticket to the castle only is £15 (US $19), while entrance to the gardens is £11 (US $14). If you are visiting both, expect to spend a couple of hours at this site.
11.30am – Marazion
After your visit to St Michael’s Mount, spend some time wandering around Marazion itself. This charming town boasts a long sandy beach, a few cafes, and my personal favourite feature, several art galleries.
It won’t take you long to explore the town, but it’s a great spot for a morning coffee and a snack. Also, the beautiful artworks, ceramics, and other crafted items available at local galleries make for great souvenirs.
12.30pm – Mousehole
Let’s now head west to the next destination on this weekend in Cornwall itinerary. Just a 20-minute drive from Marazion lies the charming coastal village of Mousehole, complete with quaint historic cottages and cobbled streets.
Mousehole has been around since the 13th century and has witnessed some dramatic historic events along the way, including a 16th-century raid by Spaniards who burned pretty much every building to the ground.
The only building that survived is the Keigwin Arms pub. Although it’s not operational anymore, the building still stands to this day.
While at Mousehole, wander its quaint streets, visit boutique shops and art galleries, and check out its small, sheltered beach. Mousehole is definitely one of those picture-perfect coastal villages that you expect to see in Cornwall.
1.30pm – Lunch at Ship Inn, Mousehole
After an intensive morning of sightseeing, it’s time to refuel. Mousehole boasts several excellent cafes and restaurants. I suggest enjoying a meal at the award-winning Ship Inn, which offers views over the town’s picturesque harbour.
This cosy spot offers elevated pub food with many dishes featuring local seafood. There is also a great selection of quality local beers to complement your meal.
As this is quite a popular spot, I would suggest booking a table in advance to avoid disappointment.
Saturday Afternoon
2.30pm – Minack Theatre and Portchcurno
After lunch, continue travelling west towards Porthcurno, a small village that boasts a stunning beach and a famous Cornish cultural attraction, the Minack Theatre.
Porthcurno is easily one of the best beaches in this part of Cornwall. Flanked by rugged cliffs and boasting white sand, it’s a great place to relax and go for a swim.
Nevertheless, natural beauty is not the only thing you can enjoy at this spot. Just a stone’s throw from the beach, perched atop a nearby cliff, sits the Minack Theatre.
The theatre looks like it was carved from the rock many centuries ago, but it is actually less than 100 years old. The best way to appreciate it is, of course, to see a performance there.
However, you can still visit to admire its unique architecture and sea views during the day. You do need to book a spot in advance to visit the theatre as it’s a popular attraction. You can do this on the Minack Theatre website.
To get to the theatre, you can walk there from the Porthcurno car park. The walk takes about 10-15 minutes and does involve going uphill. You’ll be sharing the road with cars, so take extra care when walking.
4.00pm – Land’s End and Sennen Cove
After enjoying Porthcurno, a 15-minute drive will take you to another famous spot in the area, Land’s End. The attraction itself is a tourist trap, complete with souvenir shops, eateries, a hotel, and a famous signpost where you can take a photo, for a fee. Also, expect parking charges.
The highlight of this spot is not the entertainment complex, though. Land’s End is the most westerly point of mainland England and boasts a stunning coastline that you can explore on foot.
The coastal walking trails connect Land’s End with Sennen Cove, where you will find a stunning white sand beach. It’s perfect for a relaxing stroll, taking in the views.
Depending on the time of year of your visit, you may decide to watch the sunset at Land’s End. However, if you are there when the days are long, it’s best to hit the road to get to the next stop on this itinerary.
Saturday Night
6.30pm – Travel to St Ives
We will end the day in arguably one of the artiest towns in Cornwall, St Ives. It takes about 40-50 minutes to travel from Land’s End to St Ives.
Since this has been a long day of driving and exploring, take this time to settle into your accommodation for the night, and have a meal and a drink.
St Ives boasts a great selection of excellent restaurants, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. One of the town’s top dining spots is the Porthmeor Beach Café, which offers excellent views and a superb menu that features the finest local ingredients.
Sunday Morning
Sunday is going to be less intensive than Saturday, but the plan is still to enjoy some of Cornwall’s best attractions.
9.30am – St Ives
St Ives is bursting with so much charm that it’s not surprising many artists chose to live and work there. The town boasts a scenic harbour, an excellent beach, and many boutique shops and art galleries housed in quaint cottages.
Spend your Sunday morning exploring the town. Be sure to visit Tate St Ives, where you will find works by modern and contemporary artists.
Other artistic spots worth adding to your itinerary include The Leach Pottery, which has been producing world-class pieces since the 1920s, and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
For stunning views over the town and the surrounding landscapes, take a walk to the Island, which is actually a headland between St Ives Harbour and Porthmeor Beach. At the top, you will find a simple yet charming St Nicholas Chapel, which dates back to the 15th century.
12.00pm – Lunch
Let’s take a slightly earlier lunch today to allow for more time at the next stop on the itinerary. Choose another spot in St Ives for ease. For example, if you are craving more local seafood, check out The Rum and Crab Shack in the heart of St Ives. As the name suggests, their crab dishes are the highlight.
Sunday Afternoon
2.00pm – The Eden Project
Although it’s a bit far from St Ives, I highly recommend including a visit to The Eden Project during your weekend in Cornwall. If you prefer to spend more time in the St Ives area, there are plenty of great beaches and walks to explore there.
However, if you are driving out of Cornwall on Sunday, a trip to The Eden Project will not be much of a detour. It takes about an hour to get there from St Ives.
The Eden Project is a unique initiative that explores the complex relationship between humans and plants. It features two futuristic domes called biomes, which are home to two distinct natural environments: a Mediterranean garden and a tropical forest. There is also a vast outdoor garden with dozens of plant exhibits.
Exploring the domes and the outdoor gardens can easily take a few hours. Entry costs £38 (US $49) per adult.
Sunday Night
5.00pm – Travel Home
Our weekend in Cornwall has come to an end. If you are travelling home, it’s a good time to start the drive back. I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring this part of the UK and are excited to return to see more.
The Best Time to Go to Cornwall
For the best weather, head to Cornwall in July and August. This is when the county enjoys the most sunshine and the warmest temperatures. However, this also means that everyone else will be heading there as well, resulting in crowds and higher accommodation costs.
Late spring and early autumn are great alternatives. The weather can be unpredictable, and you are likely to experience some rain at some point, but it’s quieter and you can still enjoy the outdoors.
I’ve visited Cornwall in early June and experienced a mix of weather conditions, from windy and drizzly days to glorious sunshine. Things were starting to get busy then, but booking experiences and hotel rooms was still relatively easy.
How to Get to Cornwall
For this itinerary, the best way to get to Cornwall is by car. Driving from home or a previous destination means you will have your own vehicle to explore the area. That’s what my husband and I normally do when we go to Cornwall.
However, there are other ways to get there. Cornwall is home to an airport, located in Newquay in the north of the peninsula. You can fly there from other UK destinations and hire a car upon arrival.
Additionally, you can travel to Penzance by rail. There are direct services from some parts of the UK, including London. This is not always the most convenient way to travel—for example, it would take eight hours to get to Penzance from Manchester, where I live. It might be an option depending on where you are travelling from though.
How to Get Around Cornwall
This itinerary assumes that you have your own vehicle while on a weekend in Cornwall. This would make visiting all the destinations and attractions featured in this article easy.
However, it is possible to cover similar ground using public transport. The open-top Land’s End Coaster bus operates in the southwest of Cornwall, and its route includes Penzance, Marazion, Land’s End, Sennen, St Ives, and Porthcurno, among other great stops.
You will be more tied to a bus schedule if you choose it as your main transport option, and might not be able to cover as much ground as you would with your own car. In this case, I would definitely exclude the Eden Project from this itinerary.
However, it’s still a great option if you prefer not to drive. The greatest advantage of this bus is that you’ll be able to enjoy the stunning scenery more instead of stressing about the narrow roads, which are common in this part of the UK.
You can find out more about the Land’s End Coaster timetable and route here. You can find out more about transportation options in this guide to travelling Cornwall without a car.
Where to Stay in Cornwall
If you are following this itinerary closely, then you can spend the first night in Penzance, since there are plenty of great accommodation options there. Marazion is a good option too, but accommodation is more limited there.
I’ve already briefly mentioned the Artist Residence in Penzance for those looking for a touch of luxury. For more accommodation ideas, check out my guide to the best places to stay in Penzance.
For your second night, I recommend staying in St Ives. This town also offers plenty of accommodation options for every budget. Located on the outskirts of the town centre, Pedn-Olva is a great choice, offering sea views and easy access to local attractions.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve found this weekend in Cornwall itinerary helpful. For more information on what this part of the UK offers as a destination, check out this guide to the best things to do in Cornwall.
Wondering what makes Cornwall special? Discover these fine facts about Cornwall, from its famous legends to its food specialties.
If you are looking to spend more time in Cornwall, this article suggests a few itinerary ideas for longer trips.
FAQs: Weekend in Cornwall
Yes, you can go to Cornwall for a weekend, although you might not be able to experience everything it has to offer. If you are travelling for many hours to reach Cornwall, you might be better off allocating more time to the trip to fully enjoy this beautiful part of the UK.
I recommend spending at least four to five days to enjoy different parts of Cornwall. If you are able to spend more time there, even better. Although Cornwall doesn’t seem that big overall, there is plenty to see and do.
Cornwall boasts many beautiful spots, from superb beaches to dramatic moorland. I personally love Cornwall’s southwest, as this is where you’ll find some of the best beaches and beautiful coastal scenery for which this part of the UK is famous.
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