If I only go to Cornwall once, where should I go?

[Beachreccs]

... To really get the Cornwall beautiful beaches, great food, charming vibe?

In my almost 40 years I’ve never made it over. Thinking of going this summer (it’s a long way). But overwhelmed with lots of different locations.

Not looking for budget as such, but buckets of charm and loveliness.

Trencrom hill for amazing views.
Lanyon Quoit.
Merry Maidens, St Buryan.
Men-an-tol.
St Agnes coastal path.

Gernards Head.
Chapel Porth.
Gunwalloe church.

My happy place is Mawgan Porth, so that gets my vote! It's between Newquay and Padstow so in a great location for exploring. It's also where The Scarlet Hotel is that ainslieb recommended.

Fowey (pronounced Foy)

I like Mevagissey, st Ives, mousehole, polperro. As someone said earlier avoid school holidays. We went once in August - never again.

Carn Brea.
Carn Marth.

Perranporth beach is huge. And Hayle beach.

Porthcunro beach is almost tropical and you can make a trip to the Minack Theatre at the same time.

Nice towns/villages: St Ives, Porthleven, Padstow, Port Isaac, Marazion, Mousehole, Fowey.

Watergate Bay, Praa Sands or Hayle for miles of gorgeous flat beaches, Porth or Mawgan Porth for rockpools and beach "rivers" for kids to mess about in), Sennen Cove for surfing (and Watergate Bay for surfing too). We always stay in Watergate Bay, it's gorgeous though not much to do except the beach!)

History: St Michael's mount, Restormel Castle, Launceston Castle, Lydford Castle, Tintagel Castle, Halligye Fogou (not for the claustrophobic), Carn Euny or Chysauster if you like extremely calm peaceful stone-age villages!

Places NOT to go (disclaimer, in my opinion): Land's End (absolute tourist trap full of tat, extortionate prices - go to Lizard Point instead if you want to see the ends of the earth, it's just as breathtaking and much less tacky) and Penzance (strangely depressed and depressing town - very disappointing as I was expecting another St Ives) and Truro is just a bog-standard town, could be anywhere in the UK.

Tbf that’s because Penzance is still a real town full of people living there versus St Ives which is tourist land.

Nice things in Penzance - Jubilee Pool, just had a massive refurb, Penlee House, gardens and art gallery, Jelberts ice cream (although that’s Newlyn).

*Nice towns/villages: St Ives, Porthleven, Padstow, Port Isaac, Marazion, Mousehole, Fowey.

Watergate Bay, Praa Sands or Hayle for miles of gorgeous flat beaches, Porth or Mawgan Porth for rockpools and beach "rivers" for kids to mess about in), Sennen Cove for surfing (and Watergate Bay for surfing too). We always stay in Watergate Bay, it's gorgeous though not much to do except the beach!)*

Agree with all of this

Marazion / St Michael's Mount
Also visit Boscastle. Walk to the end of the village and a gentle climb up the hill and you have the most fabulous views. It's my favourite place in the world, especially when it's deserted.

@CarpetMeCarpetYou, that's fair. Same applies for Truro I guess! But the OP wants to know where best to visit as a tourist, so...

Def not Newquay. Even Looe is nicer and that's a little bit kiss me quick.

Padstow or St Ives

Porthcurno has been ruined by coach parties. They turn up and just stand there, possibly looking for Poldark or something. You have to go at the crack of dawn to get the full loveliness of it.

... I just wrote the worlds biggest post and accidentally deleted it dreaming of Cornwall is my main hobby!!

My top two, which are lesser known I think, for full on Cornish loveliness:

Cadgwith Cove. See if you can find a phone number for Nigel Legge, he will sometimes take people out to pull lobster pots

Henry’s campsite at Lizard. My fav campsite in the world.

Best food - Scott and Babs, retorick mill, Mawgan Porth

You can't go wrong, and neither can you only go once!

Only once..? If you go once you’ll want to go again.

No one has mentioned St Mawes yet. Tresanton hotel there is a lovely spot.

Just outside Newquay (St Columb or Indian Queens area), is a good base point to stay because you are in reasonable travelling distance from the places to visit in each direction.

There are so many beautiful places but a few of my favourites are St Ives, Kynance Cove and Lizard Peninsular, Padstow, seven bays area which is around Harlyn Bay area, Polperro area, Tintagel area, St Michaels Mount, Perranporth.

Some beautiful places near Falmouth also.

The road between St Ives and Penzance we find is particularly congested most of the time in summer, when we visit.

(Although Newquay is not perhaps an ideal place to visit, it does have several nice sandy beaches).

Some of our favourite days out: drive to Poldhu Cove on the Lizard for a coffee and swim then onto lunch at Lizard Point (Wavecrest cafe our favourite) for views and great food. If you're still hungry mid afternoon the Fat Apples Cafe near St Keverne is wonderful.

We sometimes get the bus (or get someone to drop us off) to Trebah Gardens. A sub tropical paradise with its own private beach and excellent cafe. (Food figures highly on our days out) Then walk back along the coastal path to Falmouth. You will pass through lots of quiet little beaches and coves, all lovely for swimming. End your walk at Gylly Beach Cafe on Gyllyngvase Beach. Fabulous views, food, barbecues etc. It's always very busy though.

One more! Drive to Helford and have coffee at the Holy Mackerel Cafe. Walk round the creek through the stunning (quintessentially Cornish ) village to Smugglers Inn. Fantastic views of the creek. Walk a bit further and catch the foot ferry over to Helford Passage (where you will find another great pub).

There are many more places we go but I'll shut up now.

I have lived abroad but my favourite beach in the entire world is Porthcurno beach. Have a lovely trip!