How To Spend 5 Days in Newquay: Fun and Varied Newquay Itinerary (2024)

We spent 5 days in Newquay, Cornwall with some of the family. There we hired a beautiful and spacious AirBnb house to stay in just a 5 minute walk from the beach. And we all had the loveliest time exploring both Newquay and Cornwall.

As there were 8 of us in the group (6 adults and 2 teens), we needed to be super organised with our travel planning. So of course, that meant I got to make a Newquay itinerary spreadsheet, hoorah!

I got so excited with the Newquay travel planning spreadsheet, it had multiple pages, colour codes, and was shared with everyone coming on holiday with us. I got everyone to fill in their preferences for activities and food. And from there I organised a 5 day Newquay itinerary with the aim to please everyone.

Here are some ideas on things to do in Newquay and Cornwall. This is our five day itinerary for a road trip down to Newquay.

blue ocean and rocky cliff. In the far distance is a beach and town.

Day 1 in Newquay

Drive to Newquay

Our group were arriving from different parts of England for the trip to Newquay. Two parties were driving to Newquay and another took the train Newquay.

We all arrived in the mid-afternoon which was the perfect time to check into the AirBnb in Newquay.

Online grocery shopping

Before the trip I ordered an online supermarket shop and scheduled it to arrive around 5pm. This meant that we had a nicely stocked fridge of food for the 8 people staying for the weekend.

Dinner and games night at the AirBnB

For the first night we settled in, unpacked, and made a delicious group dinner together. We needed the first night to decompress from the long journey to Cornwall. So we stayed in to enjoy food and played lots of silly board games.

kitchen top with red and white checked table cloth and piles of plates, mugs and glasses. There are croissants and a selection of jams and creams. — Breakfast at the AirBnB in Newquay

Day 2 in Newquay

Breakfast

07:00 – Start the morning with a walk on Fistral Beach. Followed by a breakfast of pancakes for all the family.

woman in lilac hoody stands on the beach with her hands on her hips looking out to the sea where lots of people are jumping waves and body boarding.

Water sports and activities

09:00 – Surf lessons for the younger ones. Newquay is famous for its surf culture and there are so many options for water sports and lessons. Other options were paddle boarding, body boarding, sea kayaking, beach kiting, and so much more.

Lunch in Newquay

12:00 – Walk into Newquay town to get lunch. There are so many fantastic places to eat in Newquay. From restaurants and cafes to little hole-in-the-wall pasty shops. We had tasty pizzas at Sailors.

2p amusement machine with large number of yellow winning tickets coming out the front. — Amusements Arcade in Newquay

Shopping and Amusements in Newquay

14:00 – Take a wander around the shops in Newquay town. Don’t forget the infamous Fat Willy’s Surf Shack.

Pick up some fresh fish from the harbour area or fishmonger ready for the evening’s barbecue on the beach. Plus, there are loads of amusements arcades.

We enjoyed a few silly games in arcades and ended up winning tickets for some little prizes. It was lots of fun.

Beach Barbecue

17:00 – Pack blankets, food, and a disposable barbecue and head to one of the many beautiful beaches in Newquay. We like Fistral Beach as it was so close to our AirBnb accommodation.

Play rounders or cricket on the beach. And enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Make sure you leave no trace any time you use the beaches. Let’s keep the natural areas beautiful! And of course be extra careful with barbecues.

Day 3 in Newquay

Tai Chi

08:00 – Hire a private Tai Chi instructor to get the morning started off right. Practice mindfulness and calm with this fantastic opportunity to move.

blue skies with white fluffy clouds, a winding road with a car in front and the open top of the car just visibly. — Cornwall Road Trip

Drive to Land’s End or St. Ives

10:00 – Drive to Land’s End or St. Ives. There are so many incredible places to see in Cornwall. You can easily drive to the pretty seaside town of St. Ives or head down to Land’s End to visit the southernmost point of mainland Britain.

Wine Tasting

12:00 – If you prefer to stay closer to Newquay try the wine tasting experience at Trevibban Mill Vineyard in Padstow. It is a drive away so you will need a designated driver happy to not to drink for this experience.

rocky cliff and ocean at sunset. — Sunset in Newquay

Sunset on the beach

20:00 – After a day of exploring another part of Cornwall enjoy dinner back at the AirBnb or grab something tasty at local restaurant. Then head to the beach to enjoy another stunning sunset.

two women stand on a wooden beach looking into a koi pond surrounded by Japanese species trees and plants. — Japanese Garden

Day 4 in Newquay

Japanese Garden

10:00 – Drive to the Japanese Garden in nearby Mawgan Porth. Enjoy a gentle walk around the delightful planting, ponds, and Japanese garden design.

woman in white dress holding an open plate of fish and chips whilst sitting on a sandy beach.

Fish and Chips on the Beach

12:00 – Go to Mawgan Porth beach, buy some fish and chips to takeaway and eat on the beach. Maybe have a paddle in the sea before or after if the weather is lovely.

Surfing / Paddle Boarding / Snorkelling

16:00 – Enjoy late afternoon surf lesson or go paddle boarding. There are loads of water sports and activities to choose from including snorkelling, scuba diving, coasteering, and raft-building.

Day 5 in Newquay

Pack and check out

08:00 – Pack bags and clean AirBnb before checking out at 10am.

Spa

After checking out go for a mini spa day at one of the local spa hotels. We recommend either Fistral Beach Hotel in Newquay or The Scarlet in Mawgan Porth. Fully relax and unwind with a massage and swim before the drive home.

Tintagel

Alternatively head to Tintagel on the way home. Tintagel Castle is an English Heritage site linked to the legend of King Arthur. There’s a stunning high footbridge to walk over to the castle which is nestled on an outcrop into the sea.

silhouette of 5 people walking along grassy ground with sunset and clouds in the background. — Coastal Walk in Newquay

Coastal Walk

Or for a free and fun activity on the last day in Newquay go on a coastal walk. The South West Coastal park is great for stunning views of the sea and beaches. You can park near Crantock Beach for the coastal walk.