With your base established, explore the island. Everything is within walking distance, but if you’re short on time and low on energy, hop on Scilly Carts and rent a golf cart for the day. With keys in hand, you can visit the Scilly Spirit distillery, explore the ancient Bronze Age gatehouse tombs in the north of the island, lounge on one of the many beaches, or stroll through the grounds of Star Castle.
Stop for a bite to eat along the way. It doesn’t get much better than Juliet’s Garden Restaurant for a delicious lunch with a view, while Dibble & Grub serves surprisingly good tapas right by the beach. Find more of the best restaurants on the islands at our guide.
You could easily spend a weekend in St Mary’s, but any visit to the Isles of Scilly really involves island hopping. There are regular daily shuttle services to the other islands (at least two return services to each island each day, as well as two circular departures offered daily in the main season), and which one to choose depends on your tastes (see more below). Find out more about island hopping in our top attractions guide.
The perfect week long vacation in the Isles of Scilly
A week opens up so many more possibilities and is the preferred length of time to spend here as it will allow you to make the most of the islands and discover the unique character of each one.
For a six night holiday I would recommend two nights on St Mary’s and two nights on two of the other islands to establish a real feel for each. Where you stay doesn’t limit what you can visit either, as each island offers daily transfers to at least one other island.
Which islands to choose for accommodation depends entirely on your tastes. Famous as the favorite holiday resort of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Tresco is ideal for families. This is down to the little details, like the treasure boxes that can be found scattered all over the island, packed with beach toys for children. You can also rent bikes, visit the famous Tresco Abbey Gardens or relax in the spa, which also has an indoor pool for any unexpected rainy day. Most of the options for staying in Tresco are self-catering, apart from the superb New Inn (from £120), which also does excellent pub dining, starring local seafood.