Location: Nantucket
Top Things to do in Nantucket
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Top 10 Things to do in Nantucket, Massachusetts (MA)
Windswept beaches, sand dunes, blinking lighthouses and a charming pace of life await on this 50-square mile island. The world's former top whaling port is now designated a National Historic District. Leave the car and take the shuttle or bike around. Seaside cottages, old whaling captains' mansions and historic harbors contain quaint inns, boutique stores, chowder shacks and upscale dining delights. Swim, surf or load up the tackle for Nantucket's excellent striper, bluefish and bonito fishing.
Restaurants in Nantucket
1. Great Point Light
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
Towering more than 60 feet, this historic lighthouse was established in 1784, destroyed in 1984 and rebuilt in 1986. Located on the Coskata Coatue Wildlife Refuge. You can get a tour of the lighthouse if you join one of the Trustees of Reservations guided natural history tours depending on the time of year and access to the lighthouse. Beach access is limited during storms and high tides. Always check the local Great Point tides and never drive through water!
Reviewed By farmguy78
Rented a Jeep Wrangler from Affordable Rentals. Bought the pass to drive out to the lighthouse across the dunes. Beautiful scenery. Lots of seals. Worth every penny of the $50 fee.
2. Jetties Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
The best island beach within walking distance of town, Jetties is ideal for kids.
Reviewed By stephaniecN4784LA - New York City, United States
This is such a great low key spot for amazing seafood. Their happy hour is awesome with $1 oysters, you can't beat it. It's right on the beach so you get a great view too. The lobster roll is awesome as are the shrimp tacos and fried clams. The drinks are strong and yummy. Can't wait to go back!
3. Madaket Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 271 reviews
Located on the south side of Nantucket, this beach is known for its rough surf.
Reviewed By TheFlyingLatvian - Newton, United States
A delightful experience, visiting Madaket Beach was a treat! Away from the tourist hordes in downtown, it is well worth the trip to the south side of the island. It's beautiful, peaceful, and there's plenty of space to relax and enjoy the booming surf. Added bonus: Millie's restaurant, bar, and market are just a short trot away, and offer all sorts of goodies and treats for beach goers.
4. Surfside Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
Oceanside Nantucket beach.
Reviewed By Joel137
We took the public bus to Surfside and it is a beautiful beach. Not sure if the wav3s are always like this, but these were enormous and beautiful to watch crashing. There were quite a few surfers attempting (not always successfully) to ride. Inviting sand, plenty of room as this is a very large beach. Great snack stand offering sandwiches, burgers, wraps, lemonade and ice cream...along with restrooms. A great day at the beach!
5. Siasconset Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 224 reviews
Nantucket beach on the ocean side.
Reviewed By dlmaiocca - Chatham, United States
The cliff walk that takes you through the lovely homes back yards with outstanding views of the ocean! Can be muddy in some spots, so wear boots!
6. Whaling Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,589 reviews
The Whaling Museum, operated by the Nantucket Historical Association (founded in 1894), is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Featuring permanent and rotating exhibitions in 9 premium galleries, with over a thousand works of art, artifacts and treasures on display, it tells the Island's facinating stories over 4 centuries. Numerous daily programs by our interpreters, childrens' activities in the Discovery Center and intimate spotlight tours compliment the visit. The museum is home to a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a massive Fresnel lens, a restored 1847 candle factory and a relaxing, fully-accessible rooftop deck offers stunning views of Nantucket harbor. Maximize your visit by going to our 9 historic homes and sites which are open to the public.
Reviewed By jldun
This was our first time at the whaling musem and it did not disappoint. From the whale skeleton when you first walk in to all the artifacts and information on whaling, including watching one of the staff dipping candles, it was a great learning tool and was also fun. The view of the harbor from the top is amazing. We chose to purchase the full pass that gave us access to several historic homes and properties and we are glad we did. We ended up walking to the places, but you can catch a Wave bus if it's too much walking. All the tour guides at the facilities were great and eager to share their knowledge. The other nice thing is that once you purchase the pass, you can use it over the course of days/weeks, so we split it up over 3 days. Highly recommend stopping here to learn about life on Nantucket before it became a tourist attraction.
7. Brant Point Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 346 reviews
Established in 1746, America's second oldest lighthouse has been in service more than 250 years.
Reviewed By AHW676 - Kansas City, United States
This is the most accessible lighthouse in Nantucket if you're staying anywhere close to town or the harbor. it's free to visit, but you won't go inside or climb it. You'll walk around it, take some great photos, and it will probably take you all of fifteen minutes to visit before heading to town for other sites, or going in the other direction to Cliff Road or some of the beaches.
8. Steamship Authority
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By Rquinn09 - Boston, United States
I opted to take the high speed ferry for my first trip to Nantucket and did not regret it! It was about an hour from dock to dock. The boarding process was really simple, and in Hyannis they had clearly marked spots to keep everyone socially distanced while waiting. I traveled in the off season, and the ferry was very empty. They were also very good about enforcing the onboard mask mandate, which made me feel more comfortable as a passenger.
9. Cisco Brewers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 763 reviews
Who are we? We are just about the coolest place on planet Earth. Having never personally traveled to other parts of the galaxy, we can't quite say "in all the Milky Way" but we're pretty confident that we would make the top 10. Here on Nantucket we have a Winery, Brewery, and Distillery. Nantucket Vineyard was the first arm of our business opening in the early 1980's as a small project of the Long Family. After a few years, Winery employees ended up falling in love with the wine and each other, and voila! - Cisco Brewers was born on the Hudson's stovetop in 1995. Whispers of a brewery floated on the Nantucket wind, catching the ear of a few people, including a Mr. Harman. Using the previously tested and proven formula of starting a business from another business, Winery and Brewery employees enjoyed a few glasses / pints (respectively) together and hatched the idea for Triple Eight Distillery in 2000. All three businesses are constantly evolving, and we now produce a wide variety of world-class wines, beers, and spirits. Come out and enjoy our Nantucket haven- just prepare yourself in case your mind blows up from all the awesomeness. Open everyday year-round, dog and kid friendly!
Reviewed By donnadaisybell - Glasgow, United Kingdom
It is hard to believe that places like this exist, we arrived on a Tuesday afternoon and the place was rocking! Great live music, a variety of bars -wine, beer and mixed drinks await. I had the frose, delicious and potent! They have food carts/trucks and sell merchandise too. Bring your kids, your dogs, whatever you like, everyone is welcome. I LOVED this place.
10. Egan Maritime's Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 168 reviews
In the 19th Century, hundreds of ships passed by Nantucket Island each day, all navigating without the benefit of modern nautical technology. Unpredictable storms, dense fog and strong currents often caught even the most experienced sailors off guard. Treacherous shoals and inclement weather led to over 700 shipwrecks in the surrounding waters of Nantucket, causing the area to be dubbed "a graveyard of the Atlantic."The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum preserves the memory of those Islanders who risked their lives to save shipwrecked mariners. These men served in organizations devoted to maritime rescue, such as the Massachusetts Humane Society, United States Life-Saving Service and the United States Coast Guard. The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum is located at 158 Polpis Road, just 3.5 miles from Nantucket Town. The museum can easily be reached by car, NRTA Shuttle/Polpis Route or by the Polpis Bike Path.
Reviewed By JWbel - Nantucket, United States
Compact site celebrates the history of lifesaving on Nantucket and much more about Nantucket's involvement with the sea outside of its whaling history. Dramatic rescues from wrecked sailing vessels, the story of the wreck of the Andria Doria off the coast and much more related to the maritime history of Nantucket. Located beside a salt marsh creek, it is a delightful place to spend some leisurely time. Well-informed docents explain the exhibits. There are also a number of audio-visual presentations which tell.a variety of historical stories. It's a couple of miles out of town on the Polpid Road but can easily be reached by a NRTA bus.
