Things to do & places to visit in Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

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.

Nantucket island in Massachusetts, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Sunday, April 28, 2024, 18:08.

Top things to do (21)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Great Point Light (193 reviews)
- Definitely worth the visit but requires planning
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Lighthouses

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! See more..
5.0 Nantucket Atheneum (110 reviews)
- Beautiful secret
Sunday: Spent 1-2 hours Libraries

The Nantucket Atheneum is the public library for Nantucket, Massachusetts. The institution was formed in 1834 as a private, membership organization and became a public library in 1900. The Nantucket Atheneum offers free access to millions of books, films and music as well as over 1,000 programs for all ages year round. Our iconic building, built in 1846, is located in the heart of downtown and features art and artifacts important to the island's maritime history as the center of whaling. The library also provides a free wifi signal, computer access on the second floor and a beautiful, inviting garden. See more..
5.0 Theatre Workshop of Nantucket (44 reviews)
- Great theatre on Nantucket
Theaters

Nantucket's public theater since 1956. See more..
5.0 Sconset Bluff Walk (38 reviews)
- Beautiful no matter what time of year
Hiking Trails

It doesn't matter what time of year, or where you join the walk-- it's just a beautiful way to experience the power and majesty of the Atlantic ocean. Check the prevailing winds before you go, so you can be prepared clothing-wise. Like most Nantucket activities, it can be quite magical. View lots of seal families swimming by as they go to and from their resting grounds at Great Point. Walk as short or long as you like! See more..
5.0 White Heron Theatre Company (19 reviews)
- Dial M for Murder
Theaters

White Heron is Nantucket's Professional Repertory Theatre. A not-for-profit theatre company, first formed in New York in 2005, by Lynne Bolton and Earle Gister. Now run by Lynne and Michael Kopko, the Company moved to Nantucket in 2011. We produce classical and contemporary works in a transformational, character-driven way. Our goal is to bring meaningful art to the Nantucket community. You can find us directly behind the Whaling Museum! See more..
5.0 Loines Observatory (17 reviews)
- Highlight of our visit!!
Observatories & Planetariums

Highly recommend the open viewing nights. Great activity for all ages. We saw the Milky Way, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. The telescope views were great. Location is easy to miss so try to locate it during the daylight first. See more..
5.0 Moors End Farm (15 reviews)
- Excellent farm market
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Farms

If you want fresh and delicious produce, beautiful flowers, and healthy plants, pay a visit to Moors End Fram. The corn is really outstanding, as is the lettuce. The flowers are really beautiful and long lasting. See more..
5.0 Nantucket Founders Burial Ground (11 reviews)
- Must see if you want Nantucket history
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks

It was like a treasure hunt to find the Founders cemetery. But after a bike ride to Cliff road we found this place. Almost impossible to see markings. But look for a pull out with a pond. Then hike up the gravel road to the gravestones. I had to go because my great grandparents Peter and Mary Folger. Some of the first English to inhabit the island are here. It looks like a restful place but there is a huge structure being built on the edge of the cemetery. Maybe a mansion. See more..
4.5 Whaling Museum (1.652 reviews)
- A Must-Visit Venue to Appreciate Nantucket
Sunday: Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

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. See more..
4.5 Cisco Brewers (792 reviews)
- Nice change of pace
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Distilleries • Wineries & Vineyards • Breweries

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! See more..
4.5 Brant Point Lighthouse (359 reviews)
- Pretty little lighthouse right at the entrance
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses

Established in 1746, America's second oldest lighthouse has been in service more than 250 years. See more..
4.5 Sankaty Head Lighthouse (288 reviews)
- Iconic Nantucket Lighthouse
Lighthouses

Built in 1850, this distinctive brick lighthouse stands on a bluff 90 feet above sea level. See more..
4.5 Madaket Beach (276 reviews)
- Best sunsets at Madaket Beach!
Beaches

Located on the south side of Nantucket, this beach is known for its rough surf. See more..
4.5 Jetties Beach (267 reviews)
- Great Happy Hour!
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Beaches

The best island beach within walking distance of town, Jetties is ideal for kids. See more..
4.5 Surfside Beach (266 reviews)
- Beautiful beach with crashing waves
Beaches

Oceanside Nantucket beach. See more..
4.5 Siasconset Beach (226 reviews)
- Nice beach afternoon!
Beaches

Nantucket beach on the ocean side. See more..
4.5 Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum (184 reviews)
- Excellent new museum 4 miles east of ferry terminal.
Sunday: Speciality Museums • History Museums

In the 19th Century, hundreds of ships passed by Nantucket Island each day, all navigating without the benefit of modern nautical technology. Fog, storms, and treacherous shoals led to over 750 shipwrecks in the waters surrounding Nantucket. The Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum preserves the memory of those Islanders who risked their lives to save shipwrecked mariners. These men served in organizations such as the Massachusetts Humane Society, U.S. Life-Saving Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Museum is located at 158 Polpis Road, just 3.5 miles from Nantucket Town, and is easily reached by car, The WAVE, or our free Shipwreck Shuttle pick up at the Visitors Service on Federal Street from June on, or by bike on the Polpis Road Bike Path. See more..
4.5 The Steamship Authority (158 reviews)
- A little piece of heaven - Nantucket
Spent 2-3 hours Ferries

Boat journey was very good and the time flew in. Hired bicycles and rode approx 8 miles to a beautiful beach where we seen seals swimming in the water. On our return we stopped for a couple of drinks at a bar. Also had some shrimp which was so tasty. Nantucket is stunning and I wish we had stayed a couple of days and seen more of the island See more..
4.5 Old Mill (121 reviews)
- Oldest operating historic mill in the US
Sunday: Points of Interest & Landmarks

Engineering marvel and great historic significance of the island. The staff at the mill was full of local historic knowledge as well as engineering knowledge on the inner workings of this impressive machine. Kids enjoyed it. Also with the Pass $6 adult, $3 for youth (6-17) and free for children. Gets you into 6 other historic sites on the island for the entire season. Last but not least this mill is operational and they grind up corn and bag it for souvenirs but is it human grade consumable, so one could make corn bread or muffins from it. Learn where "Three sheets to the wind", "been through the mill", "Mill/milling around", "mill about", "Run-of-the-mill", to name a few came about. See more..
4.5 Cisco Beach (113 reviews)
- Amazing views of the sunset!
Beaches

Nantucket beach on the ocean side. See more..
4.5 Wauwinet (85 reviews)
- Wonderful, peaceful place to relax & chill-out
Historic Sites

Hotel sitting area has a nice fireplace. They offer complementary wine and cheese daily at 4 pm, though we missed out on this. Staff members are extremely friendly, professional, attentive and helpful. They gave us an umbrella when we departed as it was raining out. They have free shuttles to ferry, and they have hourly shuttles into town so you can walk around and shop if you want. There are lots of cute bunnies hopping around this relatively quiet and elegant property. Recommend accommodations at cottage 408. Not all cottage rooms have private yards. See more..
4.5 First Congregational Church (78 reviews)
- Very welcoming congregation
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lookouts • Religious Sites

Good message for locals and visitors. Second summer we've visited and found it to be friendly both times. . See more..
4.5 Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge (63 reviews)
- Guided sunset Jeep tour
Sunday: 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Discover this ruggedly beautiful coastal environment where deer, raptors, and shorebirds play. Explore sand dunes and small coastal forests, salt marsh and tidal ponds, on 16 miles of trails and sand roads. We also offer guided over-sand vehicle tours of the refuge. See more..
4.5 Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum (54 reviews)
- Wonderful history of the baskets
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Speciality Museums

Now affiliated with the Nantucket Historical Association. The mission of the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum is to promote the awareness and appreciation of lightship baskets and their makers, by educating and engaging the public about the complexity of this art form unique to Nantucket, and placing it within a broader context of related crafts. See more..
4.5 Greater Light (40 reviews)
- Quirky and Quaint
Temporarily closed - Closed until May 27, 2023 Historic Sites

Greater Light, located at 8 Howard Street, was the summer home and studio of Gertrude and Hanna Monaghan, two independent, highly educated, unmarried Quaker sisters from Philadelphia. Gertrude (1887–1962), a professional artist, and Hanna (1889–1972), an actress and author, first came to the island in 1923, renting a small studio near the harbor. Originally built around 1790 as a livestock barn, the sisters discovered Greater Light in 1929 when they followed a herd of cattle up Main Street. Enthralled, they purchased the dilapidated building and set about transforming it into their own summer oasis, adorning it with cast-off architectural elements, decorative objects, and eclectic furniture. Their personal aesthetic blended art and whimsy with an appreciation of unique handcrafted works—woven, carved, forged, or painted—that coalesced in an environment that is a monument to their spirit. See more..
4.5 Maria Mitchell Association (36 reviews)
- Nighttime observatory
Sunday: Science Museums

Operating an Aquarium, Natural Science Museum, two Observatories and a Historic House, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is a private non-profit organization located on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Aquarium: Locally-collected specimens are on exhibit. Displays are always changing and include anything from seahorses to octopuses to sharks! Get a “feel” for the local ecosystem at our touch tank, home to crabs, clams, baby horseshoe crabs, and more! Great for kids and adults alike! Natural Science Museum: A cross between a classic natural history museum, a zoo, and a science center, the Maria Mitchell Natural Science Museum is a great place to learn about the plants, animals, and birds of Nantucket. See live turtles and snakes! Loines Observatory: See distant planets, stars, galaxies and more through a telescope! Stargazing nights with our expert astronomers are a unique way to spend an evening enjoying Nantucket's clear and dark skies! Check our website for specific information about Stargazing dates and times. Historic Mitchell House: Take a trip back in time to 1800s Nantucket! Built in 1790, this typical Quaker house was acquired by the Mitchell family in 1818. The home became a museum in 1903 when the Maria Mitchell Association’s founders acquired the house to preserve the legacy of Maria Mitchell herself. See more..
4.5 Nobadeer (32 reviews)
- Lots of action at this beach!!
Beaches

This beach was incredible! Most people come out via jeep and drive onto the beach and parked. There is a whole system to it and everyone lines up their car with the back of the jeep facing the ocean. Tons of families, lots of surfers and this year lots of whales! Very cool and they came back on multiple days! See more..
4.5 Altar Rock (26 reviews)
- One of the best hike
Historic Walking Areas

One of the hikes with different vista, broad and wide, and different color in landscape. It's unusual on an lsland in Masachussetts. If you walk, it's fine. You can decide which trail you want to do for different length. It's also possible to drive. However, be aware that you need to have a good height clearance, since some part of the trails are bumpy and the wheel track are quite low beneath the ground. See more..
4.5 Hadwen House (22 reviews)
- A View of Time Before
Temporarily closed - Closed until May 26, 2023 Historic Sites

The Hadwen House is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1846 by whaling merchant and silver retailer William Hadwen at the peak of Nantucket’s prosperity as the whaling capital of the world. The home is one of the most elaborate examples of Greek revival architecture on the island and the only publicly accessible mansion of its age in the area. Today, this Historic Home features exhibitions on various topics such as Decorative Arts, Suffrage and Slavery, Architecture, and more! See more..
4.0 Oldest House (Jethro Coffin House) and Kitchen Garden (76 reviews)
- Well preserved living history and grounds
Temporarily closed - Closed until May 27, 2023 Historic Sites • Gardens

The Oldest House on Sunset Hill, also known as the Jethro Coffin House, was built in 1686 and is believed to be the oldest residence on Nantucket still on its original site. The island’s English population at the time totaled several hundred, and the native Wampanoag outnumbered them by at least three to one. Built as a wedding gift for Jethro Coffin (1663–1727) and Mary Gardner (1670–1767), the house represents the unity of two of the island’s oldest families. Jethro was the grandson of one of the island’s original proprietors, Tristram Coffin, and Mary was the daughter of John Gardner, one of the leaders of the so-called Half-Share Revolt, in which the island’s tradesmen rallied against the wealthier full-share proprietors. Although the relationship between Gardner and Coffin was never amicable, the marriage of Mary and Jethro helped unite the families and soothe old wounds. Built on Gardner land using Coffin lumber, the house is a physical manifestation of this unity. See more..