Things to Do in Cape Cod and the Islands
Dune beaches, lighthouses and island towns that come alive in summer.
See top-rated activities »About Cape Cod
Cape Cod bends out from the mainland like an arm, and locals describe places by where they sit on it. The Upper Cape, near the canal and its two bridges, includes Falmouth and Woods Hole, the ferry port for Martha's Vineyard. The Mid-Cape holds Hyannis, the busiest town and the ferry port for Nantucket, along with Barnstable and Yarmouth. The Lower Cape runs through Chatham, with its fish pier and lighthouse, and Orleans, and the Outer Cape stretches north through Wellfleet and Truro to Provincetown at the tip.
The Cape Cod National Seashore, established in 1961, protects about 40 miles of ocean beach, dunes and cliffs on the Outer Cape. Coast Guard, Nauset and Race Point beaches are among the most popular, and seals are now a common sight offshore, which also means sharks; follow posted warnings. The Cape Cod Rail Trail, a paved path of roughly 25 miles, runs from South Yarmouth to Wellfleet past ponds, cranberry bogs and salt marsh.
Provincetown is the Cape's most distinctive town, a former Portuguese fishing port that became an artists' colony and a center of LGBTQ life. Commercial Street is lined with galleries, shops and restaurants, and the 252-foot Pilgrim Monument marks the place where the Mayflower first anchored in 1620, before the Pilgrims moved on to Plymouth. Whale watches leave from MacMillan Pier for nearby Stellwagen Bank.
Martha's Vineyard, 45 minutes by ferry from Woods Hole, has six towns with distinct personalities: the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, the white captains' houses of Edgartown and the clay cliffs of Aquinnah at the western end. Nantucket, farther out, is a single town of cobblestone streets and gray shingles that was the world's whaling capital in the early 1800s; the Whaling Museum tells that story. On both islands, bicycles and shuttle buses make a car optional.
Don’t Miss
Ocean beaches, dunes, lighthouses and trails from Chatham to Provincetown.
A granite tower with views over the Cape, marking the Mayflower's first landing.
A paved rail trail of about 25 miles past ponds, bogs and villages.
The Nantucket Historical Association's museum of the island's whaling era, in a former candle factory.
Year-round car and passenger ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Cape Cod
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best in Mass may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Cape Cod — FAQ
When is the best time to visit Cape Cod?
June and September offer warm weather with fewer crowds. July and August are peak season with heavy bridge traffic on weekends. Many restaurants and shops close from late fall to spring.
Should I bring a car to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket?
Usually not. Car ferry space is limited and expensive in summer, and both islands have good bike paths and seasonal buses. Park in Woods Hole, Falmouth or Hyannis and walk on.
Where can I see whales from Cape Cod?
Whale watch boats leave Provincetown for Stellwagen Bank from spring through fall. Humpbacks are the most common sighting.
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