Nantucket, Massachusetts
Thirty miles out to sea. Still the standard everything else is measured against.
In this guide
01 — Why Nantucket
The island that set the standard for American coastal escapes.
Nantucket sits thirty miles south of Cape Cod in the Atlantic Ocean — small enough to cross by bicycle, large enough to spend a week without running out of things to do. The island was the whaling capital of the world in the 19th century, and the wealth that produced still defines the architecture: grey-shingled homes, white fences, cobblestone streets, the kind of built environment that looks effortlessly beautiful because it was built by people who could afford effortless beauty.
What makes Nantucket different from the Hamptons, from Martha’s Vineyard, from every other expensive East Coast island escape is the quality of the light. The Atlantic fog that rolls in off the water, the way the grey shingles absorb afternoon sun, the clarity of the sky when the fog lifts — Nantucket has a specific visual quality that painters and photographers have been trying to capture for two centuries.
“Nantucket is the island that raised the bar for American coastal travel. Everything else is measured against it, usually unfavorably.”
02 — Getting there
Ferry or flight. Both work.
Steamship Authority Ferry (Hyannis)
The traditional crossing — 2 hours 15 minutes from Hyannis on the traditional ferry, or 1 hour on the high-speed. The traditional ferry carries cars. Book well in advance for summer weekends. Hyannis is 90 minutes from Boston.
Hy-Line High-Speed Ferry
Passenger-only. One hour from Hyannis. Also seasonal service from Harwich Port and New Bedford. The fast option if you’re leaving the car on the mainland.
Cape Air / Nantucket Memorial Airport
Small plane service from Hyannis, Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, and New Bedford. Cape Air runs regular scheduled service. The flight from Hyannis is under 20 minutes.
Leave the car behind
The near-universal advice from Nantucket regulars: don’t bring your car. The island is navigable by bicycle, on foot, and by the NRTA Shuttle. Car parking is expensive and unnecessary.
03 — When to go
Every season rewards different travelers.
Summer (July–Aug)
Peak season. Book everything early.
The island at full volume — all restaurants open, beaches busy, ferry lines long. Book 4–6 months out for July and August. Worth the effort.
Shoulder (June & Sept)
Our recommendation.
Warm enough to swim, uncrowded enough to breathe. The best value window and often the most beautiful weather.
Daffodil Weekend (April)
A Nantucket institution.
Late April, the island covers itself in daffodils — literally millions of them. Antique car parade, tailgate picnic on Milestone Road. One of the great New England spring events.
Christmas Stroll (December)
The off-season’s finest hour.
Early December, Nantucket decorates for Christmas in a way that requires seeing in person. Inns and restaurants that are closed all winter open for the weekend. Book a year in advance.
04 — Where to stay
Historic inns, hotel row, or a house of your own.
Luxury Inn — Downtown
The White Elephant
Waterfront resort on Nantucket Harbor — the landmark property, commanding views, multiple restaurants, full-service spa. The most iconic address on the island. Rates reflect it.
Best for: special occasions, couples, anyone who wants the definitive Nantucket experience
Historic Inn
The Jared Coffin House
Built in 1845 for a wealthy whaling merchant — a National Historic Landmark on Broad Street. Six buildings, period architecture, walking distance from everything. The historic choice.
Best for: history travelers, those who want downtown walkability
Boutique Hotel
21 Broad Hotel
Contemporary boutique on Broad Street — design-forward, all-inclusive continental breakfast, central location. The modern alternative to the historic inn experience.
Best for: design-conscious travelers, those who prefer contemporary over historic
Vacation Rental
Nantucket Houses
The island has a serious vacation rental market — grey-shingled homes, cottages near the beaches, historic houses in town. For families and groups, renting a house is the authentic Nantucket experience.
Best for: families, groups, those who want to actually live on the island for a week
05 — Where to eat
The island eats as well as it looks.
The Proprietors Bar & Table
The island’s most celebrated restaurant — seasonal New American menu, thoughtful wine list, intimate space. Reservations are essential and fill weeks in advance. Worth planning your trip around.
$$$
Cru
Oyster bar and raw bar on the harbor — the definitive Nantucket lunch spot. Sit outside, watch the boats, order oysters and a glass of something cold. The scene is the experience.
$$$
Lola 41
Global small plates and creative cocktails in the heart of town. One of the most consistently praised restaurants on the island for food, service, and atmosphere.
$$$
Something Natural
The legendary sandwich shop — freshly baked bread, creative fillings, picnic supplies. Order, take your bag to the beach. The lunch formula Nantucket regulars have followed for decades.
$
Fog Island Cafe
The beloved breakfast spot — creative egg dishes, excellent coffee, the morning gathering place for locals and visitors who figured out the secret. Arrive early or wait.
$$
The Brotherhood of Thieves
A Nantucket institution in a historic building on Broad Street — burgers, chowder, craft beer. The unpretentious option when you want honest food after a day on the beach.
$$
06 — Things to do
The island rewards the unhurried.
Spend a day at Surfside Beach
The island’s most accessible and most popular ocean beach — wide, sandy, with consistent Atlantic swells. A 20-minute bike ride from town. Bring everything you need for the day.
Walk the cobblestones of downtown
The historic downtown — Main Street, Centre Street, the surrounding lanes — is one of the best-preserved 19th century commercial districts in America. The Whaling Museum on Broad Street is worth two hours.
Bike to Sconset
The seven-mile bike path from downtown Nantucket to Siasconset (Sconset) on the island’s eastern end is one of the great New England bicycle rides — flat, scenic, ending in a village of rose-covered cottages that looks like it was designed by someone trying to imagine perfect.
The Nantucket Whaling Museum
One of the best maritime museums in New England — a full sperm whale skeleton, the story of the Essex (the ship that inspired Moby-Dick), and the complete history of a trade that made this island the most prosperous place in 19th century America.
Great Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse at the island’s northern tip, reachable by 4WD or guided tour. The drive across the Great Point beach — the Atlantic on one side, Nantucket Sound on the other — is one of the island’s signature experiences.
Do nothing, deliberately
Sit on the front porch of your inn. Read. Walk to the harbor at dusk. Get a lobster roll and eat it on a bench. The island rewards the unhurried in a way that resists being itemized.
07 — Getting around
Bicycle is the answer to almost every question.
Bicycle
The primary transportation on Nantucket. Rentals widely available near the ferry landing. The island’s bike paths are excellent — paved, flat, and going everywhere worth going.
NRTA Shuttle
The island’s public bus system connects downtown to the major beaches and neighborhoods. Inexpensive, reliable during summer season, the car-free traveler’s backup to the bicycle.
Taxi and rideshare
Available but limited. Call ahead for taxis. Rideshare availability is inconsistent. For late nights and bad weather, have a taxi number saved.
On foot
Downtown Nantucket is entirely walkable. The ferry landing, the Whaling Museum, most of the restaurants, and many inns are within a 10-minute walk of each other.
08 — Practical tips
What to know before you go.
Book the ferry early
Summer car reservations sell out months in advance. Passenger-only tickets are easier to get but still book out on peak weekends. Reserve at steamshipauthority.com.
Nantucket is expensive
One of the most expensive destinations in New England. Budget honestly — restaurants, lodging, and incidentals all price at the high end. The value is real; so are the prices.
Fog happens
The Atlantic fog that gives Nantucket its distinctive light also delays ferries and flights. Build flexibility into your schedule, especially on departure day.
Restaurants fill fast
The best restaurants — The Proprietors, Cru, Lola 41 — take reservations weeks in advance in summer. Book before you leave home, not when you arrive.
September is the secret
The week after Labor Day, Nantucket belongs to the people who knew to come back. Lower rates, open tables, the same ocean. The best-kept timing secret on the island.
Cash and cards
Most businesses take cards but some smaller vendors and food trucks prefer cash. Bring some. ATMs exist but lines get long on peak summer weekends.
Thirty miles out to sea. Still worth every mile.
Nantucket has been absorbing visitors for two centuries and returning them to the mainland changed in ways they don’t fully understand until they’re back on the ferry watching the grey shingles recede. The island has that effect. It’s something about the light, the scale, the specific quality of a place that decided what it was going to be a long time ago and has been quietly enforcing that decision ever since.
Go in summer for the full experience. Go in September for the secret version. Go for Daffodil Weekend in April if you want something nobody else is doing. And book the ferry before you do anything else.
Thirty miles out. Still the standard.
Still worth every dollar and every minute of the crossing.
Have you been to Nantucket? What’s your favorite season — or your favorite spot the tourists haven’t found yet?