Barnstable, a picturesque coastal town situated on Cape Cod, is a well-known destination for a seaside getaway and draws tourists from various regions of the nation.
It’s home to the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, Cahoon Museum of American Art, and Cape Cod Maritime Museum, making it a great destination for history buffs and art lovers alike.
And if you’re looking for some adventure, Barnstable also offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun.
The area is home to several beaches, which offer scenic views and warm weather year-round, perfect for swimming, boating, fishing, and more.
You can also enjoy scenic drives and bike rides along the Cape Cod Bay Bikeway.
If you’re traveling with kids, Barnstable also has plenty of family-friendly activities to keep them entertained.
Want to know more about what Barnstable has to offer? Keep reading for a comprehensive list of ideas and recommendations so you can make the most out of your trip
The 82 Most Popular Things To Do In Barnstable, Massachusetts
82. Hyannis Inner Harbor
5.0 (1 review)
Credit: cmh2315fl, License, Flickr
81. Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds
4.7 (3 reviews)
80. Barnstable Historical Society
5.0 (3 reviews)
Credit: (Photo Hicks) Tichnor, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3087 Main Street Barnstable MA
Tel: 508 362 2982
Web Address: http://barnstablehistoricalsociety.org/
79. Popponesset Bay
4.8 (4 reviews)
Credit: State Library of Massachusetts, License, Flickr
78. Bridge Creek Conservation Area
2.8 (4 reviews)
Credit: Mark Harris, Google Maps
Location: West Barnstable MA
Web Address: http://townofbarnstable.us/Conservation/TrailGuides/Bridgecr.pdf
77. Scorton Neck Beach
3.5 (4 reviews)
Credit: Nir Barak, Google Maps
76. Follins Pond
4.2 (5 reviews)
Credit: Alan Lefavour, Google Maps
75. Mystic Lake
4.6 (5 reviews)
Credit: Pintsmasher, License, Wikimedia commons
74. Union Chapel
4.6 (5 reviews)
Credit: John Phelan, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 15 Wachusett Ave Hyannis Port MA
Tel: 508 534 8720
Web Address: http://uchp.org/
73. Lovells Pond
4.2 (5 reviews)
Credit: Pintsmasher, License, Wikimedia commons
72. Eagle Pond
3.8 (5 reviews)
71. Santuit Pond
4.6 (7 reviews)
Credit: Pintsmasher, License, Wikimedia commons
70. Ropes Beach
4.3 (7 reviews)
Credit: Nicholas Bono, SRA, RA, Google Maps
69. Waquoit Bay
4.8 (8 reviews)
68. West Barnstable Conservation Area
4.6 (8 reviews)
Credit: Rachel Whelton, Google Maps
Location: Prospect Street West Barnstable MA
Web Address: https://town.barnstable.ma.us/Departments/Conservation/pageview.asp
67. Santuit Pond Preserve
4.8 (8 reviews)
Credit: Damaris Carpenter, Google Maps
Location: Mashpee MA
66. Hyannis Harbor Light
3.9 (10 reviews)
Credit: J. Stephen Conn, License, Flickr
Location: Hyannis MA
65. Sea Captains Row
4.8 (10 reviews)
Credit: Rob Thompson, Google Maps
Location: 24 Pleasant Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 418 3922
Web Address: http://seacaptainsrow.com/
64. Wequaquet Lake
4.0 (11 reviews)
Credit: David W Cox, Google Maps
63. Hamblin Pond
4.5 (11 reviews)
Credit: Pintsmasher, License, Wikimedia commons
62. The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth
4.8 (12 reviews)
Credit: Ranadheer Purupati, Google Maps
Location: 11 Streetrawberry Ln Yarmouth Port MA
Tel: 508 362 3021
Web Address: http://hsoy.org/
61. Lewis Bay Beach
3.2 (12 reviews)
Credit: Family Dennis, Google Maps
60. Korean War Memorial
4.6 (13 reviews)
Credit: Soundengineerskid, Google Maps
Location: 480 Ocean Street Hyannis MA
59. Dennis Pond
4.8 (14 reviews)
Credit: (Photo Hicks) Pub., License, Wikimedia commons
58. Massachusetts Air & Space Museum
4.9 (16 reviews)
Credit: Massachusetts Air & Space Museum, Google Maps
Location: 434 Main Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 827 6300
Web Address: http://massairspace.org/
57. Coast Guard Heritage Museum
4.8 (19 reviews)
Credit: Kenneth C. Zirkel, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3353 Main Street Barnstable MA
Tel: 508 362 8521
Web Address: https://coastguardheritagemuseum.org/
56. Bay View Street Beach
4.6 (20 reviews)
55. Kalmus Park Beach
4.5 (21 reviews)
Credit: Dirk Varelmann, Google Maps
54. Hyannis Port Beach
4.3 (22 reviews)
Credit: Al Costello, Google Maps
53. Historical Society of Santuit & Cotuit
4.8 (22 reviews)
Credit: Mark Weinress, Google Maps
Location: 1148 Main Street Cotuit MA
Tel: 508 428 0461
Web Address: https://cotuithistoricalsociety.org/
52. Twin Brooks Golf Course
3.0 (22 reviews)
Credit: John Maher, Google Maps
Location: 35 Scudder Ave Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 862 6980
51. Centerville Historical Museum
4.6 (22 reviews)
Credit: Leslie Miller, Google Maps
Location: 513 Main Street Centerville MA
Tel: 508 775 0331
Web Address: http://centervillehistoricalmuseum.org/
50. Keyes Memorial Beach
4.6 (24 reviews)
49. Long Beach
4.9 (29 reviews)
Location: Long Beach Road Centerville MA
48. Eagle Pond and Little River Sanctuary
4.8 (29 reviews)
Credit: Meghan Weston, Google Maps
Location: Eagle Pond Cotuit MA
Tel: 508 771 2585
Web Address: https://blt.org/eagle-pond-and-little-river-sanctuary
47. Hathaway’s Ponds
4.4 (30 reviews)
Credit: Chris Farnum, Google Maps
46. Osterville Historical Society
4.6 (35 reviews)
Location: 155 W Bay Road Osterville MA
Tel: 508 428 5861
Web Address: https://ostervillemuseum.org/
45. Mass Audubon’s Barnstable Great Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
4.5 (38 reviews)
Credit: Ray Bernoff, Google Maps
Location: Way Barnstable MA
Tel: 508 362 7475
Web Address: http://massaudubon.org/barnstable
44. Mass Audubon’s Sampsons Island Wildlife Sanctuary
4.9 (38 reviews)
Credit: Jay Beckwith, Google Maps
Location: Osterville MA
Tel: 508 362 7475- -9351
Web Address: http://massaudubon.org/sampsonsisland
43. Mashpee Town Beach
4.7 (39 reviews)
42. Cotuit Center for the Arts
4.8 (43 reviews)
Credit: Gabbe Rowland, Google Maps
Location: 4404 Falmouth Road Cotuit MA
Tel: 508 428 0669
Web Address: https://artsonthecape.org/
41. Loop Beach
4.6 (45 reviews)
Credit: Peter Maloof, Google Maps
40. Bismore Park
4.6 (57 reviews)
Credit: Liduo Luo, Google Maps
Location: Hyannis MA
Web Address: http://bayspirittours.com/
39. Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary
4.4 (62 reviews)
Credit: Leandro Marques, Google Maps
Location: 345 Bumps River Road Osterville MA
Tel: 508 362 7475
Web Address: http://massaudubon.org/skunknettriver
38. Armstrong-Kelley Park
4.6 (69 reviews)
Credit: Soundengineerskid, Google Maps
Location: 675 Main Street Osterville MA
Tel: 508 428 9936
Web Address: http://armstrongkelleypark.com/
37. Lowell Holly Reservation
4.7 (70 reviews)
Credit: Jonathan Cappella, Google Maps
Location: S Sandwich Road Mashpee MA
Web Address: https://thetrustees.org/place/lowell-holly/
36. Eugenia Fortes Beach
4.5 (72 reviews)
Credit: Sunny Onthecape, Google Maps
35. Mashpee River Woodlands
4.6 (73 reviews)
Credit: Paul Peeling, Google Maps
Location: Mashpee MA
Tel: 978 921 1944
Web Address: http://thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/cape-cod-islands/mashpee-river.html
34. Hyannis Terminal
3.9 (74 reviews)
Credit: Mlc, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 69 South Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 771 4000
Web Address: https://steamshipauthority.com/
33. Sandy Neck Beach
4.7 (84 reviews)
Credit: Francesca.hyanna19, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: West Barnstable MA
32. Hyannis Golf Course
4.3 (95 reviews)
Credit: Hyannis Golf Course, Google Maps
Location: 1800 Iyannough Road Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 362 2606
Web Address: http://barnstable.golf/
31. Toad Hall Classic Car Museum
4.1 (96 reviews)
Credit: april rancour, Google Maps
Location: 288 Scudder Ave Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 778 4934
Web Address: http://toadhallcars.com/default.asp
30. Craigville Beach
4.8 (113 reviews)
Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 966 Craigville Beach Road Centerville MA
29. Joseph P. Kennedy House
4.4 (154 reviews)
Credit: Interstellarity, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 50 Marchant Ave Hyannis MA
28. Englewood Beach
4.4 (161 reviews)
Credit: (Photo Hicks) Pub., License, Wikimedia commons
27. Saint Francis Xavier Parish
4.8 (177 reviews)
Credit: Shridath Patandin, Google Maps
Location: 347 South Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 775 0818
Web Address: https://sfxhyannis.org/
26. Colonial Acres Beach
4.5 (184 reviews)
Credit: Lux Llama Productions, Google Maps
25. Burgess Park
4.6 (192 reviews)
Credit: michael schwind, Google Maps
Location: MA 149 Marstons Mills MA
Tel: 508 790 6345
Web Address: http://town.barnstable.ma.us/recreation/
24. Dowses Beach
4.6 (236 reviews)
23. Covell’s Beach
4.6 (239 reviews)
Credit: Dhanny Palma, Google Maps
22. Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
4.8 (253 reviews)
Credit: John Kruszyna, Google Maps
Location: 345 Bone Hill Road Cummaquid MA
Tel: 508 362 7475
Web Address: http://massaudubon.org/longpasture
21. Millway Beach
4.6 (256 reviews)
Credit: ToddC4176, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 399 Millway Barnstable MA
Web Address: http://townofbarnstable.us/recreation/Barnstable-Beaches.asp
20. Wild Animal Lagoon
4.4 (283 reviews)
Credit: Wild Animal Lagoon, Google Maps
Location: 62 MA 28 West Yarmouth MA
Tel: 508 790 1662
Web Address: http://wildanimallagoon.com/
19. Cape Cod Children’s Museum
4.3 (287 reviews)
Credit: Cape Cod Children’s Museum, Google Maps
Location: 577 Great Neck Road S Mashpee MA
Tel: 508 539 8788
Web Address: http://capecodchildrensmuseum.org/
18. Edward Gorey House
4.8 (296 reviews)
Credit: John Phelan, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8 Streetrawberry Ln Yarmouth Port MA
Tel: 508 362 3909
Web Address: http://edwardgoreyhouse.org/
17. Chapin Memorial Beach
4.6 (323 reviews)
Web Address: http://town.dennis.ma.us/
16. Cape Cod Beer
4.6 (406 reviews)
Credit: Arvind Menon, Google Maps
Location: 1336 Phinneys Ln Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 790 4200
Web Address: http://capecodbeer.com/
15. South Cape Beach State Park
4.6 (438 reviews)
Location: 668 Great Oak Road Mashpee MA
Tel: 508 457 0495
Web Address: https://mass.gov/locations/south-cape-beach-state-park
14. John F. Kennedy Memorial
4.7 (456 reviews)
Location: 480 Ocean Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 790 6345
13. Kalmus Beach Snack Bar
4.5 (494 reviews)
Location: 670 Ocean Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 778 0777
Web Address: https://facebook.com/Kalmusbeachsnackbar
12. Sandy Neck Gate House
4.6 (599 reviews)
Location: 425 Sandy Neck Road West Barnstable MA
Tel: 508 362 8300
Web Address: https://town.barnstable.ma.us/sandyneckpark/default.aspx
11. Veterans Park Beach
4.6 (687 reviews)
Credit: Heather Milliner, Google Maps
Location: 480 Ocean Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 790 9885
Web Address: http://town.barnstable.ma.us/
10. Veterans Memorial Park
4.7 (929 reviews)
Credit: Tamanoeconomico, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 480 Ocean Street Hyannis MA
Our Top picks
9. Sandy Neck Lighthouse
4.5 (31 reviews)
Credit: ToddC4176, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: West Barnstable MA
Web Address: http://lighthousefriends.com/light.asp
8. Cahoon Museum of American Art
4.6 (89 reviews)
Credit: Cahoon Museum of American Art, Google Maps
Location: 4676 Falmouth Road Cotuit MA
Tel: 508 428 7581
Web Address: http://cahoonmuseum.org/
7. Craigville Beach, Barnstable
4.3 (101 reviews)
Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons
6. Sandy Neck Beach
4.4 (102 reviews)
5. Cape Cod Maritime Museum
4.4 (144 reviews)
Credit: J. Stephen Conn, License, Flickr
Location: 135 South Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 775 1723
Web Address: http://capecodmaritimemuseum.org/
4. Cape Cod Central Railroad
4.3 (210 reviews)
Credit: railfan 44, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 252 Main Street Hyannis MA
Web Address: https://capetrain.com/
3. Cape Codder Water Park
4.2 (736 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1225 Iyannough Road Suite #4 Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 568 2940
Web Address: https://capecodderwaterpark.com/
2. John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum
4.4 (1,012 reviews)
Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 397 Main Street Hyannis MA
Tel: 508 790 3077
Web Address: http://jfkhyannismuseum.org/
1. Mayflower Beach
4.7 (1,443 reviews)
Web Address: http://town.dennis.ma.us/Pages/DennisMA_beach/index
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Barnstable, Massachusetts! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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