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58 Best and Fun Things To Do In Nantucket, Massachusetts


TouristWire Editors

Formerly recognized as the leading hub of the whaling industry, this small island located off the shores of Massachusetts was the setting for the most violent trade in history.

Today, visitors can learn more about the town’s whaling history from the exhibits at the Nantucket Whaling Museum.

The island is also home to several other attractions, including three historic lighthouses, a brewery, and numerous picturesque beaches.  

While Nantucket is a charming destination in and of itself, it’s also an excellent base from which to explore the nearby islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod.

For those who love the water, there are several sailing and kayaking tours that run year-round. Those who prefer to stay on land can take a hike around the island or explore the town’s shops and restaurants.

Keep reading to discover our list of all this historic little island has to offer

The 58 Most Popular Things To Do In Nantucket, Massachusetts

58. Surfside Beach

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

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Credit: Andre Carrotflower, License, Wikimedia commons

57. Nantucket Preservation Trust

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

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Credit: Lux Llama Productions, Google Maps

Location: 11 Centre Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1387

Web Address:   http://nantucketpreservation.org/

56. Esther Island

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

55. Quidnet Beach

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

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Credit: Paul Cote, Google Maps

54. Coatue Beach

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

53. Hither Creek

5.0 ★★★★★ (1 review)

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Credit: Doug Bomeisler, Google Maps

52. The Old Mill

4.0 ★★★★☆ (2 reviews)

387px-the old mill%2c nantucket%2c mass %2866813%29

Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 50 Prospect Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   https://nha.org/visit/historic-sites/old-mill/

51. Sesachacha Pond

5.0 ★★★★★ (2 reviews)

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Credit: Toby Sackton, License, Flickr

50. Nantucket Land Council Inc

5.0 ★★★★★ (2 reviews)

Location: 6 Ash Ln Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 2818

Web Address:   https://nantucketlandcouncil.org/

49. Mass Audubon’s Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary

5.0 ★★★★★ (2 reviews)

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Credit: Juliette Sutherland, Google Maps

Location: Barnard Valley Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 9208

Web Address:   http://massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/sesachacha-heathlands

48. Muskeget Island

4.7 ★★★★★ (3 reviews)

47. Francis Street Beach

4.3 ★★★★☆ (3 reviews)

46. Tom Never Beach

4.3 ★★★★☆ (3 reviews)

45. Abnecotants Island

5.0 ★★★★★ (3 reviews)

44. Fire Hose Cart House

5.0 ★★★★★ (3 reviews)

Location: 8 Gardner Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   http://nha.org/sites/hosecarthouse.html

43. Windswept Cranberry Bog

5.0 ★★★★★ (3 reviews)

Location: 301 Polpis Road Nantucket MA

42. Nantucket Historical Association

5.0 ★★★★★ (4 reviews)

Location: 15 Broad Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1894

Web Address:   http://nha.org/

41. Altar Rock

4.5 ★★★★★ (4 reviews)

40. Madequecham Beach

4.0 ★★★★☆ (4 reviews)

39. Miacomet Pond

4.6 ★★★★★ (5 reviews)

38. Children’s Beach Playground

4.7 ★★★★★ (6 reviews)

Location: 15 Harbor View Way Nantucket MA

Web Address:   https://nantucket-ma.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Childrens-Beach-33

37. The Hadwen House Garden

4.7 ★★★★★ (6 reviews)

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Credit: Leonard Infranca, Google Maps

Location: 7 Pleasant Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   http://nha.org/hours/siterentals-hadwen.htm

36. Childrens Beach

4.3 ★★★★☆ (7 reviews)

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Credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism, License, Flickr

35. Artists Association of Nantucket Gallery

4.6 ★★★★★ (8 reviews)

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Credit: Artists Association of Nantucket Gallery, Google Maps

Location: 19 Washington Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 0294

Web Address:   https://nantucketarts.org/

34. Maria Mitchell Association

4.9 ★★★★★ (10 reviews)

Location: 4 Vestal Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 9198

Web Address:   http://mariamitchell.org/

33. Dionis Beach

4.7 ★★★★★ (12 reviews)

32. Tuckernuck Island

3.8 ★★★★☆ (12 reviews)

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Credit: http://maps.bpl.org, License, Wikimedia commons

31. Quaker Meeting House

4.5 ★★★★★ (13 reviews)

Location: 7 Fair Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   http://nha.org/sites/quakermeetinghouse.html

30. Sconset Beach

4.5 ★★★★★ (15 reviews)

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Credit: Aprof2, License, Wikimedia commons

29. Greater Light

4.6 ★★★★★ (15 reviews)

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Credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism, License, Flickr

Location: 8 Howard Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1894

Web Address:   http://nha.org/sites/greaterlight.html

28. Washing Pond Beach

4.4 ★★★★☆ (16 reviews)

800px-cape cod iss

Credit: ISS Expedition 16, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 38 Washing Pond Road Nantucket MA

27. Museum of African American History

4.7 ★★★★★ (17 reviews)

Location: 29 York Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 9833

Web Address:   http://maah.org/

26. Great Point Beach

4.8 ★★★★★ (18 reviews)

Location: 147 Wauwinet Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1700

Web Address:   http://thetrustees.org/

25. Loines Observatory

4.8 ★★★★★ (20 reviews)

800px-loines observatory

Credit: SamHolt6, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 59 Milk Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 257 1117

Web Address:   https://mariamitchell.org/visit/loines-observatory

24. Old Gaol

4.3 ★★★★☆ (20 reviews)

Location: 15R Vestal Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   http://nha.org/sites/oldgaol.html

23. Tupancy Links

4.9 ★★★★★ (23 reviews)

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Credit: Michael Wyatt, Google Maps

Location: 157 Cliff Road Nantucket MA

Web Address:   https://nantucketconservation.org/property/tupancy-links/

22. Maria Mitchell Aquarium

4.7 ★★★★★ (25 reviews)

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Credit: Neddy1234, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 28 Washington Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 5387

Web Address:   http://mariamitchell.org/visit/aquarium

21. Hadwen House

4.5 ★★★★★ (28 reviews)

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Credit: License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 96 Main Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1894

Web Address:   https://nha.org/visit/museums-and-tours/hadwen-house/

20. Ladies Beach

4.8 ★★★★★ (36 reviews)

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Credit: bbcamericangirl, License, Flickr

19. Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge

5.0 ★★★★★ (39 reviews)

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Credit: U. S. Fish, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 147 Wauwinet Road Nantucket MA

Web Address:   https://fws.gov/refuge/nantucket

18. 40th Pole Beach

4.6 ★★★★★ (43 reviews)

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Credit: Stephen Ogden, Google Maps

17. Miacomet Beach

4.7 ★★★★★ (50 reviews)

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Credit: Tim Sackton, License, Wikimedia commons

Web Address:   http://nantucket.net/beaches/miacomet.php

16. Jethro Coffin House

4.7 ★★★★★ (52 reviews)

800px-the jethro coffin house%2c built in 1686%2c nantucket%2c mass %2872904%29

Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 16 Sunset Hill Ln Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1894

Web Address:   http://nha.org/sites/oldesthouse.html

15. Sankaty Head Golf Club

4.7 ★★★★★ (57 reviews)

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Credit: Unknown author, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 100 Sankaty Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 257 6391

Web Address:   http://sankatyheadgc.com/

14. Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge Gatehouse

4.9 ★★★★★ (88 reviews)

Location: 107 Wauwinet Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 0006

Web Address:   http://thetrustees.org/

13. ‘Sconset Bluff Walk

4.7 ★★★★★ (110 reviews)

Location: 27 Bank Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   http://nha.org/history/hn/HN-april73-stackpole-bluff.htm

12. Steps Beach

4.7 ★★★★★ (128 reviews)

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Credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism, License, Flickr

Location: Nantucket MA

11. Nantucket Downtown Historic District

4.7 ★★★★★ (208 reviews)

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Credit: Frank McAuliffe, Google Maps

Location: 2 Fairgrounds Road Nantucket MA

Web Address:   https://nantucket-ma.gov/283/Historic-District-Commission

10. Bartlett’s Farm

4.6 ★★★★★ (292 reviews)

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Credit: Exchanges Photos, License, Flickr

Location: 33 Bartlett Farm Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 9403

Web Address:   http://bartlettsfarm.com/

Our Top picks

9. Cisco Beach

4.9 ★★★★★ (24 reviews)

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Credit: Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism, License, Flickr

8. Jetties Beach

4.6 ★★★★★ (38 reviews)

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Credit: Michael Femia, License, Flickr

7. Great Point Lighthouse

4.9 ★★★★★ (58 reviews)

800px-great point lighthouse%2c nantucket%2c mass %2872905%29

Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 325 5395

6. Nantucket Shipwreck and Life Saving Museum

4.9 ★★★★★ (58 reviews)

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Credit: Egan Maritime’s Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, Google Maps

Location: 158 Polpis Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1885

Web Address:   http://eganmaritime.org/shipwreck-lifesaving-museum

5. Madaket Beach

4.8 ★★★★★ (144 reviews)

800px-iss040e039346

Credit: English: NASA, License, Wikimedia commons

Web Address:   http://nantucket-ma.gov/673/Beaches-Parks

4. Sankaty Head Light

4.8 ★★★★★ (199 reviews)

Lossy-page1-470px-sankaty head light station%2c nantucket%2c massachusetts lccn2011630326.tif

Credit: Carol M. Highsmith, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: USA Baxter Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 257 4100

Web Address:   https://sconsettrust.org/stewardship/sankaty-head

3. Brant Point Lighthouse

4.7 ★★★★★ (262 reviews)

800px-brant point lighthouse%2c nantucket%2c ma

Credit: Hazal Ozturk, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: Easton Street Nantucket MA

Web Address:   https://nps.gov/nr/travel/maritime/brn.htm

2. Cisco Brewers

4.5 ★★★★★ (327 reviews)

Location: 5 Bartlett Farm Road Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 325 5929

Web Address:   http://ciscobrewers.com/

1. Whaling Museum

4.8 ★★★★★ (560 reviews)

800px-whaling museum%2c nantucket%2c mass %2866812%29

Credit: Tichnor Bros. Inc.,, License, Wikimedia commons

Location: 13 Broad Street Nantucket MA

Tel:  508 228 1894

Web Address:   http://nha.org/

Final Words:

Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Nantucket, Massachusetts! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!

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