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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Nantucket
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Give Nantucket 2–3 nights in June–September or a single long day on foot; skip the car, book the fast ferry and beds weeks ahead.
Nantucket is a 3.5 by 14 mile island 48 km off Cape Cod, reached only by ferry or plane. The historic town is walkable in an afternoon; the beaches, bike paths and lighthouses are what fill two or three days. Summer is crowded and expensive, winter is quiet with fewer ferries and restaurants open.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Best months
- Jun–Sep; late Apr for the Daffodil Festival, Oct for the Harvest and Arts festivals
- Avoid
- Jan–Mar (many ferries, restaurants and shops closed); peak July–August weekends for crowds and prices
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $120–180 excl. bed · Mid $180–320 excl. bed · High $320+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $4–7 |
| Lobster roll | $25–35 |
| Restaurant dinner main | $25–45 |
| NRTA shuttle ride | $1–2 each way |
| Bike rental, one day | $35–50 |
| Whaling Museum adult ticket | about $17 |
| Oldest House adult ticket | about $6 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ACK · Nantucket Memorial Airport
- Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines to Hyannis and New Bedford; JetBlue seasonal from JFK; most major-airline regional flights are summer-only. About 5 km (3.1 mi) from town.Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines to Hyannis and New Bedford; JetBlue seasonal from JFK; most major-airline regional flights are summer-only. About 3.1 mi (5 km) from town.
Typical fares
- Steamship Authority, Hyannis → Nantucket
- fast and traditional service, walk-on and vehicle; check current fares and times
- Hy-Line Cruises, Hyannis → Nantucket
- high-speed or traditional, slightly higher rates, first-class seating available
- NRTA shuttle in town or to a beach
- about $1–2 each way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk in town: Main Street is cobblestone and hard on bikes. The NRTA 'The Wave' shuttle covers the island, about $1–2 each way, with beach routes about 10:00–18:00 and other routes about 07:00–23:30. Paved two-way bike paths run beside every major road — Madaket 9.6 km (6 mi), Siasconset 11.25 km (7 mi), Surfside 5.6 km (3.5 mi), Polpis 26.5 km (16 mi) — and shops rent bikes near the ferry docks. A car is not needed: parking is limited and time-checked, and town traffic is slow.Walk in town: Main Street is cobblestone and hard on bikes. The NRTA 'The Wave' shuttle covers the island, about $1–2 each way, with beach routes about 10:00 AM–6:00 PM and other routes about 7:00 AM–11:30 PM. Paved two-way bike paths run beside every major road — Madaket 9.6 km (6 mi), Siasconset 11.25 km (7 mi), Surfside 5.6 km (3.5 mi), Polpis 26.5 km (16 mi) — and shops rent bikes near the ferry docks. A car is not needed: parking is limited and time-checked, and town traffic is slow.Walk in town: Main Street is cobblestone and hard on bikes. The NRTA 'The Wave' shuttle covers the island, about $1–2 each way, with beach routes about 10:00–18:00 and other routes about 07:00–23:30. Paved two-way bike paths run beside every major road — Madaket 6 mi (9.6 km), Siasconset 7 mi (11.25 km), Surfside 3.5 mi (5.6 km), Polpis 16 mi (26.5 km) — and shops rent bikes near the ferry docks. A car is not needed: parking is limited and time-checked, and town traffic is slow.Walk in town: Main Street is cobblestone and hard on bikes. The NRTA 'The Wave' shuttle covers the island, about $1–2 each way, with beach routes about 10:00 AM–6:00 PM and other routes about 7:00 AM–11:30 PM. Paved two-way bike paths run beside every major road — Madaket 6 mi (9.6 km), Siasconset 7 mi (11.25 km), Surfside 3.5 mi (5.6 km), Polpis 16 mi (26.5 km) — and shops rent bikes near the ferry docks. A car is not needed: parking is limited and time-checked, and town traffic is slow.
See and do
Known for
- Whaling Museum and the old whaling port
- Cobblestone Main Street and 1800s houses
- Brant Point Light
- Cisco, Surfside and Madaket beaches
- Bike paths to Siasconset and Madaket
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Siasconset and Sankaty Head Light | Bike the Milestone Road path, 11.25 km (7 mi), about 1 h one way; or NRTA shuttleBike the Milestone Road path, 7 mi (11.25 km), about 1 h one way; or NRTA shuttle | About 1 h by bike |
| Madaket | Bike path 9.6 km (6 mi), about 45 min one way; or the Madaket shuttleBike path 6 mi (9.6 km), about 45 min one way; or the Madaket shuttle | About 45 min by bike |
| Great Point and Coatue | 4WD or boat only; no paved access | Varies |
| Hyannis and Cape Cod | Steamship Authority or Hy-Line ferry from the town docks | About 1 h fast ferry, 2 h 15 min traditional |
Sleep
- Nantucket town (Main Street and around)
- Walk to the Whaling Museum, ferries, shops and restaurants; highest prices and the only real base for a short trip.
- Brant Point and the north shore
- Quieter, near Children's and Jetties beaches; 10–20 min walk from the ferry docks.
- Mid-island and Surfside
- Cheaper motels and rentals near the south beaches; you need a bike, shuttle or car to reach town.
- Siasconset (Sconset)
- East-end village, 11 km (6.8 mi) from town on the Milestone bike path; very quiet, few services.East-end village, 6.8 mi (11 km) from town on the Milestone bike path; very quiet, few services.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the ferry dock? | Where is the ferry dock? |
| One ticket, please | One ticket, please |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Is this seat taken? | Is this seat taken? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Deer ticks carry disease: use repellent and check yourself after walking in grass or dunes.
- Vehicle ferry space sells out in summer — Steamship Authority reservations are essential, walk-on passengers do not need one.
- South-side beaches (Cisco, Surfside, Madaket, Siasconset) have heavier surf than the north side; swim near lifeguards.
- Off-season means fewer ferries and many closed restaurants and shops — check before booking a winter trip.
- Summer lodging and restaurant prices are high; book beds and fast-ferry seats weeks ahead.
Nantucket is a low-crime island and children move around town freely. The real risks are deer ticks, rip currents on the south beaches, cobblestones after rain and the cost of a last-minute summer bed.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nantucket yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Whaling Museum and the old whaling port
- Cobblestone Main Street and 1800s houses
- Brant Point Light
- Cisco, Surfside and Madaket beaches
- Bike paths to Siasconset and Madaket
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Steamship Authority: steamshipauthority.com/
- Wikivoyage: Nantucket, revision 5316053 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5316053
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
NantucketNantucket, Massachusetts
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies on the island; nearest consulates are in Boston.
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nantucket). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.