10 Best Things to Do on Nantucket

There is something about Nantucket that makes people slow down. Maybe it's the cobblestone streets of downtown, the smell of salt air coming off the harbor, the miles of sandy beaches, or the charming gray-shingled cottages covered in roses. Perhaps it's the simple pleasure of riding a bicycle down a quiet island road with nowhere else you need to be.

Whatever brings you to Nantucket, there is no shortage of things to do.

From historic landmarks and world-class beaches to biking, boating, shopping, dining, and exploring hidden corners of the island, Nantucket offers something for every type of traveler.

At Westbrook Real Estate, our family has deep roots on Nantucket and has been involved in the island's real estate community for more than 40 years. We know that one of the best ways to understand Nantucket is to experience it the way locals do.

Here are 10 of the best things to do on Nantucket—and a few reasons why so many visitors eventually decide they don't just want to visit the island; they want to call it home.

1. Explore Downtown Nantucket

Walk Main Street, Centre Street, Straight Wharf and the Historic Streets

For first-time visitors, there is no better place to start than downtown Nantucket.

The historic center of town is filled with cobblestone streets, beautifully preserved homes, boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, coffee shops, and centuries of island history.

Take a walk along Main Street, explore the shops around Centre Street, and continue toward the waterfront at Straight Wharf.

One of the best things about downtown is that you don't necessarily need a car. Nantucket's compact size makes walking and biking particularly enjoyable, and the island has extensive bike paths connecting many of its communities.

Local tip: Don't rush. Some of the most beautiful parts of downtown Nantucket are found by simply wandering down the side streets and admiring the historic homes and gardens.

2. Spend the Day at a Nantucket Beach

Discover Which Nantucket Beach Is Right for You

With miles of coastline, choosing the best Nantucket beach depends on what you're looking for.

Cisco Beach is popular with surfers and younger crowds.

Jetties Beach is convenient to town and popular with families.

Surfside Beach offers expansive sand and ocean views on the island's south side.

Madaket Beach is legendary for its sunsets.

And for those looking for a quieter experience, there are numerous smaller beaches and stretches of coastline worth exploring.

The Surfside area alone includes several beaches along roughly a mile of coastline, including Fisherman's, Stone's, Nobadeer, and Surfside beaches.

What is the best beach on Nantucket?

There isn't one answer. For families, Jetties can be convenient. For surfing, Cisco is a favorite. For sunsets, Madaket is difficult to beat.

That's part of Nantucket's appeal—there is a beach for nearly every mood.

3. Bike Around Nantucket

One of the Best Ways to Experience the Island

If you really want to experience Nantucket, get on a bike.

The island has miles of dedicated bike paths connecting downtown with destinations including Cisco, Surfside, Madaket, Polpis, and Siasconset.

A bike ride can turn getting somewhere into an activity itself.

Ride to Cisco Beach. Pack a picnic. Stop at Cisco Brewers. Continue through the island's conservation lands. Or make the longer ride out toward 'Sconset.

For visitors, biking also offers a practical advantage during the busy summer season: you can avoid some of the traffic and parking challenges that come with driving.

Westbrook local tip: Pack water, sunscreen, and a small bag for anything you pick up along the way. And remember—you are on Nantucket, so slow down and enjoy the ride.

4. Visit Siasconset ('Sconset)

Discover One of Nantucket's Most Beautiful Villages

A trip to Nantucket isn't complete without visiting Siasconset, affectionately known as 'Sconset.

Located on the eastern end of the island, 'Sconset is famous for its tiny historic cottages, rose-covered homes, winding streets, ocean views, and distinctive New England character.

Take time to wander through the village, visit the beach, and experience the famous 'Sconset Bluff Walk.

The area around Sankaty Head Lighthouse is another must-see.

For anyone interested in Nantucket real estate, 'Sconset is also a fascinating neighborhood to explore. The architecture, location, gardens, and proximity to the ocean demonstrate why the village has remained one of the island's most desirable areas.

5. Experience Nantucket's Whaling History

Visit the Nantucket Whaling Museum

Nantucket's history is inseparable from the sea.

The Nantucket Whaling Museum provides an opportunity to understand how the island became one of the world's most important whaling centers and how that maritime history helped shape Nantucket.

Located at 13–15 Broad Street, the museum occupies the historic Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory, constructed in 1847. Its exhibits include maritime artifacts and a dramatic 46-foot sperm whale skeleton.

It's an especially worthwhile stop for families and first-time visitors because understanding Nantucket's past makes the island's architecture and traditions today even more meaningful.

6. Watch the Sunset at Madaket Beach

One of Nantucket's Most Memorable Experiences

If you only have time for one sunset on Nantucket, make it Madaket.

Located on the western end of the island, Madaket faces toward the horizon and is famous for spectacular evening skies.

Bring a beach chair, blanket, or picnic and settle in.

It's one of those experiences that costs nothing but often becomes one of the highlights of a Nantucket vacation.

And that's part of what makes island life so appealing: some of the most memorable experiences aren't complicated or expensive. They're simply about being outside in a beautiful place with family and friends.

7. Get Out on the Water

Sail, Fish, Kayak, Paddleboard or Cruise

Nantucket is an island, and the water is an essential part of the experience.

Depending on the season and conditions, visitors can enjoy:

• Sailing

• Fishing

• Whale watching

• Kayaking

• Paddleboarding

• Harbor cruises

• Sunset sails

• Boating

For families, a day on the water can be one of the best ways to experience the island from a completely different perspective.

For those who own property on Nantucket, boating can become part of everyday summer life rather than simply a vacation activity.

8. Discover Nantucket's Conservation Land and Nature

See the Quiet Side of Nantucket

Beyond the beaches and downtown, Nantucket has a remarkable amount of natural beauty.

Take a walk through conservation land, explore island trails, or simply find a quiet road and enjoy the landscape.

The island's natural environment includes dunes, salt marshes, grasslands, forests, ponds, and beaches that provide habitat for an extraordinary variety of wildlife.

Nature lovers can also explore areas such as Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, where the landscape feels dramatically removed from the bustle of downtown.

For visitors who want to experience a quieter side of Nantucket, exploring conservation land is highly recommended.

9. Enjoy Nantucket's Restaurants, Shops and Local Businesses

Make Time for the Island's Food and Shopping Scene

Nantucket's restaurants and boutiques are a major part of its appeal.

Spend an afternoon walking through downtown and exploring locally owned shops, galleries, clothing stores, bookstores, jewelry shops, and specialty retailers.

Then stop for lunch, dinner, ice cream, or a cocktail.

The island's dining scene ranges from casual seafood shacks and lobster rolls to sophisticated waterfront restaurants and fine dining.

Westbrook tip: Don't plan every minute of your day. Leave time to wander, discover a shop you've never visited, or stop for a drink when you find a beautiful harbor view.

10. Experience Nantucket Like a Local

Slow Down and Enjoy Island Life

Perhaps the best thing to do on Nantucket isn't a specific attraction at all.

It's to slow down.

Wake up early and walk to the beach.

Grab coffee downtown.

Ride your bike to Cisco.

Spend an afternoon at the beach.

Watch the sunset in Madaket.

Have dinner with friends.

Walk through 'Sconset.

Sit on a porch and do absolutely nothing.

That's the Nantucket lifestyle.

Nantucket is small enough to explore but large enough that you can discover something new every time you visit. Local resources emphasize walking, biking, and public transportation as enjoyable ways to experience the island, particularly during the busy summer months.

Why So Many Visitors Fall in Love With Nantucket

People come to Nantucket for many reasons.

Some come for the beaches.

Some come for the history.

Some come for the restaurants, shopping, sailing, or architecture.

But many return because of something harder to define—the feeling of being here.

For more than 40 years, Westbrook Real Estate has seen firsthand how Nantucket can become part of a family's life. Visitors who once came for a week eventually purchase a summer home. Families return year after year. Children grow up spending their summers on the island and eventually bring their own children back.

That is the special thing about Nantucket.

It's not simply a destination.

For many families, it's a tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nantucket

What are the best things to do on Nantucket?

The best things to do on Nantucket include visiting the island's beaches, exploring downtown, biking the island, visiting Siasconset, touring the Nantucket Whaling Museum, watching the sunset at Madaket Beach, boating, exploring conservation land, dining and shopping, and simply enjoying the island's relaxed lifestyle.

What is Nantucket best known for?

Nantucket is best known for its historic whaling heritage, beautiful beaches, iconic gray-shingled homes, cobblestone streets, Siasconset village, maritime culture, conservation land, and distinctive New England summer lifestyle.

What is the most beautiful place on Nantucket?

Beauty is subjective, but some of Nantucket's most scenic locations include Siasconset and the Bluff Walk, Madaket Beach at sunset, Cisco Beach, Brant Point, Nantucket Harbor, and the island's conservation lands.

Can you get around Nantucket without a car?

Yes. Nantucket is highly accessible by walking, biking, and public transportation. The island has extensive bike paths connecting many popular destinations, and downtown is particularly easy to explore on foot.

Is Nantucket good for families?

Absolutely. Nantucket offers family-friendly beaches, biking, museums, boating, outdoor activities, restaurants, and seasonal events. The island's relatively compact size also makes it easy for families to explore many destinations during a single visit.

What is the best time to visit Nantucket?

Summer is the most popular season because of the warm weather, beaches, boating, outdoor dining, and extensive calendar of events. However, spring and fall offer a quieter experience and a different perspective on island life.

Why do people buy homes on Nantucket?

Many buyers are drawn to Nantucket because of its natural beauty, historic character, beaches, boating, restaurants, community, and unique lifestyle. For families who return year after year, owning a home can turn a vacation tradition into a multigenerational experience.

Discover Nantucket Real Estate With Westbrook Real Estate

If exploring Nantucket has you thinking about owning a home on the island, you're not alone.

The best way to understand Nantucket real estate is to experience its neighborhoods firsthand—from Town and Brant Point to Cisco, Madaket, Surfside, Siasconset, Wauwinet, Polpis, Tom Nevers, and Monomoy.

At Westbrook Real Estate, our family's connection to Nantucket spans more than four decades. We understand that finding the right Nantucket property is about more than bedrooms and bathrooms. It's about finding the neighborhood, setting, and lifestyle that fits your family's vision for the future.

Whether you're searching for a Nantucket vacation home, investment property, waterfront estate, historic cottage, or year-round residence, our local knowledge can help you navigate the island's unique real estate market.

Ready to explore Nantucket? Let Westbrook Real Estate help you find your place on the island.