Everything You Need for a Perfect Nantucket Getaway in 2026
There’s no place quite like Nantucket. This Massachusetts island, carved by glaciers and perched off Cape Cod, offers periwinkle hydrangeas in summer, Christmas trees glowing from rowboats in winter, and cobblestone streets that stay charming year-round. Its protected natural landscape—home to harbor seals, piping plovers, and wild blackberries—is worth the trip alone.
Whether you want to surf wild beaches, hunt for antiques, or feast on fresh seafood, the island delivers with foggy horizons, historic sea captains’ houses, and a slow pace of life. While summer is peak season, Nantucket shines in every season. Just note that many businesses close in colder months, so check schedules before you go.
Getting here is easy: fly from most Northeast airports, or take a ferry from Hyannis (year-round) or Martha’s Vineyard (seasonal). A six-hour ferry from New York runs in summer, with drinks onboard. A long weekend is ideal, but a day trip works if you’re coming from nearby. Pack layers—summer days are warm, but nights and fog can be cool. Think sundresses and shorts by day, a denim jacket by night. Flip-flops rule over designer heels.
Nantucket is pricier and more polished than Martha’s Vineyard. It feels like a movie set, with no traffic lights and endless quaintness. The Vineyard is bigger and more eclectic, with six distinct towns. Choose Nantucket if you want to splurge on a fancy dinner or a dreamy hotel.
Start your summer mornings on the sand. Jetties Beach is perfect for families, with food, showers, and volleyball nets right there. Surfside Beach offers wide sands and rough surf for beachcombers and kite flyers. Cisco Beach is for surfers; take a lesson from ACK Surf School or bring your own board.
In town, wander cobblestone streets past steepled churches and gray-shingled buildings. The Whaling Museum features a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton. Shop for Nantucket Reds at Murray’s, the century-old department store that invented preppy style. Mitchell’s Book Corner stocks Elin Hilderbrand novels—she signs copies every Wednesday in summer. For a party, head to Cisco Brewers for blueberry vodka lemonades, live music, and food trucks. After dark, try Sister Ship for cocktails or Gazebo for dancing.
Where to sleep? The Nantucket Hotel & Resort offers year-round comfort with homemade popovers and free ferry pickup. Greydon House is a boutique gem in a restored 1850s Greek Revival home. The White Elephant is a waterfront classic with cottages and lofts. Faraway is the hippest spot, with 58 rooms in historic houses and a buzzy bar. For families, Beachside Hotel has a pool and kids’ club. Rent an Airbnb like the eight-bedroom Milk Street house (sleeps 18) or a cozy Sconset cottage with an outdoor shower.
Dining means seafood. Grab a lobster roll at 167 Raw’s food truck near Cisco Brewers. Try Claudette’s turkey salad sandwich on whole-wheat bread, or Something Natural’s BLT on Portuguese bread. For dinner, book Cru for oysters and Champagne, or order a classic clambake from Sayle’s Seafood. End with ice cream at Juice Bar—the chocolate Oreo in a waffle cone is worth the line. New for 2026: Café 22 for doughnuts and Vietnamese coffee, and Bloom Bar, a café and cocktail spot opening in summer.