This northernmost tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts where the Mayflower first landed in 1620 is known as Provincetown. Locals refer to it as Ptown and it is one of the most charming coastal towns on the Cape, and as a local, it’s one of my favorite places on Cape Cod! Provincetown offers some of the best beaches on Cape Cod, whale-watching adventures, delicious seafood restaurants, and the perfect New England coastal charm. Keep reading for everything you need to know to plan your next trip and the best things to do in Provincetown!

28 Best Things to Do in Provincetown Cape Cod

A Comprehensive Guide for a Day Trip or Weekend

1 Visit Pilgrim Monument

When arriving by ferry to Provincetown from Boston, you’ll be able to see Pilgrim Monument before setting foot in Provincetown. Try to spot the 252-foot tower that you can climb up to! Once you’re at the top, on a beautiful, sunny day you’ll have panoramic views of Ptown.

2 Ride the elevator to Provincetown Museum

Connecting the town of Provincetown to the Pilgrim Monument, this newly constructed elevator gives pedestrians an easier way up. There is a parking lot at the top if you’re driving, but this is a perfect option if you’re not bringing a car with you, and will save your leg strength for the long climb up the monument!

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3 Bike the National Seashore

Rent or bring your bike to explore Provincetown. A popular trail is Provincelands Trail which starts at Province Lands Visitor Center. This bike trail along the National Seashore offers picturesque views of sandy dunes, coastal shrubs, and wildflowers. Depending on how far you bike it, some of these trails lead straight to the beach! Don’t forget your swimsuit and beach towel.

4 Walk down Commercial Street

Commerical Street is the main street that runs through downtown Provincetown and exploring it is one of the best things to do in Provincetown. It features all different types of shops and restaurants and runs right along MacMillan Pier. If you’re arriving by car, this is a large parking area at the pier. My favorite area however of Commercial Street is the residential area that begins right around the US Coast Guard station. You can find incredible hydrangeas here at the end of June throughout the summer like the photo below. Keep walking away from the center of town to find some of the most idyllic homes in Provincetown.

5 Stroll around MacMillan Pier

Even though this pier offers the largest parking lot in Provincetown, it’s perfect to take a stroll around. Watch the boats coming in and out of the harbor, embark on a sunset sail cruise, or whale watching adventures here. If this parking lot is full, which oftentimes it can be during the summer there is additional parking at Grace Hall parking lot.

Best Places to Stay on Cape Cod

Looking to stay on Cape Cod, here’s a comprehensive list!

Overall Best Hotel on Cape Cod: Chatham Bars Inn

Best 5 Star Luxury Hotel and Spa on Cape Cod: Wequasset Harwich

Best for Adults Only: Crowne Point Inn adults only Provincetown

Best Bed and Breakfast Provincetown: Queen Vic Guest House

Best Resort for Families: Ocean Edge Resort Brewster

Best Boutique Hotel: Platinum Pebble Inn Harwich

Best Value: Rugosa Guest House Eastham

Best Unique Stay on Cape Cod: AutoCamp Falmouth

Best Historic Hotel: Candleberry Inn Brewster

Best Ocean Views: AWOL Hotel Provincetown

Best Central location: Faraway Nantucket even though this isn’t on the Cape itself, this location is central in the heart of Nantucket and is worth a visit, the decor is simply beautiful!

Here’s what to pack for Cape Cod or shop more here!

6 Admire the New England charm of Provincetown’s residential area

One of my favorite places in Provincetown is Commercial Street. If you walk from the center of town and find the US Coast Guard Station, follow the curve around and Commercial Street continues to the Causeway. Head west towards the Causeway and you will find the idyllic Ptown neighborhoods and some of the most beautiful homes on Cape Cod. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

7 Spot some seals at Race Point Beach

Race Point Beach is one of my favorite beaches to spot seals, but it is a popular one. It’s considered one of the best beaches on Cape Cod and features soft sand and a view as far as the eye can see. I’ve been to this beach a few times and have always spotted seals, but be careful as sharks are probably not far behind! Even though this beach boasts a large parking lot and facilities, it does fill up quickly in the summer so make sure to get a spot before the rush! Parking and payment of a one-day beach permit costs around $25, but keep in mind this permit does not allow access to other beaches. They do stop charging usually around 4:30/5, so you could always arrive for sunset to avoid the fee!

8 Find the hidden Dog Beach

What’s great about Dog Beach is it offers public parking! It’s one of the few spaces with public parking in Provincetown, so make sure to take advantage!

9 Visit the Provincetown Art Association and Museum

This place would be perfect for a rainy day, and it’s in the heart of downtown Provincetown.

10 Experience the Cape Cod National Seashore by boat

A hidden gem of Provincetown, this shuttle takes you to the very tip of Cape Cod and is popular with the locals. Make sure to bring your bathing suit and beach towel, and check out their website for shuttle times.

11 Plan your trip around the Secret Garden Tour

Offered by the Provincetown Art Museum, this secret garden tour only occurs once or twice a year. Sometimes you can even book tours for a chance to peek inside the stunning gardens of the residents of Provincetown!

If you’re looking to visit other beautiful places on Cape Cod, check out the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

12 Go Whale Watching

One of the best parts about visiting the Cape in the summer is the opportunity to go whale watching, as whales in the area are most active from April to October. Dolphin Fleet and Seasalt Charters are two of the most popular tour companies to choose from. This is probably one of the best attractions in Provincetown!

13 Sail around Provincetown

Moment Sailing and Hindu Sailing Charters are highly recommended and sail from the main Provincetown marina. Depending on the company you can choose different options from a group sail, private all-day rental, or sunset sail. It’s one thing to see a city or town itself, but another to see it from the water. If you choose to sail around Provincetown I promise you won’t regret it.

14 Hike the Dune Shack Trail

Looking for an exercise with some of the best views of Cape Cod? Hiking this trail is one of the best things to do in Provincetown, and not many people know about it! Make sure to bring lots of water if it’s warm, hiking the dunes can be quite the workout!

15 Find the secret dunes at North Truro High Head Beach

While this may be a bit out of Provincetown, if you’re driving into Provincetown you’ll drive right past it. Turn onto High Head Road and there’s a very small parking area down the way. You can then proceed to climb some of the dunes, and be rewarded with an ocean view on the other side. This is a fairly popular trail, and I would recommend you arrive early to get a parking spot!

16 Visit Highland Lighthouse

Another gem a little bit out of town, this lighthouse you’ll also drive by as you’re coming into Provincetown. You can visit this lighthouse, check out all the details on how to visit here.

17 See a glimpse of Wood End Lighthouse from the Causeway

Looking for this lighthouse? You can find it by walking to the end of Commercial Street which runs right into the Causeway. This view of Ptown offers views of the water and a glimpse of Wood End Lighthouse. This trail is a long trek, so make sure to plan your trip. Another very important thing to keep in mind is planning the schedule of the shifting tide! If you’re not up to making the trek to Long Point Beach, Race Point Beach is another great option, or read about shuttle options by boat.

18 Hike the Long Point Lighthouse Trail

Hiking this trail will allow you to not only visit Wood End Lighthouse but also Long Point Lighthouse. This blog has great information about how to hike the trail, and about the shuttle boat you can take as well if you’re not up for the full hike!

19 Kayak around Provincetown

Kayaking is one of my favorite activities in the summer, and it’s one of the best things to do on Cape Cod and also one of the best things to do in Provincetown. Check out Coyote Kayaks, they have incredible reviews!

20 Enjoy a day at Herring Cove Beach

Herring Cove Beach is one of the largest beaches in Provincetown and part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Since the beach is west-facing it offers incredible views at sunset, and soft waves during the day making it perfect for families. There is a large parking lot here, and plenty of amenities including a cafe, public restrooms, and showers.

21 Explore Provincetown and Cape Cod’s dunes with a tour

Arts Dune Tours offers an incredible way to see Provincetown, Cape Cod, and the exquisite National Seashore. They offer all different types of tours. Not only do you get to tour the dunes but a history lesson about this protected place.

Where to Eat in Provincetown

Located right on the water, there is no shortage of seafood in Provincetown. Here’s a comprehensive guide to all the best restaurants in Cape Cod, many in Provincetown.

22 The Canteen

The Canteen sits right on the water and is one of the highest-rated restaurants in Ptown. You can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches, and you get your money’s worth they’re huge! My favorite thing about this restaurant is the outdoor dining area. Find yourself a picnic table right on the sand with a view of the water! Dogs are welcome!

23 The Red Inn

A Provincetown classic, The Red Inn doubles as a hotel and restaurant. I would highly recommend a visit just to experience their jazz brunch! When you’re done eating depending on the tide, you can walk right onto the water and be treated with a panoramic view of Ptwon!

24 Provincetown Portuguese Bakery

Enjoy breakfast or a sweet treat here, this bakery dates back over a hundred years when it was first opened by Portuguese immigrants. There is a large Portuguese community that still lives in the area, read about their story.

25 Provincetown Brewing Co.

Relax and enjoy a drink at this popular brewery!

26 The Lobster Pot

A Provincetown icon, you can’t leave this town without dining at the Lobster Pot. This is one of the highest-rated seafood restaurants in the town!

27 And last but not least the best beer on Cape Cod!

Hailed by Boston Magazine, Food and Wine Magazine, and even The New York Times, this spot definitely should be on your list of the best things to do in Provincetown.

28 A Restaurant with Ocean views

One of the newer restaurants in Provinceton is Ocean 193. Enjoy delicious seafood with ocean views. You can even make a reservation online before you visit!

How to Get to Provincetown

Getting from Boston to Provincetown by ferry

The best way to get to Provincetown is by ferry or car. If you’re only traveling to Provincetown for the day, I would recommend taking a fast ferry from Boston to Provincetown. The most popular ferry companies are Bay State Cruises which offers a Boston fast ferry to Provincetown as well as Boston Harbor Cruises. Even though tickets are costly, it’s the best way to get from Boston to Provincetown for the day.

Keep in mind both these ferry companies depart from different areas in Boston. Bay State Cruises departs from the Boston World Trade Center, and Boston Harbor Cruises departs from Long Wharf. The ferry ride from Boston to Provincetown will take around ninety minutes to two hours depending on the type of ferry you book. It’s recommended to get to the ferry ahead of time so you can choose your seat. If you want a beautiful view of Boston Harbor as well as Provincetown when you’re pulling in, make sure to find a spot on the upper deck. Here’s more information about the different types of ferries you can book from Boston to Provincetown.

An insider tip, if you’re heading up to the upper deck make sure to bring a jacket, even in the summer the weather can be chilly. If you’re looking for other day trips from Boston or other destinations you can reach by ferry, check out the islands of Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard.

Getting from Boston to Provincetown by car: How long is the drive?

Driving to Provincetown from Boston will take at least two hours, usually longer in the summer thanks to Cape Cod traffic. There is a main bridge connecting the Cape to the mainland and the added traffic always creates a bottleneck effect.

Traveling by plane: Can you fly into Ptown?

The best part of flying to Cape Cod is that you’ll be flying into either Provincetown or Hyannis, both larger towns on the Cape. The only two companies that fly to the Cape from Boston are Jet Blue and Cape Air. If you’re looking to fly into Provincetown, make sure to track your flights with Google Flights or Hopper to try and get the best deals. The summer prices can be quite steep, even though the plane ride is only twenty minutes.

Is One Day enough in Provincetown?

You can easily see Provincetown in a day as a day trip from Boston. Even though Provincetown is one of the best areas on the Cape, you don’t necessarily need to stay the night and can enjoy the beaches and the town all in one day.

Getting Around Provincetown

Walking is the best way to get around Provincetown, especially around the central parts of town. You can easily walk to the beach if you’re headed there, rent bikes, or grab an Uber.