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Before you go
Your trip to Provincetown.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Provincetown – Massachusetts Destination Cape Cod and the Islands about 185 km from Boston
How to get there
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Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC) 5 km
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MacMillan Pier 1 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
About 70 km from Hyannis via Route 6, roughly a one hour and fifteen minute drive. From Boston, about two and a half hours by car or, in season, high‑speed ferries of roughly one and a half hours. The local airport (PVC) has short flights from Boston.
How many days
Two days: one for the village and the Pilgrim Monument, another for the dunes and the National Seashore beaches. With three days, add a whale‑watching trip.
When to go
June to September, when the village is lively and boats run; whale‑watching boats usually operate from April to October. September and early October are quieter. In winter most businesses close.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Not necessary in the village: everything is walkable or reachable by bicycle, and local buses serve the beaches in summer. Parking is difficult and expensive in the center. Drive on the right.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Provincetown
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Morning
Pilgrim Monument
Climb the Pilgrim Monument tower for views of the village, the bay and the dunes, and visit the museum next door.
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Afternoon
Commercial Street
Walk along Commercial Street, among galleries, shops and the MacMillan Pier.
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Evening
Sunset at Herring Cove
Go to Herring Cove Beach for the sunset over the bay and return to the village for dinner.
2 days in Provincetown
Day 1
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Morning
Tower and museum
Pilgrim Monument and the Provincetown Museum.
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Afternoon
Commercial Street
Galleries and the pier along Commercial Street.
Day 2
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Morning
Province Lands
Cycle the dune bike path of the Province Lands to the visitor center and Race Point Beach.
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Afternoon
Whales
Take a whale‑watching tour departing from MacMillan Pier during the season.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to get from Boston to Provincetown?
By high‑speed ferry in season in about one and a half hours, or by car in about two and a half hours without traffic. There are also short flights and buses.
When is whale season in Provincetown?
Trips usually run from April to October. Humpback whales feed on the Stellwagen Bank to the north and are most often seen in summer.
Did the pilgrims arrive first in Provincetown?
Yes. The Mayflower anchored in Provincetown Harbor in November 1620, where the Mayflower Compact was signed, and weeks later sailed on to Plymouth.
Do you need a car in Provincetown?
No. The village is explored on foot or by bicycle, and there are buses to the beaches in summer. Parking in the center is scarce and expensive.