Day Trips to Cape Cod from Boston

On your list of things to see and do in Boston you should always include a visit to Cape Cod, a peninsula in eastern Massachusetts that's easy to get to from Boston. It's about 112 kilometres by road from the city of Boston and can be reached by a variety of transportation systems.

Travelling on a tour from Boston to Cape Cod is perhaps the best decision as it allows you to concentrate on the sites you want to visit and forget about the logistics. If you like history tours in Boston, you'll love these excursions as the guides narrate interesting and historical facts during the tour. If you don't know English, don't worry, these tours are usually staffed with English-speaking guides or you'll be provided with headphones and equipment to listen to the narration.

This tour begins with a sightseeing cruise that can depart from Long Wharf or MacMillan Pier. The ferry passes places such as:

• The Sandwich Glass Museum, located in the historic town of Sandwich, a museum that exhibits a variety of rare glass and its manufacturing process.

• The John F. Kennedy Memorial.

• The Cape Cod Canal, which you will cross while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views.

Afterwards, stroll along Main Street Hyannis for snacks and souvenirs. Your next stop is likely to be Gray's Beach, a beautiful spot for some photo opportunities. There you can also stroll along the walkway over the famous mudflats, depending on the time allowed on the tour. The last tour is usually a trip along Lewis Bay to take in the beauty of the scenery and see the Kennedy residences and other landmarks. At the end, a bus will be waiting to take you back.

Practical information

• Price: approximately €150.
• Travel time: the whole tour can take 9 to 10 hours.
• Advantages: you can see beautiful views of the city and the islands of Boston Harbor during your sailing.
• Disadvantages: You must be punctual at all pick-up times to avoid missing your bus or ferry ride. Also, weather conditions are sometimes unfavourable, so you'll need to find another option.

If you're in a hurry, it's best to buy a plane ticket. With Cape Air, you can fly from Boston Logan International Airport to an airport on Cape Cod:

• Towns of Hyannis and Provincetown (Provincetown Municipal Airport).
• Nantucket Islands (Nantucket Memorial Airport).
• Martha's Vineyard.

If you land on any of the islands you'll have a chance to explore them first before travelling to the other locations. If that's what you want to do, you'll have to take a ferry to one of the towns I mentioned earlier.

Before you buy your ticket, check what kind of luggage you can bring. Personally, I recommend you take only what you need, because if you take extra luggage you will have to invest a bit more in your trip. Also, if you're only visiting for a day, all you'll need is a backpack with the basics for your trip. Also, don't forget to plan your route from the airport to the beach or hotel.

Practical information

• Price: between €70 and €140.
• Travel time: about half an hour, plus embarkation and disembarkation time and the transfer from the airport to your final destination.
• Advantages: it's the fastest option you'll find.
• Disadvantages: Depending on the date, tickets may sell out or be very expensive.

Some people find it much safer and more relaxing to drive to their destination. If that's you, don't worry, you can drive to Cape Cod even if you don't have your own car as you can rent one from companies like Budget or AVIS.

Before you set off on your journey from Boston to the Cape, you'll need to find an easy route to follow: the quickest way is to take I-93 South from Boston. Then exit onto MA-3 South and US-6 East to MA-132 S/Lyannough Road in Barnstable. To make sure you don't get lost at any point, I recommend using an online or printed map, as well as a GPS if your car has one.

You should also think about the places you'll be visiting once you get to Cape Cod. Among them is the Cape Cod National Seashore, located on the Outer Cape peninsula. There you will see beaches, forests, ponds and many other landscapes that will be a marvel if you are a nature lover.

Traveller Tip

Don't forget to bring plenty of water to keep you hydrated when you're spending a lot of time in the sun, and check the weather forecast in advance.

Practical information

• Price: approximately €140 plus the cost of parking (some towns and villages have free parking, while some beaches have special rates).
• Travel time: about 1.5 hours.
• Advantages: You can plan your departure time and make as many stops as you like.
• Disadvantages: When you arrive at your destination, you will have to find a parking space, which can incur additional costs.

The easiest and cheapest option to travel from Boston to Cape Cod is to take a bus, although you will have to start your journey early in the morning and, if you don't want to rush or have a marathon journey, it is best to find a hotel to at least spend the night.

Peter Pan Bus Lines is a New England bus company that offers different routes to various places on Cape Cod such as Barnstable, Eastham, Falmouth, Orleans, Provincetown, among others. Buses have air conditioning, restrooms, power outlets for recharging electronics and plenty of room for you to stretch your legs in your seat.

If you want to explore beyond Hyannis and Barnstable, two of the most common destinations, I recommend travelling to Falmouth. Make sure your last stop is at Steamship Authority Pier so you have the option to catch a ferry to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket.

Practical Information

• Price: from €16 to €30.
• Travel time: about 4 hours.
• Pros: Economical and comfortable.
• Disadvantages: journey time can be very long compared to other means of transport.

Unfortunately, the train may not always be a viable option, as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers a train line called the CapeFlyer that only runs from May 30 (Memorial Day) to September 5 (Labor Day) on weekends only.

The good news is that if you travel within those dates you can avoid the traffic out of Boston, which is especially prevalent during the summer.

This transport can take you to Wareham Village, Buzzard's Bay and Hyannis. And if you want to travel to the Cape Cod Islands, I recommend taking the trains that have coordinated schedules with some of the ferries. This way you can arrive at one of these stops, board the boat and start your journey from the islands.

Practical Information

• Price: approximately €30. Children under the age of 11 travel free.
• Journeytime: about 2.5 hours.
• Advantages: It is cheap and avoids the traffic of road travel.
• Disadvantages: Only runs for a few months of the year around summer and only at weekends.

Travelling by ferry from Boston to Cape Cod is one of the first options travellers consider. While it's most common to take the ferry as part of an excursion, you can also travel on your own.

Companies such as Boston Harbor City Cruises offer boat rides/water taxis, ferries, cruises and special whale-watching excursions, but the only option that will get you to Cape Cod is the ferry. Note that they don't transport vehicles, so you'll have to get to the departure point by taxi or park your car until you return at the end of the day.

On the other hand, ferry trips usually drop passengers off in Provincetown, from where they can cruise the entire Cape Cod. However, you can take other boats to the islands by purchasing your tickets from companies such as Hy-Line Cruises.

Practical Information

• Price: approximately €70 and usually includes drinks and snacks along the way.
• Travel time: About 1.5 hours.
• Advantages: not dependent on traffic and the sea journey is very interesting.
• Disadvantages: Less frequent than other forms of transport and only one destination.

Cape Cod is a beach paradise that attracts tourists from all over the United States and the world. It's famous for being a tropical haven that many city dwellers crave. Although you can go at any time of the year, the best time to visit is during the summer, when you can enjoy the beaches more.

This destination is usually very busy on weekends, so if it's within your means, it 's best to go on a weekday. This way you can enjoy lower prices and less traffic if you are travelling by road.

In any case, there are plenty of options for you to enjoy:

• Going to the beach is certainly among the thingsto see and do in Boston during the summer. You can even choose from the quieter beaches such as Race Point Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore and Herring Cove Beach.
• If you want to surf then the surfing beaches I recommend you visit are Nauset Beach and Coast Guard Beach.
• If you want to visit the shops, museums and seaside towns at your leisure, I recommend taking your bike. When you arrive, you can use it on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a paved and signposted route.
• You can also use the Shining Sea Bikeway, which directs cyclists to the seashore.
• If you want to stay on the peninsula, there are plenty of options to suit all budgets. You'll find five-star hotels such as the renowned Wequassett Resort and Golf Club but there are also budget options.

• Ferry
• Price: about €70.
• Journey time: about one and a half hours.
• Advantages: the scenery from the sea.
• Disadvantages: you will be more limited by the timetable.