Massachusetts

We put together a mini guide of things you might want to know before your trip to Massachusetts! Nevertheless, don't forget to scroll down to the comments to see tips & tricks from travelers who've been there!

BOSTON

📍 Where to find activities

→ Back Bay — A neighborhood with Newbury Street (shopping and dining).

→ Newbury Street—A commercial street with restaurants, boutiques, and cafés.

→ North End — Boston's Italian neighborhood. Narrow streets, Italian restaurants, and bakeries.

→ Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market — A marketplace and food hall area.

→ Boston Common and Public Garden — Public parks in the city.

→ The Seaport — A waterfront neighborhood with restaurants and bars.

→ Harvard and MIT—two universities in Cambridge. Harvard Square is a walkable area with restaurants and cafés.

→ Fenway Park — The baseball stadium of the Boston Red Sox.

📍 Where to eat

→ North End — Italian restaurants, bakeries, and pastry shops.

→ Newbury Street / Back Bay — Restaurants and cafés.

→ The Seaport — Waterfront restaurants and seafood.

📍 Where to go out

→ The Seaport — Bars and nightlife along the waterfront.

→ Back Bay / Newbury Street — Bars and lounges.

→ Faneuil Hall area — Bars near the marketplace.

→ Cambridge / Harvard Square — Bars with a college crowd.

→ Boston has a large student population that drives the bar and nightlife scene.

📍 Where to find culture

→ Freedom Trail — A walking route through the city connecting historic sites.

→ Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) — An art museum.

→ Harvard and MIT campuses in Cambridge.

→ Fenway Park.

📍 Nearby destinations

→ Cape Cod, Salem, Plymouth, Providence, RI

CAPE COD

📍 Where to find activities

→ Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic. Beach towns, lighthouses, seafood, and a summer vacation destination.

→ Provincetown (P-town) — A town at the tip of Cape Cod with a strong LGBTQ+ community, art galleries, restaurants, bars, and beaches.

→ Chatham — A town with a main street and harbor.

→ Cape Cod National Seashore — A stretch of protected coastline with beaches, dunes, and hiking trails.

→ Hyannis — A town on the southern coast. The ferry terminal for Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

📍 Where to eat

→ Throughout the Cape — Seafood shacks, clam bars, and casual waterfront dining.

→ Provincetown — Restaurants and bars along Commercial Street.

📍 Where to go out

→ Provincetown — The most active nightlife on the Cape. Bars, clubs, and live music. A major LGBTQ+ destination.

→ Most other Cape Cod towns have limited nightlife.

📍 Where to find culture

→ Provincetown — Art galleries, theater, and LGBTQ+ cultural identity.

→ Cape Cod National Seashore — The natural landscape.

→ Lighthouses throughout the Cape.

📍 Nearby destinations

→ Martha's Vineyard (ferry from Hyannis), Nantucket (ferry from Hyannis), Boston

MARTHA'S VINEYARD

📍 Where to find activities

→ An island off the coast of Cape Cod, accessible by ferry.

→ Vineyard Haven — A ferry arrival point.

→ Oak Bluffs — A town with colorful cottages and a harbor.

→ Edgartown — A town with historic houses and a harbor.

→ Beaches throughout the island.

📍 Where to eat

→ Oak Bluffs and Edgartown — Restaurants and seafood.

📍 Where to go out

→ Oak Bluffs — Bars and a social scene in summer.

→ The island has limited nightlife overall.

📍 Where to find culture

→ The colorful cottages in Oak Bluffs.

→ The island's historic architecture and harbor towns.

📍 Nearby destinations

→ Cape Cod (ferry), Nantucket

NANTUCKET

📍 Where to find activities

→ An island in the Atlantic, accessible by ferry from Hyannis or by plane.

→ Nantucket Town — Historic buildings, boutiques, restaurants, and a harbor.

→ Beaches around the island.

→ The island can be explored by bike.

📍 Where to eat

→ Nantucket Town — Restaurants and seafood along the harbor and main streets.

📍 Where to go out

→ Nantucket has limited nightlife. A few bars in town.

📍 Where to find culture

→ Nantucket Town — The historic architecture and harbor.

📍 Nearby destinations

→ Cape Cod (ferry), Martha's Vineyard

📍 Climate by season

Massachusetts has a humid continental climate with four seasons.

Summer (June–August) — Highs 25–30°C (77–86°F). The peak season for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Fall (September–November)—Highs 12–22°C (54–72°F). Fall foliage in October.

Winter (December–February) — Highs 0–5°C (32–41°F). Cold with snow.

Spring (March–May)—Highs 8–18°C (46–64°F). Cool and variable.

📍 Areas that may not be safe

None found. Nevertheless, make sure to double-check prior to visiting a place that it is safe!

(Picture credit: Andrés García)