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Cape Cod: Provincetown and Chatham
The Outer Cape: Provincetown's busy Commercial Street and Pilgrim Monument, the dunes and beaches of Cape Cod National Seashore, Nauset and Highland lights, whale watches, and Chatham's lighthouse and Main Street.
Photo: Chatham Light MA, Ted Kerwin, CC BY 2.0
Cape Cod National Seashore protects about 40 miles of beaches, dunes and marshes on the Outer Cape. It's sand and sky as far as you can see.
Provincetown, at the very tip, is where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620, and the Pilgrim Monument marks the spot. Chatham, at the Cape's elbow, has a lighthouse looking out over the outer beach.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Islands and beaches for birds and seals off Chatham.
Coast Guard and Nauset beaches
Ocean beaches below sandy bluffs in Eastham.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Salt Pond Visitor Center
National Seashore exhibits and trails in Eastham.
Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
A granite tower marking the Pilgrims' first landing.
Highland Light
Cape Cod's oldest lighthouse site, in Truro. Seasonal tours.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Commercial Street, Provincetown
A long street of galleries, shops and restaurants.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Dolphin Fleet whale watch
Whale watching trips from Provincetown.
Season Runs roughly April–Oct (check before you go).
Part of our Cape Cod and the Islands guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Whale watches leave from Provincetown.
- Watch the sunset at Race Point or Herring Cove.
- Chatham makes a calm second base.
Nearby and worth the drive
Ferry from Woods Hole.
Salemabout 2 h 30 · Guide ↗Witch trials history.
Ready-made trips with Cape Cod: Provincetown and Chatham
Good to know
- Seashore: Cape Cod National Seashore.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Chatham Light MA, Ted Kerwin, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts, Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Pilgrim Monument, Jacob Beach, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nauset Light, Ted Kerwin, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Cape Cod Highland Light, Pentachlorphenol, CC BY-SA 3.0