Explore Nantucket at your own pace on a 2-mile, self-guided audio tour that starts at the Whaling Museum. Hear the island’s whaling and Quaker history while strolling Main Street, Straight Wharf, and historic homes with local tips delivered through the Drives & Detours app.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step off the ferry and the air tastes of salt and wood smoke; the first footsteps take you across Broad Street toward the Whaling Museum, where the self-guided tour begins. Cobblestones and narrow gravel lanes guide you past white clapboard houses and low-slung roofs that remember the island’s whaling boom. Voices in the app replace a guide’s narration, and the town unfolds at your pace.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
2–3 hours
Fitness Level
Light fitness required—suitable for most walkers who can handle 2 miles on flat surfaces.
Wildlife
History
Nantucket grew into a global whaling center in the 18th and 19th centuries; wealth from whaling financed many of the island’s Greek Revival and Federal homes.
Conservation
Nantucket manages development tightly to protect its historic district and coastal habitat—stick to public paths and avoid trampling dunes or private gardens.
Reserve your spot on the Beyond the Cobblestones Self Guided Walking Tour of Nantucket today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Download the app and tour in advance
Install Drives & Detours and enter access code JTV260 before you arrive so you won’t rely on cell service; downloading takes 1–2 minutes.
Start early to beat crowds
Begin around dawn or early morning for softer light, quieter streets, and easier photo opportunities on Straight Wharf.
Bring a portable charger
Audio tours drain phones—carry a battery pack to keep the app and GPS running for the full 2–3 hours.
Respect private property
The route passes many private homes; enjoy viewing historic houses from public paths and designated stops only.
Comfortable walking shoes
Supportive shoes for pavement and packed gravel keep the walk comfortable over 2 miles.
Charged smartphone + headphones
Required to run the Drives & Detours app and listen to audio narration.
Portable battery pack
Keeps your phone powered through audio playback and photos, especially in summer.
Light windproof layer
Blocks chilly harbor breezes in spring and fall and can be useful on overcast summer mornings.
spring