All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Whether it’s the first time or the thousandth time, something happens when you drive over the Sagamore Bridge and officially cross onto Cape Cod—blood pressure drops, the air feels that much fresher, the sunlight hits a little differently. This is New England summer at its finest, with world-class beaches, history in spades, and a collection of towns and villages lining Route 6 all the way out to the tip of Provincetown.
This spit of land has long been a desirable piece of real estate: It was home to some 69 Wampanoag tribes long before the Pilgrims signed their Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor, and today is both a beloved summer colony and a year-round destination, with an enviable array of hotels to boot. There are the five-star resorts, there are the owner-operated B&Bs, and there are the unique boutique hotels that feel as New England-y as a Kennedy accent. Since the pandemic, the Cape has flourished with “year-rounders” who call this peninsula home beyond the confines of the summer months, meaning that good food and great hotels are easier to find than ever.
If you’re looking for a place to rest your head on old Cape Cod, here are some of our favorites—read on for the full list, or jump straight to the area you’d like to stay in.
FAQ:
What part of Cape Cod is the best to stay?
The beauty of Cape Cod is that in driving end-to-end, which only takes just over an hour, you’ll encounter a number of different communities, each with its own unique vibe and offering. Stay near Upper Cape if you’re traveling as a family. You’ll want the convenience of multiple restaurants, mini-golf courses, antiques and shopping in nearby Sandwich, and proximity to trails and nature reserves. Further out you’ll find the less busy Mid-Cape communities of Dennis, Yarmouth, and Harwich, where some Boston-area families tend to have their own beach houses. Dennis, in particular, is considered the Cape’s cultural hub, with art galleries, museum exhibits, and live theater to explore.
The Lower Cape’s communities of Chatham and Brewster are home to some of the Cape’s fancier hotels, and offer close proximity to the Cape Cod National Seashore for whale-watching and eco-adventures. Further “down” the Cape—which in reality is further north—is the Outer Cape. Its towns like Provincetown and Wellfleet have long attracted artisans, beatniks, and the LGBTQ+ community for their unparalleled natural beauty and anything-goes atmosphere.
What makes Cape Cod so special?
Oh, what doesn’t make Cape Cod so special? The beaches, the history, the nature preserves—it’s all here, and all relatively close together. If you’re not staying physically on a beach, it’s almost never more than a 10-minute drive to plant your toes in the sand. Aside from beaches, there is a ton to explore here: popular dive bars, award-winning restaurants ranging from fine dining to quintessential clam shacks, activities for the kids, historic sites, and, of course, beautiful hotels.
What's the best time of year to visit Cape Cod?
Peak season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but especially the months of July and August. That’s when you’ll have the longest, warmest days followed by comfortable, breezy nights. Locals know that while the hottest temperatures level off by Labor Day, you’ll still find beautiful weather and the occasional beach day through mid-October. And while a number of restaurants will close after the festive season, there is still a die-hard contingent who enjoys winter’s quiet charms. There’s really no bad time of year to visit Cape Cod.
Upper Cape
AutoCamp Cape Cod
Location: Falmouth
Top amenities: A midcentury-modern Clubhouse with views of Buzzards Bay
Nearby attractions: Falmouth’s 10-mile Shining Sea Bikeway abuts the property
Recreate the nostalgia of camping with all the creature comforts of home at AutoCamp Cape Cod. Having opened during the pandemic, this newcomer to the Cape’s hotel scene offers a mix of tented accommodations, refurbished Airstreams, and standalone suites, all situated on a quiet piece of land offering views over nearby Buzzards Bay. Take it all in from the comfort of your private firepit, or—better yet—borrow one of the house bikes and go for a cruise on the nearby Shining Sea Bikeway, which runs through beaches, cranberry bogs, and groves of Cape pines.
The Coonamessett
Location: Falmouth
Top amenities: Solé cruiser bikes, complimentary breakfast of small plates
Nearby attractions: Ice cream at the must-visit Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium
Sometimes you just need to get away, and the Coonamessett is just the thing. It has the idyllic exterior of a cedar-shingled shake Cape Cod home, but features a gorgeous interior draped in nautical whites, neutrals, and a dash of black. You won’t find over-the-top amenities like houseboats or Michelin-starred dining here, but what you will find is a spacious lawn filled with hammocks, a beach within walking distance, and plenty of room to catch your breath on your next Cape escape.
Woods Hole Inn
Location: Woods Hole
Top amenities: Claw-foot soaking tubs, super comfy beds, coffee from the roasting company next door
Nearby attractions: The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, one of the foremost ocean research institutes in the world
Visit the Cape’s “elbow” at Woods Hole and you’ll discover a quaint village where time seems to stand still—in fact, unless you’re heading here for the Martha’s Vineyard ferry, most visitors to the Cape continue cruising right on by. It may not have the unending offering of mini-golf courses you’ll find in the busier mid-Cape, but what it lacks in gimmicks it makes up for in charm. The award-winning Woods Hole Inn Bed & Breakfast is the place from which to discover this quieter side of the Cape. Originally built in 1887, this B&B has been updated to offer guest rooms with generous square footage, private decks, restored hardwood floors, and cast iron tubs. Breakfast is, of course, a highlight of each stay (make sure to try the delicious homemade quiche). From here, it’s possible to catch the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for the day—the ferry terminal is right across the street.
Mid-Cape
Bluebird Dennisport
Location: Dennisport
Top amenities: Indoor and outdoor pools
Nearby attractions: Art galleries and theater in neighboring Dennis
A relative newcomer to the Cape hotel scene, Bluebird Dennisport has quickly carved out a niche for itself—it’s a more elevated experience than the roadside motor lodges of the past, but isn’t overladen with expensive five-star amenities you probably won’t even end up using during your stay. If you’re traveling with kids, or in a group, or are just looking for a reasonable option that still feels curated and well-designed, check this one out. There are a number of room categories but the two-bedroom cottages in particular feel perfect for groups or those traveling with little ones.
Pelham House Resort
Location: Dennis
Top amenities: Live music by the pool every Thursday through Sunday
Nearby attractions: Kayaking and paddleboarding down the road at Swan River
There are plenty of hotels that take themselves too seriously on the Cape, and thankfully, Pelham House is not one of them. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of bragging rights to be found here—rooms with ocean views, a private beachfront with beverage service, a gorgeous ocean-view pool area, the Roof Deck restaurant which is as fun as it is delicious—but managing partner John McCarthy keeps the atmosphere light and humorous for all too enjoy (just check out Pelham House’s Instagram for proof). With live music Thursdays through Sundays and an ever-changing roster of dining events and goings-on, it’s impossible to get bored at “the Pelham.”
Red Jacket Beach Resort
Location: South Yarmouth
Top amenities: The only on-the-sand-itself F&B service on mid-Cape
Nearby attractions: Artistic history at the Edward Gorey Museum, local goodies at The Lighthouse Keepers Pantry
Unpretentious and completely lovable, the Red Jacket Beach Resort is the quintessential accessible beach resort, which has catered to generations of New England families—and thanks to an expansive renovation unveiled for 2025, has never felt more relevant. Tons of rooms, a number of F&B outlets, cocktail and food service on the beach, activities like beach volleyball, a fleet of house bikes, live entertainment, a kids club—sure, it’s near a number of other mid-Cape attractions, but why leave the property when you have everything at your fingertips?
Lower Cape
.jpg)
Candleberry Inn
Location: Brewster
Top amenities: Two heartwarming owner-operator innkeepers
Nearby attractions: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
The Candleberry Inn is a critically acclaimed B&B run by the type of innkeepers that B&B dreams are made of. Innkeepers Eric and Charlene are present, engaging, know when to offer space, and cook up one hell of a breakfast. Each of the picturesque accommodations inside this lovingly restored 1790s Georgian-style sea captain’s home is unique, with some offering fireplaces, patios, seating areas, and soaking tubs. Just six bedrooms in the main house keep the atmosphere intimate and the service personal, and an adjacent three-bedroom carriage house is a good option for groups to book. It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to make your return reservation before check-out.
Ocean Edge Resort
Location: Brewster
Top amenities: A beachfront tiki bar, the Cape’s only Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course
Nearby attractions: Work’n in the Dirt Farm, a charming antiques shop that doubles as a farmers market
History can be found around every turn in this neck of the woods, but Ocean Edge is one property that wears theirs just a little louder and prouder than their peers. A recent inductee into the Historic Hotels of America, this is the type of resort, for example, that offers a “Party Like It's 1899” prix-fixe dining experience, where everything from the menu to the wait staff's attire and room decor reflect how the original owners’ would have dined in the late 19th century. Don’t worry, the ghosts aren’t too bothersome here—there are plenty of modern touches across the 429-acre resort, including paddle boarding, oyster bed tours, and a Beach Bar, which on clear days offers views across Cape Cod Bay all the way to Provincetown. The property is made up of two lodging options, The Villages and The Mansion.
The Chatham Inn
Location: Chatham
Top amenities: Frette towels, Matouk linens, Bulgari bath amenities
Nearby attractions: The Chatham Squire, an iconic dive and Cape Cod institution
Smaller hotels don’t always have the luxe touches that some travelers expect these days, and larger resorts can easily lose that feeling of intimacy and individual attention. Neither is the case at the Chatham Inn—with just 18 guest rooms and suites, this hidden gem manages to deliver the luxury and amenities of something much larger, but still keeps its exclusive atmosphere. Whatever you do, make sure to book (at least one) dinner at Cuvée, where chef Isaac Olivo (previously of Jean-Georges in New York City) offers up some of the finest fine dining you’ll find on the entire Cape.
Outer Cape
.jpg)
The Anchor Inn Beach House
Location: Provincetown
Top amenities: One of the only hotels in town to offer parking (for a fee)
Nearby attractions: Every bar, shop, restaurant, and tea dance in town
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: The Anchor is about as straightforward as they come. Yes, it’s in a beautiful historic home, and the rooms are clean, quiet, and quintessentially New England, but people don’t stay here for luxury. They stay here for the location: Most rooms offer views of the water, and the premises are smack-dab in the middle of the action on Commercial Street, literally steps to the Boatslip, where Provincetown’s most popular tea dance takes place.
AWOL Provincetown
Location: Provincetown
Top amenities: A gorgeous outdoor firepit area, complete with s’mores kits
Nearby attractions: The hotel overlooks Provincetown’s moors, a short bike or walk to downtown
A quintessential saltbox Cape bed and breakfast, AWOL Provincetown is not. The modern, Scandinavian-style design here prioritizes minimalist lines, clean finishes, and the occasional natural touch, such as super-soft microfiber bedding and straw light fixtures. All the better to frame Ptown’s natural surroundings. First-floor rooms come with outdoor hammocks, and second-floor rooms come with outdoor day beds. You’d never know you were just a short bike ride or walk away from all the (often rowdy) action of Commercial Street.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
