Best Hotels in Nantucket, Massachusetts
Looking for the best hotels in Nantucket, Massachusetts? You’re in the right place!
Nantucket is the quintessential New England summer destination. Located off the coast of Cape Cod, this island has historically been a popular vacation spot for families who rent a house for the whole summer. But there are also plenty of excellent hotels in Nantucket if you’re looking for a shorter stay.
This island is a great destination for a week-long getaway or even a weekend trip. Nantucket is known for its charming architecture, high-end shopping and dining, wind-swept beaches, picturesque lighthouses, and historic industries of whaling and fishing. It’s most popular to visit during the summer.
Although the permanent year-round population of Nantucket is only 11,000 people, it swells to more than 80,000 people during the summer months. Summer is definitely the peak time to visit Nantucket. The summer season lasts from Memorial Day in late May until Labor Day in early September.
It’s possible to visit in the off-season if you’re looking for few crowds and low prices — but it’s important to know that many hotels, restaurants, and shops close outside of the peak season! I recommend early May, late September, or October if you’re looking to take an off-season getaway to Nantucket.
How do you get to Nantucket? Since it’s an island, you only have two options for getting to Nantucket: flight or ferry. Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) has seasonal flights from several East Coast cities. You can also take the ferry from several towns in Massachusetts, and even directly from NYC in the summer.
Where to Stay in Nantucket
Nantucket Town, in the north-central part of the island, is where you’ll find the highest concentration of accommodations, as well as most of the island’s restaurants and shops.
This is definitely the liveliest part of the island, and where I’d recommend staying if you don’t have access to a car. It’s also where you’ll find most hotels, as it’s mainly rental houses outside town.
Speaking of getting around Nantucket, it’s possible to rent a car or to use taxis or Ubers, but this gets pricey. The WAVE buses on Nantucket are free, or you can rent a bicycle or simply walk to many places! The island has an area of less than 50 square miles, so it’s pretty compact and easy to get around.
For each of the hotels recommended below, I’ll also let you know exactly where it’s located. You should also know that most of the hotels in Nantucket are B&B-style and located in historic buildings. You won’t find any chain hotels or modern construction here, but you will find plenty of historic charm!
Here are my top picks for where to stay in Nantucket, Massachusetts:
- Best overall: White Elephant Hotel
- Best bed & breakfast: Anchor Inn
- Best on the beach: The Wauwinet Nantucket
And here’s a full breakdown of the best hotels in Nantucket.
Tip: I use and recommend Booking.com for getting the best deal on hotels. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Nantucket Resort Collection
Starting off, one of the best hotels in Nantucket is the Nantucket Resort Collection. This is actually a collection of four historic inns (Veranda, Chapman, Regatta, and Sherburne) in the historic heart of town.
Each inn has its own unique character, and all offer easy proximity to gourmet restaurants, boutique shopping, and the beach. Any of the inns is a great place to base yourself in the center of Nantucket.
White Elephant Hotel
Another wonderful place to stay is the White Elephant Hotel. This luxury boutique hotel also consists of multiple buildings, with its harborside hotel being the main one. There are also cottages and lofts available.
The hotel has a lovely outdoor area right by the waterfront, featuring a swimming pool — which isn’t very common among Nantucket hotels! There are also bicycles available to rent at the hotel. Whichever building you choose to stay in, you’ll be right in the midst of town, with shopping and dining all around you.
Life House, Nantucket
Life House, Nantucket is a lovely place to stay in Brant Point, a desirable part of Nantucket just a few minutes from the center of town. This small hotel is located in a beautifully restored historic home.
Every room has its own unique style and charm, with luxurious details throughout. Guests can relax on the front porch or in the quaint garden after a busy day of exploring all that Nantucket has to offer.
Seven Sea Street Inn
Seven Sea Street Inn is a great B&B in Nantucket. Located just minutes from all the action in the center of town, this historic B&B is located in a traditional Nantucket house with shaker-shingle siding. It’s super cozy and traditional on the inside, filled with lots of quintessential New England charm.
Guests at this inn will enjoy breakfast each morning, included with their stay. The guest rooms are spread out between the main house and the guesthouse in the back, with a garden between them.
Anchor Inn
One of the best B&Bs in Nantucket is Anchor Inn. With a bright, airy design, this lovely B&B is the perfect base for your trip to the island. It’s super close to everything you could want to do in town, from shops to restaurants to museums. You’re also close to the beach and the ferry for arrival and departure.
All the guest rooms here are decorated in various shades of blue, giving them a modern, nautical flair. Your stay at Anchor Inn also includes a continental breakfast each morning, and beach towels and umbrellas.
Greydon House
Greydon House is yet another great place to stay in Nantucket. Located right in the midst of the downtown historic district, this hotel is actually located in the historic home of a Nantucket sea captain.
You have easy proximity to all of Nantucket Town’s shopping and dining, as well as attractions like the Nantucket Whaling Museum, which is just across the street. Guests staying at Greydon House can enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Via Mare, which serves Venetian-inspired fare with local ingredients.
Union Street Inn
Union Street Inn is a lovely place to stay in the historic center of Nantucket Town. This luxurious boutique hotel has exquisitely renovated rooms with plenty of charm and design-minded touches.
The inn is in an excellent location near lots of shopping and dining. There is an outdoor terrace area where guests can relax, and a delicious room-service breakfast is included each morning during your stay.
The Martin
The Martin is an elegant hotel located in a gorgeous historic home in Nantucket’s historic center. Guests staying here can choose from various rooms and suites. Note that a few of the smaller rooms here feature shared bathrooms, which could be a good option for budget-conscious travelers in Nantucket.
This is a good place to base yourself for exploring Nantucket, with everything the island has to offer right at your fingertips. A complimentary continental breakfast is also provided each morning at this hotel.
Carlisle House Inn
One more fantastic place to stay in Nantucket Town is Carlisle House Inn. This quaint inn features cozy rooms with period details like working fireplaces. It also has a lovely garden area with a fire pit.
This is another hotel that has some smaller rooms with shared bathrooms, although most of the rooms and suites feature en-suite bathrooms. Breakfast is also included each morning during your stay.
Nantucket Inn
Moving away from Town, we have the Nantucket Inn. This hotel is actually located right by Nantucket Memorial Airport, but despite its proximity to the airport, it feels very quiet and calm (ACK is a very small airport!) This is a good place to stay if you are looking for a more affordable hotel in Nantucket.
It’s about a ten-minute drive or a twenty-minute bike ride to town, and the hotel offers a free hourly shuttle. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a hot tub, a gym, and tennis courts.
The Wauwinet Nantucket
Finally, one excellent place to stay on the island is The Wauwinet Nantucket. This hotel is located in the northeastern part of the island, about a twenty-minute drive from Nantucket Town. This is a good place to stay if you want a quiet, restful trip and you want to be located on one of the best beaches.
The Wauwinet Nantucket is a luxurious hotel right on the waterfront with a private beach. The hotel offers complimentary bicycle rentals and a shuttle and water taxi into town. You can also take advantage of complimentary kayaks and paddleboards, tennis courts, and morning and afternoon snacks.
Best Hotels in Nantucket
This guide showed you the best hotels in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
To recap, my top picks for where to stay are:
- Best overall: White Elephant Hotel
- Best bed & breakfast: Anchor Inn
- Best on the beach: The Wauwinet Nantucket
Have a great trip and enjoy your stay in Nantucket!
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