Overview
Harwich is a town of about 13,000 people (2020) in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Harwichport, South Harwich, and West Harwich.
3 sights · 4 things to do · 9 places to eat · 10 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Harwich
Bradford Trust Fine Arts
Brooks Academy Museum
Seasonal.
Bell's Neck Conservation Area
Almost 250 acres of conservation land, featuring a herring run.
Bank Street Beach
This beach is typically busy in the summer season, and with its warmer waters is a great location for swimming, lounging, and for the kids to chase and catch hermit crabs.
Pleasant Bay Beach
Calm water beach with sandbars. Popular with clammers. Open to non-residents.
Bud's Go-Karts
Kids can ride Go-Karts and hit the ball in the batting cages for about $6 a person. To ride your own Go-Kart you need to be at least 8 years of age and to ride with someone you need to be at least 16 years of age. Adults…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 25°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Nov. (climate data from nearby Provincetown)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HYA Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis — 11 mi away. Directions
- ACK Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket — 30 mi away. Directions
- BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 67 mi away (major hub). Directions
Route 6 to Exit 82 (old Exit 10), right on Route 124.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $119–$119 a night (typical $192), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$160, mid-range ~$270, comfortable ~$280.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bradford Trust Fine Arts, Bell's Neck Conservation Area
- Lunch Lighthouse Cafe
- Afternoon Pleasant Bay Beach, Harwich Junior Theater
- Dinner Sundae School Ice Cream
Day 2
- Morning Brooks Academy Museum, Bank Street Beach
- Lunch Georges Pizza House
- Afternoon Bud's Go-Karts
- Dinner Mooncussers Tavern
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Get in
Route 6 to Exit 82 (old Exit 10), right on Route 124.
Get around
- Freedom Cruise Line, Inc., 702 Main St., Harwich Port, +1 508-432-8999. Ferry service to Nantucket.
- Bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail. This 22-mile bike trail follows an old railroad bed through several towns. Check their website or call them to check for closures.
See
Beaches
Do Bank Street Beach
This beach is typically busy in the summer season, and with its warmer waters is a great location for swimming, lounging, and for the kids to chase and catch hermit crabs.
Do Pleasant Bay Beach
Calm water beach with sandbars. Popular with clammers. Open to non-residents.
Galleries
See Bradford Trust Fine Arts
Museums
Parks
Do
Do Bud's Go-Karts
Kids can ride Go-Karts and hit the ball in the batting cages for about $6 a person. To ride your own Go-Kart you need to be at least 8 years of age and to ride with someone you need to be at least 16 years of age. Adults can ride with children that are younger than 8 for the same price of $6.
Theatre
Buy
Main Street (Route 28), Harwich Port has a string of interesting shops.
Shop Harwich Antique Center
Harwich Antique Center is a large group shop featuring antique, primitive and vintage furniture, jewelry, coins, paper items, books, military, trains, art glass, fine china, advertising, musical and nautical items and memorabilia. From $1 to high end items. There are weekly free events on everything from furniture restoration workshops to free appraisals to animal rescue benefit days.
Eat
Budget
Eat Lighthouse Cafe
Breakfast, cash only
Eat Sundae School Ice Cream
Home-made, small-batch, premium-quality ice cream. Serves sundaes, ice cream cones, frappes, and giant banana splits. Very customer friendly and many flavor options to pick from.
Eat Georges Pizza House
Offers a huge selection of grinders and pizzas, calzones, and salads.
Mid-range
Eat Mooncussers Tavern
Mainly focused on the food, but also has 5 rooms to let.
Eat Jake Rooney's
Tavern with great food.
Splurge
Eat Brax Landing Restaurant
Seafood with harbor views
Eat Buca's Tuscan Roadhouse
Italian cuisine, Chianti.
Eat Cape Sea Grille
One of the more innovative choices.
Eat The Port
Make your reservation now.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Handkerchief Shoals Inn
This unpretentious roadside hotel is 6 miles from the 19th-century Chatham Light lighthouse and 9 miles from biking and hiking at Nickerson State Park. The conservatively decorated rooms come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers, as well as microwaves and minifridges. Kids age 12 and under stay at no charge. Complimentary amenities include parking and breakfast (seasonal). There's also an outdoor pool.
Splurge
Go next
Explore other Cape Cod towns.
Nearby
Brewster
City / town · 27 listings · 5 mi away
Chatham
City / town · 43 listings · 6 mi away
Dennis
City / town · 34 listings · 7 mi away
Barnstable
City / town · 8 mi away
Yarmouth
City / town · 35 listings · 8 mi away
Orleans
City / town · 24 listings · 8 mi away
Hyannis
City / town · 39 listings · 11 mi away
Eastham
City / town · 38 listings · 11 mi away
My experience
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