Overview
Orleans is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod, and includes the villages of East Orleans and South Orleans. With the Rock Harbor sunsets and the Nauset surf, Orleans has the best of both Cape Cod waters.
8 sights · 3 things to do · 8 places to eat · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Orleans
Nauset Beach
A public beach with good surf. The children can play in the sand and ocean, as the adults relax under the sun. There is a fee to get on to the beach. This beach is equipped with changing rooms and bathrooms.
Skaket Beach
Amenities include a 175 car parking lot (fee charged in season), restrooms, outside showers, lifeguards, handicapped accessibility, ramp, and snack bar. While other beaches are emptying out, crowds gather here to watch t…
The French Cable Station Museum
Early communications and the telegraph.
Meeting House Museum
Owned and operated by the Orleans Historical Society.
Pilgrim Lake
43 acre lake owned by the Commonwealth. Offers a swimming beach, restroom facilities, and parking for ~20 cars. Town sticker required during the season.
Addison Art Gallery
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 — 17 mi away. Directions
- ACK Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket — 37 mi away. Directions
- BOS Boston Logan International Airport, Boston — 65 mi away (major hub). Directions
Highway access is by Route 6 from the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne which is about 55 minutes away.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Nauset Beach, The French Cable Station Museum
- Lunch Hot Chocolate Sparrow
- Afternoon Addison Art Gallery, Academy of Performing Arts
- Dinner Homeport Restaurant
Day 2
- Morning Meeting House Museum, Pilgrim Lake
- Lunch Cooke's Seafood
- Afternoon Left Bank Gallery, Blue Claw Boat Tours
- Dinner Land Ho!
Day 3
- Morning Skaket Beach, Tree's Place
- Lunch Barley Neck Inn
- Afternoon Orleans Bowling Center
- Dinner The Yardarm
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Highway access is by Route 6 from the Cape Cod Canal in Bourne which is about 55 minutes away.
- From Boston take I-93 south to Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge (Becomes Rt. 6). Exit onto Route 6A at Orlean's landmark rotary (or roundabout) on Route 6, approximately 55 minutes from the Sagamore Bridge and 1.75 hours from Boston.
- From Providence or points south take I-95 north to I-195 to Route 25 south to the Bourne Bridge (I-495 also becomes Route 25). At the rotary (traffic circle) on the Cape side, go almost all the way around and travel along the Canal to Route 6 east.
By bus
- Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway, 17 Elm Av., Hyannis, +1 508-771-6191, .
See
Beaches
See Nauset Beach
A public beach with good surf. The children can play in the sand and ocean, as the adults relax under the sun. There is a fee to get on to the beach. This beach is equipped with changing rooms and bathrooms.
See Skaket Beach
Amenities include a 175 car parking lot (fee charged in season), restrooms, outside showers, lifeguards, handicapped accessibility, ramp, and snack bar. While other beaches are emptying out, crowds gather here to watch the sunset.
Galleries
Museums
Do
Theatre
Tours
Do Blue Claw Boat Tours
Here the family can enjoy one of New England’s favorite attractions: seal Tours. Great for children, the informative seal cruise will take you from Orleans, all the way through Pleasant Bay to view seals as they swim and play in their natural habitat. Tours last about an hour and a half.
Eat
Budget
Eat Hot Chocolate Sparrow
Espresso bar, pastries, desserts.
Eat Homeport Restaurant
For breakfast, you can enjoy items such as their omelettes, eggs and egg dishes, pancakes or french toast. The restaurant also serves a wide selection of lunch dishes.
Eat Cooke's Seafood
Casual restaurant. Great (and surprisingly light) fried clams and onion rings. Some of the best clam chowder on the Cape!
Mid-range
Eat Land Ho!
The Land Ho is a tavern-type restaurant that is open every day, serving appetizers, burgers and soups until midnight. Frequented by locals, the pub is known for its decorative Cape Cod flair. Try the sea clam pie. Live music some evenings.
Eat Barley Neck Inn
Near Nauset Beach, also offers a few rooms for rent.
Eat The Yardarm
A Cape tradition since 1972.
Splurge
Eat The Beacon Room
Lunch 11:30AM-3PM Dinner daily 5PM-9:30PM. Some imaginative dishes here. Patio dining available when warm enough.
Eat Mahoney's Atlantic Bar and Grill
Something a little special from the chef here.
Sleep
Nearby
Eastham
City / town · 38 listings · 3 mi away
Brewster
City / town · 27 listings · 5 mi away
Chatham
City / town · 43 listings · 8 mi away
Harwich
City / town · 27 listings · 8 mi away
Wellfleet
City / town · 53 listings · 10 mi away
Cape Cod National Seashore
Park · 48 listings · 11 mi away
Dennis
City / town · 34 listings · 11 mi away
Barnstable
City / town · 14 mi away
My experience
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