Craigville Beach
Wide, gentle Nantucket Sound beach with lifeguards and a snack bar, the easy family day out.
Barnstable Area Guide: Seven Villages, One Big Town
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Pick Your Village
Pick Your Village
Barnstable is the Cape's largest town, and where you sleep changes the trip. Here's how the villages break down so you can match your week to the right corner.
Ferries & Main Street
Hyannis for the Action
The Cape's hub, ferries to the islands, a walkable Main Street, and dinner options that don't require a car.
Ferries to the Islands
Hy-Line and Steamship terminals run daily to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
Walk to Dinner
Main Street's restaurants, bars, and shops are doable on foot from most Hyannis homes.
JFK Hyannis Museum
The Kennedy compound history, a short walk from Main Street.
Family-Quiet Beaches
Centerville for the Classic Cape Week
Craigville Beach, shingled houses, and the kind of neighborhood where kids ride bikes to the corner store.
Craigville Beach
Wide, gentle, south-shore swimming, the family beach locals send first-timers to.
Quiet Streets
Cape vernacular at its most classic; quieter at night than Hyannis.
Four Seas Ice Cream
Centerville institution since 1934, worth the line.
Bay Side & Oysters
Barnstable Village for the Harbor
The north side of the town, working harbor, calm bay water, and oyster boats coming in at the end of the day.
Barnstable Harbor
Whale watch boats, charter fishing, and Sandy Neck across the channel.
Local Oysters
Mattakeese Wharf and the village restaurants serve them straight from the bay.
Calmer Bay Water
North-shore beaches mean warmer, flatter swimming than the south side.
Quiet & Upscale
Cotuit & Osterville for the Slow Week
The west end of Barnstable: slower streets, golf, and quiet bay coves. Best if your trip is more cocktail hour than ferry line.
Golf Country
Cotuit Highground is open to the public, and Wianno and Oyster Harbors are private clubs nearby.
Osterville Village
Walkable shops and cafes without the Hyannis crowds.
Quiet at Night
Residential streets, not nightlife, bring a bottle of wine and the back deck.
Barnstable homes
Four Houses Across Barnstable
A Centerville home with a heated saltwater pool, options a short walk to Main Street Hyannis, and sound-side spots within walking distance of the beach.
What To Do In Barnstable
Beach Days, Ferry Rides, and Main Street
Four very different days out, all a short drive away. Pick what fits your group.
Hyannis Harbor Ferries
Catch the Hy-Line or Steamship to Nantucket or the Vineyard, easy day trip, back by dinner.
JFK Hyannis Museum
Photos and film of the Kennedy summers on the Cape, right downtown with shops and lunch nearby.
Cape Cod Maritime Museum
Small museum on the harbor walk, boats, lighthouses, and a short stroll out to the docks afterward.
Before You Book
Barnstable Questions, Answered
Still have a question? We pick up, call 508-286-7928 or text anytime.
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