Cheap flights to Nantucket

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Why track Nantucket with SniperAir

You don't need to compare prices every day

Nantucket is an island of Massachusetts lying south of Cape Cod, about 30 miles (roughly 50 km) offshore according to Wikipedia (EN, ES); French Wikipedia gives a shorter 21 km, which we did not keep. The island covers about 124 km2 of land according to Wikipedia (EN, FR) and had 14,255 residents at the 2020 census according to Wikipedia (EN, DE). In summer the population jumps, from 50,000 to 80,000 people depending on the source. SniperAir tracks flight prices to ACK and alerts you; it does not sell or book tickets.

This page is about the island and its historic town, not Boston or New York, even though most trips come through one of them. In the 18th and early 19th centuries Nantucket was the world capital of whaling according to Wikipedia (DE); what remains is a cobbled old town, grey-shingled houses, three major lighthouses and long beaches. You get there by air, from Boston, Hyannis or New York according to the Nantucket Chamber, or by sea from Cape Cod.

A general reminder: official travel advice differs from one country of departure to another and can change; check your own government's advice before creating an alert and again before any purchase. Visitors from abroad should also check US entry requirements for their nationality. The island is a busy summer resort: flights, boats and rooms fill up early.

Airport and getting into town

ACK, Nantucket's airport, and the crossing from Cape Cod

Approximate distance. We publish neither transfer times nor taxi fares. None of our sources mentions a direct flight from Europe to ACK: most visitors connect through a large US airport, then take a regional flight or a boat.

The sea is the other main way in. From Hyannis on Cape Cod, the fast boat takes about an hour and the conventional boat about 2 h 15 to 2 h 30 according to the Nantucket Chamber and a published timetable; only the conventional boat carries cars according to Wikivoyage (EN). Other, seasonal links leave from Harwich Port and New Bedford according to the Nantucket Chamber, and from Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard according to Wikipedia (EN). We name no operator and give no fares: schedules change with the season and bookings are made on official sites.

For your alerts, also watch flights to Boston (BOS), the busiest route from ACK according to Wikipedia (EN), followed by a trip to Hyannis. Wikivoyage (EN) adds that a car is not really needed on the island and parking is limited, so it is better to leave the vehicle on the mainland.

Landmarks and sights

Lighthouses, harbour and beaches on an island of grey shingle

Nantucket is best seen on foot, by bike and at the water's edge: a protected historic district, three lighthouses, piers and beaches on every coast. Five images illustrate the island; other places are described in text.

Brant Point at sunrise

Sankaty Head, the red-banded lighthouse

Great Point, at the far north

The harbour piers

The island's beaches

Other landmarks named by Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (EN): the African Meeting House, the Hadwen House, the Oldest House, the Old Windmill and the 'Three Bricks', three brick mansions. About 36% of the island is conservation land according to Wikivoyage (EN), which gives long walking trails.

Museums and culture

Whaling museum, history and natural science

Nantucket Whaling Museum

The museum occupies a former oil and candle factory built in 1847, a year after the Great Fire of 1846 according to Wikipedia (EN). It has been open since 1930 and is run by the Nantucket Historical Association. In Gosnell Hall a sperm whale skeleton hangs from the ceiling according to Wikipedia (EN). Hours and fees change: we do not list them.

The Oldest House and historic houses

Wikivoyage (EN) lists the island's oldest house, the Hadwen House and the 'Three Bricks' among the sights. Wikipedia (DE) ranks the Jethro Coffin House as a National Historic Landmark. Several house museums belong to the Nantucket Historical Association according to Wikipedia (EN).

Maria Mitchell Association

This science association, named by Wikipedia (EN), runs among other things a small aquarium according to Wikivoyage (EN). It is an easy visit for families, alongside the maritime history.

Museum of African American History

Wikivoyage (EN) mentions this museum, linked to the African Meeting House and to a house in the historic district. The island, mostly Quaker in the 19th century, was also a stop on the Underground Railroad according to Wikipedia (EN).

Food and drink

Lobster, bay scallops and island treats

Seafood

Lobster is the signature dish according to Wikivoyage (EN). Bay scallops are the other great speciality of the cool season: the commercial season usually opens in early November and runs to the end of March according to WGBH, while the recreational season opens in the fall according to local press (Nantucket Current). Dates change every year.

Breakfast and sweets

Wikivoyage (EN) recommends doughnuts and ice cream as small town pleasures. We name no business, because addresses change and our sources are dated.

Tables by budget

Wikivoyage (EN) sorts restaurants into three tiers: budget, mid-range and splurge, including tables awarded for their wine lists. Fewer places stay open out of season according to the same source.

Harbour and town

The town centre gathers bakeries, shops and restaurants around the harbour. Seafood is the easiest thing to find; always check opening times, which are much reduced in winter.

Getting around

On foot, by bike or by shuttle on the island

On foot

The centre is walkable, but the cobblestones are hard on bikes according to Wikivoyage (EN). Walking is often the best option in the historic town.

Bicycle

Two-way paved bike paths run alongside the main roads to Madaket, Surfside, Cliff Road and Siasconset according to Wikivoyage (EN). Several shops rent bikes. The island's beaches are within pedalling distance.

Shuttle and taxi

A public shuttle links town, the airport and several beaches, with hours that vary by season according to Wikivoyage (EN). Taxis are also available.

Car

Wikivoyage (EN) finds a car hardly necessary: parking is limited and car parks are time-checked. As a curiosity, automobiles were banned on the island from 1900 to 1918 according to Wikipedia (EN).

Budget and precautions

Price level and precautions

Price level

Nantucket is an affluent resort island: according to Wikipedia (EN), it has the highest median home value in the United States. We give no price range: the fares in our sources are old or rest on a single guide. The currency is the US dollar (USD).

Flights and alerts

SniperAir tracks prices to ACK and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Flights to Boston (BOS) or New York can be tracked in parallel, followed by a crossing: the result is sometimes different.

Precautions

Boat and flight schedules vary by season: confirm them on the official sites. Fog is very frequent according to Wikipedia (DE) and can disrupt connections; leave some margin. Museums and restaurants are fewer out of season: check openings before you come.

When to go

An oceanic climate, mild in summer, often foggy

The climate is oceanic according to Wikipedia (EN): an annual mean of 10.4 C and about 1,000 mm of rain a year according to Wikipedia (FR, EN). Wikipedia (DE) reports the highest fog probability in North America. To choose your dates, tracking prices to ACK early helps you compare several periods.

By length of stay

What to do in Nantucket by length of stay

In pictures

Nantucket in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Nantucket