Twenty miles long, nine wide, and six towns that do not feel alike. This is the far end of it.
Plate 01
Martha’s Vineyard is an island just south of Cape Cod. People come for the beaches, the harbors and the pace, and stay longer than they planned because the island is small enough to cross in an hour and varied enough that the two ends have almost nothing in common. This guide runs the way an island day runs: the crossing at first light, the towns at midday, the sand in the afternoon, Menemsha when the sun drops.
Getting here
Forty-five minutes, year-round, and the only way most vehicles get here. Book the car months out; walking on is easy.
Most visitors arrive by ferry from Woods Hole on the Steamship Authority. Seasonal ferries run from Hyannis, Falmouth, Quonset and New Bedford, and there are direct flights in season. If you are bringing a car in summer, the reservation is the hard part, not the crossing.
Morning · once you land
Getting around
You can reach almost anywhere here without a car. Our bus guide plots the routes and the transfers.
Midday · pick your port
The six towns
Six towns share the island, and they do not feel alike. Down-island is the ferry ports and the walkable centres; up-island the roads narrow and the farms start.
EdgartownDOWN-ISLANDThe old whaling town: the lighthouse, the white captains’ houses, the restaurants and the beaches beyond them.
Oak BluffsDOWN-ISLANDGingerbread cottages, the carousel and most of the island’s nightlife.
Vineyard HavenDOWN-ISLANDThe year-round port. Local shops, working boatyards and the sailing culture that goes with them.
West TisburyUP-ISLANDFarms, artisans and Alley’s General Store, which has been trading since 1858.
ChilmarkUP-ISLANDRolling hills, stone walls, and Menemsha at the end of the road.
AquinnahUP-ISLANDWampanoag land, and the clay cliffs that most people picture when they picture the island.
The beaches
Twenty beaches on three shores, and the afternoon is the warm end of the day. Pick your water: calm Sound or open Atlantic.
Every town has sand. These are the four visitors ask about most. The full list is here, grouped by which shore you are on and who is allowed on it.
AB
CA: Menemsha, a working fishing harbor that has not been prettied up; B: the sand at Katama on the ocean side; C: the bridge at State Beach, where the channel runs between the pond and the Sound.
Late day · out and about
Things to do
All day · the locals
Wildlife and nature
Ospreys, deer, ocean birds and wild turkeys are all common sights. For walking, the Land Bank trails are among the best on the island, and our wildlife guide covers what you are likely to see and when.
They have the run of the place, and they do not move for cars.
Sunset at Menemsha
People arrive early, spread out along the sand and the jetty, and applaud when it goes.
The island gathers at Menemsha for the sunset ritual. Parking fills an hour or two before the light drops, so come early and buy dinner straight off the fishing boats. One practical note: Chilmark is a dry town, so pick up your sunset bottle down-island first. Our Menemsha guide covers the harbor, the fish markets and the timing.
Evening · the table
Where to eat
From seafood shacks to farm-to-table dining rooms, with a few late-night options. The full restaurant guide has the rest.
Events and festivals
The music runs year-round; the calendars fill in summer.
The produce hall in August. The fair is the one week of the year when the whole island turns up in the same field.
The night · a bed
Where to stay
Lodging runs from small inns to the old harbor hotels and private rentals. Summer dates go early. Book months ahead if you can. Our full where-to-stay guide goes into the trade-offs town by town.
Any day of the year
When to come
Not sure which month is yours? The trip wizard compares all twelve with verified climate and ferry data.
Know Before You Go
Practical things worth knowing
Layers, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Evenings cool off sharply, even in August.
Groceries and dining run roughly 20 to 40 per cent above mainland prices. Budget for it rather than being surprised by it.
Summer ferry reservations for vehicles are made months in advance. Walking on is easy; driving on is not.
Beaches have seasonal restrictions and they vary by town. Check the signage at the entrance.
State Beach, the farms and the town centres are the reliable ones with children.
Keep Reading
Go deeper
Three free downloads · 2026The Beach Guide, the Fall Guide and Where to StayEvery beach decoded, the fall season date by date, and every town and price band for sleeping over: three PDFs, free with the island letter.No spam, one click to leave. See a sample first