Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Overview
Explore historic downtown Nantucket on a self-guided audio walking tour. Follow a roughly 2-mile route as stories and directions play automatically along the way.
Hear how Nantucket rose to prominence as a whaling port, how Quaker families shaped the island, and how its economy and architecture evolved after the whaling era. See landmarks including the Nantucket Atheneum, Straight Wharf, Hadwen House, Greater Light, and Jared Coffin House.
Download the tour in advance to use it offline as you walk. Pause anytime for museums, shops, food, photos, or a break, then continue whenever you’re ready.
- GPS-triggered narration plays automatically
- Approximately 2-miles and relatively flat
- Hear about whaling, Quaker history, architecture, and island life
- Works offline after download
- Explore at your own pace
- Pause anytime and continue when you’re ready
What's included
Lifetime Tour Access Once Unlocked
Offline Tour Access After Download
Interactive Route Map and Stop Information
GPS-Triggered Audio Tour in the Drives & Detours App
Smartphone (bring your own)
What to expect
Whaling Museum
Pass by
The tour begins outside the Nantucket Whaling Museum on Broad Street. Hear how Nantucket became one of the world’s leading whaling ports and why the museum is worth visiting before or after your walk.
Nantucket Atheneum
Pass by
Learn about the Nantucket Atheneum as you view it from outside and hear about the well-known figures who have visited or spoken here over the years.
20m
Explore the shops and restaurants as you hear about this once active commercial hub for Nantucket.
15m
Stroll down the narrow gravel path and pop your head into a few of the art galleries on Nantucket's Old South Wharf.
Pass by
See the historic marker memorializing The Petrel, a Nantucket steamship dating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Pass by
See Nantucket’s distinctive Compass Rose mural and hear the story behind the photographer who created the original image in 1936.
Nantucket Friends Meeting House
Pass by
View the Quaker Meeting House as you hear about its history on the island.
Hadwen House
20m · Admission ticket not included
View this historic home and museum, built in 1846 by William Hadwen. It's a prime example of the island's whaling success. Admission is $10 per person (or included if you purchase admission to the Whaling Museum).
Maria Mitchell Hinchman House
Pass by
Learn about America's first female astronomer as you view her historic home.
Greater Light
Pass by
Learn about 2 Quaker sisters who restored this old barn into a quirky mix of art and architecture as you view it from outside.
Pass by
Learn about a prosperous whaling-ship owner who built this house for his family in 1845, and how it survived the Great Fire of 1846.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
The starts on the sidewalk in front of the Whaling Museum on Broad Street.
End point
The starts on the sidewalk in front of the Whaling Museum on Broad Street.
Additional information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The tour route is 2 miles and relatively flat
Allow approximately 2–3 hours, depending on stops and breaks
Download the Drives & Detours app and your tour before starting
Once downloaded, the tour works offline using your device’s GPS
GPS-triggered audio plays automatically as you approach featured locations
The tour begins outside the Nantucket Whaling Museum on Broad Street
Pause anytime for museums, shops, food, photos, or other stops
Once unlocked, you retain lifetime access to the tour
Headphones are recommended for the best experience
This is a self-guided experience; no live guide is included
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
