Orleans is a town on Cape Cod that offers a nice mix of just about everything: great beaches, a cute little downtown area, awesome restaurants and lovely coastal scenery. If you’re planning an upcoming visit to the area, and are on the lookout for the best things to do in Orleans, MA, then you’re in the right place!
I’ve been exploring Cape Cod for over 15 years, and have spent quite a bit of time in Orleans, especially at the beaches. I’m excited to share my tips for visiting this town, my favorite beaches, things to do nearby, and where I love to eat when here.
Ready to get started? Let’s jump in!
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Best Things To Do In Orleans, MA
1. The Beaches, Of Course!
With coastline along both the Atlantic ocean and Cape Cod Bay, one of the best things to do in Orleans, MA is visit the beaches. And guys, there’s one beach in particular that’s really gorgeous, which is Nauset Beach.
Be sure not to confuse this with Nauset Lighthouse Beach, which is located further north in Eastham. Nauset Beach here in Orleans is a beautiful 10-mile long beach on the Atlantic side that is truly wonderful to see at least once. While the beaches along the Cape Cod National Seashore are definitely some of the best in the area, Nauset Beach can easily compare.
It’s good to know that Nauset Beach has wavier and colder water than the Bay side (which I’ll talk about next 😉), but that means it’s great for boogie boarding.
And as mentioned, the beaches along the Cape Cod Bay side will offer slightly warmer water, and definitely a more gentle surf. The best beach here that’s open to the public is Skaket Beach, which offers super soft sand, and is also surrounded by salt marshes, making is very pretty. It is much smaller than Nauset Beach, though.
Pro Tip: Both Nauset Beach and Skaket Beach are open to the public, and are run by the town. There is a daily fee to park in-season, and it’s cash only – so be sure to come prepared!
2. Stay For Sunset
Since all the beaches along Cape Cod Bay offer incredible views of the sunset, one of the best things to do in Orleans, MA is stay at the beaches until the sun goes down. Skaket Beach, as mentioned above, is a great spot for sunset in this area.
Another excellent choice is Rock Harbor, which is a small beach that’s mostly salt marshes, and they have a unique landscape with clam trees sticking out of the water. This is a great little spot to explore at low tide, and is especially beautiful as the sun goes down.
Pro Tip: If you just come to the beaches for sunset, you’ll arrive late enough in the day when they stop charging for parking, so sunset is a free activity to enjoy during your trip!
3. Browse The Cute Shops
Orleans has a quaint downtown with fun little shops and restaurants, and it’s a great area to do some shopping. Along Main Street, you’ll find independently-owned boutiques that are worth checking out, just a short walk from Main Street is a cluster of cottages that are seasonal store fronts for local artists.
The Orleans downtown is rather small compared to some other shopping destinations on the Cape, so keep that in mind. However, there are some great places to check out.
Here are some of my favorite shops in Orleans that I love to visit when I’m in the area:
- Adorn – this one is over a mile from the cluster of shops on Main Street, but worth making a short drive over to!
- Sea Howl Bookshop
- Homegrown Boutique
- The Sparrow Store
- Annie’s Books and Gifts
- Hot Chocolate Sparrow (more of a café, ice cream, candy store, but super fun!)
- Artist Cottages Orleans
4. Explore The Salt Marshes At Rock Harbor
I know I mentioned Rock Harbor already as a great sunset spot in Orleans, but it’s worth its own spot on this list. It’s definitely worth checking out at sunset, but this is a great stop to make in town any time of day. While it’s not the best beach for swimming because it’s not very big, it’s really great for enjoying coastal salt marsh scenery.
It’s also especially fun at low tide when you can see some of the marine life from the ocean floor in the tidal flats. During this time at low tide, you can, quite literally, walk through the salt marshes, and see what kinds of things you can find on the ocean floor. Be sure to be respectful of the ecosystem, and avoid stepping right on the marsh grass.
Rock Harbor is also a great spot for photography because of the clam trees I mentioned earlier. These unique trees that grow from the water stick out in a line going into the ocean, and this is the only spot on Cape Cod where you can see this kind of landscape.
Pro Tip: Parking at the entrance to the Rock Harbor salt marshes is very small, and if it happens to be full when you arrive, continue straight to the main parking lot at the harbor. The harbor lot is much bigger, and completely free for all visitors to use. The entrance to the beach and salt marshes is located at 41.8017271785362, -70.00689566111352.
✓ Good To Know: Rock Harbor is technically on the border of Eastham and Orleans, however, most people consider it Orleans territory, as the neighboring harbor is officially in Orleans. Just wanted to clear up any confusion, as the beach will be listed as Eastham in Google Maps!
5. Visit Jonathan Young Windmill
Along Old King’s Highway you’ll find the Jonathan Young Windmill, which is kind of tucked away and hard to see from the road until the last minute. But once you arrive, it’s actual a peaceful little spot to enjoy.
Overlooking Orleans Cove, the windmill was built in 1720, and has maintained many its original parts and machinery. The grounds are open year-round for everyone to enjoy, and there’s a small parking lot where it’s free to park, making it easy to visit.
6. Get Awesome Homemade Ice Cream
One of the best things to do on Cape Cod in general is try out all the locally-made ice cream, and you’ll find some great spots in Orleans. One of my personal favorites in the Ice Cream Café, which is right next door to Cottage Street Bakery to get all your sweet tooth cravings knocked out in one place 😉
Ice Cream Café is a small place that serves up homemade scoops, and I especially love to get the make-your-own ice cream sandwiches here because they let you pick from different homemade cookies that are provided by the bakery next store, and fill it with any ice cream you’d like. They’re so good! The one pictured above is a chocolate cookie with strawberry ice cream. But really, everything here is really yummy.
Another great option in Orleans is Smitty’s, which is owned by a former employee of Sundae School (another one of the best homemade ice cream places on Cape Cod), so you know the scoops are worth it! They have everything here from traditional cones and bowls, samplers, sundaes, and frappes.
Psst! I have an entire post on the best ice cream on Cape Cod, if you’re looking for more places to visit!
7. Grab Your Beach Food At Nauset Farms
Heading out to the beach for the day and want to pack a lunch? A great place to stop before getting to the beach is Nauset Farms, which is a great little shop that’s both a sandwich shop and a food market, so you’ll be able to grab everything you need for a beach picnic. They even serve up bagels for breakfast, if you need an early morning pick-me-up.
Everything I’ve had here has been great, and the sandwiches are awesome. You can also fill up your basket with drinks, sides from the prepared foods section, chips, baked goods, and lots more (I especially love their cookies!).
8. Try The Locals Brews At Hog Island Beer Co.
Made locally right in town, one of the best things to do in Orleans is head over to Hog Island Beer Co., which is where the actual brewery itself is located, as well as a nice outdoor patio, indoor tasting bar, and restaurant.
Hog Island opened in 2014, and has since become a staple on Cape Cod. They often host live musical guests both indoors and outdoors, and specialize in IPAs, stouts, and ales.
9. Relax At Oceanair Himalayan Salt Cave
If you’re looking for a day of relaxation and pampering, you’ll definitely want to check out Oceanair Himalayan Salt Cave, which is located right on Main Street downtown.
Specializing in halotherapy, which is just salt therapy in layman’s terms, Oceanair is a holistic wellness center focused on the practice of ingesting salt molecules, which have been proven to have many different health benefits. Plus, you’re in excellent hands at Oceanair, as one of the owners, Dr. Margaret Smiechowski, is one of North America’s leading experts on halotherapy.
There are two main treatments available, including salt cave sessions, and foot therapy baths. Salt cave sessions invite you down to the relaxing, on-site cave, where you’ll lounge is a zero-gravity chair and rest while breathing in the surrounding salt molecules.
Interested in a foot bath detox? Oceanair creates a specialty-balanced salt soak for your feet, which detoxifies your body, allowing you to feel more relaxed or more energized – every body reacts differently to the detoxifying process!
10. Play A Round At Cape Escape Adventure Golf
One of the best things to do in Orleans with kids (or the young at heart!), is play a round at Cape Escape. As one of the best mini golf courses in the area, it’s got a full 18 hole course, which is surrounded by waterfalls, a lagoon, a koi pond, and awesome nautical decorations woven throughout the nice landscaping.
This place does get crowded in the summer season, as well as on weekends in spring and fall, so be sure to plan ahead if visiting during these times.
11. Explore The Art Galleries
One of my favorite things about Cape Cod is all the wonderful art galleries featuring local artists, and Orleans has quite a few galleries to check out. If you’re on the hunt for a unique gift or special piece for your home, this is a great town to visit, so you can wander through different galleries.
Some of the top ones to check out are:
- Addison Art Gallery
- Orleans Modern Art
- Coastal Craft Gallery
- Tree’s Place Gallery
- Trove Art Gallery & Boutique
Fun Things To Do Near Orleans, MA
While Orleans is a great town on Cape Cod to explore, I also wanted to make sure I pointed out some things that are close by so you can make the most out of your trip. These are the top things I suggest you check out that aren’t far from Orleans:
12. See The Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches
One of the top things I suggest to everyone when visiting Cape Cod, especially if you’re visiting for the first time, is the Cape Cod National Seashore. This protected land along the Atlantic offers 40 miles of gorgeous coastal scenery, nature walks, stunning beaches, and lighthouses to see.
The main attraction is, of course, the beaches, though, and the National Seashore has six official beaches, including: Coast Guard, Nauset Lighthouse, Herring Cove, Marconi, Race Point, and Head of the Meadow. When visiting from Orleans, the closest National Seashore beach just so happens to be my favorite: Coast Guard. This one is only about 10-15 minutes from Orleans, making it very easy to see from there.
Psst! I have an entire guide on the six Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, if you’re looking for more info on visiting 😉
13. Visit Nauset Lighthouse
Also inside the National Seashore is Nauset Lighthouse, which is the closest lighthouse to Orleans. And, you may recognize it as the lighthouse featured on the Cape Cod potato chips bags 😉
This lighthouse stands guard over Nauset Lighthouse Beach, and is very easy to see when spending the day at the beach. The grounds are free and open year-round, and they also offer tours inside the lighthouse on certain days in the summer season. Click here for information on tours at Nauset Light.
Pro Tip: To visit the lighthouse, you’ll need to park at Nauset Lighthouse Beach, which is just steps from the lighthouse itself. In season, there is a $25 fee to park there, but if you’re spending the day at the beach, it’s absolutely worth it. If you don’t want to visit the beach, you can park for free at the Three Sisters Lighthouses, which is a short walk down the road, or visit after 4:30p when they stop charging for parking. If you visit outside of the summer season, you can park at the beach for free at any time.
14. Spend The Day At Cahoon Hollow Beach & The Beachcomber
One of the most popular beaches on Cape Cod is Cahoon Hollow in Wellfleet, and there’s a very good reason for that! One, it’s absolutely stunning, and the impressive 75-sand dunes that backdrop the shoreline are amazing to see in person. And two, this beach is home to The Beachcomber Restaurant & Bar, which is a really fun place to hang out, and grab some food and drinks.
This beach is sandwiched between two National Seashore coastlines, but owned by the town, so it has its own parking rules and pricing. However, with your parking fee, you receive a voucher in the same amount that you can use toward food and merchandise at The Beachcomber, which makes it a really good deal.
This beach does get crowded on weekends, but on weekdays in the summer, I’ve never found it to be overly crowded, and much of that has to do with the fact that there’s very limited parking on-site. It’s become one of my absolute favorite beaches to visit on Cape Cod!
Psst! If you plan to visit this beach, I highly recommend you check out my guide on the top things to know when visiting Cahoon Hollow to make your day as stress-free as possible.
15. Walk The Nauset Marsh Trail
For an easy and scenic trail close to Orleans, the Nauset Marsh Trail is a great option. This trail starts at the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center in Eastham, which is only about a 10-minute drive from Orleans, and loops around the pond through salt marshes and wooded areas.
There are two options you can take when walking the trail: a 1.3 mile loop, and a longer loop that takes you to Coast Guard Beach. I’ve done both, and if you have time, I recommend taking the extension to Coast Guard Beach. Just before you arrive at the beach, you’ll cross a really lovely, long wooden bridge that offers nice views of the salt marshes. And of course, your reward is the arrival at the gorgeous Coast Guard Beach.
Psst! I have an entire guide on all my favorite walking trails and scenic hikes on Cape Cod, if you’re looking to tackle a few more during your trip!
16. Enjoy The Views At The Marconi Stations Site
One of the hidden gems I love to share with folks is the Marconi Wireless Station Sites in Wellfleet. A lot of people miss this awesome overlook when in the area, but it’s right on the way to Marconi Beach at the National Seashore, making it a wonderful and easy little pitstop.
This area is the site of the first transatlantic wireless transmission between the U.S. and Europe, and while the towers are no longer there, the reason it’s worth visiting is because of the gorgeous overlook that offers amazing coastline views.
It doesn’t take long to visit, but the parking is free, and it a great place to grab some photos and enjoy some of the best natural beauty on Cape Cod.
17. Get One Of The Best Lobster Rolls On Cape Cod
There are so many wonderful places to get an awesome lobster roll on Cape Cod, but close to Orleans, you can find two of my favorite. Both the Friendly Fisherman and Arnold’s are located in Eastham, which is the neighboring town to Orleans, and these are a short drive from Orleans.
Both very casual seafood joints, and they offer so much more than lobster rolls, including steamed lobster dinners, chowders, seafood platters, and more.
18. Explore Beautiful Chatham
Just south of Orleans is the charming town of Chatham, which many (including myself!) agree that it’s the most picturesque town on Cape Cod. It’s here that you’ll find beautiful homes with impressive gardens, some of the best displays of hydrangeas in July, a long Main Street filled with shops, and lovely coastal scenery to enjoy.
Main Street is definitely one of the top things to do while in town, but I also recommend that you take a walk over to Shore Road, which sits along the ocean, and visit the Chatham Fish Pier and Market. This is one of the best places to see seals on Cape Cod, as they wait very close to the docks for the fishermen to come back with their hauls, hoping to get a little treat 😉
I also recommend you book a table at one of the waterfront restaurants at Chatham Bars Inn if you’re looking for something a little more upscale. Also, be sure to head over to Chatham Lighthouse and the beach to take in the waterfront scenery.
Psst! I have an entire guide on things to do in Chatham, MA, if you’re looking for more ideas!
19. Take A Day Trip To Provincetown
Cape Cod’s most exciting town is definitely Provincetown, and even though it’s located at the tip of the peninsula, it’s well worth the drive up. Ptown, as the locals call it, is home to so many wonderful things to see, including two National Seashore beaches, epic sunset spots, an awesome downtown, amazing whale watch tours, art galleries, and charming scenery.
The vibrant downtown runs along Commercial Street, and many spots overlook the water, adding to its coastal charm. Commercial Street is actually 3 miles long, and while every inch of it isn’t dotted with shops and dining, the bulk of it is, and this is considered the heart of town.
Ptown is also known for its vibrant nightlife, and you’ll find some really cool cabaret clubs, comedy clubs, and bars here. If you’re not into nightlife, head over to Race Point or Herring Cove beach to enjoy sunset instead.
Psst! I have an entire guide on things to do in Provincetown, MA, if you’re looking for more ideas 😉
Great Places To Eat In Orleans
20. Young’s Fish Market
This unassuming little seafood shack is another great place for a fresh lobster roll right in Orleans. Located at Rock Harbor, I recommend grabbing a lobster roll, and taking it over to the salt marshes or the harbor to enjoy while you watch the sunset.
Young’s also specializes in fresh, ready-to-cook seafood, so if you’re looking to host your own clam bake or seafood dinner at home (or at your rental), this is a great place to pick up all your seafood ingredients.
21. Rock Harbor Grill
A short 5-minute drive from Rock Harbor, and you’ll arrive at Rock Harbor Grill for dinner! This is a wonderful casual restaurant that serves more upscale food, and everything here is delicious. From awesome cocktails to great wood-fired pizzas, and of course, awesome seafood dishes, there’s a little something for everyone here.
They also cater to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets!
Where To Stay In Orleans, MA
Nauset Beach Inn: Quite literally steps from Nauset Beach, I love this casual but homey little inn because every room has an ocean view! They also serve breakfast in-season, and offer lounge chairs outside to enjoy the ocean view even more.
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Nauset Beach Inn
Skaket Beach Motel: A great budget-friendly option that a 10-minute drive to Skaket Beach, and a 15-minute drive to Nauset Beach.
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Skaket Beach Motel
Orleans has a lot of vacation rental properties that are perfect for longer stays –
Click here to checkout the best vacation rentals!
Visiting Orleans, MA FAQ
Does Orleans, MA Have A Downtown?
Yes, Orleans has a small downtown area with shops and restaurants. While it’s not very big, it’s worth visiting to walk around and support the small businesses.
Is Orleans Walkable?
Yes and no. The small downtown area is walkable, however, the rest of the town is more spread out, and you’ll need a car to get around to most other places.
Is The Cape Cod National Seashore In Orleans?
No, the Cape Cod National Seashore begins in Eastham, which is the town just north of Orleans and only a very short drive away!
More of my Cape Cod town guides you may find helpful:
- Things To Do In Sandwich, MA
- Best Things To Do In Wellfleet, MA
- Best Things To Do In Harwich, MA
- Best Things To Do In Dennis, MA
- Best Things To Do In Falmouth, MA
- Best Things To Do In Brewster, MA
- Best Things To Do In Chatham, MA
- Best Things To Do In Eastham, MA
Here are some more of my general Cape Cod posts you may also enjoy:
- Best Time To Visit Cape Cod
- Best Things To Do On Cape Cod For First-Timers
- Best Towns To Stay In On Cape Cod
- Ultimate List Of The Best Things To Do On Cape Cod
- What To Pack For Cape Cod
- Best Things To Do On Cape Cod For Adults
- Unique Things To Do On Cape Cod
- Things To Do On Cape Cod In The Fall
That’s A Wrap On The Best Things To Do In Orleans, MA
And there you have it! Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on all the best things to do in Orleans, MA, you’re ready to plan your trip to the area. Between the beautiful beaches, gorgeous sunsets, serene salt marshes, and awesome places to eat, there’s so many fun things to check out here. Happy planning!
