Orleans

Travel Guide

Orleans featuring a beach
Orleans which includes a house
Orleans featuring a marina
Orleans showing a small town or village and signage
Orleans showing a park

One of central Cape Cod’s most charming resort towns is near beaches that are stunningly beautiful year-round.

Orleans, Massachusetts provides opportunities for memorable family holidays and many great photographs. Stroll down quaint colonial streets and see the heavy blades of the Jonathan Young Windmill. Enjoy warm waters at beaches with crystalline sand. Sample the rich flavours of local seafood, caught just a few miles from shore.

Originally settled by Plymouth colonists, Orleans was incorporated in 1797 and named after the French Duke of Orleans to commemorate French aid in the American Revolutionary War. Since then, it has become a prominent site for both mariners and tourists. Visit the Orleans Historical Society and Museum for the full story of how this town of white picket fences came into being.

Perhaps the biggest draws to Orleans are its beaches. See starfish through clear water and surf breaking waves at Nauset Beach. Try to spot the Nauset Lighthouse from the water. At nearby Skaket Beach, spend the day relaxing in gentle waves while you wait for the sun to set.

Beyond beach activities, Orleans has many ways to fill an active day. Cycle the leafy Cape Cod Rail Trail and have a picnic. Rent a kayak or canoe and travel downstream in perfect solitude. Cast a fly-fishing line and bring in your big catch.

Orleans is also a great place for a relaxing summer day away from the ocean. Watch the Orleans Firebirds play an exciting baseball game. Tour the stunning mosaics and ornate frescoes of the Church of Transfiguration Orleans on the town’s northwestern edge. Shop for gifts and handmade goods or see the customised model railroad sets of the Nauset Model Railroad Club.

These activities represent only a sample of what you can do during a trip to Orleans. Fly into Boston Logan International Airport, rent a car and drive 91 miles (146 kilometres) to Orleans. Arrive early and get the best spot on one of the popular beaches. Once you’re here, relax or even take a nap with the feeling of warm sand beneath your back.

Where to stay in Orleans

Nauset Beach featuring a sandy beach as well as a couple

East Orleans

East Orleans is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Nauset Beach and Cape Cod National Seashore.

East Orleans
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Nauset Heights

If you're spending some time in Nauset Heights, Nauset Beach and Cape Cod National Seashore are top sights worth seeing.

Nauset Heights
Rodeway Inn Orleans - Cape Cod

Rodeway Inn Orleans - Cape Cod

2 out of 5
48 Cranberry Hwy, Orleans, MA
The price is RM444 per night from 23 Oct to 24 Oct
RM444
RM508 total
23 Oct - 24 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly motel in Orleans. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8/10 Very Good! (778 reviews)
"Good clean quiet place to spend a night without paying a fortune."

Reviewed on 12 Oct 2025

Rodeway Inn Orleans - Cape Cod
Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod

Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod

4 out of 5
1225 Iyannough Rd, Hyannis, MA
Stay at this 4-star spa resort in Hyannis. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (383 reviews)
"The staff at Margaritaville were very friendly and professional. The room was spotless and the food at the Landshark Restaurant was great!!! We had an excellent time!!!"

Reviewed on 18 Oct 2025

Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cape Cod Hyannis

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cape Cod Hyannis

2.5 out of 5
867 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, MA
The price is RM427 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
RM427
RM489 total
16 Nov - 17 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Hyannis. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (620 reviews)
"Clean. Quick. Convenient"

Reviewed on 11 Oct 2025

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cape Cod Hyannis
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Edgewater Beach Resort, a VRI resort

Edgewater Beach Resort, a VRI resort

3.5 out of 5
95 Chase Avenue, Dennis Port, MA
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Dennis Port. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a private beach. Popular attractions Pleasant Road Beach and Cape Cod ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (287 reviews)
"seagull I named Johnathan was cool"

Reviewed on 8 Oct 2025

Edgewater Beach Resort, a VRI resort
Holly Tree Resort

Holly Tree Resort

3 out of 5
412 Main St, Route 28, West Yarmouth, MA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in West Yarmouth. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Hyannis Harbor and Cape Cod Inflatable ...
9/10 Wonderful! (358 reviews)
"We had a great stay!"

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2025

Holly Tree Resort
Brewster Green Resort

Brewster Green Resort

3.5 out of 5
203 Lund Farm Way, Brewster, MA
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Brewster. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Ocean Edge Golf Club and Rail Trail Bike ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (113 reviews)
"Nice big space."

Reviewed on 5 Oct 2025

Brewster Green Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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