TourTruth score 7.0 out of 10
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Nantucket Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour Beyond the Cobblestones 2 hr
TourTruth score 6.3 out of 10
Average
14 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score
- Nantucket
- 2 hrs
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore Nantucket’s whaling history and historic landmarks on a GPS-guided audio walk you can pause and enjoy at your own pace.
About this tour
Walk Nantucket’s historic streets and hear the stories behind its whaling-era wealth, distinctive architecture, and island life. This self-guided Nantucket audio walking tour begins outside the Whaling Museum and follows a roughly 2-mile, relatively flat route through downtown.
Download the Drives & Detours app and tour before setting out. GPS-triggered narration plays as you approach featured places, including the Nantucket Atheneum, Straight Wharf, Hadwen House, the Quaker Meeting House, and historic homes along upper Main Street. Along the way, learn how Nantucket grew into a whaling capital, how Quaker families shaped the island, and how residents and landmarks weathered events such as the Great Fire of 1846. Stories also introduce Maria Mitchell, America’s first female astronomer.
Explore at your own pace, with offline access after downloading and the freedom to pause for museums, galleries, shops, food, or photos. Allow about 2–3 hours, depending on your stops. Museum admissions are separate, and you’ll need your own charged smartphone. Set out when you’re ready and discover the history tucked beyond Nantucket’s cobblestones.
Highlights
- Trace Nantucket’s rise from whaling capital to island destination
- Admire preserved 18th-century homes along upper Main Street
- Explore landmarks including Straight Wharf, the Atheneum, and Hadwen House
- Hear stories of Quaker families, Maria Mitchell, and the Great Fire of 1846
- Pause for museums, shops, food, and photos, then continue at your own pace
What's included
Included
- App and tour download
- GPS-triggered audio tour and interactive route map
- Offline tour access after download
- Lifetime access once unlocked
Not included
- Smartphone
- Admission to the Whaling Museum ($25)
- Admission to Hadwen House ($10 or included with Whaling Museum)
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
3.82 / 5 · 11 reviews
-
View on GetYourGuideGetYourGuide
2.33 / 5 · 3 reviews
What reviewers mention
Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.
Often praised
Common complaints
Important information
- The tour is self-guided; no live guide is included
- Start on the sidewalk outside the Whaling Museum at 13 Broad St
- Download the Drives & Detours app and tour before starting
- Enable location services and bring a charged smartphone
- Headphones or earbuds and comfortable shoes are recommended
- The route is approximately 2 miles and relatively flat; allow 2–3 hours depending on stops
Frequently asked questions
Where does the tour start?
The tour starts on the sidewalk outside the Whaling Museum at 13 Broad St in Nantucket.
How long is the tour?
The route is about 2 miles and takes approximately 2–3 hours, depending on your stops and breaks.
How does the audio tour work?
Download the Drives & Detours app and tour before you begin. GPS-triggered audio plays as you approach featured locations, and the tour works offline after download.
Can I pause and resume the tour?
Yes. Pause anytime for museums, shops, food, photos, or breaks, then continue when you’re ready.
Are admissions included?
No. Admission to the Whaling Museum and Hadwen House is not included.
How this score is calculated
This tour scores 3.82 on Viator and 2.33 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.
How the score works and rating distribution in Nantucket
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 6.3.
Provider rating distribution in Nantucket
How many tours in Nantucket have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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