Visting One of my Favorite Places in the World – Provincetown, Cape Cod

Visiting Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, has been one of my favorite summertime trips for the past 20+ years. It is a place I have come to know intimately and look forward to exploring every summer.

Of course, this year, with the pandemic, I wasn’t sure visiting Provincetown or Cape Cod, in general, would even be an option.

Living in NYC, where we endured the brunt of the virus’ spread for many months, I figured my entire summer would be spent cooped up in my home!

Thankfully, the tides have turned with the virus in the Northeast, and travel among a few states here is now permitted without a 14-day quarantine.

For Cape Cod (and Massachusetts in general), as of July 1^st, you can visit without quarantining for 14 days if you are from one of the following states: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, and New Jersey.

This meant that I was able to make my annual 4^th of July pilgrimage to Cape Cod to spend the holiday weekend in Truro with close friends. (We’ve all been good about quarantining so we felt it was safe to stay together.)

Related: How are you feeling about the new normal?

Of course, a trip to outer Cape Cod wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Provincetown! Now that I have seen things firsthand, I want to share my experience with you and answer all of your questions about visiting Provincetown, Cape Cod, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pro Travel Tip: Everything with the COVID-19 pandemic changes constantly, so before you plan a trip to Provincetown or Cape Cod, I highly recommend you check the Provincetown official government site for up-to-date info about COVID-19 and travel alerts.  

What Are Things Like Now in Provincetown?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when we visited Provincetown on the 4^th of July holiday. Was it going to be empty and desolate? Would shops and restaurants be closed? Would a heavy feeling of sadness permeate the air?

No, no, and no!

Honestly, I was somewhat surprised but Provincetown was bustling and full of people.  Dare I say it, but aside from the fact that almost everyone was wearing a mask, things felt kind of normal.

Stores are open, restaurants are busy, and art galleries have resumed showings. Even gyms, museums, and some forms of entertainment are open again. Notably, bars are still closed (unless they have a substantial food menu). Per usual, there were many people strolling along Commercial Street, the main drag in town.

The main differences are that there are now signs requiring you to wear a mask (Commercial Street is now a mandatory mask zone from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily), and people are mostly sticking to activities outside.

Even transport to Provincetown is back up and running. The Bay State Cruise Company between Boston and Provincetown has ferries running seven days a week. You can check the website for a more detailed schedule.

Can You Eat at Restaurants in Provincetown?

The short answer is yes. Most restaurants in Provincetown (and other areas of outer Cape Cod like Truro and Wellfleet) are open for business, including outdoor and very limited indoor seating. Most restaurants are also offering take-out.

If there is a particular restaurant you want to visit, I highly recommend calling them first to confirm they are open and what their COVID-19 policies are. Also, in most cases, you will definitely need a reservation (for indoor or outdoor dining) so plan ahead, especially if you are visiting Provincetown during a summer weekend.

Provincetown’s candy, ice-cream shops, and bakeries are also open. They are limiting the number of people allowed inside at a given time, and most places have stickers on the floor to keep people on line 6 feet apart.

Pro Travel Tip: If you make it to Ptown, my favorite ice-cream shop is Lewis Brothers, and my go-to order is a scoop each of Peanut-butter and Blackberry ice-cream. It sounds strange but it’s the best combo ever!

Can You Go Shopping in Provincetown?

Yep! You can go shopping in Ptown. Most of the shops on Commercial Street are open and allowing customers to enter. Also, many stores we went into had free hand sanitizer available.

To be honest, some stores were much better than others about limiting the number of people inside at a given time, so I think how much you want to shop will depend on your comfort level. Personally, I felt safer mostly staying outside.

Can You Visit Art Galleries in Provincetown?

Art galleries are also back open and I’m so glad that they are because the arts are such an important part of Provincetown’s identity and culture.

Again, galleries are limiting the number of people who can enter, so you might have to wait before entering. If there is a particular gallery you want to visit, it’s also worth calling ahead to confirm the gallery is open.

It’s also worth noting that many galleries stay open late into the evening, so checking out some artwork can be a great activity before or after dinner in town.

What about Other Activities in Provincetown?

Other activities are a bit hit or miss. Personally, I would recommend sticking to activities that keep you outside, and thankfully, in Provincetown, many of those are free or at very little cost.

• Enjoy a picnic or sunbathe at one of the town’s beaches.
• Bring (or rent) a bike and explore the bike path through the National Seashore or the  Province Lands Bike Trail.
• Take a stroll down Commercial Street and people watch.
• Watch the sunset from one of the many benches on MacMillan Pier.
• Provincetown Aqua Sports is fully open and operational this summer. They offer kayak and paddleboard rentals as well as guided tours.
• Just outside of town, visit Truro Vineyards for an outdoor wine tasting and great food from Crush Pad, the on-site food truck run by the folks who own Blackfish Restaurant.

Are you Ready to Visit Provincetown and Outer Cape Cod?

I hope you found this post about my experience of visiting Provincetown in Cape Cod during COVID-19 helpful!

Now that you know more about what it’s actually like right now in Provincetown, are you ready to book a trip to Cape Cod?

If you have a question, leave it in the comment box below this post and I promise to answer it.

For a more thorough post on places to stay, eat, and things to do in Outer Cape Cod, check out this Cape Cod Travel Guide.

And if you’re curious about traveling to other places in New England, read about 10 charming coastal towns you must see in Maine and tips for visiting Maine during COVID-19.

Whatever your summer plans entail, I hope you stay safe and healthy.

And please, wear a mask. Not just for you but for your community!