This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Provincetown.
Provincetown is one of the most popular cities in Cape Cod and has a reputation as an art colony. Its liberal atmosphere attracts a lot of gay and lesbian tourists. The town is located on the extreme tip of the peninsula and was one of the first places in North America settled by Europeans. The Mayflower Steps monument commemorates the landing point for pilgrims in the New World. There are a couple of Provincetown hostels from which to choose.
When deciding where to stay, it depends on whether you want to stay somewhere isolated to enjoy the natural beauty of the cape or if you want to stay somewhere busier and more active. The hostels in Provincetown offer unique, cabin-style dorm rooms and are near the Pilgrim Monument, a tower that provides a great view of the ocean. The nearby shores are lined with lighthouses and there are whale-watching tours that leave from the harbor. The most popular season is the summer, followed by the less-crowded fall, which remains warm and pleasant.
There are several things to check out around town. Commercial Street has a unique character with lots of small shops and restaurants. Provincetown Cemetery encloses the graves of early settlers. The Provincetown Art Museum exhibits the work of influential artists who frequented Provincetown. These artists include Robert Motherwell, Hans Hofmann, Max Ernst, and Jackson Pollock. There is also the Old Harbor Lifesaving Station, a Coast Guard museum. The station began operation in the nineteenth century to rescue sailors from ships that hit the sand bars. Today, an interesting reenactment explains the Coast Guard’s rescue techniques.