11 Plymouth Day Trips Worth Leaving the Hotel For

1.Boston to Plymouth Day-Trip including Quincy, Plimoth Patuxet and Mayflower II

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 407 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $165Our pick

Ride from Boston in a small, air-conditioned coach for a full day of Plymouth history and South Shore scenery. Admission to Plimoth Patuxet and Mayflower II is included on most dates, along with stops at Plymouth Rock, Quincy and Scituate Lighthouse. Guides such as Chris Fisher narrate the route; bring comfortable shoes for uneven paths.

“Excellent trip. A bit bumpy out of Boston. Else very interesting and nice places visited and stories told.”

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2.Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 171 reviews · 4 hours · from $74

From Town Wharf in Plymouth, Captain John Boats runs a four-hour cruise toward Cape Cod Bay and Stellwagen Bank. A naturalist explains the whales and marine life, while the crew searches for humpback, finback, pilot, minke, and endangered right whales. Bring warm layers and allow an hour for ticketing and boarding. Food is available aboard; alcoholic drinks cost extra.

“Great experience. Friendly staff and saw whales up close!”

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3.Quincy, Plymouth, and Mayflower II Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 102 reviews · 11 hours · from $165

Travel south from Boston by air-conditioned minibus to see the Adams family birthplaces in Quincy, Scituate Lighthouse, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II, and Plimoth Patuxet. Your English-speaking guide narrates the day, with guides such as David and Kristin bringing local history to life. Admission, snacks, and water are included.

“Lovely trip, knowledgeable driver, and plenty of interesting stops while driving up the coast to Plymouth. Great way to spend a stress free day exploring the sites of Massachusetts!”

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4.Mayflower Trolley Tour!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Ride through Provincetown and out toward the Provincelands on a roughly 50-minute trolley tour. You’ll hear about the Pilgrims’ 1620 landing, the National Seashore, and the town’s Portuguese, arts, theater, music, and LGBTQ history. Guides have included Pat, Cathy, Rhonda, and Char; the tour runs in English, carries up to 28 people, and returns to its Commercial Street starting point.

“Excellent tour guide very friendly and props to the driver getting around the crowed streets! Very informative tour I would highly recommend!!”

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5.Wine and Wine Jelly-Sauce Tasting on Plymouth Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews

At Plymouth Bay Winery on Water Street, you’ll taste wines made from Northeast grapes and berries, then explore wine jellies and sauces that bring local fruit to the table. The tasting includes a presentation and a commemorative etched glass. Staff members including Mike and Kat have helped lead tastings, though who serves you can vary.

“Hometown hospitality and great experience with wonderful people. Products are high quality and cleverly created.”

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6.Plymouth Pilgrims Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $14

Follow an English-language audio tour through Plymouth’s historic center, with more than 24 location-based stories and lifetime app access. Hear about Mayflower II, Plymouth Rock, Burial Hill, and other landmarks at your own pace. The route is self-guided, works offline after download, and does not include attraction admission.

“I had major issues with the app not starting when I would get to one of the areas. I had to keep starting it myself when I could figure out which stop I was at. It was alright for the price you pay.”

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7.Cape Cod and Plymouth Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 21 reviews · 9 hours · from $159

Leave Boston with an English-speaking guide and a group capped at 14 for a nine-hour loop through Sandwich and Plymouth. See the Cape Cod Canal, boardwalk and grist mill, visit the Sandwich Glass Museum, then explore Mayflower II and Plymouth’s historic sights. Guides have included Richard and Coach; lunch is at your own expense.

“there was no sign on the minibus which picked us up it was just white and they nearly lef t us as we couldn't find them even though we were 10 minutes early. I think more time should be spent at cape cod and less time at the glass factory. the place we stayed for lunch unfortunately had staffing issues therefore we were on catch up all the time. the guide was very I formative and pleasant his name was coach.”

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8.Day Tour of Plymouth and Cape Cod from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $159

Ride from Boston in an air-conditioned vehicle with a group of no more than 14. The day combines the Cape Cod Canal, Sandwich’s boardwalk and historic sites, and Plymouth’s Mayflower II and famous rock. Guides such as Coach and Richard have led tours, sharing local history and handling the drive. Lunch is extra, and the full day lasts about eight to nine hours.

“We were a small party of 6 on this day tour but it was an excellent trip, made possible by the stories and facts told by Richard, our driver-cum guide. He even took a slight detour to show us Duxbury and the house of John Alden. His History teaching background clearly showed his forte and together with his warmth & humour, made it an excellent outing!”

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9.Plymouth half day private tour from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Head from Boston to Plymouth with a private guide, then explore the town, Plymouth Rock, the seasonal Mayflower II, and the National Monument to the Forefathers. Martin and Christian have led tours, sharing history along the way. Pickup is offered at downtown Boston hotels; groups of up to four pay $695.

“Martin, our tour guide, did a great job. He sent a reminder text the day before. He was very flexible on our pick up & drop off locations. He arrived on time. Martin was knowledgeable and shared many interesting facts along the drive & tour. We would high recommend taking a tour with Martin.”

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10.Plymouth Pilgrim Historic Self Guided GPS Audio Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $9Best value

Walk Plymouth at your own pace with a location-aware audio tour that starts outside Mayflower II and ends by the Jabez Howland House. Hear about the Pilgrims’ journey, Plymouth Rock, local memorials, and the town’s streets. There’s no human guide, and you can take the tour anytime without an admission ticket.

“The information was well presented and detailed enough to give a good understanding of the events. It was nice that the narrator filled in history while walking to each subsequent location.”

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11.Plymouth & South Shore Full Day Private Tour from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 6 hours (approx.)

Set out from Boston at 10 am with a private guide and driver for a six-hour South Shore and Plymouth outing. The route links Quincy and the Adams family homes with seaside towns, Scituate Lighthouse, Duxbury Beach and Plymouth’s Pilgrim sites. Christian has guided a family outing, adding local history and a seafood lunch recommendation. Paid admissions and lunch are extra.

“Christian was our tour guide on this day long tour. We had such a great day with him. We visited the home of the John Adams family. When we learned that the crypt of where John and Abigail Adams and John Quincy and Louisa Adams were nearby, Christian stopped for us. We learned how the state of Massachusetts got its name, put our feet in the Atlantic ocean and saw Plymouth Rock. Christian even took us to a local seafood place for lunch and we enjoyed his recommendation of a fish sandwich and lobster bisque. Christian provided a great love of history and made it a fun day for the…”

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