Provincetown

At the very tip of Cape Cod in the US state of Massachusetts lies Provincetown. Over the decades, an old fishing and artist village has become one of the most famous queer summer resorts in the world. Locals and regulars affectionately call the place simply "P-Town". He has remained small. In summer, however, the whole community is transformed into a queer stronghold.

Trendy district

The heart of the scene is Commercial Street, which runs along the harbour along its full length. Galleries, boutiques, guesthouses, bars and restaurants are lined up close together. In between, drag performers personally advertise their evening shows during the day. Unlike in many large cities, there is no demarcated gay district, because almost the entire town center is queer. Almost everything is within walking distance, and many guests are out and about by bike.

Nightlife

Going out in P-Town revolves heavily around drag, cabaret, and live music in the many small theaters and bars along Commercial Street. During the day, the Tea Dance is an integral part of the ritual, followed by shows and danceable parties in the evening. The size of the crowd fluctuates significantly with the thematic weeks: Bear Week, Carnival and other events each bring thousands more to the town. If you like it quieter, you will also find enough restaurants for a relaxed evening outside of these weeks.

Beaches

The town is surrounded by wide dunes and long sandy beaches of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Herring Cove is considered the central beach of the queer community, which is easily accessible from Commercial Street. Race Point is a little more remote and scores with a rough Atlantic backdrop. The water remains rather cool even in midsummer. Nevertheless, the bays are ideal for sunbathing and long beach days.

Best time to visit

The season runs roughly from June to September, during which time most of the season is open and the weather is suitable for swimming. It gets busiest and liveliest in midsummer, especially during the big theme weeks. If you like it a little emptier, travel in early June or September. Out of season, P-Town cuts back sharply, and many businesses then close completely.

Arrival

Most guests arrive via Boston. From there, there is a fast ferry directly to Provincetown in summer, which avoids the congestion-prone drive across the peninsula. Alternatively, you can reach the town by car via Route 6, which runs through all of Cape Cod. Owning your own car is hardly worthwhile on site: parking spaces are scarce and expensive, and you can get anywhere on foot or by bike.

Safety & LGBT Rights

Same-sex marriages have been possible in Massachusetts since 2004, and the state is one of the most queer-friendly in the USA. Provincetown itself is one of the safest queer travel destinations around, open affection in public is completely normal here. Usual caution, as at any destination, remains sensible, but hardly more. To enter the USA, you will need an ESTA or a visa, depending on your passport.