Gay Head Light (Aquinnah Light)
Gay Head Light (Aquinnah Light)
Gay Head Light (Aquinnah Light)
4.5
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Martha's Vineyard Museum is privileged to be the steward of three of the Island's lighthouses. The East Chop, Edgartown, and Gay Head lighthouses are not only historic reminders of a bygone age, but are working beacons that still send a light out into the night. Beyond their important functional role, these structures also offer visitors spectacular views of the breathtaking beauty of Vineyard Sound, the simple elegance of Edgartown Harbor & Chappaquiddick, and the majestic cliffs of Aquinnah. The Gay Head Lighthouse is open seasonally. A lighthouse keeper will be available and the doors will be open during designated hours. Parking is available, but limited, on Aquinnah Circle. The Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) busses do have routes to the lighthouse.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.5
221 reviews
Excellent
141
Very good
64
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Cara C
Boston, MA4,119 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
This lighthouse is so picturesque and located in a hilltop overlooking the Aquinnah Cliffs. In the summer there’s flowers and plenty of greenery. Great spot to take photos!
Written 2 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OwlYaDoing
Minneapolis, MN313 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
This is a very remote part of the island - and it takes a LONG time to get out there -- it might not look that way on the map, but it is! We came here in mid-April, which is still the off season. We used the bus to get around the island...HUGE mistake. The bus to get out here at this time of year has a very infrequent schedule. I know what you're thinking, "Read the bus map!" right? Have you ever LOOKED at the MVTA bus map? It's incredibly confusing for such a small island. I am perfectly comfortable taking public transportation in any city, and I could not figure this out.
The bus ride took a good HOUR to get here from Edgartown. Once here, the driver dropped us off. I asked when the next bus came and he said, "I don't know. Check the schedule but I'll probably be back in an hour"
Ok. Fine. We can explore the lighthouse, take pics of the cliffs, etc.
So we did that. The cliffs are beautiful but it was just too windy to really enjoy them. There's really no walking trails that I could find to get down to the beach, but like I said, it was just too windy.
The lighthouse was closed but being the rebels that we are, we walked right around the sign to take some pics. After snapping some pics of the lighthouse and cliffs, we were ready to go.
Headed back to the bus stop to try to make sense of the schedule (I repeat, MVTA bus schedules are unnecessarily confusing and I consider myself a public transportation expert!) Once we figured it out, we realized we were stranded here for another 2.5 hours. Yes, 2.5 HOURS.
Now, this wouldn't be so bad in the summer - there's some shops and a restaurant up here, but we're here in April and nothing's open. Even the public restrooms (which they CHARGE MONEY for - 50 cents -- were closed and I had to go).
It was cold, windy and we were stranded. Tried calling a cab, but it's $60 (!!!! SIXTY DOLLARS) to get back to the ferry in Vineyard Haven. We camped out by the bus stop and I decided to suck it up and try to hitchhike a ride back.
Luckily a nice couple saw us (this bus stop is near a parking lot) and gave us a ride back to Vineyard Haven. Without them, we might've even missed the last ferry out!
So again, learn from my experience. Do NOT attempt this in the off season if you are taking the bus -- unless you like to be stranded outside for a few hours.
The bus ride took a good HOUR to get here from Edgartown. Once here, the driver dropped us off. I asked when the next bus came and he said, "I don't know. Check the schedule but I'll probably be back in an hour"
Ok. Fine. We can explore the lighthouse, take pics of the cliffs, etc.
So we did that. The cliffs are beautiful but it was just too windy to really enjoy them. There's really no walking trails that I could find to get down to the beach, but like I said, it was just too windy.
The lighthouse was closed but being the rebels that we are, we walked right around the sign to take some pics. After snapping some pics of the lighthouse and cliffs, we were ready to go.
Headed back to the bus stop to try to make sense of the schedule (I repeat, MVTA bus schedules are unnecessarily confusing and I consider myself a public transportation expert!) Once we figured it out, we realized we were stranded here for another 2.5 hours. Yes, 2.5 HOURS.
Now, this wouldn't be so bad in the summer - there's some shops and a restaurant up here, but we're here in April and nothing's open. Even the public restrooms (which they CHARGE MONEY for - 50 cents -- were closed and I had to go).
It was cold, windy and we were stranded. Tried calling a cab, but it's $60 (!!!! SIXTY DOLLARS) to get back to the ferry in Vineyard Haven. We camped out by the bus stop and I decided to suck it up and try to hitchhike a ride back.
Luckily a nice couple saw us (this bus stop is near a parking lot) and gave us a ride back to Vineyard Haven. Without them, we might've even missed the last ferry out!
So again, learn from my experience. Do NOT attempt this in the off season if you are taking the bus -- unless you like to be stranded outside for a few hours.
Written 1 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TwoPenguinsFlocking
Dudley, MA18 contributions
Oct 2011
We held our wedding here at sunset over Columbus day weekend. Both the night before and the evening of, we reveled in breathtaking sunsets from the cliffs overlooking the point of the island. It was worth every penny to have rented the grounds and access to this beautiful red brick light house for our wedding ceremony, the location was unbeatable. From the parking lot (quite close by), we walked up a dirt path through a wooden gate and a walkway of tall plants onto the grassy opening below the lighthouse. If you just want to visit, go when it's open to visitors if at all possible. If you're considering the spot for an event, I highly recommend it!
Written 3 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kalisn1
Akron, OH57 contributions
Sept 2013 • Friends
One of the most beautiful places I have been on the East Coast. absolutely breathtaking. See for yourself!
Written 16 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shasidpra
Mumbai, India176 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
We booked Martha's Vineyard day tour through Viator.com. The Mini Bus belonging to New England tours picked us up from our Central Boston Hotel and took us to Falmouth in 1.5 hours; from there we took a ferry,Island Queen, to Martha's Vineyard( 35 minutes). On arrival we were picked up by a local mini coach driver who took us for 3 hour, narrated, tour of the Island. Of all the quaint attractions of the Island , we fount this place, which is up the Island, pristine and unspoiled.. The Gay Head lighthouse with the gayly colored cliffs below it are so enchanting. Also Aquinnah is the home of the Wampanoag, the original settlers of the Vineyard. The natives depend on tourism to survive and you will find that most of the items , here are reasonably priced as compared to popular shopping areas of the Island( our tour guide vouched for that). There are few shops and simple eateries owned and run by natives. There is a small beach nearby. A must see. Incidentally, during our visit to the Island , President Obama was vacationing here , so a small portion of the roads were cut off for security purposes. The whole tour of Island , including the tour by mini coach; took about six hours !
Written 17 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cannonater
Salt Lake City, UT1,462 contributions
Sept 2021
If you’re making your light house journey around the island this one is a must see. If you’re down at the cliffs you can hit them both.
Written 5 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Autumn M
Stamford, CT3,700 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
There's a small trail to the lighthouse with great views of the cliffs. The lighthouse is nice to take pictures of. Make sure to take the trail to the beach. It's beautiful.
Written 27 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SteveDGT
Northborough, MA674 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Very cool lighthouse with views of the Aquinnah Cliffs as well. Alternating red and white lights on this working lighthouse. Can’t go in it.
Written 16 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JCWinFL
Jupiter, FL105 contributions
Jul 2018
Also --- if you like to be in the 'buff' ---- the nude beach is right before you go around the bend to the cliffs!
Written 14 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sharonmE463YK
Hamburg, PA9 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Such an absolutely beautiful spot! The views of the lighthouse and the cliffs are amazing! The little shops along the pathway to the overlook are quaint and provide a nice opportunity to grab something from the Island to take home, different from the typical souvenir shop. Can't wait to visit again!
Written 2 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How do you get there by public transportation from the Wesley Hotel?
Written 7 September 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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