Marblehead, MA

Travel Guide

Marblehead featuring a park and a bay or harbor
Marblehead which includes a city
Marblehead featuring a house
Marblehead showing fall colors
Marblehead

With a bright, old-fashioned haven of rickety houses and cobbled roads, this town also has a rich cultural heritage and splendid coastal scenery.

Admire colonial architecture and Revolutionary War artwork in Marblehead. Embrace a rich maritime culture at the region’s premier yachting port and follow leafy paths to deserted beaches.

Marblehead, settled in 1629, is claimed as the birthplace of the U.S. Navy. This title dates back to 1775 when the schooner Hannah became the first vessel commissioned for battle by George Washington. Today’s maritime culture remains strong. View the pretty harbor holding over 2,000 boats.

Stroll along the narrow streets and admire shades of cream, yellow and blue coating many of the buildings from the 1600s and 1700s. Look inside boutique clothing and craft stores or purchase nautical-themed souvenirs shaped from wood and ceramics.

Walk to Abbot Hall. Unmissable for its red-brick façade, its high clock tower is visible from all parts of town. View fascinating artifacts including the original title deed given by the region’s native tribe in 1684. Don’t miss the Spirit of ’76 painting by Archibald M. Willard.

Visit the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, an impressive federal structure built in 1768 that now holds a museum of period toys and furnishings. Priceless relics illustrating a turbulent seafaring past are placed in rooms decorated with lavish chandeliers and canvases.

From here enjoy a leisurely walk to Fort Sewall at the northern end of town. Constructed in 1644 and enlarged in 1742 to defend against French ships, this weathered structure now has an area of luscious parkland around it.

Comparable for its natural beauty and tranquility is Marblehead Neck, reaching into the Atlantic from the town center. See homes of the rich as you follow tree-covered trails leading to secluded coves perfect for swimming and sunbathing.

Marblehead is in Essex County, a 40-minute drive north of BostonOpens in a new window. Come at the beginning of July for the Festival of the Arts, a 3-day extravaganza of painting, street performances and children’s activities.

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
4 out of 5
450 Summer Street, Boston, MA
$234 nightly
The price is $273 total per night from Jul 5 to Jul 6
$273 total
Jul 5 - Jul 6
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Boston. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,630 reviews)
"We recently stayed at the Omni and overall had an enjoyable experience. The lobby is absolutely beautiful like spacious, clean, and very well maintained. It gives a great first impression, and the atmosphere feels upscale and welcoming. The staff were consistently friendly and helpful throughout ..."

Reviewed on Jul 1, 2025

Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
citizenM Boston Back Bay
citizenM Boston Back Bay
4 out of 5
408 Newbury street, Boston, MA
$174 nightly
The price is $203 total per night from Jul 6 to Jul 7
$203 total
Jul 6 - Jul 7
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Boston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Popular attractions Fenway Park and Copley Square ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,342 reviews)
"The property was extremely modern, tailored more for Millennials and Gen Z. The room was unique in that everything, accent lighting, television, multiple blinds, controlled by an iPad. The living room area (lobby) added a nice updated twist to a traditional hotel lobby. Also great location if you’re ..."

Reviewed on Jul 1, 2025

citizenM Boston Back Bay
Seaport Hotel Boston
Seaport Hotel Boston
4 out of 5
1 Seaport Lane, Boston, MA
$242 nightly
The price is $281 total per night from Jul 3 to Jul 4
$281 total
Jul 3 - Jul 4
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Boston. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (3,003 reviews)
Boston seaport
"A very nice hotel. Large comfortable room with good amenities. Friendly staff. Seaport cafe great for breakfast"

Reviewed on Jul 1, 2025

Seaport Hotel Boston
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Charming 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Coastal Carriage House in Marblehead
Charming 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Coastal Carriage House in Marblehead
Marblehead
Stay at this vacation home in Marblehead. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Salem Witch Museum and Phillips Beach are located ...
Charming 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Coastal Carriage House in Marblehead
Temple Place Suites
Temple Place Suites
2.5 out of 5
29 Temple Place, Boston, MA
Stay at this apartment in Boston. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Boston Common and New England Aquarium are ...
6.8/10 (235 reviews)
"Booking agents were helpful. We had the fire alarm go off on our second night there - there are no evacuation maps in our room or on the floor our room was on nor the main floor. We evacuated and got directions from the restaurant manager next door as to where to go to. Everyone just congregated ..."

Reviewed on Jun 28, 2025

Temple Place Suites
Premier Suites - Bay Village
Premier Suites - Bay Village
2 out of 5
1-3-5 Cortes Street, Boston, MA
Stay at this aparthotel in Boston. Enjoy free WiFi and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Copley Square and Boston Common are located nearby.
6/10 (169 reviews)
"You get what you pay for."

Reviewed on Jun 22, 2025

Premier Suites - Bay Village
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Marblehead

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
11
5 - Excellent 69%
4 - Good
4
4 - Good 25%
3 - Okay
1
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Beautiful little seaside town.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Marblehead is a wonderful town with plenty of quaint shops and restaurants in the area.

5/5 - Excellent

GHunt

Take a drive out to Marblehead Neck to see Castle Rock and the lighthouse on the hardbor. Stop by Little Harbor on the other side of town for delicious and reasonably priced lobster rolls.

4/5 - Good

Mary

Great restaurants and a great place to use as a hub as we went up to Mine one day and Gloucester another

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