What Vineyard Haven is like
Vineyard Haven is the main village of the town of Tisbury and the island’s year-round port. The Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole lands here every day of the year, and the harbor is home to one of the finest fleets of classic wooden boats on the East Coast.
Main Street has bookstores, galleries, clothing shops and cafes; beyond town, West Chop has its lighthouse and grand old summer houses, and Lake Tashmoo opens to Vineyard Sound.
Who loves Vineyard Haven
- The easiest arrival day: walk or drive straight off the year-round ferry
- Sailors and anyone who loves a working harbor
- Shopping, galleries and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum
- A central base for exploring the whole island
Things to do in Vineyard Haven
- Martha’s Vineyard Museum, the island’s history museum, in its restored building overlooking the harbor.
- The harbor: wooden schooners and the boatyards along Beach Road.
- West Chop Lighthouse and a drive around the Chop at sunset.
- Lake Tashmoo for paddling and calm swimming.
Island history museum in the restored 1895 Marine Hospital overlooking Lagoon Pond.
Website →Seventy-plus acres of gardens, meadows and rare trees, with grounds open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Website →Sheriff's Meadow Foundation preserve with trails through forest and bog down to a Vineyard Sound beach.
Website →Trustees refuge with a south shore beach, ponds for paddling and walking trails.
Website →Over 5,000 acres in the middle of the island with paved bike paths, trails and a disc golf course.
Website →The island's year-round professional theater, in a restored 1833 church on Church Street.
Website →Home of the Martha's Vineyard Film Society, screening independent, classic and world films year-round.
Website →Nine-hole course from 1936 in West Chop that welcomes visiting golfers when tee times allow.
Vineyard Haven beaches
- Owen Park Beach: a small harbor beach a short walk from the ferry.
- Lake Tashmoo town landing and Herring Creek Beach: Tashmoo for calm water, the Sound side for views.
- Eastville Beach, at the drawbridge toward Oak Bluffs.
Where to eat in Vineyard Haven
The original Black Dog, opened in 1971 on the Vineyard Haven waterfront, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner year-round.
Website →Beloved Beach Road diner, operating since 1943, serving creative breakfast and lunch made from scratch.
Website →Year-round Main Street cafe serving breakfast all day, lunch and takeout.
Website →Casual seafood spot near the harbor with a raw bar, poke bowls, tacos and lobster rolls on an outdoor deck.
Website →Farmhouse-style restaurant cooking with ingredients from local farms and fishermen, open for dinner.
Website →Small sandwich shop at the 7a crossroads, a favorite for beach lunches, biscuits and baked goods.
Website →Fudge made from family recipes dating to 1887, with shops in the three down-island towns.
Website →Locally owned island grocery since 1917, with stores in Vineyard Haven and West Tisbury.
Website →More island-wide picks in our restaurant guide.
Getting to Vineyard Haven
The Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole runs here year round and carries cars; SeaStreak’s high-speed boats from New Bedford have also used Vineyard Haven. See getting here.
Staying in Vineyard Haven
Our Vineyard Haven homes range from in-town houses to waterfront estates on the Lagoon and the Sound. See our Vineyard Haven vacation rentals.
Questions we hear
Is Vineyard Haven the same as Tisbury?
Vineyard Haven is the main village in the town of Tisbury. Locals use the names almost interchangeably.
Updated October 2026. Hours, seasons and rules change: check with each business or town before you go.