4* Crowne Pointe Hotel & Spa

There’s something gloriously old-school about Provincetown Inn. It has been sitting at the very end of Commercial Street since 1925, with Cape Cod Bay on one side and the famous Provincetown Breakwater stretching out almost from the front door. The star attraction is Provincetown’s largest outdoor waterfront pool, backed up by a private beach, seasonal pool bar, Breakwater Café and West End Lounge. Some rooms look directly across the harbour, while historic murals dotted around the property tell stories from Provincetown’s past. During the busier LGBTQ festival weeks the pool scene can become much livelier than the otherwise relaxed surroundings suggest. Central Commercial Street is a pleasant walk east from here, so you can dip into Provincetown’s gay nightlife and then retreat back towards the quieter West End. GayMapper tip: The pool and waterfront are the reasons to book – a harbour-view room turns this into a very different stay.

Four acres of gardens and hillside grounds give Seaglass Inn & Spa an unusually spacious feel for Provincetown. Set above the West End, it manages to feel tucked away while keeping Commercial Street, beaches and the centre of town within reach. The seasonal outdoor pool is the obvious summer draw, but the spa deserves attention too, offering massages, hot-stone treatments, reflexology, Reiki and other therapies. Rooms have a relaxed coastal feel, and free parking is another welcome perk if you’ve driven onto the Cape. This is one of the more peaceful stays on the list, particularly suited to travellers who like a slower morning and don’t necessarily need the LGBTQ nightlife directly outside. When you do want the bars and restaurants, central Provincetown is around a 15-minute walk away. GayMapper tip: A massage followed by an afternoon beside the pool is a very good antidote to several consecutive nights on Commercial Street.

You could quite reasonably come back from Provincetown needing a holiday from your holiday, which is where Crowne Pointe Hotel & Spa earns its keep. The adults-only property occupies six historic buildings right in the centre of town but has a decidedly indulgent side. Its Shui Spa includes sauna, steam and soaking facilities, while the landscaped courtyard has an outdoor pool for warmer days. A cooked breakfast is included, there’s an evening wine social, and The Pointe Restaurant adds Portuguese-influenced dining without requiring another reservation somewhere along Commercial Street. Step outside and the bars, shows, shops and restaurants of central Provincetown are all within minutes, making this one of the easiest places to combine proper spa downtime with busy evenings. GayMapper tip: Use the spa before heading out, not after – Provincetown has a habit of turning “one drink” into considerably more.

Brass Key is one of those Provincetown places where staying at the hotel quickly becomes part of your social life. The gay-operated, adults-only guesthouse spreads across nine restored historic buildings arranged around lush gardens, an infinity-edge pool and oversized hot tub. A proper hot breakfast starts the day, while the evening wine, cheese and crudité reception provides a natural excuse to meet other guests. Then there’s Shipwreck Lounge – one of Provincetown’s best-known gay cocktail bars – right on the property, so your first drink of the evening requires virtually no planning at all. Commercial Street and the centre of the LGBTQ nightlife are only a few minutes away, yet the enclosed grounds feel surprisingly private once you’re back inside. GayMapper tip: A particularly good first-timer’s choice if you want a polished stay but also hope to meet people rather than disappear anonymously into a hotel room.

At the quiet end of Commercial Street, The Masthead Resort & Cottages feels like a little slice of old Cape Cod that has somehow avoided being polished into something trendier. The family-run property has been here since 1959, with cottages, rooms and suites stretching along Provincetown Harbor. The real attraction is outside: 450 feet of private beachfront and sundeck, big lawns, harbour views and some gorgeous sunsets. Accommodation varies considerably, with waterfront cottages and larger suites available if you want more space or kitchen facilities. You’re in the West End, where Provincetown becomes more peaceful and residential, but Commercial Street eventually leads you straight back towards the restaurants, shops and LGBTQ nightlife in the centre. GayMapper tip: Bring a coffee down to the waterfront deck in the morning – staying this close to the bay is the whole point.

A quieter West End stay with a decidedly modern twist, The Foxberry has reinvented itself as a digital-concierge guesthouse: check in online, receive your door code by text and head straight to your room without the traditional front-desk routine. Rooms are calm and contemporary, with air conditioning, mini-fridges, coffee facilities and free WiFi; some add kitchenettes, extra living space or private balconies. There’s a leafy yard with hammocks, and complimentary on-site parking is a welcome Provincetown rarity. If you need restaurant tips, extra towels or a later checkout, the concierge is only a text away. The location keeps Commercial Street within walking distance while putting you towards the more relaxed western end of town, with easy access towards the waterfront and beaches. GayMapper tip: A great fit if you like your guesthouse stylish and independent but would happily skip the obligatory reception-desk small talk.