Most visitors to Cape Cod think of Hyannis as the largest town, but in fact Hyannis is only one of seven "villages" in the incorporated Town of Barnstable.

The villages are: Barnstable, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville and West Barnstable.

Barnstable Town's administrative center is not Hyannis, on the southern, Nantucket Sound side of Cape Cod, but Barnstable Village, on MA Route 6A on the northern, Cape Cod Bay side (map).

	Revolutionary patriot James Otis, a native of West Barnstable, advocating for gin & tonic...

Here you'll find the Doric-temple Barnstable County Courthouse and other important county and town government offices, as well as a statue of patriot James Otis.

The busy commercial center of Hyannis is the closest thing to a city on Cape Cod, with alll the expected services, including the Barnstable County Airport (HYA) and docks for ferryboats to Nantucket.

As you wend your way eastward along MA 6A, the village of Barnstable offers several good choices for lodging and a few other services.

In Barnstable village, as well as Yarmouth Port, MA 6A becomes Main Street, also called the Old King's Highway.

—by Tom Brosnahan

---

Hyannis Sandwich Yarmouth Cape Cod Highlights Best Cape Cod Itineraries Cape Cod Transportation About Cape Cod