Location: Portland
Top Things to do in Portland
10 Things to do in Portland That You Shouldn't Miss
From ornate mansions to ocean views, this charming city - the largest in Maine - will enchant you. Saunter down the brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets of the revitalized Old Port District, where you can browse through bookstores, explore craft shops and eat to your heart's content. Visit the Portland Head Light, which dates back to 1791, and is the oldest lighthouse still in continuous use in the U.S. The great poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is the city's native son, and you can visit his childhood home, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. With kids in hand, enjoy the highly interactive Children's Museum of Maine. And then go next door to the calmer Portland Museum of Art, a small, but eclectic museum with Impressionist works, Maine landscapes by Homer and Wyeth and other collections. Land or sea is an option here, so if you're tired of the street life, take one of the popular scenic cruises or whale watches, or hop on a ferry to the islands in Casco Bay. At the end of the day, and without kids in hand, unwind and rest your tired feet at one of the city's brewpubs.
Restaurants in Portland
1. Allagash Brewery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,137 reviews
We are currently open for tastings and sell plenty of year-round and brewery-only beer to go. We are not currently booking brewery tours, but we have a food truck onsite featuring lobster rolls and other tasty treats for you to make a day of it. So if you're in the area, stop by and say hello! Allagash Brewing Company strives to make the best Belgian-inspired beer in the world. Founded in Portland, Maine, the brewery loves giving back to the community—and state—that has supported it since 1995. In 2019 the brewery became a Certified B Corp and Allagash founder Rob Tod won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional. Allagash currently stands as one of the 50 largest craft breweries in the U.S. (by sales volume) and has earned a spot on Maine’s Best Places to Work list for seven years running. Allagash is distributed in: CA, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL (Chicagoland only), MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, and WI.
Reviewed By PowPow29 - West Hartford, United States
My friends and I booked the Saturday 1:00pm tour. (Book your tickets ahead of time; they fill up!) We had a great time sampling different beers and learning about the history of the brewery. We stayed afterwards to enjoy the beautiful weather, our favorite beers, and a quick bite at the food truck (Bite into Maine) that parks right outside. They have an outstanding lobster grilled cheese.
2. Portland Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,515 reviews
With an extensive permanent collection and nationally renowned exhibitions, the Portland Museum of Art is rightfully taking its place as the best regional museum in the country. The PMA boasts a considerable permanent collection, with beloved works of American, European, and Contemporary art, as well as significant holdings of Maine art-highlighting the rich artistic tradition of the state and its artists. The museum brings it all to life with unparalleled programming. From special member-only events, free school tours, and a commitment to family activities, to PMA Movies, curator talks, and exclusive tours of the Winslow Homer Studio-it's all happening at the PMA.
Reviewed By newengland50 - Franklin, United States
At this time (April 2021), the Museum is accepting reservations for visiting. Although Portland is a small city, the Museum has a national class collection. It ranges from New England artists to works from around the world. The building is well laid out and it is easy to navigate. You will find well-known artists, such as Renoir and Wyeth, and stunning sculptures. It is well worth the trip. Every staff member was friendly and happy to answer questions. There is also a small gift shop.
3. Portland Observatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 495 reviews
THE PORTLAND OBSERVATORY IS CLOSED FOR THE 2019 SEASON. SEE YOU IN SPRING 2020! Breathtaking views and fascinating history at America’s last standing maritime signal tower. In the 1800s, Captain Moody used this observatory to monitor the routes of ships as far as 30 miles away. Today visitors can tour a museum focusing on the history of the watch tower and get a stunning bird's-eye view of Portland and the harbor.
Reviewed By VoyageursUSA - Swarthmore, United States
We arrived at the Observatory after a long day of touring Portland. As it turned out, we saved the best for last! The structure sits atop Munjoy Hill, with a commanding view of the city and its harbor. It has an interesting history and interesting architectural features, all of which we learned about as we slowly wound our way to the top of the tower, led by Sue, our exceptional and engaging guide. Sue brought the details of the observatory to life with her wonderful gift of storytelling. Without Sue it would have been a pleasant but not exciting visit. With her, it was delightful and memorable!
4. Old Port
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,225 reviews
Reviewed By jlneighbors
fun area with several states full of unique boutique shops, pubs, restaurants, ice cream shops and more. we loved it - though one or 2 days is probably enough to see the entire area.
5. Casco Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 313 reviews
Ship traffic here runs the gamut from lobster boats to oil tankers and cruise lines; also look for the many photogenic lighthouses.
Reviewed By 954hollyb - Washington DC, United States
Casco Bay is gorgeous- I spent my mornings going for a jog around the bay as my hotel was located right downtown near Old Port. I’d also highly recommend taking a ferry tour to the nearby islands.
6. Victoria Mansion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 749 reviews
VICTORIA MANSION REOPENS JUNE 1, 2020. Victoria Mansion is open for the season June 1- October 31, closed on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. The holiday season runs from the day after Thanksgiving through the first Sunday in January, closed Christmas and New Year's Day. Victoria Mansion, also known as the Morse-Libby House, is the finest example of residential design from the pre-Civil War era in America. With superb architecture and well-preserved original interiors that were among the most lavish and sophisticated in their day, it is an unparalleled document of America’s highest aspirations in architecture, interior design, and the decorative arts. Our history, a quick tour, and our present-day efforts at restoring the Mansion convey an impression of the significance of this unique site, which is of national and even international importance.
Reviewed By JEM02882 - Reading, United States
Visited during the Christmas season and had a great time touring the rooms all dressed up for the holidays. They certainly go all out to decorate which takes all of November to accomplish. (The museum is closed during this time.) The docents are very well versed and knowledgeable. They enjoy their jobs and provide a wonderful background to the fascinating history of the mansion.
7. Commercial Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 650 reviews
Historic street at the edge of the working waterfront area of Portland.
Reviewed By DaisyDiva07 - St. Petersburg, United States
It's a shopper's paradise of non-touristic options including bakeries, breweries, clothing shops, fine arts & jewlery, cooking distractions, restaurants, bars, and the wonderful ferry ride options through Casco Bay. And, it's flat.
8. Casco Bay Islands
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 532 reviews
An archipelago of islands off of Portland.
Reviewed By dmkmHamilton_Ontario - Hamilton, Canada
We went on the Casco Bay Lines Mailboat Run . We were on a cruise ship and were docked literally next door. Walked over, bought our tickets, toured around town until it was time to go out for the 2:15 pm run. Thoroughly enjoyed being out on the water, with just enough narration to know a little about each of the islands we either passed or stopped on. A thick fog rolled in which just added to the adventure. Highly recommended and excellent value for the price.
9. Hadlock Field
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 586 reviews
Minor League Baseball team. The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Come enjoy family friendly entertainment at an affordable price and see future Major League All-Stars. Former Sea Dogs players include Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia, Anthony Rizzo, and many more.
Reviewed By Chuck52310
This is a great place to watch a baseball game, but you'll have to wait for next season thanks to Covid 19.
10. Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 665 reviews
Reviewed By Bossch11 - Boston, United States
We came up from Boston on a late October weekend, grabbed some hot tea and sweet treats from Standard Baking Co, and hopped on the afternoon mail boat run. The un/loading at each island involved passengers, their furry companions, Amazon packages, stock supplies, and even small vehicles, which were hoisted by the boat's crane - very cool to see. This was all manned by two deck hands who, to our amusement, were a dynamic duo that not only looked but sounded like Ben and Casey Affleck ???? The Captain announced fun facts along our tour and we even got to see a couple bald eagles and the tiniest registered lighthouse. We alternated being cozy on the lower deck and being exposed to the late autumn chill on the upper bc we wanted to take in the gorgeous peak New England foliage of the islands against the setting sun on the harbor. Highly recommend this pleasant boat ride - it is a great way to see a slice of pretty Maine before dinner.
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