Location: Portland
Top Things to do in Portland
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Portland, Maine (ME)
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. Richard Boyd Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
(Portland, ME) Richard Boyd Art Gallery is an owner operated fine arts gallery located on Peaks Island in Portland, ME. The gallery, located on the first floor, represents established and emerging artists with a connection to the state of Maine creating paintings in a range of styles from contemporary abstracts to traditional realism, limited edition bronze sculptures, and a select offering of works in clay. Exhibitions change monthly and include solo, group, and theme exhibits so clients and visitors always discover something new and exciting when visiting the gallery. A working art studio with a focus on creating ceramic art and pottery is located on the top floor. From April through the end of October the gallery is open between the hours of 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. During the months of November through March the gallery is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Additional days and times by chance or scheduled by appointment.
Reviewed By newengland50 - Franklin, United States
If you are visiting Portland, take the 15-minute ferry ride to Peaks Island. During the spring and summer months, it runs every hour at 15 past the hour. It's a great place for a relaxing stroll and more. During a walk around Peaks Island, we visited the Richard Boyd Art Gallery. It had a good collection with a mix of local artists and those from outside of the area who provided oil and watercolor paintings and sculptures. The Gallery is owned by an artist and his wife. He does a lot of work with ceramics and creates unique pieces. We end up buying a beautiful and unique decorative vase. Visit it for enjoyment as you view the art work. Be aware, that you might end up buying--but the prices are reasonable. It's about a ten-minute leisurely walk from the ferry.
3. The Cathedral Of The Immaculate Conception
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By JohnPatsi - Tullahoma, United States
What a beautiful historical Cathedral worthy of European architecture. The priest and service were outstanding and very spiritual this beautiful building. If you are ever in Portland it is worth visiting and praying in this homage to faith and Virgin Mary.
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. Diamond Cove
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
A residential and vacation community on Great Diamond Island in Casco Bay offers sheltered beaches, acres of old-growth forest and some of the most spectacular sunsets around.
6. Congress Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
The city's main business area.
Reviewed By TravelGlo4
When you are sightseeing in Portland, you can't help but travel on Congress. Several major attractions (Portland Art Museum, City Hall) are located on Congress.
7. Fort Gorges
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Abandoned fort on an island in Portland Harbor; visitors should use caution when exploring its grounds.
Reviewed By NHjo - Saco, United States
The views from the Eastern Promenade are so great, and Ft Gorges is one of them -- a little jewel surrounded by sapphire waters. It's accessible by tour or kayak.
8. 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.
9. Shipyard Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 483 reviews
Shipyard Brewing Company is a family owned brewery - rooted in tradition and brimming with innovation. Our award-winning beer is handcrafted by our team of brewers who learned their art from world-renowned master brewer, Alan Pugsley. We are committed to cultivating a new generation of creative, passionate brewers. Our team is constantly exploring innovative and diverse styles of beer through our pilot system at our Portland brewery and our 7-barrel system at Federal Jack's Brew Pub in Kennebunk Harbor. Established in 1994, this family-run brewery set up shop in what was once a maritime foundry on the waterfront of Portland. Starting with our flagship Export Ale, we've produced over 65 handcrafted, traditional beers in the heart of this vibrant Maine community.
Reviewed By Bob1775 - Houston, United States
Located on Portland’s East End this is a neat brewery located in an old building that used to manufacture railroad rails. They have about 10 beers on tap and they are numbered. If you want to try a beer flight you read the beer description and write on a chalkboard what number you want to try under each flight glass hole on your paddle....an ingenious idea. The Export was my favorite and I was told that was their original beer. I don’t think they have food here as we brought pizza in from Micucci’s.....see my review. They have great service and a really friendly atmosphere....they also have board games you can play. They have a gift area where you can buy brewery swag. The restrooms are large and clean. They are building a “brewtel” next door which will be a very convenient place to stay so you can drink all the beer you want and don’t have to worry about getting home or to your hotel.
10. Eastern Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Established in 1668, the Eastern Cemetery is located at 224 Congress Street in Portland, Maine. The oldest historic landscape in the city, the cemetery is home to around 4,000 interred. Tours available through Spirits Alive, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland's historic Eastern Cemetery.
Reviewed By mainemountainbear - Texas Gulf Coast, United States
This 4,000-grave, 5.3-acre (2.1 ha) cemetery overlooking the Old Port district and distant Casco Bay was the city’s oldest (established 1668). Time-limited parking was curbside. The cemetery had a single gate on Congress Street. A wrought iron fence (erected 1856) surrounded most of it. Many headstones were broken ruins or were illegible or both. Other gravestones noted soldiers and sailors who had fought and died in battles in Portland Harbor, such as during the War of 1812. The cemetery had no paved or dirt roads and no paths, but it did have a simple, grass-covered sunken road. It also had no water spigots, but it did have several kinds of shade trees. On one slope, grass among the headstones remained uncut. I liked all that I found on these sacred grounds; I disliked nothing.
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