Location: Portland
Top Things to do in Portland
Things to do in Portland, Maine (ME): The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks
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. Statue of Thomas Brackett Reed
2. Cleeves & Tucker Memorial
3. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Sculpture
4. 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!
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Lobsterman Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
8. Harbor Fish Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By TFopinion - Pennsylvania, United States
It’s all about the seafood here. Visited while in town over Thanksgiving and had never been in a place with so much fresh seafood on display. Think I saw 6 different kinds of oysters. Down a side street or alley off Commercial Street, it’s hard not to find what you want here. Order at the counter (friendly, welcoming staff ) then pay at the register. Not fancy but really cool. My wife tried the lobster meat mixed and said it was the best she EVER had. The problem is it’s hard to go home and order seafood without lamenting how it doesn’t taste quite as good as what we had at the Harbor Fish Market.
9. John Ford Statue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Claudetteth - Cornwall, Canada
Just inland of downtown, on Pleasant street, you will find this statue of John Ford who lived in Portland and went on to become an acclaimed film director. You may recognize some of the film titles mentioned as part of this memorial - How Green is my Valley and The Grapes of Wrath. As part of the statue, Ford sits on a rock formation depicting Monument Valley in Utah and Arizona where many of his westerns were shot. Ford himself overlooks Center street where his father owned a pub.
10. Market Street
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