What to do in Portland
Portland is a lovely little city with great restaurants, pubs, breweries, coffee shops, antiques, and other quaint stores with the sounds of seagulls screaming which is almost hypnotic.
Take a tour of the city. There are walking tours, duck boat tours, and firetruck tours that give insight into the city history.
Explore the antique shops
Take a lighthouse tour, starting with the most famous and most photographed lighthouse in the country, The Portland Headlight. You will need a car to get there. It is 20 minutes from Old Port and some of the tours will take you there as part of the agenda. You will also see it in the distance on the ferry to Peaks Island. Keep your eyes open. Don’t forget to take a peek at The Bug Light, a tiny but cute lighthouse in South Portland.
Stroll the cobblestone streets of Old Port
Visit one of the famous Maine breweries. My favorite beer is Allagash and the factory is not far from downtown.
Take a walk or relax at the Eastern Promenade, a park on the eastern side of Portland that overlooks the Casco Bay and the islands in the distance.
Have coffee at one of the many coffee shops in town. Coffee by Design and Bard are two pretty good ones.
Have a potato donut at the Holy Donut right on Commercial Street.
Explore the alleys of the waterfront area and find a hole in the wall to have an out-of-this-world lobster roll.
There are great local bookstores to find a Maine classic.
Take a harbor cruise, either on a lobster boat or a tall sail ship.
If you are brave you can go on the evening haunted walking tour where you will learn about several ghosts that are rumored to haunt the waterfront area.
Find a great restaurant. We listed some of our favorites, but Portland is a foodie haven and there are many more to explore.
Browse some of the local art in the galleries on Middle Street.
Kayak the Casco Bay. Go free style or take a tour with a guide.
Go up to the Portland observatory and see the city from above.
Go whale watching.
Relax at one of the many parks and squares with a good book.
Have an ice cream while sitting on the docks.
Grab some oysters at Eventide Oyster Company.
Have a grilled cheese sandwich at Cheese Louise
Take the mail boat run and see the islands that are further out than Peaks Island.
Have some french-fries at Duckfat restaurant.
Catch a Portland Seadogs baseball game
Have a drink at one of the cool bars and pubs.