23 Best Things to Do in Portland, Maine

Explore the lively Portland, ME harbor, take a tour of the lighthouses, visit the museums and have fun on the water. Whether you are planning a romantic trip or a family vacation, Portland, Maine, is a fun destination. Great attractions and things to do in Portland, ME, include the Victoria Mansion, the Merrill Auditorium, the Children's Museum, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum, and the International Cryptozoology Museum. Photo: Paul Lemke/Fotolia

Commercial Street runs along the edge of the city's downtown district along the water and is home to an array of busy restaurants, cafés, bars and boutiques. Resting right on the water’s edge, Commercial Street is a welcome haven for tourists and locals alike, with fresh sea breezes, beautiful maritime scenes of ships coming and going, and fisherman hauling in the catch.

Cobblestone streets lined with quaint, charming buildings from the late 19th and 20th centuries give the area an old-world European look. Shops selling succulent seafood and other Maine treats offer a quintessential New England feel.

If you are wondering what to see in Portland, Commercial Street is a great place to visit. Architectural gems will take you back in time, such as the Customs House, a unique fusion of Renaissance Revival and Second Empire architectural styles. Photo: Portland CVB

Standing as a beloved symbol of Portland’s rich maritime heritage with spectacular views over the harbor, the Portland Observatory is a historic tower located on Munjoy Hill. Built in 1807, the tower is one of its kind, providing communication between ships and the shore using signal flags and a telescope.

The telescope was situated in the observatory's cupola (lantern) and could identify ships miles out to sea. Unfortunately, the telescope disappeared from the tower in 1939. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2006, the 86-foot (26 m) tall observatory tower is now a museum that is open to the public to explore.

Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the tower which focus on the importance of the structure to maritime history and the changes in the seafaring port of Portland in the last two hundred years. If you are looking for best things to do in Portland with the family, this is a great stop. Contact: 93 High Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-774-5561 Photo: Cynthia Farr-Weinfeld/Portland CVB

Founded as the Portland Society of Art in 1882, the Portland Museum of Art is the oldest and largest public art institution in the state of Maine. Located in the downtown district of the city known as The Arts District, the museum houses a collection of over 17,000 decorative and fine arts objects dating from the 18th century to the present.

These works are separated into different genres, such as the State of Maine Collection, the European Collection, the American-art based Elizabeth B. Noyce Collection, with works by Homer, Rodin, Degas, Bellows and Wyeth.

The Museum boasts three architecturally significant buildings that unite three centuries of American art and culture, with the Charles Shipman Payson Building standing as the face of the museum since it opened in 1983. If you are looking for great things to do in Maine, this unique museum is a must-see.

The museum also hosts a number of educational programs and events throughout the year, such as gallery talks, PMA movies, and special exhibitions. Contact: Seven Congress Square, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-775-6148

More ideas: Best Romantic Weekend Getaways in Maine. Photo: Portland Museum of Art

Explore Portland’s culinary scene with a fantastic foodie tour. Maine Foodie Tours offers a variety of tours based on the delicious fare produced from the abundance of dairy products, fresh fish, seafood, and organic fruit and vegetables farmed in the region.

Maine’s chefs, artisans, brew masters, and bakers come together to create imaginative and flavorful local dishes – all of which can be tasted and enjoyed on one of the tours. These award-winning tours are led by local aficionados that are passionate about food and their city, and will share their knowledge with you visiting various neighborhoods in the city including the Old Port.

Maine Foodie Tours also offers cooking classes for all levels of the chef, from beginner to advanced, as well as private tours for special occasions and events.

Travel tips: Best Time to Visit Portland, Maine & Other Travel Tips Photo: Maine Foodie Tours

An attractive and permanent fixture on the Portland dining scene for over 10 years, Five Fifty-Five is an elegant and inviting dining venue owned by Chef Steve Corry and his wife, Michelle.

With a design reminiscent of a 19th-century firehouse, the restaurant is spread out over two levels with second-floor balcony tables offering views of the bustling kitchen below. Seasonal offerings feature a five-course tasting spree that includes fresh New England scallops and truffled lobster, with a “chocolate-in-five-ways” dessert.

The scintillating Point Five Lounge boasts a more casual scene, offering lighter fare, signature cocktails and an impressive wine and spirits list. Contact: 555 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-761-0555 Photo: Five Fifty-Five

Also known as the Morse-Libby House, Victoria Mansion is one of America’s best examples of pre-Civil War opulence and glamour. Built between 1858 and 1860 as an exquisite summer home for Ruggles Sylvester Morse, a Maine-born proprietor of luxury hotels who made his vast fortune in New Orleans, Victoria Mansion was constructed in the Italian villa style that was fashionable in the mid-nineteenth century.

The Mansion’s beautifully preserved interiors were designed by Gustave Herter and still boast over 90% of the furnishings he designed for the original owner.

Guided tours are offered May through October, as well as tailor-made group tours for particular interests. The mansion is a unique historic attraction in Portland that offers an active roster of educational programs for both students and adults interested in studying life as it was during the nineteenth century. Contact: 109 Danforth St, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-772-4841 Photo: Jeff Schultes/Fotolia

Central Provisions in Portland’s Old Port has been one of the city’s hotspots for years, with tightly packed tables, a buzzing subterranean bar and a seasonal menu that specializes in small plates.

Broken into categories of raw, cold, hot, and hearty, dishes are ordered a few at a time and arrive at the table as they are prepared - simple, easy eating in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Desserts are the same with sweet treats including local strawberry shortcake, and salted caramel mousse with cocoa and coffee. Friendly, efficient staff collaborates with diners to interpret the menu and offer advice on both the dishes and wines to accompany them.

Due to its extreme popularity, the restaurant does not take reservations, so order a drink at the elegant bar while you wait for a table. Contact: 414 Fore Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-805-1085 Photo: Central Provisions

Established in 1923 and recognized as one of the top orchestras of its size in the country, the Portland Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional symphony orchestra that performs a wide variety of concerts at the Merrill Auditorium throughout the year.

Directed by Robert Moody, the orchestra frequently features renowned guest artists and hosts the “Magic of Christmas” which has been a much-loved tradition for over 25 years.

The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) offers a range of educational programs and workshops for students to engage with symphonic music and explore the beauty of classical music. The PSO also contributes to the local community through events such as “Make Music Lovers” Luncheons, where guests can enjoy an in-depth look at musical topics from the PSO concert season and converse with Robert Moody and other special guests. If you are looking for romantic things to do in Portland at night, watch a performance by the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Contact: 50 Monument Square 2nd floor, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-773-6128 Photo: Portland Symphony Orchestra

David's Opus Ten is an intimate restaurant located on David's Monument Square that specializes in small plates, wine pairings and tasting menus. Boasting a contemporary smart-casual ambiance, David's Opus Ten is perfect for either an impromptu dinner or a special wine-pairing evening with friends.

Owned by David Turin, Opus Ten is the 10th restaurant to fall under his expert stewardship and offers diners a choice of excellent prix fixe and small plates. Menus feature regional dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

A unique portable bar/cocktail cart loaded with distilled liquids and other curious potions offers an array of liquid delights, which are mixed for you at your table while you decide on what to eat. Contact: 22 Monument Sq., Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-773-4340 Photo: David's Opus Ten

The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine all about interactive education and learning through fun for all ages. Located in downtown Portland’s vibrant Arts District, the museum features a wide variety of fun hands-on displays and exhibits that encourage children to use their imagination to explore, discover and learn.

Permanent exhibits in the museum include Coco’s Diner, where children can play restauranteur and prepare shakes and assorted foods, and Car Repair Shop, where budding mechanics in the making can practice their skills. Dress-Up Theater provides a fantastic opportunity for kids to dress up and play-act on stage;. Space Shuttle introduces visitors to the realm of space and becoming an astronaut. If you are wondering what to do with kids in Portland on a rainy day, try this great attraction.

The museum also serves as an educational resource for guided programs that aim to teach students about science through interactive, fact-rich learning experiences, with traditional space programs, camps, and community outreach programs. The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine is one of the top family attractions in Maine. Contact: 142 Free Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-828-1234 Photo: Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine

Situated in Portland's West End neighborhood, next to the city's popular "Arts District," Petite Jacqueline is a casual, laid-back French bistro that serves delicious café-style food, carafe wine, and excellent coffee.

Opened by Five Fifty-Five owner Michelle Corry and restaurant partner, Liz Koenigsberg, Petite Jacqueline was inspired by the need for a typical French bistro in Portland that served food akin to her grandmother.

The bistro’s food is a classic, traditional French fare (think French onion soup and foie gras) that focuses on simple ingredients and delicious flavors. Aiming to serve home-away-from-home cuisine that had diners coming back for more, the quaint French bistro has done just that. Contact: 46 Market Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-553-7044 Photo: Petite Jacqueline

Founded in 1992, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company & Museum is a remarkable institution established to preserve Maine’s historic two-foot gauge railroad equipment and educate the public about the importance and heritage of the state’s railway system.

Based in the Portland Company Marine Complex, the museum’s collection includes a fascinating array of rolling stock and historical artifacts from the narrow gauge railways that ran in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The museum offers visitors a selection of programs and presentations, such as the Diesel Guest Engineer, where you can operate a 23-ton, four-axle diesel-electric locomotive, or sit back and relax with an ice cream and take in the beautiful views of Casco Bay on the Ice Cream Train trip. If you are looking for things to do in Portland ME that let you learn about history, this museum is a great place to visit. Contact: 58 Fore Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-828-0814 Photo: Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. and Museum

Allagash Brewing Company was established in 1995 by Rob Tod with the aim of producing Belgian-style beer and ales.

What began as New England's original Belgian-Style brewery, Allagash has grown into one of the industry's most distinguished and well-respected brands. Enjoy a guided tour of the brewery, during which you can explore the facility, learn about the beer-making process and get to taste four of the beers produced.

Tours are led by knowledgeable staff that will explain the process, impart interesting information about the history of the brewery and guide you through the tasting process. Tours are popular, so advanced reservations are advised. Contact: 50 Industrial Way, Portland, Maine 04103, Phone: 800-330-5385 Photo: Allagash Brewing Company

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Portland Discovery has been a leading tour company for 19 years, offering guided trolley tours around Portland and narrated harbor cruises on Casco Bay.

Tours are led by professionally trained guides who share their knowledge and passion for the city and its beautiful natural surroundings. The outings are conducted aboard premium trolleys and fully-equipped boats designed for maximum comfort and unobstructed views.

A variety of tours are offered, ranging from a scenic, 90-minute boat cruise through Casco Bay and its innermost islands to a historic trolley tour through the heart of Portland. Private charters and group tours can be arranged for special events and occasions, including exclusive lobster bakes, boat and trolley cruises (Phone: 207-774-0808). Photo: Portland Discovery Land and Sea Tours

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Explore and discover Portland, Maine and the shores of Casco Bay on two wheels with a unique and fun bicycle tour with Summer Feet Cycling Adventures.

One of the most popular tours is the Five Lighthouse Bicycle Tour, which lets bikers soak up the beautiful natural scenery along the coast of Maine, five historic lighthouses, and an in-depth look at Portland’s history accompanied by a gourmet picnic lunch.

Before the tour begins, guests are supplied with a comfortable bike and helmet and taken through an introduction of the tour and safety briefing. As you cruise along the coast, you will visit some of Portland’s most famous landmarks including the Spring Point Lighthouse, the Portland Harbor Museum and Kettle Cove.

Tours depart daily from the Ocean Gateway Cruise Terminal/Visitor Information Center and cover roughly 10 to 12 miles. (Phone: 866-857-9544) More Maine vacations Photo: Chris Lawrence/Portland CVB

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Head out into the deep blue sea in search of whales, dolphins, sharks, sunfish and seabirds on an exhilarating Maine Whale Watching tour.

Tours are held aboard the Odyssey, a comfortable, fully-equipped ocean-going vessel that has ample seating and decks for spectacular viewing. The boat is captained and crewed by a professional and knowledgeable team, including a naturalist who will share interesting and informative facts about the ocean environment and the sea animals seen on the tour.

The tour takes guests 20 miles off the coast to the feeding grounds of the whales for the best sightings, lasting for about four hours. Snacks, sodas and alcoholic beverages are available in the enclosed galley and warm clothing is recommended, even if the weather is pleasant (Phone: 207-775-0727). Photo: Patricia/Fotolia

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The world’s only cryptozoology museum, the International Cryptozoology Museum celebrates “cryptozoology” which is the quest to discover hidden creatures, from elusive cougars to the famously mysterious Bigfoot.

Exhibits at this fascinating museum include an 8-foot tall Bigfoot made of musk ox hair, the Jersey Devil, the Mothman, various lake monsters, and the Abominable Yeti. The museum is also home to displays of unusual animals known as “cryptids” that were only recently recognized as being “real” such as the Komodo dragon, the panda, and the coelacanth.

Inspiring curiosity for visitors of all ages, the museum is kocated in downtown Portland and is open every day, except Tuesdays. Contact: 4 Thompsons Point #106, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: Photo: International Cryptozoology Museum

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Based in Portland's East Bayside, Rising Tide Brewing Company is a family-owned craft brewery that specializes in small-batch, artisanal hand-crafted ales.

The brewery makes a variety of light and dark ales ranging from year-round and seasonal beers to limited editions, such as the Seven Barrel Series and Hop Harvest Ale.

Tours of the brewery include an exploration of the production, ending with a sampling of some of the brewery’s beers from the tasting room where friendly staff are on hand to answer any questions. Contact: 103 Fox Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-370-2337 Photo: Rising Tide Brewing Company

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Only ten minutes from Portland and two hours from Boston, you can see the world's largest 3D scale model of Earth that rotates and simulates the planet's movements. The globe is nearly 42 feet in diameter and is open to the public Monday through Friday 9am - 5pm.

The attraction is operated by Garmin Yarmouth which manufactures handheld GPS devices with satellite communication. They are the world leader in navigational technology, and they provide techy goods to everyone, from governments to regular consumers, and supply the most innovative GPS systems in the world. Contact: 2 Delorme Dr, Yarmouth, Maine 04096, Phone: 207-847-1165 Photo: eddy galeotti/Fotolia

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Standard Baking Co. is Portland’s most popular bakery, located in Old Port, across from the harbor and below Fore Street Restaurant. You cannot miss it, there is always a line waiting for their fresh-from-the-oven breads, pastries, baguettes, croissants, and all sorts of other European-style baked delights. The aroma will guide you from miles away and you will not mind waiting. Once you get your goodies, you will have to take them with you as there is only one bench inside. During warm months, you can sit outside under the arbor and savor your pastries while still warm. All ingredients Standard Baking Co. uses for their breads and pastries are organic and locally grown whenever available and purchased from local growers. They use organic, unbleached wheat flour made from whole grains. Contact: 75 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-773-2112 Photo: Standard Baking Co

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The Green Elephant is a vegetarian bistro that was opened in 2007 in Downtown Portland by owners and chefs Bob Wongsaichua and Dan Sriprasert. Unassuming and intimate, without the obligatory over-the-top décor so typical of Asian restaurants, the Green Elephant offers balanced, wonderfully prepared and presented dishes for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The menu is pan-Asian, with influences from Malaysia, Thailand, China, and India, and features innovative, delicious, and healthy dishes. The small lunch menu is expanded for dinner and includes such classics as crispy wontons, tempeh curry, tofu and vegetable teriyaki, and watercress veggie duck. The dishes use vegetarian soy meat. Contact: 608 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101, Phone: 207-347-3111 Photo: Green Elephant

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Located just off the coast of Maine, the Islands of Casco Bay are well worth exploring, offering a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and unwind in a truly laid-back island-style way.

Also known as The Calendar Islands, there are enough of them to explore a different one each day of the year. These little islands can be reached by various ferries, making exploration simple and easy. Casco Bay Lines offers a convenient year-round service to the larger islands, with the last stop being at Cliff Island which is fantastic for bicycling and walking.

It’s a short 20-minute ferry ride to Peaks Island, home to beautiful sandy beaches, lovely restaurants, and an inviting artist’s community, while Great Diamond Island offers a historical look at former parade grounds of Fort McKinley.

For an unforgettable hiking and wildlife watching island adventure, the Maine Island Trail Association has conveniently mapped a route from the New Hampshire border to Machias Bay and offers a handy guide to all sorts of valuable and interesting information regarding the Casco Bay Trail. Photo: Portland CVB

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Learn all about the history of Maine with a visit to the Maine Historical Society. Founded in 1922 and resting in the heart of the bustling Congress Street in downtown Portland’s arts district, the Society is a burgeoning museum that is home to an excellent library that is used as a national educational resource.

The Maine Historical Society (MHS) and museum is comprised of the Wadsworth–Longfellow House and Longfellow Garden, the MHS Research Library, the Maine Historical Society Museum and Store and the Maine Memory Network, which is a digital museum through which the MHS runs its educational programs. The Society is based on a campus across from Monument Square and is open to the public year-round.

Wadsworth-Longfellow House
Built in 1785 by General Peleg Wadsworth, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House is a historic house and museum that is operated by the Maine Historical Society and is open to the public. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1962, the house is not only historically significant being the oldest standing structure on the Portland peninsula, but was also the childhood home of renowned American poet Henry Wadsworth.

The house documents the lives of four generations of the Wadsworth and Longfellow families, who played a significant role in the political, literary, and cultural life of New England and the United States. The house itself is an outstanding example of New England's architectural style at the time while its furnishings, artifacts and items illustrate changes in style, technology, and attitude over the 18th and 19th centuries. Contact: 489 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101, Phone: 207-774–1822 Photo: Cynthia Farr-Weinfeld/Portland CVB

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