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Lobster, oysters, and clams oh my! Not to be confused with Portland, Oregon, one of my favorite foodie cities on the other side of the country, Portland, Maine is also teeming with amazing places to eat. As the state’s largest city you can bet there are not only a lot of great restaurants, but also a long list of cool things to do in Portland, Maine. 

Portland is not only the perfect stop on your way to Acadia National Park, but worth a visit on its own too. With the short summers and unpredictable weather in Maine you might be wondering if there are enough things to do in Portland. 

Don’t let the weather put a damper on your time in Portland. This post includes the best outdoor things to do in Portland and the best indoor things to do in Portland. 

For a full Maine road trip and where to eat, where to stay, and how to get around Portland read my Maine guide. 

The Best Things to Do in Portland, Maine

Outdoor Things to Do in Portland, Maine

Lucky Catch Cruises

If you’re like me, you don’t travel just to see and do things, you also like to learn about the people, places, and cultures of the places you visit. All throughout my Maine road trip as I was feasting on lobster I couldn’t help but think about the work involved to fish the lobster.

To answer my long list of questions I decided to take a lobster cruise where I could get a taste of what it is like to be a lobster fisherwoman! After setting out from Portland we donned our gear and prepared the bait bags. We made several stops to pull up traps and reset the traps before pushing them back into the sea.

The most fearless among us helped to throw back crabs who were inadvertently caught in the lobster traps. Obviously I was one of those people as I had to live up to my name!

You can buy a lobster for $12 and the Portland Lobster Co onshore will cook it for you and provide sides for about $14 more. I had already devoured a whole lobster at this point so I passed, but I was tempted as it’s the lowest price you’ll find for a fresh lobster in Maine! 

Some might consider it work, but I thought it was one of the most educational and fun outdoor things to do in Portland! 

Portland Cruises

If setting lobster traps doesn’t sound like fun to you, there are plenty of other cruises to take. Whichever experience you choose, getting out on the water and experiencing the city from a new vantage point is one of the most fun outdoor things to do in Portland, Maine. 

• Coastal Windjammer Sailing Cruise – I didn’t have a chance to go sailing in Maine, but I had the relaxing experience in Rhode Island. This two hour sailing adventure is a peaceful way to enjoy Casco Bay from Portland. 
• Sunset Windjammer Sailing Cruise – this is the sunset version of the sailing cruise. As most of the indoor things to do in Portland can only be done in the day, this is a great activity for a nice night. 
• Sightseeing Cruise to Portland Head Light – this one hour narrated cruise takes you to the famous Cape Elizabeth lighthouse. As a car or a longer, well timed bus ride is needed, a cruise is a great option if you are lacking in time or transportation. 
• Sightseeing Lighthouse Sunset Cruise – admire the lighthouses of Casco Bay at sunset. 
• Sunset Kayaking – I was excited for this leisurely sunset kayaking trip, but unfortunately the one and only cold and rainy day of my trip canceled my booking. 

Casco Bay Lines Ferry

I ran out of time for another one of the best outdoor things to do in Portland, taking a ferry to one of the islands. Cruises are a great way to explore Portland, but they are pricier. With $14 round trip ferry tickets during peak season, it’s a good way to get a similar experience without breaking the bank. Purchase tickets at the terminal on Maine State Pier before boarding. No reservations can be made ahead of time. 

Not only do you get a cheaper way to sail across Casco Bay, but you also have the opportunity to visit an island. Ferries run to seven different ports across six islands. 

Peaks Island is the most visited island. Once on the island you can explore on foot on your own, rent bicycles or golf carts, or take a guided tour. If exploring on your own, head out on the 3.9 mile route that goes around the perimeter of the island. For a guided walking or golf cart tour book with Peaks Island Tours.

Save some time to dine in one of the local seafood restaurants and visit the museums on the island. The Fifth Maine Museum focuses on the Fifth Maine Regiment from the Civil War and Peaks Island’s history. The Umbrella Cover Museum is a one of a kind museum that is just as it sounds, a museum dedicated to the covers that go over umbrellas! 

Commercial Street and Old Port

For over 350 years Portland has been known for its working waterfront. While tourism along the waterfront has grown, different parts of the waterfront are still reserved for fishing, shipbuilding, and other commercial uses. 

Perhaps you like to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground? Commercial Street is the way to appreciate Casco Bay and the waterfront without leaving the dock. Take a walk or enjoy a bite to eat along one of the many piers. 

Within Old Port, the historic waterfront district, stroll around on the cobblestone streets and pop into the shops. There is a mix of art galleries, souvenir shops, local boutiques, and name brand retailers. You’ll find many of the best restaurants in Portland within the Old Port as well. 

Fort Williams Park

Located in Cape Elizabeth, the park is a short 15 minute drive from the Old Port in Portland. To reach the park it’s easiest if you have a car, but it’s doable by bus if you’re up for a 30 minute walk after getting off the bus. The bus doesn’t run frequently so make sure to plan your timing in advance. Another good option is taking a narrated trolley tour that stops at the Portland Head Light (described below). 

For about 90 years Fort Williams served as a coastal defense in Cape Elizabeth. Former batteries and buildings from this time period still remain. Most are in ruins, but many have plaques to explain their former purposes. There are nice walking paths to view the various ruins, the beautiful coastal views, and the Portland Head Light. 

Within the park The Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society is full of local history. It is only open a couple of mornings a week. 

There are four food truck vendors in the park. Bite into Maine is recommended by a lot of locals. The only trash cans in the park are located by the food vendors and there are signs that they are for customers only. 

The only restrooms within the entire park are porta-potties in a few different locations. You would think as one of the top places to visit in Portland there could be trash cans and proper restrooms, but porta-potties are better than nothing. Tripadvisor had some rough reviews for them. While not luxury, they were better than expected.

Portland Head Light

The main attraction of Fort Williams Park is the Portland Head Light. As the oldest lighthouse in Maine and the most photographed in the country, you don’t want to miss it! Since my visit I have already spotted photos and paintings of the lighthouse in restaurants and people’s homes. You can bet I was itching to show them that I was actually there! 

While you can’t go inside the lighthouse (except on the annual Maine Lighthouse Day), you can walk around it and walk along the coastline in both directions. The rocky coastline with the crashing waves is the perfect backdrop. It doesn’t take long to figure out why it’s the most photographed lighthouse. 

Portland Head Light Museum

Located in the former keeper’s house, the small museum covers the history of the lighthouse. Follow the written timeline around the museum for information, photographs, and other artifacts of the 1891 lighthouse.  

The museum should actually be included in the best indoor things to do in Portland, but as it’s best to visit the park and walk around the lighthouse on a nice day I added it here. 

Admission with cash within the museum or by credit card at the gift shop. 

Indoor Things to Do in Portland, Maine

Portland Museum of Art

 

This mid-sized art museum isn’t as gigantic as many of the best art museums in the US, but there is still plenty to see. It’s kind of nice as you don’t need a full day to admire it all. Instead of rushing from one gallery to another you can take your time. 

In the last few years I have noticed that museums are making a conscious effort to include a diverse array of artists and artwork in their collections to include perspectives from different groups of people. The “Passages in American Art” exhibit at PMA is a great example of this. It includes pieces from the museum’s collection alongside descriptions from different voices in the community. It was a good way to learn different aspects of Maine’s history that aren’t as widely known including the history of transatlantic slavery to Maine’s coast. 

There are a variety of other temporary exhibits as well. 

Victoria Mansion

I have toured a lot of historic homes and mansions. Victoria Mansion has to be one of the most opulent mansions of its size. While on par with other historic homes in size, it more closely resembles the massive Gilded Age mansions in Newport in extravagance. It’s very impressive to say the least.

The guided tour focused primarily on the architecture and furnishings within. An impressive amount of family belongings remain in the home. A lot is known about the house as well.

While I would have enjoyed more information about the family and stories about their lives, it is still one of the top things to do in Portland. 

A gift shop and restrooms are available before and after the tour. 

Maine Historical Society

One of the best indoor things to do in Portland is to learn about the state’s history at the Maine Historical Society. There are always a few different exhibits on display at a time. All the exhibits rotate. When I visited there were ones about music in Maine, the changes in the environment, photos from the 1936 flood, and Maine’s connection to the creation of the International Appalachian Trail.

For an additional admission you can purchase a combination ticket to the galleries and The Wadsworth Longfellow House. Self-guided and guided tours are available to the former historic home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet. Typically open from June – October I wasn’t able to tour the house during my May visit. 

Maine Jewish Museum

This free museum gives a nice history of some of Maine’s earliest Jewish residents. Informational signs provide details about how Jewish people began to settle in the state and the many ways they contributed to the growth.

The section on holocaust survivors was quite sobering. The atrocities committed during the holocaust are unbearable, but even more so when they are told from a survivor’s point of view. The exhibit on the history of Jewish summer camps was much more uplifting. 

Art lovers will enjoy the rotating art exhibits that feature Jewish and/or Maine artists. Many of the exhibit themes relate to the Maine Jewish community. 

The museum is within Etz Chaim Synagogue. A digital screen gives information about the synagogue and others within Maine.

Portland Observatory

One of the best indoor things to do in Portland, that I wasn’t able to squeeze into my itinerary, was the Portland Observatory. Despite appearances, the observatory is not a lighthouse, but a historic tower that signaled merchants on the waterfront when their ship was arriving. 

The inside of the observatory has informational signs. At the top of the tower is an outdoor observatory with excellent views of Portland. Depending on the day, both guided and self-guided tours are offered. As the price is the same I encourage you to choose a guided tour for the extra information. 

Eat Delicious Seafood

You can’t spend time in Portland without enjoying some of the best seafood in the country. As many restaurants have indoor and outdoor seating, dining out in Portland is one of the best outdoor and indoor things to do in Portland! 

Check out my Maine road trip for recommendations where to eat in Portland for the best lobster, seafood, blueberry pie, whoopie pie, donuts, and a variety of cuisines. 

If I helped you discover the best outdoor and indoor things to do in Portland, Maine please consider supporting me by Buying Me a Coffee.

More About New England

• The Best Hikes in Acadia National Park (Maine)
• The Only Maine Road Trip You Need (Maine)
• All of the Historic Boston Freedom Trail Stops (Massachusetts)
• Historical Sites in Rhode Island to Learn the History of the Ocean State (Rhode Island)

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