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.
Things to do in Portland
5 based on 946 reviews
The epitome of comfort and elegance, The Inn On Carleton is a beautifully restored 1869 grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast located in Portland's historic West End neighborhood. A short walk to the Portland Museum of Art, Maine Medical Center, the Arts District, Old Port, and the Waterfront with shops and fine restaurants. Our six luxurious guest rooms are located on the second and third floors of the historic home. Breakfast is included in with your room and is served in our beautiful dining room. A lovely garden is available during the summer months.
The inn was just fantastic. Check in was a breeze, the rooms were quiet and cozy. And the innkeeper is amazing. She had great suggestions for things to do around Portland and Maine in general, was always very nice whenever we had seen her, and just a great person to chat with. The only drawback to the location is parking. There are only 4 spots available "on premise" so if there are more than 4 rooms booked, there's potential that you may need to park on the street. Even when that did happen to us, though, it was basically right in front of the inn and there was not a time where no parking available. Definitely would not deter us from going back.
4 based on 849 reviews
Built in 1897, the Inn At St. John is one of the best Inns & Portland Maine hotels and is the city’s oldest continuously operated hotel. As a historic Victorian-era building, we offer an array of room styles, all of which are individually appointed and competitively priced. Whether you are searching for romantic luxury accommodation for a weekend getaway, a dog-friendly hotel room to accommodate the whole family, or even an economically priced room for an extended visit, the Inn At St. John is exactly what you are looking for. We are one of the few independently owned and operated hotels in the Portland area. As a result, you will find a complete dedication by our staff to ensure your stay is 100% satisfactory. A great deal of thought goes into every detail of the Inn from the decor to the complimentary breakfast. We think this approach sets us apart from our competitors and are confident you will agree. Conveniently situated in the west end of downtown Portland, the Inn at St. John is easily accessible to everything Portland has to offer. Don’t forget the numerous restaurants, shops, independent art galleries and nightclubs, all within a twenty-five-minute walk from the Inn’s front door. See our Attractions tab for distances from the Inn to popular area destinations.
We've stayed here often enough now so that they know our preferences without being told, and just put them into place without being asked. They know we sometimes need an early check-in and always need a late check-out; that we will want wine glasses in the room when we stay in May but won't need them if we visit other months of the year; that we will need to leave our car in the lot for about 3-4 hours after we check out and store some valuables behind the desk; and all of this will have been pre-arranged before we check in. I'd never stay anywhere else in Portland. We've spent our wedding anniversary there every year (except 2020, of course) and will continue to do so in future!
4.5 based on 432 reviews
Enjoy a stylish, luxurious getaway in Portland, Maine. Our eclectic inn offers 8 unique & comfy rooms to choose from. You'll be delighted by the delicious breakfasts, amazing location near shops and restaurants & more. An exceptional art collection blends with thoughtful, gourmet, small-plates breakfasts and a truly unique vibe. Housed in a three-story Italianate mansion dating from 1889, Pomegranate Inn is like no other Bed & Breakfast you've experienced. Contemporary mixes with traditional in the inspired setting of Portland's lovely West End. Close to this vibrant New England city's Arts District and bustling Old Port, yet quietly set among lovely homes.
I could not more highly recommend the Pomegranate Inn, and everyone who makes it special. My husband and I escaped to Portland for a few nights in Oct 2021, desperate for a change of pace during the pandemic, and stumbled across the Inn on a Condé Nast list of cool places to stay. It looked like a cool, quaint, and personal spot, and the experience was every bit of this and more. The Milikin suite was incredibly spacious, including a separate room full of sun-soaked windows where we could lounge, do yoga, or sit and enjoy the scrumptious chocolate cake(!) that the Innkeeper surprised us with for my husband's birthday. The leaves were changing just outside the windows, so the cobblestones were carpeted with yellow. And the quirky artwork and design throughout the premises meant our eyes were never bored––we could have spent more time inside the Inn and felt like we were living in a storybook. As it was, we used it as a perfect home base to walk around and explore Portland: catch a ferry, stroll on the East End, and visit friends. But what we looked forward to most were the breakfasts in the morning and the cookies at night. Debbie, the Innkeeper, was amazing, and kind, and always had something delicious up her sleeve. The homemade whipped shortbread cookies with maple rum icing were a personal fave, as was the triple cream yogurt with berries, fluffy eggs and asparagus (I don't even like asparagus, but she made the combo delicious) and basically anything that Debbie baked. I'm honestly baffled by other reviews that questioned the breakfast. It's possible they visited at a time when COVID when really affecting services. But as a picky eater and avid world traveler, I can only profess that I was delighted. I would come back in a heartbeat, and hope to be able to again soon. Till then, I will dream about maple rum icing.
4.5 based on 427 reviews
Blind Tiger, besides being everything you see on their site is very welcoming with deep attention to detail and an amazing breakfast! Super friendly and a highlight of our trip. The wood burning fireplace was a amazing and just cool enough on two nights to use it! A second floor sunroom for coffee in the morning was great. It’s a very special place. Thank you!!
4.5 based on 128 reviews
Mercury Inn is a modern, sustainable inn in the heart of downtown Portland. Featuring locally-sourced breakfast made fresh every morning in-house, Mercury Inn is welcoming destination for any kind of traveler. Each guest room has been carefully designed to compliment the unique character of this classic Victorian building that has been welcoming travelers for over 20 years.
The Mercury was within walking distance of everything I came to Portland to do and see, and my suite was beautifully renovated and comfortable and cozy on a chilly rainy weekend. It was immaculate, and I was surprised by how spacious it was, too. The COVID measures in place made everything contact-free but the proprietors were always a text message away, which I really appreciated. The coffee was plentiful and the yogurt was excellent and the local doughnuts were a delightful surprise in the morning! It felt like a perfect home away from home, and I only wish I could have stayed longer. I would definitely stay here again, and hope to before too long!
4 based on 109 reviews
The Inn on Peaks Island is located in the heart of Portland’s Casco Bay, minutes from the vibrant city of Portland, Maine. Just fifteen minutes by boat, it’s the perfect spot to take in an evening sunset & escape for the weekend or a week. The Inn’s seven Maine cottage-style luxury guest rooms feature: Jacuzzi tubs, private decks, and skyline views of Portland making the property the perfect luxury getaway for couples or family travel. Looking to bring a large group? The Inn’s top floor is an apartment-style suite with four bedrooms that can sleep up to eleven people. The Restaurant at Inn on Peaks combines delicious menus with the welcoming spirit of New England. Enjoy elevated coastal cuisine and the freshest Maine seafood.
We noticed when we researched a day trip to Peaks Island that dining options were pretty limited so we called The Inn to make a reservation for our outing the next day. Although reservations are not required, I would highly recommend making one as many people on the ferry come right over to eat with so few other options. They have a very nice outdoor dining space. We enjoyed a couple of cocktails and our lunches were delicious (chowder, bread, quest, turkey panini). The service was excellent despite the fact that they were quite slammed - kudos to them for handling it so well! A great way to spend the day in Portland and this lunch stop made it even better!
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