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Old Port, Portland, ME

Photo: Seasider53, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFoodie FavoriteFreeDate Night

Old Port

Exchange, Fore, Wharf and Commercial Sts · Portland, ME

Why you should go…

The Old Port is Portland's historic harbor district, rebuilt in brick and granite after the Great Fire of 1866. You can walk Exchange and Fore Streets past galleries, boutiques and restaurants, then drop down cobbled Wharf Street to Commercial Street, where lobster boats, fish markets and piers line the water. The granite Custom House at 312 Fore Street dates from 1867 to 1872, and Casco Bay Lines ferries leave from the Maine State Pier.

  • #historic district
  • #waterfront
  • #shopping
  • #restaurants
  • #nightlife

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Old Port, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Eat & Drink
    Foodie Favorite

    The Holy Donut

    Under $25

    A Portland, Maine bakery famous for dense, made-from-scratch potato doughnuts in inventive flavors.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Portland Schooner Co.

    $50+

    Windjammer sails on Casco Bay aboard classic Maine schooners.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Portland, Maine

    Free

    Maine's largest city, known for its Old Port district and food scene.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Portland Museum of Art

    Under $25

    See Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, Monet and Picasso across three linked buildings in Portland's downtown Arts District.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Portland Head Light

    Free

    Walk the grounds of Fort Williams Park to Maine's oldest lighthouse, first lit in 1791, and its keeper's house museum.

    3.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Saco

    Free

    Historic riverside downtown in southern Maine with shops, restaurants and a self-guided river walking tour.

    15 mi awayMore like this