Portland, Maine is a fantastic city for food (and beer!) lovers. Between the incredible food scene, coastal views, and one of the best brewery scenes in the country, it quickly became one of my favorite stops during our Maine trip. We spent a few days here before heading up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and honestly, it set the tone for the entire trip.
Why Visit Portland, Maine?
Portland hits a really nice balance of:
- Great restaurants + lobster rolls
- Walkable downtown + waterfront views
- Top-tier breweries
- Easy access to lighthouses and coastal drives
It’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning eating your way through the Old Port and the afternoon exploring the coast.
If you’re building a larger trip, this pairs perfectly with a drive through Midcoast Maine or continuing on to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park.Lighthouses + Coastal Views Near Portland (Don’t Skip These Stops)
One of the best parts about visiting Portland is how easy it is to get out and explore some of the most iconic lighthouses in Maine. You can hit several of these in a single afternoon, and each one has its own vibe.
Here’s what we checked out:
Portland Head Light (Cape Elizabeth)
This is the one you’ve definitely seen before — and yes, it’s worth it.
It’s the oldest lighthouse in Maine, and the views here are unreal. You also get a great look across the water at Ram Island Light, which makes the whole setting feel even more dramatic.
Right next door is Fort Williams Park, which is perfect for walking around, hanging out, and just soaking in the views.
Bug Light Park
This was one of the more unique stops.
Bug Light is only about 30 feet tall, making it the smallest lighthouse we saw on the trip. It has a totally different look compared to the others — almost more decorative — and it’s a quick, easy stop if you’re nearby.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Just around the corner from Bug Light, this one is slightly taller at 54 feet and sits at the end of a rocky breakwater.
You can walk right out to it, which makes it one of the more interactive lighthouse experiences in the area.
Two Lights State Park (Cape Elizabeth Light)
This stop is more about the coastal views than getting up close to the lighthouse itself.
The lighthouses are in a residential area, so you can’t access them directly, but the views from the park are still worth the stop — especially on a clear day.
Kayaking at Crescent Beach State Park
This ended up being one of the most fun things we did in the area.
We went ocean kayaking with Portland Paddle near Crescent Beach State Park, and it was such a great way to experience the coastline from a different perspective. If you have the time, I’d highly recommend adding this to your itinerary.
Where to Eat in Portland (Don’t Skip These Spots)
Let’s start with the most important part — the food.
Portland has one of the best food scenes in New England, and we made it a point to try as much as possible.
The Honey Paw and Eventide Oyster Co.
This ended up being our favorite dinner of the trip.
We put our name in at Eventide Oyster Co., then grabbed a table next door at The Honey Paw while we waited — which turned into the perfect move. We ended up doing small plates at both, and everything we had was incredible.
Eventide is known for their brown butter lobster roll, and it absolutely lives up to the hype. Pairing that with some of the more creative dishes from Honey Paw made this one of the most memorable meals of the trip.
This is a much more creative, over-the-top take on lobster rolls.
Think different sauces, toppings, and combinations you won’t find at a traditional shack. It’s a fun, slightly more indulgent stop and definitely worth mixing in with the more classic spots.
We visited both locations, and this is one of the best places to try different styles of lobster rolls.
If you can, go to the location near Allagash Brewing Company — grabbing a lobster roll and a beer here is about as good as it gets. Super relaxed, super satisfying
Duckfat
A Portland staple. Everything here is fried in duck fat, and the fries alone are worth the stop. Add a panini and you’ve got a perfect lunch.
Holy Donut
If you do one breakfast stop, make it this. Their potato donuts are unreal — soft, slightly dense, and packed with flavor.
This place was packed — the line was wrapped around the block when we went, even though I ordered ahead.
The malted iced coffee was awesome, and the pastries were just as good. Definitely worth planning ahead for this one.
A simple soft serve spot, but exactly what you want on a summer day.
Nothing fancy — just a perfect stop to cool down after bouncing around Portland.
If you’re heading north or south, this is a must-stop.
Great beer (obviously), but the pizza was surprisingly one of the highlights. This is a perfect mid-drive stop to break things up.
One of the highest-rated lobster rolls in the area, and for good reason.
It’s right on the water and feels like a classic Maine seafood stop. Definitely one of the stronger traditional lobster rolls we had.
Another great, classic stop — and it’s been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
This is more of a no-frills seafood shack, but the lobster roll absolutely delivers.
If you’re someone who plans trips around food (same), you’ll probably also enjoy my St. Louis food guide or my week in Lakeside Michigan, which hit that same “eat and drink your way through a city” vibe.
Portland’s Brewery Scene (A Must-Do)
Portland is one of the best beer cities in the country, and brewery hopping here is a must.
Some of the standouts:
We spent a good chunk of time just bouncing between breweries, and it was easily one of the highlights of the trip.
If you’re into trips like this, you’d also love my Richmond brewery crawl and my Asheville brewery itinerary, which follow a similar game plan.
Final Thoughts: Is Portland, Maine Worth Visiting?
100%.
Portland is one of those cities that’s easy to love. The food is incredible, the beer scene is top-tier, and the coastal setting ties everything together.
Whether you’re stopping for a few days or using it as part of a larger Maine trip, it’s absolutely worth your time.
Need more travel inspiration, here are some of my favorites:
- Tilghman Island, Maryland
- Glamping in Asheboro, NC
- Shenandoah, VA
- Nelson County, VA
- Long Beach Island, NJ
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