The Perfect One Day in Portland, Maine Itinerary
Portland is a beautiful coastal city in Maine that should be on every bucket list. Although many people only visit in the summer, it is the perfect place for a getaway year-round! You can enjoy exploring its shops, visiting lighthouses, eating delicious food, and enjoying coastal views.
Although you can spend a weekend exploring everything Portland offers, you can see many must-see attractions in one day! This guide has everything you need to know about spending the perfect one day in Portland, Maine!
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Tips for Visiting Portland, Maine
Start your day early. Because you only have one day in Portland, I recommend starting your day bright and early! It will give you plenty of time to explore everything the city offers.
Expect crowds at the lighthouses. The lighthouses near Portland are among the best things to do in the area, so they are always crowded, especially in the summer. Even during the sunrise and sunset, you will not be the only one visiting the lighthouses during the peak season.
Visit in the off-season. Winter and early spring are beautiful times to visit without crowds. Although Portland is cold in the off-season, it is a fun winter destination.
Take a lighthouse cruise instead of driving. If you want to avoid driving and dealing with crowds, I recommend booking a lighthouse cruise! The lighthouse cruises bring you around the harbor and give you a unique experience of seeing the lighthouses near Portland.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
How to Get Around Portland, Maine
Although the downtown area in Portland is small, I recommend renting a car for the trip. You can easily park your car in one spot in the morning as you walk around downtown, but you will need a car to drive to see its lighthouses.
Although the public transportation in Portland is great, it does not bring you to the lighthouses. Renting a car is the best way to enjoy a lighthouse tour.
Where to Stay for Your One Day in Portland, Maine
If you are spending the night in Portland, you will not have a shortage of places to stay! Portland has plenty of accommodations for all budgets, allowing you to find the perfect place no matter what season you visit.
Map of One Day in Portland, Maine Itinerary
The Best One Day in Portland, Maine Itinerary
Because you only have one day in Portland, this itinerary is jam-packed with the best things to do. You will enjoy eating delicious food, walking through the downtown area, exploring lighthouses, and going on a sunset boat cruise. Make sure to get to Portland early, so you can make the most of your one day in the city!
Breakfast and Famous Donuts in Portland, Maine
Because you are starting your day off bright and early, you can enjoy a delicious breakfast in Portland! Although Portland is known for its seafood and lobster rolls, it has incredible breakfast restaurants.
Here are some of my favorite places to eat breakfast in Portland, Maine:
Bayside American Cafe
Marcy's Diner
Miss Portland Diner
Becky's Diner
And, of course, after breakfast, you need a donut! Holy Donut has the most delicious donuts made of potatoes! They even have many gluten-free and vegan options, allowing everyone to enjoy them!
The Holy Donut is popular, so I recommend arriving early to grab your donuts before they sell out. You can also place an order online before you walk there. In the summer, the Holy Donut can sell out early in the morning.
Old Port
Old Port is one of the most beautiful sections in Portland, in my opinion. It transports you back in time with its cobblestone streets and brick buildings. It is also right along the Fore River, allowing you to enjoy some beautiful views.
Old Port has many cute shops to explore, too! Even if you do not want to shop, it is a beautiful place to enjoy a walk. In the summer, local vendors also set up outdoor shops where you can buy some local goods.
Portland Museum of Art
If you love art, I recommend visiting the Portland Museum of Art. It is a quick walk or drive from Old Port, making it easy to add to your itinerary.
It is the oldest and largest art museum in Maine, offering over 19,000 art pieces. It is a great way to spend an hour or two if you love art!
Victoria Mansion
The Victoria Mansion is a quick walk from the Portland Museum of Art and is a great place to visit if you love history. The Victoria Mansion (also known as the Morse-Libby House) was built around 1860 with stunning interior and exterior architecture.
You can enjoy a self-guided tour of the mansion while learning about its unique history.
Portland Observatory
If art and history are not your thing, do not worry! You can enjoy a beautiful scenic view of Portland from the Portland Observatory.
The observatory was built in 1807 as a communication station for the busy harbor.
You can enjoy a fun tour of the Portland Observatory and its stunning 360-degree views of Portland and its harbor from the top.
Lunch and Famous Lobster Rolls in Portland, Maine
You already know you will have to enjoy seafood during your one day in Portland since it is known for having some of the best, especially lobster rolls.
And if you do not like seafood, do not worry! Portland has plenty of great restaurants that offer every other type of dish.
Here are just a few of the best seafood restaurants in Portland, Maine:
Luke's Lobster Portland Pier
Becky's Diner
Gilbert's Chowder House
Old Port Sea Grill & Raw Bar
Bug Light
Your afternoon during your one day in Portland, Maine, consists of visiting Portland’s famous lighthouses! Bug Light is the closest lighthouse to Portland, and although it is the smallest (only 26 feet tall), it does not lack beauty and is considered one of the most elegant lighthouses.
Bug Light sits in the 9-acre Bug Light Park, offering beautiful skyline views of Portland. Bug Light Park is also home to Liberty Ship Memorial, which was built to commemorate the 30,000 individuals who worked there in WWII and built the ships.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is the next lighthouse on our itinerary and requires a short walk to enjoy the beautiful structure.
The lighthouse sits on a 950-foot breakwater and is only accessible by walking along it or viewing it near the parking lot. If you are up for it, the walk along the breakwater is a fun adventure and gives you an up close and personal experience with Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.
Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light is next on the list, and it is the most iconic lighthouse in Portland for good reasons!
The stunning lighthouse sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean in the 90-acre Fort Williams Park and is so picturesque that it is among the most photographed lighthouses in the US. Portland Head Light is also a perfect spot for sunrise!
Although you cannot explore inside the lighthouse, you can enjoy the beautiful views of it around Fort Williams Park. You can also visit the museum in the keepers’ house to learn more about the fascinating history of Portland Head Light and browse the gift shop.
Two Lights State Park
If you have time, you can also visit Two Lights State Park, one of the most visited state parks in Maine. The 41-acre state park is a quick drive from Portland Head Light and offers trails along the rocky coastline, where you can see two of its lighthouses.
Although only one lighthouse is active (the other is a home), you can see them from the rocky coast at the end of Two Lights Road near On the Rocks at Two Lights.
Although the lighthouses are beautiful, the real beauty of the area is the rocky coastline overlooking the ocean. It is a beautiful state park to visit if you have time during your one day in Portland!
Dinner in Portland, Maine
After your fun lighthouse tour, it is time to head back to Portland and enjoy a delicious dinner! Whether you want to enjoy more seafood, a quick burger, or a fancy meal, Portland has restaurants for any type of food!
Here are a few of my favorite dinner restaurants in Portland, Maine, although you cannot go wrong with anywhere you eat.
Saltwater Grille
David's Restaurant
Nosh Kitchen Bar
Black Cow Burgers & Fries
Central Provisions
Portland Sunset Boat Cruise
If you visit in the summer, I recommend booking a sunset boat cruise after dinner! What is a better way to end the day than watching the sunset on the water?!
Most sunset cruises are about two hours, sailing around the harbor while enjoying the sunset. It is magical!
Portland Schooner Co and Sail Portland Maine are two of my favorite companies that offer sunset boat cruises. You will not be disappointed with it!
If you want to spend one day in Portland, Maine, you are in the right place! This guide is the perfect place to start to plan the best one-day itinerary in Portland.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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