Lighthouses, Lobster Shacks & Cobblestone Wharves
From Portland Head Light and the Old Port's cobblestone streets to Casco Bay ferries, the Eastern Promenade and lobster rolls on the wharf: discover Maine's small city with a big food scene.
Information reviewed October 2026 · Live National Weather Service forecast for Portland, ME.
01 / Getting Here & Around
Portland's peninsula is compact and walkable, with ferries to the Casco Bay islands and a short drive to Cape Elizabeth's lighthouses.
Portland International Jetport (PWM) is about 10 minutes from downtown. Amtrak's Downeaster connects Portland with Boston in roughly two and a half hours.
Concord Coach Lines also runs buses from Boston and Logan Airport.
PWM Jetport Info ↗The Old Port, Arts District and Eastern Promenade are walkable, METRO buses serve the city, and Casco Bay Lines ferries leave the Maine State Pier for the islands.
A car is easiest for Cape Elizabeth's lighthouses.
METRO Bus Routes ↗Seasonal rhythm: Summer and early fall are peak season, with the busiest restaurants and ferries. Book boat tours and dinner reservations ahead, and expect cooler, quieter days in spring and late fall.
02 / Interactive Map
Filter by area or type, tap a pin for details, and save places to download as a shareable image.
03 / Iconic Stops
Historic lighthouses, a working waterfront and ocean views around every corner.
Maine's oldest lighthouse, first lit in 1791, stands on rocky cliffs in Fort Williams Park with a small museum in the keepers' house.
Lighthouse Info ↗Cobblestone streets and 19th-century brick buildings packed with shops, restaurants and bars along the working waterfront.
Old Port Guide ↗A hilltop park with sweeping views of Casco Bay's islands, a small beach and a trail along the water.
Park Info ↗An 1807 maritime signal tower, the last of its kind in the U.S., with harbor views from the top.
Observatory Tours ↗A short ferry ride leads to Peaks Island, where you can rent a bike to circle the island's rocky coastline.
Ferry Schedules ↗Maine's largest art museum, with works by Winslow Homer and other American and European artists.
Museum Info ↗04 / Portland Eats
Portland is famous for having one of the best food scenes for its size in the country.
Order a lobster roll at a wharf shack, slurp Maine oysters from nearby river farms, and try fried clams and chowder.
Seafood Guide ↗Portland has dozens of craft breweries, many in East Bayside and the city's industrial pockets, plus bakeries known for Maine potato doughnuts.
Food & Drink Guide ↗05 / 3-Day Plan
Lighthouses, island hopping and Old Port evenings.
Stroll the Old Port's cobblestone streets, take a lighthouse or lobster boat cruise from the wharf, and enjoy oysters and a lobster roll for dinner.
Visit Portland Head Light in Fort Williams Park, continue to Two Lights State Park, and return for sunset on the Eastern Promenade.
Ferry to Peaks Island to bike the shoreline, then visit the Portland Museum of Art and a brewery or two.
Ocean Weather & Winter
Ocean breezes and fog can make the coast much cooler than inland, even in summer. Bring a jacket, and stay back from wet rocks and surf at the lighthouses.
Winters bring snow, ice and nor'easters that can disrupt ferries. Check the forecast and Casco Bay Lines service updates before heading out.
NWS Gray/Portland Office ↗ · City of Portland ↗
06 / Official Resources
Tourism, ferry, museum and weather links for planning your Portland, Maine visit.
About 4 miles, roughly a 15-minute drive to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, where the lighthouse grounds are open to explore.
Not for the Old Port and the downtown peninsula, which are very walkable. A car or rideshare is useful for Cape Elizabeth's lighthouses and beaches.
Summer and early fall offer the warmest weather and the busiest restaurants, with fall foliage in October. Winter is quiet and snowy, with a cozy food and brewery scene.
Clicking "Save" on any location card or map marker stores it directly in your browser's local storage. You can filter the view to "Saved" or choose "Save list as image" in the place list beside the map to generate a clean PNG containing all your chosen stops and addresses for offline navigation.
