9 Things to Do in Portland's Old Port
Updated: Mar 7
Downtown Portland, ME is a happening place! Here's what to do with a day or so to explore the Old Port...
One of the major draws to Portland, ME is the historic waterfront downtown area called the 'Old Port.' No matter what time of year, the Old Port offers a lively scene - from lobstermen bringing in their daily catch, to bustling restaurants and coastal shops. Personally, I love to walk the old brick sidewalks and imagine industries of past decades being operated on these streets and the stories these buildings could tell.
The Old Port is the perfect backdrop for a quick morning adventure or a weekend trip, so if you find yourself looking for a few ideas while you're in town, check out my local's list below of 9 fun things to do in the Old Port!
1) Shop the Old Port's quaint coastal stores (including my top recommendations)
3) Snag a donut (before they run out!)
5) Grab some coffee
9) Stop in for a drink at one of my favorite bars
1) Browse the shops on Exchange Street, Fore Street, and Commercial Street
Dozens of cute, coastal, and quaint stores line the downtown streets of Exchange, Middle, Fore, and Commercial Street in the Old Port. Stop in at Blanche & Mimi or Folly 101 for the cutest gifts and accessories, or duck into Lisa-Marie's Made in Maine or The Maine Souvenir Shop for handmade & locally crafted goodies!
While you're out and about in the Old Port, keep your eyes open for Maine's Smallest Store!
2) Check out the working waterfront
Portland remains one of the few publicly accessible working waterfront cities on the east coast, and we are darn proud of that! Thanks to careful protections, this incredible industry is still able to function on Portland's historic wharfs and allows us the opportunity to witness it on a daily basis!
If you’re around in June, be sure to keep an eye out for Walk the Working Waterfront, a fun, family-friendly event hosted by the New England Ocean Cluster each year with demonstrations, tours, and samples of the industry that put Portland on the map. Follow them as well at @walktheworkingwaterfront on Instagram. If you’d like to see more from 2022’s event, check out the Highlight on my IG page @graciegoes_blog!
Head to Commercial Street and walk along the water to witness lobstermen bringing in a catch, fishermen repairing their nets, shipping barges being loaded up with seafood exports and more!
3) Snag a donut (or three)
What other New England city has a donut scene quite like Portland? I submit to you, not a one. Whether you’re looking for breakfast or looking to do a Donut Tour of the city, you cannot go wrong with any of the excellent options in Portland!
Local's Tip - these spectacular bakeries are popular and do run out of donuts daily, so be sure to snag yours early in the day before! Once they're gone, they're gone.
Holy Donut, Eighty 8 Donuts, and Hifi Donuts are three of the usual favorites. If you’re only trying one though, my recommendation will be Holy Donut every time. The Salted Dark Chocolate and the Pomegranate donuts are my go-to ALWAYS, but you HONESTLY can’t go wrong with any of these decadent potato donuts! That’s right – they’re made with potato flour and I swear a little piece of heaven. If you want to read more about Holy Donut's process, check out their website!
4) Snap a photo at the iconic Portland Pier
Photographers, Instagrammers and TikTokers – do I have a photo spot for you! Looking for THE perfect photo to capture your time in Maine? This spot is tucked down a side alley between Portland Pier and Custom House Wharf. If you reach Luke’s Lobster, you’ve gone too far. If you’re really lucky, you might even witness Maine lobstermen coming in with their catch of the day!
Note: This is a working waterfront, so please be respectful of the businesses being run from this wharf.
5) Grab some coffee
Portland has no lack of fabulous coffee shops, and you're going to need a pick-me-up after that donut sugar rush, no question. The most difficult decision may just be where & how often to stop of re-caffeinate! Some of my favorite coffee shops in the Old Port are Bard Coffee, Buzz, Crooked Mile, Arabica and Burke's Perks.
For more detailed information about each shop's specialties and more, see a list of my curated favorite coffee shops (and specifically their iced coffee offerings) here.
6) Bring your pup around for treats
Lemon enjoying a snack outside of Uncommon Paws on Exchange Street & posing in Tommy's Park.
It's no secret that Portland is a very dog friendly city. Many of the businesses up and down Exchange Street would love to see your furry friend tag along with you inside, and some even offer treats or water for your pup while you browse!
Uncommon Paws is the sweetest pet store right in the middle of the Old Port. With Maine themed merchandise from chew toys to bandanas, you'll find the perfect souvenir from Maine for your doggo!
7) Take a tour
Tour Portland by land or by sea, the choice is yours!
Portland by water is sublime. You can experience the views & sweet salty air by boat with any of the tours leaving from Long Wharf, including the Portland Discovery Lighthouse tour and an Odyssey Whale Watching tour! I can attest that both are super fun, but the lighthouse tour is my favorite. What better way to see the Portland skyline, historic forts, and local lighthouses all at once? Tour is 60 minutes long.
Odyssey Whale Watch offers a 3.5-4 hour tour off the coast of Portland. Although we don't have many super-large whales this close off the coast of Maine, you're likely to at least see some dolphins, seals, and possibly a Minke whale! My last Odyssey Whale Watch was the summer of 2020, and at that time they offered a complementary free tour if there was no whale siting on your trip. We almost had to take them up on that, but as we were coming back in from deeper waters we spotted a Minke! Such a fun trip, but be sure to have a full morning or afternoon available, it's a long tour!
Another common sight around Portland are the firetruck tours with Portland Fire Engine Co. These retired vehicles take travelers around the entire peninsula and offer a fascinating narrative of the history of our waterfront city.
8) Try some locally made gelato or ice cream
Need an after-meal treat or mid-afternoon pick me up? Try one of the peninsula’s favorite cold confections.
For classic, old fashioned iced cream try Beals Ice Cream.
For artisanal, "unexpected" flavors try Mount Desert Ice Cream.
And for gelato as inspired as Maine is, try Gorgeous Gelato, or Gelato Fiasco.
9) Stop in for a drink
As you wrap up your day around town, stop in for a cocktail at any of the fun downtown cocktail bars or brewpubs!
Searching for a tasty, Instagram-worthy cocktail? Try Paper Tiger, Via Vecchia, Blyth & Borrow, Independent Ice, or Central Provisions.
More of a pub person looking for a local pour? Gritty McDuffs, The King’s Head, Bull Feeney's, 3-Dollar Deweys, or Maps are some of the best around!
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