Old Port
Old Port
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
The Old Port's fishing piers, cobbled streets, and historic brick buildings will transport you back in time. But the energy of the area is anything but old. It has a buzzing food scene, especially at night when locals and tourists pack into its restaurants and bars. Don't leave without having a taste of the fresh seafood in the area. Grab the ultimate lobster roll along the waterfront's Commercial Street or snag a table at any of its amazing seafood restaurants. From the port, you can take a ferry to explore the secluded islands in Casco Bay. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
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535 within 5 kms
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270 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Odyssey200118643 contributionsOld Port Portland MaineWhat a great spot to relax and spend a few days. Tons of restaurants, bars and retail shops all within walking distance of each other. Jump on board one of the tour ships out to the islands or catch a few lobster.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 June 2024
- Amy L7 contributionsNice areaWe stayed at a hotel walking distance from the area. It is a nice area to walk around, along the shore; a mix of local businesses, shops and restaurants. Even with on a cold, misty and rainy day, it was very pleasant. We got there late, so didn't get to go into many shops. We did stumble upon Browne Trading Market, which is a delightful local gourmet food and wine shop. Then we went to Luke's Lobster for amazing lobster rolls. It is an enjoyable place to spend a couple of hours or more.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 June 2024
- traveltheworld012Rochester, Minnesota17,080 contributionsLoved it! The Old Port area is alive with wonderful aromas and sights. Great visit.Before coming to Portland we were told this is a foodie's heaven. But most of all fresh Maine seafood. Restaurants on the harbor serve fish caught the same day and often from boats right next to them. Cannot get any fresher than that. I acknowledge that some do not like it here (I see that in some reviews), probably looking for some Disney like fantasy place where all is pristine clean and make believe. Not here. This is the real deal, this is how a real fishing harbor is. many places to relax, take a boat ride, dine, shop, enjoy the time and the harbor views. We were here June 4 and 5, 2024. I very highly recommend it, but don't expect a Disneyland version.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 June 2024
- jaybeeFLPalm Harbor, Florida3,447 contributionsA Walk Through HistoryHistoric New England waterfront still active with large fishing/lobstering fleet. Picturesque at every turn with vibrant restaurant/bar scene. There are photo ops at every step of the way as you look down the cobblestoned streets packed with centuries old red brick warehouses, narrow canals lined with the working fleet, and lobster pots stacked high. Loved it and finished our little tour with a stop at one the waterfront restaurants to devour clams and lobsters and down a couple local brews---now that's a good day well spent!!Visited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,309 reviews
Excellent
737
Very good
424
Average
117
Poor
21
Terrible
10
jaybeeFL
Palm Harbor, FL3,447 contributions
Aug 2021
This historic picturesque harbor area is now a restaurant mecca for foodies especially those focused on seafood delights. A number of the wharves have been reconstructed and have shops, bars, and restaurants some of them having live music which is a big draw especially on the weekends when they are jam packed in the high season. Parking is at a premium and difficult to find on the weekends. Portland this time of year is very expensive especially for hotel rooms and restaurants in or close to the "old port."
Written 22 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ThomasTCat
St. Louis, MO781 contributions
Aug 2021
Loved everything about this area except the cost of parking right on the waterfront. The lots there charged $8 an hour until noon and then a flat rate of $40 a day - no hourly rate after noon. There are much more reasonable lots just a few blocks away and it is worth driving around to locate one of those. You can easily spend five or six hours enjoying wonderful area.
Written 3 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
H F
Brick, NJ60 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
Had a nice time shopping here, centrally located. Almost every store was open but note restrooms are closed even at Star Bucks. Very uniques shopping, friendly staff working in the stores. They recommend high rollers on exchange street for Lobster Rolls but it’s closed Monday and Tuesdays.
Parking is $2 an hour, very reasonable. Off season best shopping around and close to 3 lighthouses.
Parking is $2 an hour, very reasonable. Off season best shopping around and close to 3 lighthouses.
Written 3 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory M
Westchester, IL337 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The Old Port is your typical tourist area with bars, restaurants, galleries, t-shirt shops and souvenir shops with nothing you need but everything tourists buy. At least it was a nice day for a stroll window shopping and the food was good. It’s only about 8 blocks by 4 blocks so it is easy to cover. There is on street metered parking with a 2 hour limit and parking garages for $5/hour maximum $40.
Written 17 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JNYCwriter
New York City, NY7,517 contributions
Sept 2020 • Friends
Of course the Old Port is a destination for anyone visiting Portland and a focal point for the City. You will see the old cobblestone streets and the various docks that comprise the port. These days tourist establishments such as ice cream stores are well represented. However, if you admire the Customs House you can also imagine a working port.
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dinerdon
Bayville, NJ963 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
The old port still has some charm with the buildings and cobblestones. Some shops still around to browse. My reason for going are the restaurants I like. Fore st, Street and Co, Scales and Becky's diner. Also take the 5am Sunrise cruise on the Casco Bay lines.
Cannabis has made its way there and a lot of shops selling so be aware. Hotels and parking are expensive. Fall is high season so make reservations for restaurants and hotels. Hotels are short staffed and overpriced but its supply and demand. Cruise ships dock there in the fall so daytime are crowded and waits for lunchtime spots neat the dock (ie Gilberts etc) have lines of cruisers looking to sample the seafood. Like all cities these days there were a few homeless around but none were aggressive towards us and we felt fairly safe at night.
Take time to visit Portland light and a drive up to Boothbay to a lobster pound for lunch.
Cannabis has made its way there and a lot of shops selling so be aware. Hotels and parking are expensive. Fall is high season so make reservations for restaurants and hotels. Hotels are short staffed and overpriced but its supply and demand. Cruise ships dock there in the fall so daytime are crowded and waits for lunchtime spots neat the dock (ie Gilberts etc) have lines of cruisers looking to sample the seafood. Like all cities these days there were a few homeless around but none were aggressive towards us and we felt fairly safe at night.
Take time to visit Portland light and a drive up to Boothbay to a lobster pound for lunch.
Written 4 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
msu_mom
Troy, MI1,471 contributions
July 2022 • Couples
We expected so much more. Parking was a nuisance. Street parking is free on Sunday but when we arrived shortly after 10 there was none available. So we paid $8.50 an hour for a lot.
Walked around for a while but didn't find it particularly charming and there were many homeless people. We wouldn't return.
Walked around for a while but didn't find it particularly charming and there were many homeless people. We wouldn't return.
Written 17 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave N
Tewksbury, MA2 contributions
July 2022
My wife and 2 dogs are staying in Wells, ME for the week and thought it would be nice to visit Portland. I did a little research and off we went to the section called Old Port. We found a parking lot and the guy told us where to park and pointed us where to pay. When I went to pay I couldn’t believe it……$45 to park….up until 2am…..it was a little after 11am and we were going to be there may 3 hours. So thinking something must be wrong I asked the parking person and he said welcome to Portland in the summer. On top of it when I did complete the transaction they also charged me a 7% fee because I was using a credit card which by the way is the only option given. I check a couple of other lots managed by UPP and all where the same amount. NEVER AGAIN. Portland and UPP you should be ashamed of yourself. Just a complete money grab. Lunch was great at the Lobster Pound with the dogs sitting on the deck. The shops were very dog friendly. But I will never go back with parking that high.
Written 27 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME14,532 contributions
Oct 2021
Old Port is packed with mostly tourists day and night. When we went on a Saturday in mid-October, it was still busy. It's a great place to spend some time, whether you're strolling, browsing, shopping, eating, drinking, going on some scenic boat trips, or just admiring the historic architecture. The unusually warm mid-October weather makes all the outdoor dining spaces that are lit up with colorful lights and lanterns especially nice.
Written 16 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TWB
Cincinnati, OH2,484 contributions
Sept 2022
We had one day to tour Portland and after researching, chose to explore Old Port. Fantastic decision. You can see a good bit here in a day, days would be good for me too. Beautiful buildings, streets, waterfronts. Enough pubs, restaurants and shopping to keep you otherwise. Parking was tricky, but we knew that going in. We parked at a lower priced lot next to Lincoln Park for the first half of the day, then when that lot closed we relocated and paid more for the last few hours of the day which shaved off enough to buy us dinner.
Written 8 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there shopping near the cruise terminal in Portland me? I see there are restaurants.
Written 18 October 2024
Is there shopping near the cruise terminal in Portland me? I see their are restaurants
Written 18 October 2024
Parking? Were to park to find the shops at? Thank you
Written 28 October 2019
There are two major parking garages in the old port, one on Fore St. and one on Pearl St. They are near all of the stores.
Written 28 October 2019
Dining reps for downtown area on foot.
Written 13 June 2019
EVO on Fore St was excellent and fun, small plates, eclectic food, good beer and wine, little pricey but worth it.
Central Provisions on Fore St also was a good one
and Andy's down on Commercial St.
Written 14 June 2019
Would this area be dog friendly for walking around?? We will be there early June 2019. Thanks
Written 20 May 2019
So much depends on the dog and on what you want to do while you are in the Old Port. The Old Port area is famed for its diverse places to shop, dine, and drink. A dog may more OK for some, less OK for others. Exchange Street, in Old Port's heart, has two pocket parks; another is on Commercial Street near Casco Bay Lines. In high season, local summer traffic can be intense at times, both on sidewalks and on streets, and it's not limited just to rush hour times, but extends well into evenings. Early June should be a little less thronged than other summer months. Best of luck to you!
Written 20 May 2019
Hello. Myself and two other adults are visiting this Sept. Any casual dining recommendations? Our itinerary includes flying into Manchester NH and traveling through Portland and Bangor. We like lighthouses, beaches and historic buildings or areas. Thank you in advance.
Written 14 January 2019
You'll have a wonderful time in Bangor as well as Portland. There are trolleys in Portland that do a combination 1-2 hour trolley trip through the historic spots of Portland which are tremendously informative and cover the entire town in an open-air trolley. They do a short 15 minute stop at one of the best lighthouses surrounded by wonderful gardens... you can even get a lobster roll there at one of the food stands. Then, the boat trip provides a cruise which shows you all of the lighthouses from the ocean-side. It has clean bathrooms, a bar with mixed drinks/beer/wine/soft drinks and light snacks. You can sit outside or inside. In all cases, the views are great. Check my reviews on Portland and Bangor for more details.
Written 14 January 2019
I visited Portland Maine at the beginning of October (2018) and stayed in the Holiday Inn by the bay, it was fabulous and all the staff were friendly and helpful, we had a fridge and a microwave in our room, which was helpful as we stayed their for a week
Written 12 January 2019
To give a proper answer this traveller must make his question clearer.
Written 19 February 2018
Are shops and restaurants in old port open by April 26, 2018
Written 17 February 2018
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