Portland
1 hostel · dorms from $46
A small, walkable city with a big food and brewery scene.
Points of interest
- Old Port
- Portland Head Light
- Eastern Promenade
- Breweries
State guide
Things to do in Maine
A rocky, wild coastline of lighthouses and lobster shacks, Acadia National Park, the food and breweries of Portland, and huge northern forests where the Appalachian Trail ends.
1
Hostels across its 3 main cities
8.9
Average, from 381 reviews
4–5
Days to do it properly
The rocky coast of New England
Maine is the most north-eastern state, a place of pine forests, granite coastline and small harbour towns. Its coast is cut into thousands of bays, inlets and islands, dotted with lighthouses and lobster boats, and it is the setting most people picture when they think of New England.
Portland, the biggest city, is small, walkable and known for one of the best food scenes in the country for its size, with breweries, oyster bars and lobster rolls. Up the coast, towns such as Camden and Boothbay Harbor lead to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, with granite peaks rising straight from the sea. Inland, the North Woods are almost empty, and Mount Katahdin, in Baxter State Park, is the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.
Give Maine four or five days: a day or two in Portland, a drive up the coast, and two days in Acadia. The season is short: summer and early autumn are best, and many coastal businesses close from late October to May.
Where to base yourself
Portland for the south, and Bar Harbor for Acadia.
Bar Harbor
The gateway town to Acadia National Park.
Points of interest
- Acadia National Park
- Cadillac Mountain
- Whale watching
- Shore Path
Camden
A pretty harbour town on the Midcoast.
Points of interest
- Windjammer sailing
- Mount Battie
- Camden Hills State Park
Regions of Maine
The coast is where most travellers go. The interior is lakes, forest and mountains.
Southern Coast
Beaches, PortlandSandy beaches, Kennebunkport and Portland.
Midcoast
Harbour towns, sailingCamden, Rockland and Boothbay Harbor along Route 1.
Downeast and Acadia
National park, Bar HarborMount Desert Island, Acadia and the wild coast beyond.
The Maine Highlands
Katahdin, wildernessBaxter State Park and the end of the Appalachian Trail.
Moosehead and the Western Mountains
Lakes, moose, raftingBig lakes, the Kennebec River and ski mountains.
Things to do
Things to do in Maine
In Portland, walk the Old Port's cobbled streets and wharves, eat a lobster roll and visit the breweries. Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the USA, is a short drive away in Cape Elizabeth.
Drive or take buses up Route 1 along the coast through harbour towns such as Camden, where you can sail on a traditional windjammer schooner, and Boothbay Harbor. In Acadia National Park, drive or hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise (a vehicle reservation is needed in peak season), cycle the old carriage roads, walk the Ocean Path and climb the iron rungs of the Beehive trail.
Inland, hike in Baxter State Park and climb Katahdin, the end of the Appalachian Trail, raft the Kennebec River, or look for moose around Moosehead Lake. In summer, whale-watching boats leave from Bar Harbor.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Portland's Old Port, Eastern Promenade and Back Cove trail are free, and Fort Williams Park, home of Portland Head Light, is free to walk.
Many beaches and coastal walks are free, though parking may cost. Harbour towns along Route 1 are free to wander.
Acadia charges a park entry fee, and from 2026 international visitors aged 16 and over pay a $100 surcharge on top.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Lobster is Maine's signature: lobster rolls, either cold with mayonnaise or warm with butter, and whole lobsters at lobster pounds by the water. Oysters, clam chowder and fried clams are everywhere along the coast.
Wild blueberries are the state fruit, in pies and pancakes, and whoopie pies are the state treat. Portland has a huge number of restaurants and breweries for its size.
Lobster prices change with the season and the catch.
Nightlife
Going out
Portland has a good bar and brewery scene, with live music in the Old Port and on Congress Street.
Bar Harbor has pubs and restaurants that are busy in summer. Elsewhere, nights are quiet.
In summer, the long evenings are best spent by the water.
Getting around
Getting around
Portland has an airport, and the Amtrak Downeaster runs from Boston to Portland in around two and a half hours. Concord Coach Lines buses run up the coast towards Bar Harbor.
In Acadia, the free Island Explorer buses run around the park and Bar Harbor in summer and early autumn.
To explore the coast and the interior properly, hire a car. Distances are long and Route 1 is slow in summer.
Costs
What Maine costs
Maine is expensive in summer, when coastal accommodation fills up. Portland has a hostel, and elsewhere campsites and motels are the budget options.
Sales tax is 5.5 per cent, with higher rates on lodging and prepared food. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Acadia charges an entry fee, and from 2026 international visitors pay an extra $100 per person. The $250 annual pass for international visitors covers that surcharge if you are visiting several parks.
Safety
Safety and scams
Maine is very safe. The main risks are outdoors.
The Atlantic is very cold, even in summer. On Acadia's rocky shore, waves can sweep people off the rocks, so stay back in rough seas. Weather on Katahdin and in the mountains changes quickly.
Ticks are common, and moose on the roads are a real danger at dusk and at night. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Lobster festivals, windjammers and autumn colour.
Early August
Maine Lobster Festival
Rockland
Five days of lobster, parades and music.
Late May to October
Windjammer season
Camden and Rockland
Sailing trips on traditional schooners.
Late September to mid-October
Autumn colour
Across the state
The forests turn red and gold.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels across Maine's main towns, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
July and August are warm and busy. June and September are quieter and still pleasant. Late September and October bring autumn colour. Winter is long and snowy, and many coastal businesses close.
Jan
Cold, snowy
Feb
Cold
Mar
Cold, mud season
Apr
Cool
May
Spring, quiet
Jun
Pleasant
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Peak season
Sep
Pleasant, quieter
Oct
Autumn colour
Nov
Quiet, many places closed
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Portland, rounded. The coast is cooler.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on summer prices.
Treat these as a guide. Park fees and boat trips cost extra.
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Maine questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Maine?
Four or five: Portland, the drive up the coast and two days in Acadia.
Do I need a car in Maine?
It helps. Trains reach Portland and buses run up the coast, and Acadia has free summer shuttle buses.
How much is Acadia National Park?
There is a standard entry fee, and from 2026 international visitors aged 16 and over pay an extra $100. The $250 annual pass covers multiple parks.
When is the best time to visit Maine?
June to early October. July and August are busiest; September and early October are quieter, with autumn colour.
Where can I eat the best lobster in Maine?
At lobster pounds and shacks along the coast, where it is fresh and simple.
How do I get from Boston to Portland?
By the Amtrak Downeaster, around two and a half hours, or by bus.
Do I need a reservation for Cadillac Mountain?
Yes, a vehicle reservation is needed for the summit road in peak season.
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