Top Portland Cultural Tours

Explore the heart of Portland and head out to see some of the area's hidden gems and less-visited spots with this guided sightseeing tour. Your guide, a born-and-raised Portlander who works as a college librarian by day, shows you off-the-beaten-path locations and shares with you all sorts of local lore along the way.

Visitors to Portland can easily miss some of Maine's most stunning sights, since you really need a car to explore the scenic coastline. Avoid the headache of arranging your own transportation, or renting a car, on this guided tour of Portland's must-see sights. Stop in downtown Portland, and visit three lighthouses, including Portland Head Light—an historic lighthouse perched on the rocky coast.

Visit Portland’s scenic coast, historic sites and most vibrant neighborhoods with a sightseeing and shopping tour on a classic fire engine. Get great views of picture-perfect lighthouses and architecture from high up on the engine, and listen to live narration as you tour the city. Learn about Portland’s maritime past as you explore cobblestone streets with enjoy plenty of time to browse souvenir shops and sample the area’s most distinctive foods. Finish your tour in the heart of downtown, near historic wharves, restaurants and boutiques.

Learn about Portland's history with this walking tour, which will take you through the Old Port, downtown, and waterfront areas. You'll see all sorts of historic attractions, including the home of Hendry Wadsworth-Longfellow, the Eastern Cemetery, and the Abyssinian Church, all with a professional guide on hand to share stories about the city's past.

See a new vantage on Portland and the Maine coast—and enjoy a relaxing excursion out on the water—on this sailing tour. Make your own way to the Maine State Pier, and hop aboard a traditional, Maine-built windjammer. Once you set sail, soak up the sea breezes, look out for seals, and even take a turn at hoisting the sails or behind the ship’s wheel.

Looking for a romantic way to watch the sunset while in Maine? How about chartering a vintage lobster boat and heading out to Casco Bay, where you'll take in great views of the sea and coastline. Your captain and guide will be on board to point out lighthouses and natural feature, and you're welcome to bring food and beverages, even the adult kind, on board.

Charter a vintage lobster boat, dubbed MONHEGAN, and set sail with this two-hour tour into Casco Bay. You'll get great views of the Maine coastline, passing by four lighthouses as you go. This is a great opportunity to take photos of the coastline and waters, while learning about local nautical history from a knowledgeable captain.

This self-guided GPS audio walk brings you through one of the most beautiful vistas in Portland, Maine. It starts with a spectacular overlook of Portland Harbor, Casco Bay and the islands, and continues down by the waterfront to East End Beach. Along the way, you’ll hear stories from a local about what it was like growing up on Munjoy Hill and having access to the Eastern Prom. As you cross the railroad tracks, you’ll hear from the engineers that keep the historic steam engines running. Included are tips on what birds to look out for depending on the time of year. Put on a pair of headphones and start the tour by downloading the app. The audio plays automatically at exactly the right place using your smartphone’s GPS. This self-guided tour is narrated by Dianne Ballon - a sound artist, sound designer and an avid bird watcher. She invites you to discover through sight and sound the Eastern Promenade — a place she returns to in all seasons.

Combine a tour of Portland's lighthouses with a visit to the waterfront fish pier with this private tour. You'll visit Portland Head Light, the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, and Bug Light Park, with the chance to learn about the lobster industry at the waterfront fish pier once you are done.