Things to do in  Bar Harbor

Located on Maine's Schoodic Peninsula and Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park is a New England gem. You'll find diverse areas to explore, from dense woodlands and vast lakes to the tallest mountains on the Northeast coast. There are endless adventures on offer, such as catching the country’s first sight of sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, camping on the remote shores of Duck Harbor, and hearing waves crashing in the park's famed Thunder Hole Inlet.

Looking east out of Maine’s Bar Harbor, a scenic panorama lies before you: Frenchman Bay. Dotted with islands, the bay forms the eastern boundary of Acadia National Park—you can rest assured that the views here are spectacular in all directions, not just from where the sun rises. This is a popular spot for sailing, boating, and strolls along the gentle water.

For 3 hours at low tide—90 minutes before and after—it’s possible to walk across to Bar Island from the town of Bar Harbor by crossing the Bar Island Land Bridge. Walk or drive a 4WD across the gravel and sand land bridge to go tidepooling, launch a kayak, or hike around the island for views over Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay.

A century ago, the Abbe Museum was founded to showcase the history and culture of the Wabanaki Nations, the Indigenous peoples whose ancestral land includes what is now Bar Harbor. The museum’s collection of 70,000 objects is complemented by educational programming and community events, and the Abbe has a satellite location as well, at Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park.

Think of Village Green as Bar Harbor’s town square—but one that caters heavily to tourists. This central spot is where you’ll find scores of buses lining up to take visitors into Acadia National Park. But this pretty green space is also a great spot to picnic on a patch of lawn, people-watch, and more.

Built in 1932, Bar Harbor’s Criterion Theater offers a rare look at the city’s post–Gilded Age past. An intimate Art Deco performance space, the Criterion has somehow survived the eras, still putting on year-round concerts, performances, movies, and more. For a slice of Bar Harbor history and entertainment, this spot packs a 1-2 punch.

You can learn an awful lot from a town’s local library. Bar Harbor’s Jesup Memorial Library is a gem from the early 20th century, built in the style of classic academic libraries. Come here on a tour, or visit to admire the space, grab some peace and quiet, or spend a simple afternoon among the books, maps, and Maine history.