All Portland Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

Portland City and Lighthouse Tour

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 small-group 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.

Portland Explorer | Maine History, Culture, & 3 Lighthouses Tour

Sunset Lighthouse Cruise

Afternoon Lighthouse Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Dive straight into Portland’s working waterfront—where the smell of the sea, and the bustle of the wharves, set the tone for an unforgettable walk through the city’s past. This immersive experience blends local history with maritime culture, offering a deeper look at how Portland grew from a rugged seaport into one of New England’s most vibrant coastal cities. As you stroll the cobblestone streets and working wharfs, your guide will share tales of shipbuilders, merchants, fires, and fishermen who shaped Portland’s story.

Portland Explorer: Working Waterfront Walking Tour with Seafood

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

The Real Portland Tour: City and 3 Lighthouses Historical Tour with a Real Local

Sunset Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Avoid the tourist traps and taste Portland, Maine's best donuts on a small-group walking tour. Follow your guide around the Old Port and sample several hand-picked donuts at award-winning bakeries with coffee or water included. Walk a scenic loop while hearing stories of Portland’s history and the invention of the donut. This tour offers a flavorful mix of food and local tales, perfect for food lovers and families alike.

Portland Walking Food Tour – Warm Donuts, History & Hidden Gems

Experience the scenic coastline of Casco Bay in Portland, aboard a traditional Maine windjammer. Sail past lighthouses, rocky islands, and wildlife while enjoying the peaceful pace of a classic schooner cruise. Bring your own picnic and drinks to enjoy on board as you take in the views. Suitable for all ages, this relaxing sailing experience offers an authentic way to discover the beauty of the coast.

Afternoon Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Food lovers can explore Portland's historic Old Port independently, but to uncover the best places serving traditional local fare, you really need a guide to lead the way. Taste the best that Portland has to offer on this guided foodie walking tour, complete with stops at up to seven different eateries—and enough tastings to replace a meal. Along the way, your guide offers some stories about Portland's food scene, so you can get familiar with the local culinary stalwarts.

Old Port Culinary Walking Tour from Portland

3 hoursFree Cancellation

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.

Vintage Fire Truck Sightseeing Tour of Portland Maine

50 minutesFree Cancellation

On this walking tour, we’ll explore the city’s significant role in the Underground Railroad and the individuals who helped shape its fight for freedom. The tour is self guided on our walking tour app. It's hands free, plays as you walk and you can go at your own pace, anytime, it never expires. You’ll walk through historic streets where ordinary citizens took extraordinary risks to assist those escaping slavery. We’ll visit former homes, churches, and workplaces that served as safe havens and meeting places for abolitionists, reformers, and community leaders. Each stop demonstrates how Portland’s waterfront and neighborhoods became centers of courage, compassion, and quiet resistance. Let’s start our journey at the Mariner’s Church Banquet Center, a landmark that saw both Portland’s growth and its dedication to justice.

Portland Underground Railroad Self Guided Audio Walking Tour

1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Join us for 1 1/2 hours as we cruise along the rugged coastline, complete with lighthouses, seals, seabirds, and historic forts. Pack a meal, bring your favorite wine or beer, and sit back and relax as you slip through the tranquil waters of Casco Bay. All ages are welcome! Whether you are nine years old or 99, cruising aboard Ruth is a unique adventure, a 39’ long classic, picnic style tour boat built in 1935 at Handy Boat in Falmouth, Maine.

Morning Lighthouse Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Discover the fascinating Desert of Maine, a unique ecological wonder nestled in the lush pine forests of Freeport. This general admission and mini golf combo ticket grants you access to acres of rolling sand dunes, rich history, engaging exhibits, and mini golf. Explore the Tuttle Farmhouse interactive museum, embark on a self-guided ecology tour, and enjoy activities like a scavenger hunt. The Desert of Maine not only offers a glimpse into geological processes but also provides a fun-filled day of adventure for families and curious travelers alike. Come uncover the stories of this century-old attraction today.

Desert of Maine - Wander in Wonder and Mini Golf Combo

1 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

Harbor Lights and Sights Cruise

On this smartphone-guided adventure, you'll see Portland’s historic streets and discover its stories. Go at your own pace, anytime. The tour never expires. The tour is professionally produced with pro narration and music. It's location-aware walking step by step through the city. You’ll see the cobblestones streets, wharf street, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s home, stops on the underground railroad, city hall, exchange street, the lobster square, historic buildings, and the best spots to eat, including the best donut shop ever. Really, it’s that good. You'll hear the stories of Portland, Anna Kendrick’s favorite hangs, Longfellow’s history, stories of lighthouses, adventure, prohibition, bootleggers, the underground railroad, Japanese mailboxes, the revolution, colonial times, and much more.

Audio Guided Walking Tour from Old Port of Portland, Maine

1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

2-Hour Portland Old Port Ghost Walking Tour

1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hoursFree Cancellation

Experience historic architecture, harbor views, and rich seaside culture with this driving tour of Portland, Maine! Cross the cobbled streets of Old Port, chock full of shops, restaurants, and bars, all complemented by the sparkling bay. Dive into the city’s long and embattled history at a church still sporting British cannonballs. See iconic Maine lighthouses and visit pristine beaches. Portland may be a small city, but it packs a big punch! Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Ultimate Portland Self-Guided Driving GPS Audio Tour

1 to 2 hoursFree Cancellation

Experience Portland's rich history from its most impressive vantage point: the water. Adventuring along Diamond Pass, you'll glimpse a Civil War–era fort, old-school lobster boats, and all the lighthouses Portland is so famous for, including Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest. Suitable for all ages, this excursion is both a dive into Portland's past and a sightseeing adventure, a two-fer that’s leisurely, scenic, and fun.

Port City Lights Cruise

1 hourFree Cancellation

Lighthouse Bicycle Tour from South Portland with 4 Lighthouses

3 hoursFree Cancellation

Small Group Sunset Lighthouse Boat Cruise With Local Drinks

Lighthouses are an iconic image associated with coastal Maine and Portland showcases some from the 1800s. Join this bicycling tour in Portland and see two of the city’s lighthouses from the 19th century. Follow quiet roads along South Portland’s coast to reach a small lighthouse called Bug Light, still in use today. Ride farther to Spring Point where a larger lighthouse awaits at the end of a long granite breakwater.

Two Hour Lighthouse Bicycle Tour from South Portland-Mellow

The most immersive way to see Historic Portland is on foot. Our 1 hour 15 minute walking tour takes you down the cobblestone pathways of our historic city in search of spirits that linger from times long past. Our knowledgeable guides will enchant you with tales of Portland’s most renown ghosts as well as the area's vast and rich history. You’ll hear fascinating and spooky tales from the first European settlement in 1632 right up to the present day. Discover the many times Portland has fallen and risen anew, and hear about the restless spirits who remain, unable or unwilling to move on. Follow our guides as they lead you by lantern-light sharing the ghost stories, legends, and folklore of this beautiful city.

Walk With Ghosts in Portland

1 hour 15 minutesFree Cancellation

Small Group Afternoon Lighthouse Boat Cruise With Local Drinks

Portland Explorer | Maine History, Culture, & 3 Lighthouses Tour

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Must-Dos in Portland

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What are people saying about Portland

Margie_W, Sept 2026

Portland Lighthouse Tour with Eric

Eric did an amazing job showing off his beloved city of Portland, Maine and the 3 lighthouses that we saw. He was so personable and attentive, sharing history about each lighthouse and fun stories and about the city. His van was very comfortable and he was a very safe driver. It was also a bonus for the meeting spot for this tour which was The Portland Beer Hub. We were welcomed with a free beer tasting and a mini fridge of free hard boiled egg snacks. Hospitality plus! Highly recommend this tour.

Portland City and Lighthouse Tour

Mary_S, Sept 2026

Informative and Easygoing

My family and I had a great experience! Our guide was informative and even recommended some places to dine at as we toured Portland. We also had a short 20-minute excursion at the park where we saw the lighthouse and watched the waves crash on the bluffs. If you're touring in the fall, I recommend wearing layers in case it gets chilly. This is a nice and easygoing experience for tourists and travelers.

Sunset Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Beth_D, Sept 2026

Should refund if raining

My only suggestion is that they should refund if there is inclement weather. We were supposed to go on Sunday and it was raining. We were told that we would not be able to get a refund unless it was actually storming. Luckily we were able to go Monday instead. It is my feeling that if it’s raining, a refund should be issued. Nobody wants to be on a boat in the rain.

Afternoon Lighthouse Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Judy_B, Sept 2026

Sisters outing

My two sisters and I scheduled a 3:30 cruise on a Thursday. There were only two other couples, Megan our captain, and Coulter the first mate/guide. The day was pretty overcast but it was fine because it eliminated any glare off the water. We had a blast! Coulter was very knowledgeable about the history of the lighthouses and forts that we saw, and answered some of our questions with hilarious stories. We were lucky enough to spot a couple seals, and Megan also had her super sweet Frenchie Noni with her (seriously adorable and very well behaved.) Although the temps were mid to high 70’s, we had brought windbreakers and hoodies, which kept us very comfortable. The hour and a half cruise was the perfect amount of time for us, and we returned with plenty of time to check out more shops before our dinner reservation.

The Real Portland Tour: City and 3 Lighthouses Historical Tour with a Real Local

Philip_W, Sept 2026

Brilliant tour well worth booking.

This was a brilliant tour with Derek the owner/guide keeping everyone amused with his knowledge and anecdotes of the surrounding area. You will not be disappointed and because it is a relatively small group there is plenty of interaction. Make sure you look up the photo of his Minibus so you reckonise it when you are waiting about 3 Blocks down from the cruise terminal it’s not far.

Afternoon Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

MaryLou_G, Sept 2026

Sailing the harbor

We had a beautiful and relaxing ride on the water. Everything was great and the crew were knowledgeable and friendly. The only problem was my own fault as I thought this was a lighthouse tour and it was not. I’m not sure how I messed that up. Even without seeing lighthouses up close, it was an amazing experience.

Harbor Lights and Sights Cruise

Pamela_G, Sept 2026

Wonderful Experience!

I would highly recommend this tour! Our boat the Islander was not overcrowded so we were all able to experience the exceptional views. Two clean restrooms were available on the boat, along with drinks and snacks for purchase. The crew was very welcoming and engaging -- Capt, Howard invited those who were interested to join him in the boathouse,while our tour guide Mark entertained us with his knowledge of history in the area and his personal stories. Would go again in a heartbeat.

Sunset Lighthouse Cruise

Hannah_G, Sept 2026

Boat was definitely bare...

Boat was definitely bare bones, but the person giving the tour was interesting to listen to and the scenery was pretty. We got lucky and had a beautiful sunset. I would warn you, there are only a certain amount of spots at the top of the boat, and if you aren't on first, you'll have to sit underneath(they have windows, but it definitely is a subpar view). Lucky we were far enough up in line, but would have been very disappointed had we had to sit underneath the boat by the bar for a boat trip where the goal is site seeing.

Vintage Fire Truck Sightseeing Tour of Portland Maine

Bernice_A, Aug 2026

Nice ride around town

Great one hour ride Tour guide very informative and knew the history of the Portland and downtown area! Riding in the fire truck was a fun way to take a tour! Lots of shops and restaurants along the stripe! And still had time to do other things or see places after your tour ended

Portland Walking Food Tour – Warm Donuts, History & Hidden Gems

Michelle_W, Aug 2026

Great tour!

This was a great tour. There was something for both the adults and kids. The donuts were delicious, and Kris was able to accommodate the gluten restrictions for some of our party. Kris was also great about including our daughter and not just focusing on the adults. We highly recommend this tour.