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

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Harbor Lights and Sights Cruise

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Atlantic Ocean on our whale-watching tour departing from Portland, Maine. Set sail from the historic harbor, where you'll board a comfortable vessel equipped for a thrilling marine adventure. As we cruise along the rugged coastline, keep your eyes peeled for the majestic giants of the sea – humpback whales, fin whales, and minke whales are frequently spotted in these waters. Our experienced naturalist guides will be with you every step of the way, providing fascinating insights into the behavior and biology of these incredible creatures. The tour also offers the opportunity to observe a variety of other marine life, including seals, porpoises, and a wide range of seabirds. Don't forget to bring your camera, as you'll want to capture these unforgettable moments.

Maine Whale Watching Tour in Portland

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

With this small-group walking tour, you'll go beyond lobsters and lighthouses and get a look at the true Portland, Maine—across 400 years of history. Meander downtown and the Old Port, visiting hidden landmarks and learning about Wabanaki leaders and other people and events left out of the history books. Discover centuries of destruction, revival, underrepresented perspectives, and other elements that mainstream tours gloss over.

Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour

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

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

Embark on an unforgettable 1.5-hour cruise along Maine's breathtaking coastline at sunset. See four of Maine's most iconic lighthouses, spot seals and seabirds, and take in the historic forts that dot the landscape. Bring your favorite wine or beer and a delicious meal, and unwind as we cruise through the serene waters of Casco Bay. Journey aboard Ruth—a charming 39-foot classic picnic-style tour boat crafted in 1935 at Handy Boat in Falmouth, Maine. Don't miss out on this unique sunset experience!

Sunset Lighthouse Cruise Along Casco Bay

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

2-Hour Portland Old Port Ghost Walking Tour

1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hoursFree Cancellation

Old Port "Seafood Lovers" Walking Lunch Tour in Portland, Maine

3 hoursFree Cancellation

A Walk Through Time Tour in Portland

Embark on a boat to a private island historic fort that’s only accessible with this tour. Leave from Portland and for a boat ride on Casco Bay, landing at the privately owned Fort Scammel on House Island. There, explore the architecture and preserved ruins of the stone fort—the only fort in the Portland harbor to see battle. Discover underground passages and learn the history of this previously inaccessible site.

Private Island Fort Tour in Casco Bay: Boat Cruise & Island Tour

Portland Tall Ship Cruise on Casco Bay

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

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Must-Dos in Portland

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What are people saying about Portland

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

Paula_S, Oct 2026

History and donuts

We love to take some kind of historical tour any time we arrive in a city - it helps us to get our bearings to the city and gives context to the stay. So when I found one that added donuts - pure bonus! The donuts were great - especially the part where we got to skip the massive line at Holy Donuts. But even better than the donuts were the fun facts we learned about Portland. Our guide was knowledgable and fun. He didn't let facts get in the way of having fun - he definitely had some embellished stories but gave us full warning they were embellished ;) We also loved that he gave a card with personal recommendations at the end of the tour - it was super useful for our trip. We'd recommend to everyone as a first stop when you arrive in Portland.

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

Freda_K, Oct 2026

The three lighthouses were well worth the time and travel

I strongly recommend this excursion. The Maine shoreline is beautiful. The trip to the three lighthouses was interesting all on its own. Seeing the lighthouses, each different from each other made it a wonderful trip. Although the main lighthouse, famous for its many photos was a true sight, I must admit the small one, in the shape of a Greek temple really drew my eye.

Sunset Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Tara_R, Oct 2026

Such a lovely and...

Such a lovely and relaxing ride. We went out right before sunset and things couldn’t have been more perfect. Luke and his team provided a smooth sailing with lots of great convo and information about the area. It was the perfect end to our trip to Portland.

Portland City and Lighthouse Tour

Mary_S, Sep 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.

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

Philip_W, Sep 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 Lighthouse Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

Judy_B, Sep 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.

Harbor Lights and Sights Cruise

Pamela_G, Sep 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.

Afternoon Windjammer Cruise Along the Coast of Portland Maine

MaryLou_G, Sep 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.

Sunset Lighthouse Cruise

Hannah_G, Sep 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