Portland Explorer | Maine History, Culture, & 3 Lighthouses Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Tour Portland's top sights, and working waterfront, with a local lobsterman
- Visit Commercial Street, the Old Port District, and Portland Head Light
- Enjoy a personal experience on the tour on this small-group tour
- Easily find your group, with a meet-up in the heart of the Old Port District
What's Included
- Umbrella to use if needed
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Mobile device charging
- Visits to three historic lighthouses
- Gratuity not included
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Portland Beer Hub320 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Arrive 15 MINUTES before the start time of your tour. Meet inside of the retail store, Portland Beer Hub (320 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101), in downtown Portland's Old Port.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
320 Fore St (Pass By)
1
Portland Head Light
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Bug Light Park
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Commercial Street (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Tour pick up is approximately 10 minutes walking from cruise ship terminal, less than 1/2 mile.
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended to enjoy the full experience at the lighthouse!
- This tour is fully on land. We will be driving in a high-end van.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 985 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Jonathan_M, Aug 2026
We really enjoyed our tour of three lighthouses and Joe was an excellent tour guide. There were 10 of us in our group, which was a nice size for the vehicle, and we really liked that we were able to include two lighthouses that were too small for our ship's tour buses to be able to visit.
Dan_D, Aug 2026
Fun trip! The headlight is amazing. Pete was a great guide. Very hot weather but nice to have A/C in the van.
Victoria_G, Aug 2026
Seeing three lighthouses around Portland was absolutely amazing!
This tour however was not really a tour, there was no talk about history or culture, as the link said. This was disappointing because we were really looking forward to it.
This tour is truly a drive and drop to each lighthouse. If you have transportation- you can do it yourself. If you do not have transportation- then its helpful.
The guide was nice, but truly a let down.
Jed_B, Aug 2026
What a fantastic tour! Allie was an amazing tour guide, and her passion for the Portland community and our understanding of it was infectious. Great tour!!!
Dane_N, Aug 2026
We would recommend to others. Chris did a great job showing us around and sharing his knowledge of the area.
Laura_C, Jul 2026
Billy was an amazing tour guide. The tour was just long enough to see 3 lighthouses. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for joining us on the Lighthouse Tour! Billy really knows his history and we're glad to see he showed the group a fun time. Hope to see you in town again sometime soon!
Shawn_M, Jul 2026
great tour loved it great great great thank Very enjoyable very knowlegable tour guide would recomend to anyone
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words and for joining us on the Lighthouse Tour! Portland's geography and maritime history are things we absolutely love to highlight on these tours, and we're thankful you could join us for one. Hope to see you again soon!
Tanya_W, Jul 2026
It was wonderful experience and our tour guide was very knowledgeable. The place where we departed from was easy to locate and our tour departed and returned on schedule.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for joining us on the Lighthouse Tour! The lighthouses are such an important part of Portland's maritime history and a point of pride for us, and we're thrilled to share them with folks. We hope to see you again soon!
David_V, Jul 2026
Ally (sp?) was a great guide on our tour of Portland (in the city) and a few lighthouses. She was very knowledgeable of the area and the trips to the lighthouses were especially enjoyable for us. Love the rugged coastline of the area. We did the tour in a comfortable air conditioned van and got out of the van to walk around at the lighthouses. Highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We're so happy to hear you had a good time on the Lighthouse Tour! Alie's knowledge of Portland's history and her passion for sharing it with others is truly remarkable, and we're happy to hear you had a fun time on the tour with her. Hope you had a great rest of your trip!
ROLAND_C, Jul 2026
My wife and I enjoyed our lighthouse tour. Our guide Joe was informative and we saw and learned interesting places around Portland
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We're so happy to hear that you had a good time on the Lighthouse Tour! Portland's maritime history is incredibly extensive, and Joe does a great job of showcasing Portland's significance on the Maine coast. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon!
Lorinda_B, Jul 2026
Eric was our guide and is extremely knowledgeable and we would highly suggest that you take this tour on the front end of your trip. He provided us with amazing suggestions on where to eat, what to do and where to go.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We're so glad you had a fun time with Eric on the Lighthouse Tour! Growing up in the area, his knowledge and passion of Portland's history is truly infectious, and we're happy to hear the tour was a good experience. Hope you had fun on the rest of your trip!
Lisa_H, Jul 2026
Great tour of the lighthouses in the area. We enjoyed our tour guide John. He was personable and drove a spacious sprinter type van. We loved the inclusion of a 5oz pour at the Portland Beer Hub that we could have before or after the tour. Nice touch!
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you for joining us on the lighthouse tour! John's knowledge of the area and history partnered with a passion to share them make him such a great guide and an even better representation of Portland. We're glad to hear you had a good time!
Rhonda_S, Jul 2026
My daughter and I had only five hours in Portland before driving to our final destination so this was our only time in Portland. I had received a text the evening before asking if we could change our tour to an earlier time. I said we couldn’t because our flight wouldn’t make it for the earlier tour. They said no problem. Come at your scheduled time. When we got there, we discovered it was just us and the guide for the tour. He did a fantastic job, giving us history of Portland, showing us everything that was on the schedule and allowing us to have a little more time at stops that were of interest to the two of us. He took pictures of us together and was so congenial. It was a lovely tour. I applaud the company for letting the tour go on even if it was just the two of us. I was really hoping they wouldn’t cancel because my daughter and I had really been looking forward to it. I recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words and for joining us on the tour! We're thrilled to bring folks out to explore the sights and learn about Maine's rich maritime history, so we strive to be accommodating as we can when welcoming folks to Portland. Plus, a small tour is a great opportunity to see the area like a local. We hope to see you again in Portland sometime soon!
Judie_M, Jun 2026
This was a fun and informative tour. We learned so much about Portland, Maine. Our guide, Eric,
is a Portland native who is well versed in local history.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
So glad to hear that you had a fun time on the Lighthouse Tour! As a true local, Eric's knowledge and affinity for Portland maritime history are second to none, and we know how much he enjoys showing all the sights. There's a lot more to explore around here, so we hope to see you again soon!
Lisa_B, Jun 2026
Excellent tour!!! Eric, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable about the entire area plus answered all our questions. Would definitely do this again and highly recommend it to others.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We're so happy to hear that you had a good time on the tour with Eric! He has such an affinity for Portland's maritime history, and his knowledge is second to none. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon!
Cynthia_R, Jun 2026
Great tour to learn about Portland and lighthouses. Small size group with engaging and knowledgeable guide. Eric was excellent!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks so much for joining us on the Lighthouse Tour! With Eric having grown up in Portland he has such a depth of knowledge for Portland's history and maritime facts, and he just loves showing everyone the sights. We're glad you had fun!
Tim_D, Jun 2026
Easy going, see a lot, learn a lot.
Highly recommended for travelers in Portland, Maine area! Just do it!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thanks so much for joining us on the lighthouse cruise! We're so happy to hear that you had a good time, and we know how much our guides enjoy showcasing Portland's rich waterfront history. We hope to see you on a tour again sometime soon!
Jason_B, May 2026
Derek and Zack greeted us at the meeting location as we got settled in. Both are super friendly and down to earth. Derek was our guide, and he was super informative, funny and laid-back. Great to have someone local to share experiences and history throughout the tour. My wife and daughter loved the tour as well, and we had tons of great pictures. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! Portland's history and culture are truly exceptional, and we're honored to be able to share it on our tours. There's so much more to explore here, so we hope to see you again sometime soon. Thanks for joining us!
Terence_M, Apr 2026
Wonderful tour of very interesting sights. Local guide was informative and friendly. Very much recommended this tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
We're so happy to hear that you had a good time on the tour! Portland's history and culture are so unique and we're incredibly proud to be able to highlight them. There's a lot to do here, so we hope you consider another tour if you find yourself in the neighborhood!
Ofelia_C, Apr 2026
John was so funny and friendly! He struck the perfect balance between chatting with us and giving us space to explore and the tour itself is the perfect length. You hit three gorgeous spots in about 90 minutes and you even get a complimentary 5 oz beer pour with every ticket. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We're so thrilled to hear that you had a great time on the Lighthouse Tour! Our landscape and history are truly remarkable, and we know how much our guides love talking about them. John's one of the best in the game at keeping things informative yet fun, so we're happy to hear you had a good time with him. Hope to see you on a tour next time you're in town!
Kimberly_B, Apr 2026
Four people registered for the experience. While John was driving, he shared interesting and historic information about Portland and the three lighthouses we visited. At each lighthouse, we were given time to take take pictures, explore the grounds, stretch our legs, and ask John questions. John was very knowledgeable, engaging and fun!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words, and we're so happy to see that you had a great time with John on the Lighthouse Tour! We're beyond thankful to have him on our team. Balancing the knowledge and the engagement is his forte. There's a lot more to do in the area, so we hope to see you on another tour next time you're in the area!
Colleen_M, Apr 2026
Our tour guide was wonderful- very knowledgeable about the history and area. The tour was great in spite of the rainy weather and would recommend. The meeting spot is a great place and staff was so welcoming- great selection of local beers too!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Hi there Colleen,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for joining us on the lighthouse tour! We're happy you had a good time despite the weather, but it's not always so rainy, so we hope to see you for another tour sometime in the future!
William_C, Mar 2026
If you don’t have a lot of time, but want to see and learn as much as you can about Portland, this is the tour for you!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the kind words! We’re glad the tour worked well for your schedule and that you were able to learn a lot about our amazing city. We appreciate you joining us and hope we’ll get to show you even more of Portland the next time you’re in town!
Paula_B, Dec 2025
This was basically transportation to the 3 lighthouses with a little history. The tour we actually would have enjoyed more was already booked by the time we decided to go
Parking in the area where the tour starts is expensive.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for joining us. We appreciate your perspective and will keep it in mind as we continue refining our tours and their descriptions. If you’re back in Portland in the future, we’d love the chance to host you again on one of our other tours!
Teresa_B, Nov 2025
We enjoyed this lighthouse tour it was our first time in the area and will return and choose this company.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
So glad your first visit to the area included some time out at the lighthouses with us — that’s always a special way to get to know Portland. We’d love to have you back the next time you’re in town. Thank you, Teresa!
Julie_O, Nov 2025
This was a fantastic tour and very informative. Tour guide Chris was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of history about the lighthouses and the area.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Love hearing that Chris helped bring the history of the area to life for you — he’s got a real knack for mixing facts with fun stories, and it sounds like that came through on your tour. Glad the lighthouse stops hit the mark for you. Thank you for joining us on your visit!
Jennifer_B, Nov 2025
2 hours was the perfect amount of time. Very informative. Comfortable van. You need to request water from guide.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi Jennifer, thank you for joining us and for sharing your review! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour, found it informative, and felt comfortable along the way.
That’s great feedback about water—we’ll make sure our guides are reminding guests about it at the start of each tour. We really appreciate you pointing that out and hope to welcome you back next time you’re in Portland!
Emily_C, Oct 2025
Great overview of Portland en route to three great lighthouses. The tour is well paced with an appropriate amount of time spent at each lighthouse. Joe is very personable and the 5 Oz pour ant the Beer Hub afterward was a great bonus.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks so much, Emily! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the balance of sightseeing and history — and that Joe made the tour feel personal and fun. Ending with a 5oz pour at the Beer Hub is always the perfect finish!
Bernadette_B, Oct 2025
Lighthouse experience only. Our guide Eric was very knowledgeable about the local lighthouses and the historic value of each.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks so much, Bernadette! We’re glad you enjoyed the lighthouse tour and Eric’s stories about Portland’s coastal history. It’s such a special part of Maine to explore — appreciate you joining us!
James_R, Oct 2025
Great tour today with Eric! Thank you so much for welcoming us to Portland and taking us for a beautiful tour- filled with incredible vistas and engaging facts/stories! We would highly recommend this experience!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you so much for joining us and for the kind words! I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed your tour! I love sharing Portland’s incredible views, stories, and local history. It’s always rewarding to know our guests leave with great memories and a deeper appreciation for this beautiful city. All the best down in New Orleans! Give Mary my best! Sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again on another Portland Explorer adventure! -Eric
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