Old Port Reviews

This area of Portland takes your back to the days of seafarers and their work. The wharfs all harken back to another time with many seafood restaurants to choose from. Off commercial street, there are many little gift shops, clothing, beer and wine shops to search through. This is a quaint shopping area of the city.

Wonderful waterfront and island viewing experience. My husband and I were sick so we couldn't stay more than two full days, but the sun, warmth and ocean breeze were great.

Lots of great restaurants and breweries to walk around and take in. Walking next to the water you will see boats docked and gorgeous ocean views.

The old port is a busy interesting place. It is mix of a classic fishing port mixed with current tourism. Boats, restaurants, nice shops, and junk shops all in one place to wander around and through. Week days are best with smaller crowds. On Thursday, we are watching the ferry boats going out to the islands and the next day the Caribbean Princess is in port. It is sometimes tough to be the only tourist in town. As nice as the port is don’t miss the rest of Portland. Wander up the hill and explore.

We wandered around here one afternoon and took little side trips down the working piers. There are loads of shops with fair prices for the area. There is a good mixture of very old, old and modern here and we enjoyed taking in the architecture. We would recommend this area to anyone.

This is a great area to walk around in to see the old harbor - as well as the new stuff. The area is loaded with historic wharfs, great restaurants (try Scales if you have the time andmoney). Kids will love it and adults will find so much to enjoy.

We were driving through to see the Fall New England colours (which we adored). This place struck us the wrong way - maybe, it was the hordes of tourists off mega ships, maybe the loads of souvenir and kitschy stores, maybe the charmless modern hotels. To me, the whole place looked like a giant cruise terminal.

The only redeeming feature (can you believe it?) was sitting outside Starbucks on Commercial Street with a coffee people watching.

This area is near the water. It feels like going back in time. And there are a lot of bars and small places to eat and shop. A great area. I want to go back.

Old port is a great place to relax and enjoy a weekend strolling through shops ... picking some of the dozens and dozens of restaurants to enjoy.
If you like sea food.. well this is it!!
Enjoy time and again..... old port never gets old

The shops, artisans, cafes and galleries are great. You can spend a whole day here if searching out statures, parks, museums, architecture, tourist shopping and promenade strolls. Some of the street folk are a little scary, with aggressive panhandling and sometimes shouting. I only came across them in the Old Port area.

I have never been disappointed by Portland's old port waterfront district. Always a gem to be found!

Lovely town with lots of character. Plenty of places to eat and shop. Walkable and charming with its cobblestone streets. Will be going back!

Neat area with some nice shops, but parking is such a pain and ridiculously pricey! We would return to the area for a tour or some shopping and dining, but the parking situation would be what keeps us away. I realize it’s a downtown area, and I expect to pay for parking, but $9 per hour is exorbitant! Add to that trying to find a space for a car larger than a small hatchback, and it’s kind of a disaster. We were there early morning, thankfully, but I feel sure if we had been there later in day or on a weekend, it would have been impossible for us to navigate and find a spot for our truck.

If you have never been here, definitely do take the combination "Trolley" street tour and the Harbor boat tour package. Both are very informative. Take notes on the street tour, because they offer many "pearls" of places to visit and eat laer on your own. Portland is not that large, and you can walk to most places. Siri map function can guide you to many by their name only.

Lots to do from shopping to walking. Portland has certainly grown into a charming city with lots to do. The old port is full of shops, bars and restaraunts, very laid back atmousphere.

I was expecting an entire street of cobble stones instead of one city block. It was still nice and is a good place to walk.

Are is full of tourist shopping. breweries and entertainment. Would recommend it for the day, but overall a littlte touristy

Beautiful day in Old Port. Cobblestone streets were cute. Really touristy though. The fishing piers were interesting to look at.

Lots of shops and restaurants with a very nice atmosphere.
Nice just to walk around even without going in shops

The night before we were in Bangor, wondering what we could do with the time we had the next day, because our next night reservation was only in Sturbridge. Portland won, and we were so happy it did. This was our first visit. So much to see and do in the old port area, and many good restaurants.

It was so relaxing walking around and viewing the old ports that are in full use. You can catch lobster and have it cooked next door to the boat. The most pleasant people are eager to answer any questions. Great restaurants!!!

Seriously love Old Port. Spend a entire day here exploring the beautiful location. So many beautiful buildings, scenes and wonderful shops. The BEST places to dine in Portland are around here. Such a wonderful VIBE

The Old Port is such a great take if you love the sea, history, old character of places that get better with age. Cobblestone streets and great places to eat and drink, mixed in with the authentic fishing and shipping professions going on about you

fun area with several states full of unique boutique shops, pubs, restaurants, ice cream shops and more. we loved it - though one or 2 days is probably enough to see the entire area.

We were in town on a port day (cruise) and this was one attraction I underestimated. Really cool area of town – cobblestone streets, neat vendors and shops, wonderful tour of historical side of town! Recommend for all ages – we enjoyed just browsing around town and the kids….well they loved the donuts. 

Allow a few hours to just wander around and see all the sites.

So much to see on the Port and great restaurants! The Visitors Center was the perfect place to stop by for recommendations and information.

Of course the Old Port is a destination for anyone visiting Portland and a focal point for the City. You will see the old cobblestone streets and the various docks that comprise the port. These days tourist establishments such as ice cream stores are well represented. However, if you admire the Customs House you can also imagine a working port.

The Old Port is full of fun and quirky shops, eateries, boats and things to do. It is best if you have a hotel or live in the area as parking can be tricky to come by, but is well worth the trip. You can find almost any kind of food, you can find fun clothing, jewelry, art, recreation and much more. Traffic is heavy so be prepared to spend time getting where you are going. A great place to visit. Plan on spending the day. You won't be disappointed.

A lot of interesting buildings and docks. A lot of good restaurants and interesting shops. I recommend visiting old port when you are in the area.

One of the most interesting parts of the City of Portland. Many, many excellent restaurants, shops, unique gifts and scenery on Casco Bay is spectacular.

Beautiful part of the city,really enjoy many of the shack restaurants in this area.Very lively with good stores.

This district has stores and restaurants, a lot of local color with older buildings and streets with pavers (not cobbles....). You don't want to wear heels while walking around this district. Available street parking and some lots. Don't let the meter run out, as they do ticket aggressively.

It is a lovely district just to walk around and to have a good seafood meal.

Nice clean, fun area with lots of shops and restaurants all within a small walkable area. We had a great time.

Worth the visit, great food, great service, reasonably priced. If you love raw oysters, try the local ones they served. They were excellent!

It was a nice time with great restaurants and pubs but the layout overall of old port was a bit weird.

Walk around the old town and cobbled streets to get a feel for what an old New England fishing town would have been like. Visit all kinds of shops from boutiques to fresh fish, fast food to local seafood, beer and fine dining. There is something for everyone.

Portland it's always a nice place to visit especially if you are on your way to Boothbay. Great restaurant there is Dimillo's the old Staten Island Ferry which was converted to a restaurant quite a few years ago and their food is highly recommended

It’s such a fun area with lots to see, eat and drink! The old cobblestone streets gives it more charm. Careful wearing heels. You could sprain your ankle. I’m not kidding. We created a walking foodie tour for ourselves which was fun. We ate a little too much though. If you do that, make sure you order just the item and share it.

We didn’t get to explore the entire area like we would have like due to timing and the rain. However we will be back to explore more and eat more.

Old Port is a must-see if you're travelling to Portland. There was a very good band playing in the public plaza when we were there this June.

Commercial St is lined with shops and assorted eateries across street from the rows of docks. Actually, the shopping is 2-3 blocks deep behind Commercial. Great food of all types, with so many lobster restaurants, you will have trouble picking. We liked High Rollers.

Easy walking to enjoy historic buildings and streets from the old working port. Many types of stores to browse and shop, coffee shops, and places to eat from morning to evening. Some popular places have lines out the door early in the morning such as the famous donut shop and homestyle breakfast restaurants. Have your smartphone and camera ready to capture spur of the moment shots. Parking is in limited supply, so if you need to drive in park and walk-around....and if going extended distances, use Uber. Meters and illegal parking are monitored frequently. Evening nightlife / bars is lively and many places feature home-state craft beers.

Everyone needs to walk the port. History, and views. The life...only way to describe it... Needs to be witnessed. The people here are friendly and the smell of the sea is revitalizing . The eats along the port are not too shabby and some great selfies to be had here.

We walked all around the Old Port and found many restaurants, charter companies, shops, etc. Despite the fact that this is still a working port, the entire area is clean and scenic.

We walked around the area, cobblestone streets with interesting little shops. There were quite a lot of homeless panhandling, many of them claimed to be Veterans, which is always distressing if they are.

Old Port is a great place! So many beautiful historic buildings, brick and cobblestone walks and streets, good shops and restaurants, art galleries, murals, and views of the working waterfront. Loads of different boat, trolley, and walking tours, especially in summer. Year-round ferry to the islands. The blocks are short, so it's easy strolling and close to the downtown business district and popular neighborhood districts like Munjoy Hill and the West End.

did a bit of research beforehand as this placed looked very interesting but once we got there very underwhelmed a few stores some places to eat but quite pricy as well

AJ was an incredible tour guide. She knows Portland, Maine like the back of her hand. She went above and beyond and you can’t help but feed off her energy, it is contagious.

Old Port is along the water in Portland, mostly along Commercial Street and intersecting streets. Lots of bars, restaurants and shops. A definite must see.

This place is interesting with all the boats and restaurants along this street. It's where most of the action is happening for a tourist in Portland.

The Old Port is downtown Portland, and there is a working wharf. Restaurants, shopping, interesting people, and lots of gulls! To me, Portland is the sound of the gulls!

I enjoyed my time during this tour.
A knowledgable guide, interesting stops, reflections of past to present impacts both commercially and societally.
My other excursions were canceled. I came away with enough rhetoric to share with friends and family.
Thanks so much!
#1stnecoastvisit#success

Cute little historic area with lots of shops (unique gifts) and places to grab some food and drinks. You can also do land and sea tours. Parking is just very expensive, so be prepared if you are driving!

Lots of great restaurants, bars and shops to visit and relax. Have a some delicious seafood and a cold beer to maximize the fun.

Before coming to Portland we were told this is a foodie's heaven. But most of all fresh Maine seafood. Restaurants on the harbor serve fish caught the same day and often from boats right next to them. Cannot get any fresher than that. I acknowledge that some do not like it here (I see that in some reviews), probably looking for some Disney like fantasy place where all is pristine clean and make believe. Not here.
This is the real deal, this is how a real fishing harbor is. many places to relax, take a boat ride, dine, shop, enjoy the time and the harbor views. We were here June 4 and 5, 2024. I very highly recommend it, but don't expect a Disneyland version.

Wander, keeping your eyes and ears open. Often the treasures of an area can be found on the edges of a well known area. Like the Italian grocery on the North end of town or the great breakfast place just to the south on a side street or the Great, under rated Italian spot smack dab in the middle of the commercial district. These are just a few of the places we've discovered in many trips to Portland. We are looking forward to discovering more on our next visit.

We were there for a boat trip recently. Pretty views of Casco Bay from the boat. Nice lunch on the dock before sailing, and a great ice cream place just around the corner..

We went in search of a lobster roll since we were in Portland. That part was fine- but afterwards we decided to stroll the much talked about Old Port. Honestly, it’s just a bunch of shops/businesses. You may find a good restaurant but if shopping is not your thing then it’s pretty underwhelming.

Lots of fun shops and places to eat. An easy walk with wonderful smells and great opportunities to people and dog watch!

Lots of cute little shops, many of the Tshirt variety, banks, and little eateries.
I walked it a few times in a grid pattern one cloudy August day and had fun. Sat in a few of the little parklets and enjoyed the locals walking past to work and tourists too. We visited a great comic book shop next to a really awesome vinyl, cd, video, game store. You could spend hours in there if you like music. Everyone was friendly.

Took a nice wander through this fabulous district last night. Tons of restaurants, bars + shops with something for everyone! Immaculately clean, open late and just a great place to poke around for a few hours!

many of the little shops are gone, given way to gentrification. parking is hard to come by and one way streets difficult to navigate.

We spend most of our time perusing the shops and found everything we were looking for by way of souvenirs. The cobblestone streets were cool. It was fun to check out the yachts and historic buildings. Way fun!

What's not to love? Nice places to shop, eat, look at lobster boats, and people watch!

And there's usually plenty of metered parking available.

The place is great, as long as you don’t bring children. The open use of meth, heroin, the aggressive nature of some of the homeless, vulgar language, and protests about anything and everything means you’ll have a lot of explaining to the little ones. While I get it’s a city that prides itself on being “weird” it’s all off putting to say the least. Too bad because it’s a beautiful city with a lot of great restaurants and important history. Go, just not with kids.

One of the best places for summer strolls, small pub pleasures, and a fish market where you'll see creatures you won't see anywhere else. From $3 Dewey's to Gritty's the beer selection is great and there are many places to eat. One of the best places to visit in the Northeast.

Parking can be a challenge but weather permitting - you can walk anywhere! Shops, art galleries, restaurants etc. - while absorbing the beautiful views of the bay and city!

This area looks as if it has gone through a lot of regeneration recently with lots of little designer shops in the streets behind the waterfront.
Easy to spend a few hours exploring the area, lots of restaurants, bars and good local shops. Normal tourist type shops to get souvenirs in as well.

We had a great time in Old Port, our hotel was just 2 blocks away from the docks and we could walk almost everywhere we wanted to go. We highly recommend taking the reasonably priced Discovery Land and Sea Tours--the employees are friendly, helpful, and lots of fun! The area has a fascinating history and architecture to reflect that. All the restaurants and bars we went to were excellent in quality and service, and the shops were varied and often of exceptionally high quality, not the usual "tourist traps".

My hubby and I have driven through this area many years ago, but didn't stop in Portland. Our Canada/New England cruise brought us here to Portland, Maine and found Old Portland was indeed a wonderful surprise. My expectations was Portland would be just another mid-sized modern city. However, during our Scenic Route Main Tour our last stop was in Old Portland. We enjoyed walking the harbor area along the brick streets and eating lunch at the family run seafood restaurant called, Gilbert's Chowder House. If we find ourselves near Portland in the future we know to explore the city a bit more.

Relaxing place to view watercraft and the busy activity of the port. If weather allows you ought to feel good after a few minutes.

Nice streets to explore off main street downtown, just be careful walking can be a little tricky in spots.

Old Port area of Portland is a very pleasant place to spend time. Flavor of its history is apparent all around. Lots of places to stop for a drink or food. Can be crowded certain times of day.

Fun walk though a variety of stores and restaurants. Certainly not a must see but good way to spend a couple of hours. Shop parking ranges from 5 a day to 8 an hour.

Very disappointing. I thought this was going to be cobble stone streets line with little shops that went down to the piers. There are shops along Commercial and Market Streets but not what I thought. You could compare it to downtown Portsmouth, NH. It has metered parking with a 2 hour limit. It is the typical tourist area, some prices are ridiculous. However there are a few nice places reasonably priced for lunch.

One of my absolute favorite parts of Portland is walking through the historic Old Port. For those who love arts and history there's plenty to see and do along the working waterfront where people can get up close and personal with fishing boats, get fresh sea food, and get to see some of the nation's oldest professions at work. Artists and musical performances are one of the highlights of summertime. Bars and diners are plentiful and the city is walking friendly. bring your good walking shoes: cobblestone and brick are not kind to heels!

We were driving passing that town. It is indeed a beautiful place to visit. It might feels as costly in the restaurant, but it incredible cozy, fun and delicious.

We were told this place is amazing. Perhaps people have different levels of amazing. There are a few bars and restaurants that look OK and a few shops selling tourist tat. It's a pleasant walk round, especially now that tourist season is over but Blackpool, England has more, despite being tacky. Would not rush back here....

We spent an afternoon in the Old Port area, it was a great, fun time. We shopped in the cute little shops, ate fresh off the boat lobster rolls at a seafood shack on the water, enjoyed Maine potato donuts at the Holy Donut on one of the side streets, had a beer in one of the many breweries in the area, took in the scenic views and fed parking meters all day...the one downside to the area. Parking is very expensive in the parking garages and lots and your only other choice is to feed the meters every two hours. There are also a lot of boat and land tours out of the area.

We are locals but decided to play tourists in our own backyard. We ate, drank and shopped like the tourists do. Had so much fun had to get a hotel as driving was no longer a good option after the beverages. This city has something for every able body.
I would not call it handicap friendly.

This is a smaller city and the port was okay but not impressive. At least it wasn't a long walk from our hotel

We really enjoyed strolling around the Old Port. The shops were all touristy, but the food and drinks are terrific in this area.

You must visit the old port if coming to Portland. Lots of shops, restaurants and beautiful old buildings. You can rent bikes and go along Back Cove Bay providing lovely vistas of the city.

Lots of great restaurants and locally-owned shops, cobblestone streets and fish piers in one walkable area. Lots to see and do. Hotel prices on the Old Port district are astronomical, however.

In between the pot smoking bums, there are knick knack shops and overpriced restaurants. I lived in Portland in the eighties and the change is for the commercial, touristy, and hipster bum vibe. We were asked to leave the Old Port Tavern because some drunk at the bar disturbed “diners”. The place has always been a dump and remains one today. The service staff in the city in general is atrocious. We had a server named Sarah at DiMillo’s and that is why this is three stars and not one. She was it, the rest of the establishments are rude hipster potheads. We also encountered some millennial jerk with a service animal that obviously was too entitled to move when attempting to get a drink at the bar. I am a Food and Beverage Manager in a top Club and didn’t see one sparkle of customer service in this place. I’m glad we spent most of our vacation in New Hampshire.

Ample restaurants, shops, recreation available. Portland is truly walkable and so enjoyable. A smalll train is also available.

This is a nice area for a beautiful walk with some interesting and nice shops and a lovely view of the port.

This is an authentic working waterfront, which makes for fascinating sights of lobster traps and boats and relaxing sounds of seagulls flying overhead. This is the central departure location for harbor tours and ferry rides. There are numerous shops and restaurants from which to choose. We found this area to be charming, fun, and highly walkable. This is a great area to find a hotel that puts you in close proximity of the local attractions.

Old Port is great any time of year, but especially during the holidays when there are festive lights and decorations everywhere and the sun sets around 4::30.

Very cool place to visit, especially if you like breweries. Lots of walking things to do. Beautiful area.

This is the main street by the water. Plenty of places to eat along the water. Very unassuming and casual. Shops galore with plenty of souvenirs both cheap and fancy. Convenient to the cruise port.

It was so relaxing sitting outside enjoying the weather with an adult beverage, good food and great company! I look forward to a return visit.

For some reason visited Portland from New Hampshire. Went on Sunday Labor Day weekend. Saw a parking garage that had a sign 10 dollars for the day. Was only staying a couple of hours so tried the big lot right next to it. Asked the price, 7.50 AN HOUR? Are we in Manhattan? It is cheaper there. Got a free spot on a meter because no fee on Sunday. If we paid for parking I would have been very mad considering the horrible experience.
I knew we were in trouble when a guy selling oysters on the street wanted 3 dollars for one oyster. Walked in some stores and was shocked at the prices. This is Portland, not 5th avenue. Okay let's get some lobster, it's Maine, surely it should be easy. Every restaurant had 1 and 1/2 hours wait for lunch. Yes it was crowded since it was Labor Day weekend but when the price of a lobster roll averages 25 dollars it was time to say goodbye to Portland. Most had market price.
I found out later cruise ships stop there, maybe that is why the prices are so high. Drove south not on 95 but a local road because there had to be a fish shack with good seafood. Stopped at Kens and this is what we were looking for. Order at the window, your order is ready quickly and chow down on some fabulous lobster. We had huge lobster rolls, whole lobsters, excellent lobster stew, just the right amount of kick, clam chowders, and some sides. They give you a pickle but not sure it goes with lobster. The price was very good for the amount of food.
Hit some antique barns on the way back. Now this is what Maine should be like. Didn't spend a nickel in Portland.

I always stay in Old Port when I go to Portland - best part of Portland - lots to do and see and eat!

There are nicer ports in Massachusetts and Connecticut. This one isn’t very beautiful or enjoyable to visit.

We expected so much more. Parking was a nuisance. Street parking is free on Sunday but when we arrived shortly after 10 there was none available. So we paid $8.50 an hour for a lot.

Walked around for a while but didn't find it particularly charming and there were many homeless people. We wouldn't return.

In trying to experience Old Port, we found ourselves constantly going back to Exchange and Commercial Streets. Surrounding streets in Old Port did not seem to have much to offer. Guidebooks described Old Port as being a much larger neighborhood of unique shops and dining options, while we found it to be very limited.

The old port is great for shopping and strolling. Packed during the day but slows down and clears out on weeknights.

Old Port District needs public restrooms. This is a must. Plenty of shopping and restaurants and parking on Commercial Street. Do not park on Commercial Street. Traffic jams. Take a Lighthouse with Portland Explorer. Not much for kids. Teenagers ok. Coffee shops and shoppers and restaurants off Commercial Street. Be sure to walk the entire area. Homeless are evident but not to serious. Very very safe. Easy to drive and park. Parking is not a difficult situation. Just know where to go. Use the Internet.

for a foodie this is heaven.the cobble streets are not the best place for someone with a wheelchair just too bumpy. But the shops and eating places are great and the owners love to have you visit them. The walking around the harbor area is most interesting with a lot to do.You do not want to miss this part of the S.Portland area without coming here.Most of the cobblestones are in the walkway areas but it has shops with small doorways so for some it may be hard to get around althou it can be done. A fully fun place to visit. remember Portland has been named the food city of the U.S. rightly so.we go up to the Bar Harbor area a lot but we stay over in portland just about every trip and we always have a great time here.be going back up in about four days again.

My friend and I still try to get together twice a year to celebrate our birthdays. This year went decided to go to Old Port in Portland, Maine for part of our day trip. Dimillo's was our lunch destination but we weren't sure of parking. We visited on a Wednesday around 11 a.m. on a questionable but comfortable weather day.
We pulled into the Dimillo's parking lot and asked about their rates. They offered free parking up to 3 1/2 hours. How cool is that!!??!!
We toured the cobblestone streets and visited to unique shops. Everyone we came in contact with were super helpful as we searched for a tide clock.
Everything about Dimillo's was super from the staff to the meal.
Such a wonderful but too short day trip!

While the Old Port is small it still has a lot to offer. Be careful about some of the pricey restaurants as the most expensive ones in town are in this area...with a focus on high price and small plates. Still deals can be found. The cobblestone streets and mid 19th Century architecture will be sure to please.

Portland has so much to offer and see and the weather was just great to walk the town and Old Port is a great area to stroll around and look, so many restaurants and boats and things to see.

This community is full of beaufiful shops, restaurants and diverse people from around the globe. Your typical store front and mall junk won't be found here. Only handywork from skilled artisans. You need several days to truly explore.

I was here in mid-October and it was a little old. There is a lot to do in this area and I liked it a lot. The water and the places to eat and the shops. It was very nice. I bet it’s great in the summer.

My husband and I spent three days in Old Port and loved every minute, from the shops, to the bars, to the restaurants. Everyone we encountered was extremely nice. We can't wait to go back.

Well worth seeing even if not on your schedule. Lots and of shops

Very safe area for tourists

Clean public restroom

Old Port was very meh for me and my husband. Yes, it has cobblestone streets, yes there’s some shopping, you will find many chain stores as well as some independent shops. Yes, there’s bars and restaurants. You can find a good lobster roll or bowl of clam chowder. But we didn’t find this area to be very charming or exceptional in any way. There’s nothing here in Old Port that warrants all the hype. There’s not enough restaurants or hotels, and so there’s this scarcity mentality. Hotels are expensive and it’s hard to find rooms. Restaurants seem to always have lines and long waits. But then, when you eventually do get a table, the food seems fairly ordinary. There really were no bright spots in this trip for us. We took the ferry over to Peak Island, but kept our expectations low. (We read the reviews) It was fun to wander the island for a few hours, but nothing special. I’m not sure what part of Portland is supposed to be so great, but it’s not Old Port.

Not what we thought it would be like. It was very run down. Not very tourist friendly at all. We were expecting a historic little town with tons of unique shops as stated in reviews. I will say that the lighthouse was amazing.
We stopped in Portsmouth NH on the way back to CT. It’s exactly what we thought Portland Maine would be.

We parked at the parking garage by the Hyatt. $6.00 per hour. It was close to everything. Walked to the Victoria Mansion. Walked to the lovely shops, and then walked down to the waterside.

The Old Port streets are full of shops, everything from bric a brac to high end furnishings and wine to clothing and books, along with lots of eateries and pubs. You can find many spots to indulge in lobster and clam chowder, but also Mexican and other ethnic fare. And you can walk down to overlook the water and see the “back room” view of the lobster hauling business.

Had a nice lunch, checked out a few local artisans and rial the narrow gauge railroad wish I had time to stay longer and explore the waterfront.

Walked in the Old Port on a lovely and clear winter weekend day. Freezing cold out, but the charm kept me going. Fun stores, plenty of coffee shops and restaurants in the area -- a fun day!

A must view when in Portland. You can walk everywhere, lots of good food, shops, and you can book many sailboat or harbor excursions here to other parts of Portland such as Peak's Island.

Particularly if it's a nice day - nice views, great shops and tons of restaurants all in this area! Great place to stoll down by the water.

all the stores downtown were bumping on a warm summer weekend, many had special deals, samples. Coast Guard was hosting tours on the wharf od two ships, that was interesting.

I enjoy old maritime areas and experiencing Portland was on the agenda. The primary issue is that too many other people think the same. Not a glamourous or pretty town, but it does have a charm associated with boats and the sea.

The influx of visitors has led to difficult and expensive parking, tourist shops and a range of cafes and restaurants. I could not understand why so many trendy furnture shops had opened opposite the harbour; not the sort of furniture fitted to boats and ships.

For me, the place is past its best.

We loved strolling around Commercial Street and looking at the shops, the restaurants, the port itself. Great town with a great vibe and some terrific restaurants.

it was fine,,,,,we enjoyed the first time we went there much better. mainly food, drink, and small shops.

Tons of restaurants and shops. You just have to make your way between the streets up and down from about Middle Street all the way down to the waterfront. There were several cute souvenir type shops, a candy shop, many clothing stores, a pirate shop, a few boho shops. Plus tons of restaurants

We toured this site during our two day visit to Portland. The variety of boats was interesting to see. It was most enjoyable strolling along the well kept wharf. Photo ops are encouraged.

Narrow cobblestone streets, lots of restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries, vintage buildings. Piers jut out into the water, many with places to eat. Not a lot of street parking, and the parking lots are expensive.

We stated in old port area of city.
Great fun
Friendly shops and a huge variety of unique experiences.
Plenty of restaurants and bars too
Live music
Enjoy

large area of restaurants and shops (many square blocks, plus wharf area) great shops, great architecture. plenty of restaurants of all kinds. parking lots available (not free) lots of walking. a hopping place at night.

We spent most of our time of the trip down in this area, specifically Wharf Street. There was not a single place that disappointed us! Lots of bars and restaurants. Even when a lot were closed because of Covid or out of season we still had plenty of options.

Plenty of other things to see in a quaint city. We were on a cruise so the restaurants didn't entice us

If you like checking out shops and walking down wharfs to watch fisher(wo)men at work, this is a great option for you! It's fairly accessible and definitely an enjoyable time.

Growing up in Maine i never realized how amazing this place was until after traveling more and more. The smell of salt in the air, the sound of seagulls and boat horns is what makes this place truly special. With lobster boats coming in and out and fishermen going about their daily lives it is a great place to explore and observe. Some amazing restaurants serve some of the freshest seafood possible and quaint stores line the road. If you want the Maine experience this is a good place to start

Portland’s most touristy district, for good reason. The Old Port has lots of interesting shops and restaurants to check out in its cobblestone streets (Exchange Street and Fore Street are especially popular). Along Commercial Street, which hugs the shore along the Fore River, you’ll find plenty of docks (the “Working Waterfront”) , seafood restaurants, and restored brick warehouses. The Old Port is a historic section of the city, and its charm is one of the biggest reasons so many people flock to Portland.

One of the challenges of cruising is finding information on the city you are visiting. Is their anything within walking distance of the ship! Usually the answer is NO!
In Portland the answer is YES! You exit the terminal and you are right there! Go left as you exit and you have shops, restaurants, and more. A number of tour options are right as you exit and you can sign up if you have not already done so. Go up a block or two from Commercial St. that you have on the waterfront and you have many more places to visit.
It is a walking port!

This historic picturesque harbor area is now a restaurant mecca for foodies especially those focused on seafood delights. A number of the wharves have been reconstructed and have shops, bars, and restaurants some of them having live music which is a big draw especially on the weekends when they are jam packed in the high season. Parking is at a premium and difficult to find on the weekends. Portland this time of year is very expensive especially for hotel rooms and restaurants in or close to the "old port."

What a great spot to relax and spend a few days. Tons of restaurants, bars and retail shops all within walking distance of each other. Jump on board one of the tour ships out to the islands or catch a few lobster.

Loved everything about this area except the cost of parking right on the waterfront. The lots there charged $8 an hour until noon and then a flat rate of $40 a day - no hourly rate after noon. There are much more reasonable lots just a few blocks away and it is worth driving around to locate one of those. You can easily spend five or six hours enjoying wonderful area.

Would definitely recommend. We went in winter and enjoyed the area. Don't just stay by the water, the streets inland have numerous restaurants and clubs. Food, desserts, and booze.

Awesome town. Brick streets, easy to get around, great mix of boutiques and name brand shops as well as coffee shops, drinking establishments and eateries. A great way to spend an afternoon.

It was our first visit to Portland and we were able to stay in the Old Port area of the city. There was so much to do and see, and the fact that you could walk to everything made it all the better. With the high scale food and drink in the Old Port, it can get a bit expensive, but I would absolutely recommend the Old Port to anyone looking to see an amazing, historical city.

A nice area definitely to visit when in Portland. Nice haven, a big choice of restaurants, little shops.

Portland's Old Port section provides a very pleasant walk along the water. The sea smell is invigorating and watching the boats is very relaxing.

What a fun area to walk around. So many shops, restaurants, and things to see. The sidewalks are cobblestone and not always level so pick your feet up. Getting a map of the area is a must. There are many side streets and alleys with shops so be sure to get off the main streets. We walked to the area from our hotel but there is some public parking, for a price.

Old Port is fun to explore. I loved the architecture, but there are great places to eat and interesting shops. The waterfront is scenic.

I visited Portland Maine in October and stayed for a week,the 'Old Port' is beautiful and has an array of restaurants to choose from, plus day trips out on the ferry ⛴, lots to see and do

Every storefront looks interesting and you want to go in, the only downside-can get hard to choose. People out & about all nights of the week

There are some shops, restaurants, and tours to enjoy if you're in the area. I recommend coming down!

A local recommended this eatery for Maine oysters. The ambience was great as well as the personable service. The three of us enjoyed a local craft beer and two dozen oysters. We sampled four different types and had fun narrowing down our conclusion of our favorites. We had a great time. The only downside was that the bill came to $150! Without a doubt, these were the most expensive oysters I’ve ever encountered!

Great walking experience. Multiple restaurants & bars to choose from. Unique shops. Uneven cobblestone surfaces, challenging for mobility-impaired. Recommended stops: Liquid Riot, DeMillo's, Fatface.

There seems to be a similar “old town / port” area in many of the cities we visit. Pleasant to walk around for a few hours and look in shop windows and eat at a restaurant whose only claim to fame is it’s location. We enjoyed the old port area, but had to take great care not to trip on the VERY uneven cobblestones and undulating pavement.

We had one day to tour Portland and after researching, chose to explore Old Port. Fantastic decision. You can see a good bit here in a day, days would be good for me too. Beautiful buildings, streets, waterfronts. Enough pubs, restaurants and shopping to keep you otherwise. Parking was tricky, but we knew that going in. We parked at a lower priced lot next to Lincoln Park for the first half of the day, then when that lot closed we relocated and paid more for the last few hours of the day which shaved off enough to buy us dinner.

It wasn't quite what I was thinking I might see. I thought I would see more old buildings than what we saw. That being said, it was still a neat area to walk around. Cruise ships dock here. A lot of restaurants. Worth the time.

My wife and I visited Portland for the day on a nice Saturday and had a good time. We drove up from the Boston area, and when we saw the signs on route 1 that said Waterfront or Old Port or something like that , we decided to go there. We parked at the first public parking lot right on the water we saw ($10)

We were hungry, so we ate lunch ate at Demillo's, which we couldn't help noticing while walking - a restaurant on a boat seemed cool. It was very good; we were lucky we arrived just before the noon opening, so we got seats with a great view.

Afterwards we walked along the promenade, as our very nice waiter had suggested. While eating we had noticed the harbor tour boats leaving within our view. Seemed like maybe every half-hour. When we first arrived, we also walked by a trolley tour, which seemed fun.

The walk along the promenade was fun, with a lot of nice views and it just happened a very pleasant breeze. We noticed a local tourist narrow-gauge railroad which ran along the promenade, which also seemed fun.

We then walked back, and walked through downtown. I wanted to buy a t-shirt which said "Portland" or something similar, , which I like to do, but to my surprise, I couldn't find anything I liked in 3 or 4 places, and the employees don't seem to come up and offer help, even when you are looking for something.

My wife out of curiosity checked the overnight price of the nearby hotels - the quotes were like $450 - $800.

We will definitely go back and do water activities such as the water tours, the trolley tour, and look into the ferries to the islands. I don't think it is a place we will stay overnight. We will check out and consider visiting the local downtown museums though, maybe a good cold-weather excursion on a weekend.

My husband a I love the old port. We moved to MA from Maine a new we do not get there often. We always stop and get seafood to bring home. It was very sad walking through there yesterday. Many shores and restaurants have closed and the vibe is different. It is still beautiful, just not the same!

By all means a must visit when in Portland! Grab a bite to eat at the waterfront and enjoy the active port and views. Interesting shops nearby to explore.

I loved the wharf-side vibe of Old Porte. This is a place where I could happily move to. What was it exactly that enthralled me? The cobbled streets, the shabby chic wharf, the lobster pots, the fishing vessels, the artsy shops, the architecture, the restaurants, the smell of the salt sea air. Pretty much everything, except perhaps, the exorbitant fees charged at the parking lots. $8.00 per hour or $45.00 for the day. Yeah right. Folks, do yourself a favor and do what we did - leave and take an extra five minutes to find a parking meter. $1.50 an hour is a big difference from $8.00. Whatever the marked can bear my giddy aunt.

The Portland Old Port is lined with restaurants and bars that are open late at night..The place comes alive with music from the bars , the lights and the people around.There are also quaint shops where you can find crafted one of a kind souvenirs.While strolling around, I could not resist a taste of the blueberry ice cream and the blueberry soda from an ice cream shop.They were on my must eat list alongside the lobster on a trip to Maine.

Shops and galleries and breweries and restaurants and boat tours. Lots to do, so many food and beverages options to try! Cool cobblestone alleyways with more stores to check out. Couldn't do it all in one day.

Portland Regency outdoor dining area in the center of the Old Port is quaint and relaxing.
A ‘must see’.

In a quick visit to Portland the Old Port is a must. Great restaurants and bars as well as places to shop. Look for the Fish Market to take home some lobster.

The clam chowder at Gilbert's Chowder House was good, but their seafood chowder was amazing (with chunky bites of lobster and shrimp)!

The beer at Andy's was good, the blueberry soda was better, but the fish tacos were just okay. Although the fish was fresh, the dressing was too bland. The lobster rolls at Gritty McDuff Brew Pub were okay, but far from being the best I have tasted.

We tried the potato donuts at Holy Donut, which were good (the potato did not seem to affect the taste).

a great place to walk and view the boats on the Harbour as well as take in the sights. An excellent time to visit

You can walk for hours shopping, taking a tour by trolley, duck boat, fire engine, boats, etc. And so many brew sites, Holy donuts, a must, to have a potatoe donut, restaurants, shops, lighthouses without having to drive, if you are staying in the city.

Beautiful shopping experience and a beautiful fall day. Lots of quaint shops and local galleries and vendors. Tons of restaurants and a typical northeast seaport. Must do if in the area!

We were here three nights and it's terrfic. So much activity but yet no noisy at all. The views from our boat were terrific. The staff is first rate.

After doing your shopping on commercial Street, take a short walk down to the old Port area. Lots of places to eat and apparently the scene of local nightlife.

I thought it was beautiful how the storefronts still had all the old architecture on the upper levels of the properties. You could walk around Old Port for days and always find something to do.

We walked around Old Port for several hours, shopping and eating. It reminds me of these areas in most cities.

Lots of shops and restaurants to explore in this section. A very nice place to just take a walk, or grab some food and drinks.

We stayed at a hotel walking distance from the area. It is a nice area to walk around, along the shore; a mix of local businesses, shops and restaurants. Even with on a cold, misty and rainy day, it was very pleasant. We got there late, so didn't get to go into many shops. We did stumble upon Browne Trading Market, which is a delightful local gourmet food and wine shop. Then we went to Luke's Lobster for amazing lobster rolls. It is an enjoyable place to spend a couple of hours or more.

We spent several hours in late afternoon just strolling past the boats, bars, restaurants, shops. Had some good live music, Some fun shops. It was cool but sunny and being close to the ocean added an extra benefit. There was a cruise ship docked, so there were lots of people around, but we didn't feel overly crowded. Try one of the donut shops for potato donuts. We loved Portland and this area in particular.

We wish we would have had more time to explore. It looks like the weekends would me a better experience of you wanted to check out the breweries. It seemed to many closed early. The waterfront reminded us of the Inner Harbor of Baltimore.

Nice Harbor, busy place. Fun to get a boat excursion. Alot of good food around. Seafood, and different types ...

We spent several hours waundering around the Old Port area. You can find everything from handmade crafts to wholesale sea food. It is very close to the cruise ship docks, which makes it nice for sight seeing.

I really liked how walkable the Old Port neighborhood was. Just leave the car at the hotel and you can get around to a very large number of shops, bars, and restaurants without any difficulty. Certainly a "must visit" location in Portland.

My wife and 2 dogs are staying in Wells, ME for the week and thought it would be nice to visit Portland. I did a little research and off we went to the section called Old Port. We found a parking lot and the guy told us where to park and pointed us where to pay. When I went to pay I couldn’t believe it……$45 to park….up until 2am…..it was a little after 11am and we were going to be there may 3 hours. So thinking something must be wrong I asked the parking person and he said welcome to Portland in the summer. On top of it when I did complete the transaction they also charged me a 7% fee because I was using a credit card which by the way is the only option given. I check a couple of other lots managed by UPP and all where the same amount. NEVER AGAIN. Portland and UPP you should be ashamed of yourself. Just a complete money grab. Lunch was great at the Lobster Pound with the dogs sitting on the deck. The shops were very dog friendly. But I will never go back with parking that high.

Walking down the streets of Old Port was like stepping back in time. The stores reminded me of years gone by. The town of Portland has done great job of restoring old buildings. Loved the cobbled streets. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. There were many small restaurants to eat and a good selection of food.

There were only few places left for parking. The price you pay is too much. Old port itself is not that exciting.

Great restaurants and shops along Old Port, rich in history, everybody so pleasant and friendly everywhere you turn around.
Nice walk

Old Port has so much to offer a family of all ages. Shopping, food, activities, tours, history, educational, and much more. And the view is spectacular. Plan to spend more than one day!

I’ve traveled extensively in the U. S. but Old Port remains one of my favorite locales - nice shops, great restaurants, awesome breweries, walkable town, friendly people, lighthouses and other cool attractions within an easy drive and, except during high season, not too crowded. Plus water views are right there with plenty of boats available at the Casco Bay Terminal for time on the water and even better views. The island hopping mail boat is one of my favorites. If your hotel stay is in Old Port, all this is right outside your door. Old Port is really cool.

We love the old port area of Portland. The shops are varied, tons of good restaurants and people-watching.

The sights, sounds, smells and bustle of the Old Port were a delight to take in, realizing all the while that this is the same activity that has been a major enterprise for Portland for centuries!

Its a port with all the usual character of a well keep working harbor. Good restaurants, appealing scenes of the water. Night life includes a variety of music, street gatherings.

Old Port is a fun fun place. We go there a few times a year. It's a place that will just make you feel happy and relaxed. All the wonderful little restaurants and shops. It's just alot of fun

While the area is unique and nicely maintained, once you move from the water area, you’ll find yourself in a vast collection of small shops SO, if shopping is your thing - you’ll LOVE it.

We enjoyed the old port area where you could see the history of the seaports. That is nicely done.

Old Port is a pretty and interesting neighborhood in the heart of Portland. Being able to walk , shop and eat or drink in Old Port is a reason to stay downtown.

Not as good as we thought it would be. Lots of restaurants but no shopping
But it is a working pier, so expectations too high? Could use a facelift

From the cobblestone side streets to the variety of speciality shops...this is Portland
On the waterfront....great pubs and restaurants line both sides of Commercial St.

Worth the time to stroll and enjoy the local sights

Overrated experience. Buildings in the Old Port are not particularly noteworthy, and the port area itself is very crowded the days we were there.

A wonderful working Harbor that deserves to walked and explored. Lots of places to grab a quick bite or a cocktail overlooking the water

Great place to visit. Lots to see on the water and the streets. Quaint shops, great dining and known for their beer.

We went to the Old Port area for vacation this year and didn’t get the chance to do half the things we wanted. There was so much to see and do we are planning our next trip to see and do more!

Clean, nicely restored buildings and very pedestrian friendly drivers not to mention the almost silly number and variety of restaurants and brewpubs.

Reminds us of Montreal down by the water yet only two hours drive from Boston.

Great area to walk around.

There are restaurants and shops to stop by along the way. Standard bakery is worth a stop. The view is pretty as you walk

This area is a good place to get a feel for the town. There are cobbled streets, old buildings, a working port, wharves and a myriad of shops and restaurants - something for everyone.

The highlight of this area, for me, was the hidden gem called Seabags. These bags are made from repurposed/upcycled sails from actual boats. They have an amazing selection. You can watch them being made. It made for the PERFECT souvenir.

A nice area definitely to visit when in Portland. Nice haven, a big choice of restaurants, little shops of various sorts.

Always fun to go down to the docks and see what's going on. We watched a HUGE cruise ship dock and offload a few thousand passengers, hope they enjoyed the stay, so many places to eat, and snack and even some touristic destinations. Crowded with tourists all summer, but everybody having fun and well behaved.

Absolutely love this place. So picturesque with the quaint stores and fantastic harbour. So many shops and restaurants to choose from. Cannot wait to go back to visit ❤️

Ok, with the title, you can see how our venture here was. I can ONLY imagine how much more lively the area is during the warmer months. We did see many lobster boats, just out in the open. Old Port is mosdef a fishermans spot where locals go to get some fresh seafood and (I'm certain) connect with one another.

Mostly tourist area. Nice shops. Great restaurants. Some sites. A good place to start and our hotel provided a free shuttle there and back. Check with your hotel

Plenty of unique shops. Wide selection of restaurants and plenty of pubs. Sit by the water and watch the boats come and go.

We stayed about an hour plus from Portland and debated if we should visit. We did and were very glad. Town is easily walkable, charming with cute shops, quaint restaurants, harbor etc. Of course you should visit when you are near by!

Visited the downtown Portland area with my wife, two children (both under the age of 3) and dog.

We parked our car downtown Portland at the outrageous price of $9 an hour.

There are no beautiful water views in Portland. It is very industrialized - views of huge run down buildings, gasoline storage containers, and garbage.

Upon exiting the car - the first thought was - wow there are a lot of homeless people here. Having to answer my 3 year olds questions of “why is that man laying on the ground” “what is that person doing” (watching someone stumble down the street holding an open container of vodka, while yelling things out loud) etc... was not fun.

The sidewalks are narrow, and cars blow by at high rates of speed. If your kid or dog steps off the sidewalk... pray they don’t get hit.

The air was filled with the aroma of urine and marijuana.

The restaurants were overpriced and very average.

I would not go back to the Portland area if you paid me to. There are so many quaint coastal towns in Maine - why would anyone want to go to Portland?

The Old Port was a great place to walk around, have cocktails and find a great restaurant. There were lots of great places to eat and many restaurants are on the water. Really cute shops and surprisingly easy parking

If you have read anything by Kenneth Roberts, then you might understand my interest in Maine's southern coast. Unfortunately about the only thing left is the water. Everything else is different. I had hoped that some of the port would be preserved -- unfortunately no. This is why I can not give the Old Port five stars. However, it is worthy of stars. I imagine that the Old Port is a great place to live; apartments and condos line yesterday's wharfs. On the shore side, there are many shops extending two or three blocks inland. The area is lively and pretty.

Very crowded in Agust 'Im sure that is the busiest time of the year. The traffic was awful and the street was a little dirty.
The shops were plentiful as were the variety of places to eat and stay. There a re many Brandname hotels in this area of the city.

We were not too impressed and did not spend a lot of time here even though we were staying right in Portland. We were expecting an old downtown area like Savannah or Charleston, with cobblestone roads and old quaint shops. It does have a lot of shops and restaurants so it is probably a nice area to hang out if you have time. At night it seems to be a very happening place. During the day it is probably a better time to visit with children.

Old port has some colossal seagulls, That are great for photography! The cruise ships there are gigantic! I loved watching the ferry to Nova Scotia Load up. The best street in the old port is Milk street, because of it's cool dolphin statue, and nice outdoor restaurant seating.

Lots of tourist shops, but also some fine clothing stores and other interesting shops, places to eat lobster, pretty historic area. Lots of tours of the bay and city are available. Easy to access many services.

Plenty of places that will be happy to separate you from your money! Nice shopping - different types of stores and of course the port is pretty

The area had lots of excellent restaurants, shopping and activities. Its worthwhile to make restaurant reservations in advance because it’s difficult to walk-in to a restaurants and get a table.

In a very beautiful view, yo find signs that encourage the citizens to protect the environment. Liked that very much!

This is a quaint port however to commercial for my taste.

That many beautiful parks along the coast but this would certainly not be the most beautiful thing

Old Port is packed with mostly tourists day and night. When we went on a Saturday in mid-October, it was still busy. It's a great place to spend some time, whether you're strolling, browsing, shopping, eating, drinking, going on some scenic boat trips, or just admiring the historic architecture. The unusually warm mid-October weather makes all the outdoor dining spaces that are lit up with colorful lights and lanterns especially nice.

This area is a place to spend a pleasant day exploring the waterfront. There are numerous shops,restaurants. You can rent a bike, take various tours, walk along a paved trail, take a ferry to one of several islands.
The major drawback is the difficulty parking when it's busy.
Because I am a local, and I don't mind walking, I park about a mile away and take the waterfront Eastern Prom Trail into the Old Port.

Nestled along the waterfront, stop by and walk the cobblestone street with the beautiful shops lined. Lots of variety shops, we spent a full day here. Even walked down to the water to see the boats and historic items.

A must do stroll. Enjoy the scenery and shops!

This is a nice little port & a number of shops in the area. There is a variety of restaurants both expensive & budget friendly along with choices of different types.

If you like the maritime atmosphere and the typical shops and restaurants do not forget paying a visit to the old port. Some harbor cruises depart from there and pictures are great. Definitely a bonus for the city.

Wonderful, must see! Very beautiful! Historic water front with lots of neat shops! Not your brand name shops but custom ones. Small town shop vibes. Lots of food spots! Love it here!

shopping, food and entertainment abounds from old Port. Make sure to the center area where the cobblestone road is. Great bars for martinis. I have gone to three different restaurants ans all were great. Highly recommend going.

Spend a morning walking the docks. Being an active port, the docks are alive with commerce and tourists. Gives you a good feel of 'everyday' Portland.

Great mix of sizes, periods and architectural styles. Feels quite diverse, including a bit of ugliness and the occasional challenge. Great variety of independent coffee shops, icecream parlors, bars and restaurants — and some truly picturesque streets to enjoy. Also, unlike in many other US cities and towns: plenty of small parks and shady benches, even in July.

Old Port has lots of interesting shops and restaurants. There is truly something for everyone in the Old Port area. The parking on the street is hard to find but plenty of over priced parking lots. This is a nice area to visit for local goods and food fare. The shop owners are proud of their merchandise.

It helps you get a sense of Portland by taking a nice leisurely walk through the old port area. It’s particularly attractive at early morning or sunset when the light is on the old buildings. Interesting to see the history plus existing fishing business. Definitely check out the Portland Fish Market!

Don't know if I can really be objective. One of my favorite summer destinations. Lots to see and do, great shops, great restaurants. Beautiful setting. What more could one want!?

The booming Old Port attracted eager tourists from near and far. It had dozens of restaurants, cafés, bars, bistros, and brewpubs. It also had microbrewers, distillers, bakers, confectioners, and gourmet grocers. Area specialty shops and boutiques featured clothiers, artisans, crafters, and jewelers. Other places offered home décor, furniture, stationery, books, nautical wares, pet wares, and souvenirs and gifts. Among our favorite places for eating/drinking were: Becky’s (restaurant); Arabica Coffee House (café); Old Port Tavern (bar); Petite Jacqueline (bistro); Gritty McDuff’s (brewpub); Old Port Candy (confectioner); Shipyard (microbrewer); Standard Baking (baker); Liquid Riot (distiller); and Stonewall Kitchen (gourmet grocer). Among our favorite shops were: Maine Potters Market (crafters); Casco Bay Artisans (artisans); CHART Metalworks (jeweler); Joseph’s (clothier); LeRoux Kitchen (specialty shop); Shipwreck and Cargo (nautical wares); Lisa Marie’s (home décor); Uncommon Paws (pet wares); Sherman’s (books); Paper Patch (stationery); and Abacus Gallery (gifts/souvenirs). Many products we saw in shops were made in Maine.

A registered historic district, the Old Port was opposite the waterfront, which bordered Portland Harbor on beautiful Casco Bay. Among its historic buildings were: Mariners Church (1828), the United States Custom House (1872), the Woodman Building (1867), the Galt Block (1890), and the Thompson Block (1867); brick and granite predominated in their architecture. The first two sites were well worth a look and a visit.

Cobblestone pavements covered several blocks. We found them at Wharf Street, Dana Street, Moulton Street, Silver Street, and Boothby Square. Wharf Street was particularly photogenic. Sidewalk pavements were often uneven – so be forewarned! Streets sloped downhill toward Casco Bay from the saddle between 171-foot (52.1 m) Bramhall Hill (west) and 172-foot (52.4 m) Munjoy Hill (east). Uphill grades on sidewalks were easy to moderate. Streets were narrow, as were the sidewalks. Daytime summer traffic and slow-moving tour groups made them seem even narrower.

Cheap parking was hard to find in the Old Port. Parking garages were on Temple Street ($40/day), Fore Street ($45/day), Newbury Street ($18/day), and Pearl Street ($40/day). Another garage close by was on Commercial Street at Casco Bay Lines (on the waterfront, $40/day); this one was always full. Some garages took only cash; others, like ours, only credit. On the streets, police strictly enforced metered parking rules – and public smoking rules as well.

Four mid-range hotels were in the district: modernistic, 120-room Hilton Garden Inn (3 stars); classically refined, 95-room Portland Regency Hotel (3 stars); grimly avant-garde, 130-room Hyatt Place Portland (3 stars); and quaintly understated, 101-room Portland Harbor Hotel (4 stars). A fifth mid-range hotel was nearby: stealthily elegant, 131-room Courtyard by Marriott Portland (3 stars). Every hotel was a short walk from unique places to eat, drink, and shop; the Hilton was nearest to the Casco Bay Lines terminal, where we took ferries out to stay on an island.

The Old Port’s compactness made it easily walked; it seemed easily biked, too, if we’d rented bikes at Portland Encyclepedia. The paved and marked 5.2-mile (8.4 km) Harborwalk Trail passed along the base of the Old Port on its way from East End Beach to the Casco Bay Bridge and beyond. It linked to the paved and marked 2.1-mile (3.4 km) Eastern Promenade Trail. Two stops on the paved and marked Portland Freedom Trail were in the Old Port. Three very small parks – with much-used benches – punctuated Middle Street.

Like many summer visitors, we most appreciated the variety of unique places to shop, eat, and drink in the Old Port; when we visit Portland again, we’ll certainly spend more time exploring them.

50 years a go this was a run down waterfront area. Then it was transformed into a wonderful waterfront shopping, restayrant and walking area. Great views of the waterfront. Wonderful speciality Stores. Make sure to stop in at Harbor Fish Market and the CD Exchange. Great fine restaurants and some simple walk-in lunch stops. Check out Centrql Provisions. You can go on a toure of the outer Islands on Casco Bay Lines or go on a whale watch on Odyeesy tours.

The old port still has some charm with the buildings and cobblestones. Some shops still around to browse. My reason for going are the restaurants I like. Fore st, Street and Co, Scales and Becky's diner. Also take the 5am Sunrise cruise on the Casco Bay lines.
Cannabis has made its way there and a lot of shops selling so be aware. Hotels and parking are expensive. Fall is high season so make reservations for restaurants and hotels. Hotels are short staffed and overpriced but its supply and demand. Cruise ships dock there in the fall so daytime are crowded and waits for lunchtime spots neat the dock (ie Gilberts etc) have lines of cruisers looking to sample the seafood. Like all cities these days there were a few homeless around but none were aggressive towards us and we felt fairly safe at night.
Take time to visit Portland light and a drive up to Boothbay to a lobster pound for lunch.

Pandemic or no pandemic, the sidewalks in Portland’s Old Port were bustling during the sunnier, warmer days that came after a long, cool, damp holiday weekend. All of the district’s main arteries – Commercial, Middle, Market, Fore, Exchange – had knots and clots of visitors. Several cobblestoned streets – Wharf, Dana, Moulton – were closed to traffic to accommodate outdoor seating for restaurants. The tour boat ticket line snaked down the sidewalk on Commercial; the line for Standard Bakery was just as long. At our destination, Casco Bay Lines, the waiting area was only half full, perhaps due to our timing or its abbreviated springtime ferry schedule. We most liked the varied places to find coffee (Standard Bakery was our choice) near the ferries; we disliked only the need to pay for parking on the weekdays.

Old port is a nice area just to walk around, You can view the bay area, numerous little quaint shops. Yes the big ships port in that area which means increased Tourist, The amount of tourist wasn’t overwhelming you could still stroll the streets without being shoved by people the scenery is beautiful I recommend taking a nice walk in that area people were very friendly, We felt very safe

Fun place to visit. Lots of one way streets so watch as you drive around.
Lots of shops and restaurants many with outdoor seating.

Coastal charm with a wealth of history, culture, art, energy and tasty flavor of sweet treats and seafood

Not sure what I was expecting but we found this area to be quite dull and not all that fun to walk around. There were a lot of sketchy people and while we did pop into a few shops we just weren't all that impressed.

Old Port is made up of many blocks worth of old buildings lining the area around the waterfront. There are many shops and restaurants to explore.

Had we realized the scope of the area, we would have made arrangements with one of the local tours offered in Old Port.

We did a lot of walking on a hot, humid day, and did not get to see a large portion of this interesting and historic area.

A little out of the way but worth the walk. We loved looking at all the fishing boats that were docked in the area.

Great Music-Great Food and a fun parade. We are native Mainers and this festival is a great way to discover the Old Port

The Old Port is just near the Cruise Terminal and there are many quaint historic New England architectures, gift stalls, shops and eating houses along the waterfront. A nice place to walk along, shopping and eating particularly the fresh lobsters.

The Old Port is your typical tourist area with bars, restaurants, galleries, t-shirt shops and souvenir shops with nothing you need but everything tourists buy. At least it was a nice day for a stroll window shopping and the food was good. It’s only about 8 blocks by 4 blocks so it is easy to cover. There is on street metered parking with a 2 hour limit and parking garages for $5/hour maximum $40.

Worth an hour or so of wondering through the shops, and some nice eateries too. Not days of things to do, but this bustling area has enough delights for a few hours.

Stopped here for lunch right after getting off at Portland Airport. There's street parking along Commercial St, all of which are metered, but with 2-hr limits. There are a lot of parking lots and garages, all of which charge (and charge higher during the weekends). I came across 2 lots right on the central area on a Saturday, with one charging $8/hr and the other $7/hr. I believe the weekday parking rates are mostly flat rates for a day (mostly around $15/day). It is expensive for me but yeah, that's how they make money.

As a first timer to New England, I couldn't really compare the restaurants here with ones outside the Old Port but we enjoyed 3 restaurants we tried in this area (Portland Lobster Co, J's Oyster, and Becky's Diner). Becky's Diner is a bit out of the central area - it has its own free parking.

This is indeed your typical touristy area, with tourist souvenir shops all around. I would say prices of food and shopping are reasonable, but I'm pretty sure they are higher than other places in Portland. Wharf St is an all-pedestrian cobblestone street, with old-fashioned lamps and old brick buildings. Along Commercial St, you could see easily booths of different Portland sightseeing tours and cruises, such as the firetruck tour. Do note that these companies do close early in June, having their last tours earlier than 5PM! I did see a few homeless people but unlike other reviewers, I didn't find them a problem in my trip.

In terms of sightseeing, there' isn't much in the Old Port and it is relatively small. The brick architecture is unique and different from others I've seen across New England. There might be a good photo-op with the ships and buildings by the harbor and Wharf St, but that's mostly it. Downtown Portland is doable in a day or less. Before dinner, we decided to explore the Western Promenade as museums closed early.

Even on a cool day in March, the old port is great to visit. I love that it’s a real working waterfront along with all the wonderful shops, restaurants and condos occupied by local residents. The vibes are great. Most of the historic brick buildings in this area have been repurposed and occupied by thriving businesses. It’s a terrific place. Good food at the Portland Lobster Company.

Its been 20 years since we have been in Old Port and I don’t know why it took us so long to return. The city is redeveloping and retaining the charm of old port.
The cobble stone street out door dining still has the same vibe. Enjoying life!!!

Old port is nice , plenty of restaurants, boat rides, but one problem to many homeless drug addicts, especially 15 minutes away becareful walking past the art district, we went to a famous pie bakery took a 15 minute walk to get there, I thought I was in a zombie movie, aleast five hundred homeless most on lsd. I don't know why the portland police allow this. The hotels are paying 25.00 an hour for workers yet they can't find help. No exaggeration a least five hundred homeless in portland maine, stay in tourist zone..

Lots of docked yachts, both sail and power. Floating concrete docks and a hub of activity around. Very nice downtown area.

We go to old port three or four times a year, the hotel at the Press is amazing. The restaurants and music is fantastic. Very safe and a friendly place to go.

Visit at night and walk down the alley, stop at the bars, enjoy some food, one of the best blocks to walk down at night, reminded me of some blocks in Europe

The Old Port is great. Tons of shops and lots of independent stores (very few big box places, let’s hope it stays that way!). Many good restaurants, all of which cover the price range from cheap eats to high end. Many places don’t take reservations, so waits can be long as this is hardly an undiscovered location. Reserve notes in advance though as Portland is getting very popular. Some great new beer breweries, great scenery at the Eastern promenade, and wonderful shopping that is unique!

We decided to go for a walk through the old port to walk off a meal, and had a fun time looking at the hustle and bustle of this neighborhood. There are a lot of good restaurants, cobble stone roads, and beautiful buildings in this area, and the sunsets are pretty here. It can get crowded here when the cruise ships are in port.

Reading the website about Old Port, I expected a section vastly different from the rest of downtown. It's not. It's just a section or Portland that has a slightly different look to it. The shops are not quaint or unusual, mostly chain shops. If urban shopping / experience is what you are looking for, this is it. But it isn't any different from any other urban experience.

Nothing really special. There are shops on one side of commercial. Restaurants and bars on the water side. No different from other ports

Shopping and eating at Old Port was great! We enjoyed the perfect weather, the seagulls, the sailboats. Everything was just perfect!

If you travel to Portland, Old Port is a must do. It offers many hotels, restaurants, and places to shop, all located at the waterfront. Highly recommend Old Port!

Located in Portland ME the Old Port location is a very nice option for buy gifts, take a pictures and eat in great restaurants and pubs! Have many cruises tours around the Portland coast where you will see lighthouses and wonderful views!

Fun shops and great restaurants. Particularly like the artsy and pottery shops and Mexicali Blues. Cool vibe with old brick buildings and cobble stone streets.

Peaks Island as well as visiting the light houses, amongst great cuisine,entertainment.
Stayed the past few years for 3 nights,great getaway!

We enjoyed the area plus walking beyond the old port as it is not very big. The old architecture is especially wonderful to look at. There’s also a nice walking trail on the east side.

One might think I’m biased as I live in Portland ME but I have always enjoyed Old Port area- the cute buildings, welcoming streets and eateries, the smell of the ocean and the chearful people around make you feel good and happy to be part of that community and live in such a charming town and a hood.
I’d like to say anyone should visit and that’s really how I feel but....sometime in the summer it gets real crowded (in a good way though) and not fun to park of drive through.

Old Port has a lot of shopping and restaurants. The cool part about it, is some of the streets are still cobblestone. If you are looking to hear some great music while relaxing with your loved one or friends, this is the place.

One of our favorite places to shop or take visitors from away. Loads of interesting shops with all manner of crafts and quality . A restaurant or pub every few feet. Historic buildings and even cobblestones. Easy walking through the entire area with parking garages nearby. You can walk to the "port" and watch boats come and go. Watch out for a huge cruise ship towering over the waterfront, means you're in for crowds. One of the best concentrated areas in Maine to get local products and crafts.

The Old Port district is the best place to visit when in Portland, ME. Lots of interesting and eclectic shops, restarauants and the Casco Bay Ferry to visit places such as Peaks Island.

Take note that part of the district is a working waterfront, and during the warm summer months, there can be an odor coming from the docks where seafood is brought in. Consider that part of the area's charm!

Amazing. Bee England charm. Super cute local.shops and awesome restaurants. Close to a great walking and bike trail. Close go amazing local brews. Clean. And friendly area with amazing seafood

Where does one begin!!!! The atmosphere of the working piers???? The glamor & allure of EXCHANGE STREET with its trendy shops????? The dynamic restaurants with seafood served its FRESHEST. THE COBBLE STREETS ??? THE MAGNIFICENT ARCHITECTURE???? Come visit !!!!!

Love to go down to the Old Port to shop. Cabot Cheese is fantastic, as is Laroux kitchen shop. We never make it out of these places without spending a lot! Lots to see and lots to buy. Make sure you have a driver to pick you up, or plan to walk a bit to park.

The Old Port has become a happening place with great food and bar scenes, terrific tours of the bay and a fun vibe for tourists. The blend of old and new architecture is impressive. This city has really improved its game over the past 10 years.

A pretty port with hundreds of hidden gems. We were able to see some fisherman early in the morning who showed us the lobster pots - awesome!
You can see the port in 30 minutes, or spend 2-3 hours here. Walk all the way down to the old train and sit on the coastline!

As you meander thru Old Port it is fun to stop at unique shops and nibble on unique cuisine. Many locally brewed beers make this a popular area for brewery tours in addition to foodie tours. Wear comfortable walking shoes, pavers can be a little uneven.

Nice place to walk around and visit the shops and restaurants. Most stuff is overpriced and the area is not huge but it will take up a few hours and provide a pleasant experience.

We stayed at the Francis Hotel, which was on the outskirts of Old Port but never more than a mile at most from anything. Just blocks from the Portland Museum of Art, Victoria House, Wadsworth House, great food, bars, Monument Square, etc. So much local culture and food, incredible history, and absolutely gorgeous architecture and landscaping.

Historic New England waterfront still active with large fishing/lobstering fleet. Picturesque at every turn with vibrant restaurant/bar scene. There are photo ops at every step of the way as you look down the cobblestoned streets packed with centuries old red brick warehouses, narrow canals lined with the working fleet, and lobster pots stacked high. Loved it and finished our little tour with a stop at one the waterfront restaurants to devour clams and lobsters and down a couple local brews---now that's a good day well spent!!

We were so excited to visit Portland. We had great hopes of walking to excellent restaurants, bars, shopping, etc.

We HATED Portland and the Old Port. I'm not sure if something changed here because of the pandemic, but the streets were filled with homeless people begging and others clearly on drugs also begging or chasing after us at times.

Maybe the pandemic brought in a bunch of weirdos, because I read how nice this area is, but I would never, ever, return to Portland unless it's to visit Allagash and then get the heck out! Families beware. Stay in South Portland outside of the city - it's much nicer and seemed safe.

We live here but this city never gets old. It’s quaint, quirky and fun. There are beautiful sights to see on every corner from cobblestone streets and alleys to docks, bars, restaurant and shops. Grab a rental car and v3nture to surrounding towns for beautiful beaches and more. Love m6 home town.

Old Port is a must see for small shops. Go along main street, and each street off that has small shops. Next street has more shops. Can spend hours just going from shop to shop. There are also tours that you can take in that area to help to explore Old Port and beyond.

I go to Old Port a lot since I live only a 10-minute drive away and friends and visiting family love to go here. It's a great place to see for the historic architecture, restaurants, bakeries, brew pubs, bars, shops, art galleries, cobblestoned streets, entertainment, tours, waterfront, and overall charm. Yes, the traffic and parking during the busy tourist season can be a challenge, but it's really not that bad.

Had a nice time shopping here, centrally located. Almost every store was open but note restrooms are closed even at Star Bucks. Very uniques shopping, friendly staff working in the stores. They recommend high rollers on exchange street for Lobster Rolls but it’s closed Monday and Tuesdays.

Parking is $2 an hour, very reasonable. Off season best shopping around and close to 3 lighthouses.

We stopped here for dinner on Wed 7/3/2019 without a reservation and had a lovely meal. There was only one table left outside, and it was fantastic: quiet and secluded, on the very edge of Old Port. The food was great, and the service was prompt and attentive. Thanks!

The old port area is a blast to visit, shop, and eat. There is a variety of resturants besides seafood so check it out. Don't forget to go up the hill because there is more to see. I'm only giving three stars due to the lack of available public restrooms.

I spent time every day I was in Portland in the Old Port area which was easily accessible by foot from my hotel. Fun place to hang out and do a little shopping.

The Old Port defines what car be done with urban renewal and at the same time retain the architecture and history. I have been visiting here since the mid-1950s when I was a child. A highlight of any trip to Portland.

not very interesting: lots of souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. And homeless people.
Parking is an issue.

Commercial Street on the Portland waterfront is a fun place to visit. Lot's of great restaurants and little shops. I found a Gluten Free Bakery BAM BAM and a gluten free donuts shop, The Holy Donut. Lot's of places to enjoy a drink over looking the water front
The Portland Lobster Company is a fun place and good food.

We tooled around Old Port a bit while in Portland but most of the action is toward to the harbor for sure. Old Port is nostalgic with the old cobble streets & old buildings. Not many places to eat unless you make your way down the hill toward water. There's a couple of museums up in Old Port. And there is plenty of homelessness & drug use happening anywhere you walk in Old Port. We walked through a couple times but most of the action of this city takes place down the hill from here!

While there are plenty of other fantastic locations and things to do in and around Portland, the Old Port is an absolute must for anyone who truly wants to connect with the city. It has everything you need in one small(ish) location. Lots of great local shops and restaurants. At night, it comes alive with a fun and active bar scene. Pack comfortable footwear, though! Many of the streets are cobblestone.

Nice place for eatin and drinking BUT not handicap accessible at ALL. I have been in crutches and wheelchair and I could not get into moat bars and restaurants. Sad its 2019 and most places have small doorways with crooked steps and no room to move safely or at all. Loved it when I was not diabled and in my 20s it but doesnt make sense now. They all use the grandfathered in excuse so they dont have to make their establishments accessible. Just makes them look cheap and like they don't care.

I had been to Portland twice 6 or 7 years ago solo, and I loved it so much that I wanted to show my family.

What a disappointment it was this time! None of the quaint little shops or restaurants I remember are there anymore except for a bookstore.

It is run down and had little of interest. All the charm is gone!

I was disappointed that we added this day to our trip. Time and money completely wasted.

If coming to Portland, staying in Old Port is a must!
Everything is here, restaurants, bars, shops, wharf, tours, land and sea activities !
We didn’t really need a car, walked everywhere! Discovery Tours were great right at Longs Wharf. We took both land and sea tours .... both awesome!
Go to DiMillos (famous floating restaurant everything is great, go for lunch, less pricey)The Porthole (famous twin lobster dinner 24.99!) and Gilbert’s (chowders ...clam chowder and fish chowder!) Visit all the bars, shops and walk the cobblestone streets. Lots of old charm and architecture! The wharf area is bustling with activities! (Some homeless people asking for handouts but not too bad.)
Wear comfy shoes cause those lovely old streets are definitely uneven and can be tricky! We loved this fun Old Port town!

The Old Port is a wonderful section of Portland to explore. It’s very pedestrian friendly and easy to navigate. Portland has dozens of great restaurants and bars and many of them are either found in or close to the Old Port. There are also coffee shops, donut shops, gelato shops, and lots of boutiques. Parking is definitely expensive and can be a challenge, however, drive around and compare prices. A parking garage can be $5 an hour, whereas you can sometimes find parking for $10 for the day. Or better yet, you’re very lucky if you score a free spot down Commercial St. near Becky’s!

Nice area for walking and see some of the older buildings and shops. Cobblestones in many of the areas so have good walking shoes. Parking can be a huge challenge so be prepared and it’s expensive as well.

We had a nice walk around old port but wish we could have got closer to the water and the harbor. Every street seemed to dead end with no access.

Just walk around and enjoy the sights, smells and unique little shops. Lots of restaurants, cobblestone streets, ice cream shops and of course, The Holy Donut. You have to go there!

Lots of great shops to visit, restaurants to try, people to watch! Parking is a bit pricey, but it's such a great area it's worth it!

I loved walking around Old Port/ definitely touristy, but the air is so clean and there are plenty of great restaurants/bars within walking distance.

The old port is a nice area to just walk around. Lots of bars, shops and restaurants in the area. Street parking is $1.75 an hour

We were visiting family and wandered around Old Port. Great selection of stores and restaurants, some of my favorites was LeRoux Kitchen which has a great selection of kitchen items, balsamic vinegars you can taste, jams and other food items. We also stopped into the Cabot Cheese store which had a great variety of cheeses for tasting. There are a number of clothes stores and we found TOKO INDO, which was a quirky clothes store with a fun selection of different clothes with reasonable prices. There are so many stores that it is worth to spend an afternoon wandering but in the summer/fall, I would avoid if the cruise shops are in.

There isn’t a ton to do, but there are a lot of restaurants and bars with some touristy shops mingled in. We were there for two days and only saw one homeless person. It’s within walking distance to several breweries which is nice as well. We took a duck boat tour and learned some things we didn’t know about the history. It has the feeling of a growing area with things happening. Like any city you have to take the time to look beyond the surface sometimes.

This old port is lovely. Love the cobblestones walkways. All the restaurants in the area are great! Love to go back there again,.. :)

Yeah, this area is full of tourists, even more recently since the cruise ships have been docking in Portland. But there are cool tours available here, like whale-watching boats. And it is a gateway to a lovely city. (For me, the place where my ferry takes me to my island.)

Absolutely recommend Old Port for all of it's wonderful restaurants, bars, shops, harbor tours, and walkability.

From shopping, to dining, to perusing the public art or even just sitting on the dock by the bay and watching the water, people and watercraft. A nice way to spend a day.

If you want quaint stores, wonderful food, live music, and a fun pub scene all within easy walking - this is HEAVEN!! All just right off the water so it’s beautiful to boot !

Portland Maine was a port stop on our New England/ Canada cruise. It probably would have been a nice visit but the amount of tourists the day we were there was ridiculous. Could not even find a restaurant to have lobster that you didn't have to wait a hour. The streets were packed. We did go on a light house shore excursion it was ok?
I found they also over charged for souvenirs. Maybe it would be a nice place to visit during off season but would not recommend going at peak season.

They have turned this place into a true cruise ship port stop. The shops are very touristy. Lovely architecture, but since pot has been legalized, a little element detected that makes you watch your purse a little more carefully.

A nice place to take a stroll and stop for a meal or drinks. Great harbor views and lots do to. A bit on the expensive side, but that's to expect in a place like this.

Stayed in Old Port. Loved the ambiance and the availability of everything, even the ferry to the islands.