Casco Bay
4.5
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Ship traffic here runs the gamut from lobster boats to oil tankers and cruise lines; also look for the many photogenic lighthouses.
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Best nearby
Restaurants
459 within 5 kms
Attractions
211 within 10 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
336 reviews
Excellent
249
Very good
79
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
1
David
San Antonio, TX5 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
I love the old port in Portland, as well as Peaks island.
The ferry takes us out to the island ( where we rent a house for at least a week).
In the evenings we take the ferry back
to Portland and eat at one of the many fine restaurants in or near the old port. ( Street and company is the favorite).
Gilbert’s Chowder House is a great daytime stop
for eating. And Becky’s Diner ( dinah) is great for breakfast, or anytime.
The best trip from Portland is up to Freeport.
The main store of LL Bean and numerous outlets are there. Additionally, Freeport harbor has the Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, which is my favorite spot to eat on the coast of Maine.
After eating there we usually go into Freeport to the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream store in front of LL Bean for desert.
Casco Bay has lovely coast roads and various beaches and great, old homes along the way.
It is great to visit Portland and Casco bay in the summer!!!
And Southwest Air flies into Portland!!!
There is no finer vacation spot during the summer as far as I am aware.
The ferry takes us out to the island ( where we rent a house for at least a week).
In the evenings we take the ferry back
to Portland and eat at one of the many fine restaurants in or near the old port. ( Street and company is the favorite).
Gilbert’s Chowder House is a great daytime stop
for eating. And Becky’s Diner ( dinah) is great for breakfast, or anytime.
The best trip from Portland is up to Freeport.
The main store of LL Bean and numerous outlets are there. Additionally, Freeport harbor has the Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, which is my favorite spot to eat on the coast of Maine.
After eating there we usually go into Freeport to the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream store in front of LL Bean for desert.
Casco Bay has lovely coast roads and various beaches and great, old homes along the way.
It is great to visit Portland and Casco bay in the summer!!!
And Southwest Air flies into Portland!!!
There is no finer vacation spot during the summer as far as I am aware.
Written 20 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angie
11 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
A beautiful bay that you can see from the Eastern Promenade Trail. There are boats out and a beach area. A great place to visit and tale pictures!
Written 10 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mainemike62
Yarmouth, ME82 contributions
Feb 2023
Wether it be fromFalmouth, or Portland or Spouth Portland there is always something nice to see overlooking the Casco bay.
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME8,440 contributions
Oct 2022
While walking along the Eastern Promenade Trail near Thames Street during sunset on a warm October evening, the colors of that harbor portion of Casco Bay were beautiful -- the water was like a sheet of pink-tinted glass.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dinerdon
Bayville, NJ1,017 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Must see while in Portland. Best way to see it is on the Casco Bay mail boat. Love the 5am Sunrise boat. Watching the sun come up, sailing past Ft Gorges, Bug Light and the craggy coast of Maine is wonderful. Also a drive to Portland Head light tops it off.
Written 4 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dorisdaybic
New York City, NY37 contributions
Sep 2022
Just a great sight/nature to see. Definitely a place to stop and breathe! Worth a drive or tour. Would visit again
Written 9 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juan D
Newton, MA2 contributions
Sep 2022
There were a lot of people, parking lots were all full, very crowded on the ferry, but it's great! Very nice views!
Written 8 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobbie W
Warwick, RI1,366 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
It’s July, warm and a beautiful sight to see. You can drive or bike here. Beautiful ocean views of sale boats and yachts and lighthouse! When in Portland, it’s a must see.
Written 16 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NHjo
Saco, ME8,440 contributions
Jun 2022
There's so much you can say about the Casco Bay region -- Portland and its environs, islands, lighthouses, waterfronts, ferries, boating, tours, bridges, historic forts, and great shellfish including LOBSTER.
Written 26 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gary T
28 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
A very spectacular beautiful part of this beautiful city. Restaurants and plenty of amazing views. Lot's of ferry tours from puffins, whales,seals lighthouse tours
Written 15 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kaushalppt
6 contributions
how much time I can reserve on a day for enjoying the ferry line (hop on-off) between islands?
pjfrommass
Weston, MA265 contributions
If you just want the experience of riding the ferry and getting out on the water, 2 hours is plenty. We got up early, bought coffee and pastry at the bakery across from the ferry terminal, rode out and back, and were back in our hotel room before our (grown) kids woke up.
jamaicalover
Cleveland1,389 contributions
I’ll be doing my first trip to Portland in May . I’m very excited ! I am interested I seeing Casco Bay as well . I would love to take an inexpensive trip there and back as I don’t drive . My question was the best way to go and if there are restaurants there and bathrooms ? Thank you ☺️
WTL2013
Kingston, NY35 contributions
Many great places to eat in and around Portland, and you can drive around the inner bay part of Casco Bay, or take a ferry (which is cheap!) to Peak's Island in the outer part for a quick jaunt to a cool little island. When we visited Peak's Island in September we rented a cart and drove around the island in an a couple of hours, stopping at all the sites. Fort Allen Park on the Eastern Promenade gives you a lovely view of the bay, as well. You can spend as little or as much as you want and have a great day anywhere in the area! OOB/Portland has been a vacation destination of mine for years.
Will be in Portland October 21-22. Was wondering what the best tour would be? 60 age group. 4 people.
Thank you,
DJ
Henry I
Sharon, VT197 contributions
Simply take tthe ordinary Casco Bay Ferry. You can stop ad get off and on at any of a half dozen islands and explore and get back in,. Te tours that exist are not realy worth the extra money.
Jane T
Acworth, GA4 contributions
What is the best way to tour islands in Casco Bay area? We will be arriving by cruise ship mid October. Appreciate any suggestions.
mainemountainbear
Texas Gulf Coast, TX1,191 contributions
Casco Bay Lines is a local ferry service, not a cruise line. That said, the best way to see the most islands in Casco Bay inexpensively is probably on the mail-boat runs. Now that CBL is on its fall schedule, ferries make fewer trips than summer, so check its website for options. Most islands are uninhabited; of the inhabited ones, most have very few places to shop or eat after Labor Day, so plan to bring food/drink with you. Naturally, all options hinge on when the cruise ship arrives/departs and how long it is in port. The CBL terminal is a short walk from where most cruise chips dock in Portland.
BFlo99
Dallas, TX2 contributions
Hi Tony, I will arrive in Portland this Saturday, July 28 and stay for three days before going to the Bar Harbor area. If you don't mind sharing, which specific tours and activities did you enjoy in Portland? I should have already made reservations and plans - didn't get it done yet!
readingbeaver
Woodmere, NY65 contributions
We took a hour lighthouse tour on a boat very pretty. If it's raining I recommend the art museum.
Pam S
Middleton, MA30 contributions
Hi! I can't seem to find this 6 hour tour anywhere; just kayak tours. Can you help?
Thanks!
Rick B
Florida Keys, FL256 contributions
Hello, you can go online to cascobaytourlinescom or go down to commercial st -to there office and book on the sunset cruise which takes a couple of hours, it`s awesome-I`ll be there in two weeks taking the sunset cruise again it`s the best !!!!Good Luck !
Rambler
Ft. Myers57 contributions
it appears tickets are to specific islands. is there a day pass to hop on and off at different islands? Is that what travelers are referring to as the "mail run" trip? what is the fee? thank you.
WonderWoman20162016
Australia250 contributions
The boat goes from island to island delivering mail and packages. Locals use it to get from their home island to the mainland for shopping.
You could get off and walk around but not sure there is anything to see other than private homes.
Most people just ride the boat from start to finish.
Bring a jacket. Gets windy.
Don’t remember the fee but was very reasonable.
Bunnygoo
Pell City, AL24 contributions
What is the best cruise, boat ride (day trip) to take and do they run the last week of March. Also, what kind of weather can we expect on average the last week of March?
Mainseagull
Charlestown, RI83 contributions
if you're interested in Maritime history, Portland Harbor Museum is a small charming spot to visit. Check out Schooner Fare's Portland Town on youtube for local music.
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Claim your listingCasco Bay - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Casco Bay
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Casco Bay:
- Private Lighthouse Sightseeing Charter on a Vintage Lobster Boat (From HK$2,502.90)
- Private Sunset Charter on a Vintage Lobster Boat (From HK$2,760.21)
- Stand Up Paddleboard Tour with Complimentary Oyster Tasting (From HK$576.99)
- Portland Tall Ship Cruise on Casco Bay (From HK$735.59)
- Sunset Sea Kayak Tour of Casco Bay (From HK$374.27)
- Hotels near Casco Bay:
- (0.15 km) Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront
- (0.17 km) LUXURY PENTHOUSE | MODERN DESIGN | OLD PORT DOWNTN
- (0.30 km) Hampton Inn Portland Downtown - Waterfront
- (0.21 km) Luxury Old Port Penthouse Suite w/Stunning Harbor Views. Parking. Safe + Secure.
- (0.31 km) Portland Regency Hotel & Spa
- Restaurants near Casco Bay:
- (0.09 km) Flatbread Company
- (0.09 km) Scales Restaurant
- (0.14 km) Gilbert's Chowder House
- (0.18 km) Standard Baking Co.
- (0.11 km) Porthole Restaurant & Pub