Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Portland travel guide

Portland Tourism | Portland Guide

You're Going to Love Portland

With a population of 66,194, Portland is the largest city in Maine, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Portland deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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Where to Eat in Portland

If you’re looking for affordable options, Evo Kitchen + Bar (443 Fore Street) and Scales (68-72 Commercial St) are great picks.

When to visit Portland

Portland in November
Estimated hotel price
$131
1 night at 3-star hotel
Portland in November
Estimated hotel price
$131
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Portland in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 78.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 14 °F, with an average temperature of 23 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 4.5″. In contrast, August is usually the driest month of the year in Portland, with an average rainfall of 2.9″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Portland

Plane

When flying to Portland, you’ll arrive at Portland Airport (PWM), which is located 3 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Portland include American Airlines, Delta and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Portland departs from Miami and takes around 3h 19m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portland, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portland to Providence takes 0h 46m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $22 for a 4h 11m trip. The train station in Portland is called Portland, and is located 1.9 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Portland is to pick up a car rental from Boston, which is about 99 miles from Portland. You’ll find branches of Turo and Movly, among others, in Boston.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Portland, including OurBus, CoachRun and Bus. From Hartford, the bus ride to Portland takes 120 miles and will cost you around $25. From New York, the ticket costs about $46 for a journey of 240 miles. The most popular bus station is Portland Bus Stop, located 0.4 miles from downtown Portland. Portland Bus is also a commonly used station, and is 1.3 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Portland, you’ll arrive at Portland Airport (PWM), which is located 3 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Portland include American Airlines, Delta and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Portland departs from Miami and takes around 3h 19m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portland, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portland to Providence takes 0h 46m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $22 for a 4h 11m trip. The train station in Portland is called Portland, and is located 1.9 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Portland is to pick up a car rental from Boston, which is about 99 miles from Portland. You’ll find branches of Turo and Movly, among others, in Boston.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Portland, including OurBus, CoachRun and Bus. From Hartford, the bus ride to Portland takes 120 miles and will cost you around $25. From New York, the ticket costs about $46 for a journey of 240 miles. The most popular bus station is Portland Bus Stop, located 0.4 miles from downtown Portland. Portland Bus is also a commonly used station, and is 1.3 miles from the city center.

Airports near Portland

BOSBoston Logan Intl
PWMPortland
MHTManchester

Airlines serving Portland

KLM
Good (1,432 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,631 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,010 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,580 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,100 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,813 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,094 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,683 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,052 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,440 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,506 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,527 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,332 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (879 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,095 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,606 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,337 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,413 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,463 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,147 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Portland

Average rates range from around $144 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $334 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Portland Downtown - Waterfront and Inn at Portland.

Where to stay in popular areas of Portland

Most booked hotels in Portland

See all
Harraseeket Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 956 reviews)
$117+
View
Holiday Inn Portland-By The Bay
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1739 reviews)
$69+
View
Portland Harbor Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1183 reviews)
$107+
View
Hampton Inn Portland Downtown - Waterfront
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1656 reviews)
$93+
View
The Westin Portland Harborview
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 993 reviews)
$97+
View
Comfort Inn South Portland Airport
2 stars
Excellent (8, 1021 reviews)
$52+
View

Renting a car in Portland

Renting a car in Portland costs $47 per day, on average, or $95 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Budget, Alamo and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Portland is the Budget branch at 1001 Westbrook Street, which is 3 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 23% cheaper than airport locations in Portland.

Expect to pay $3.29 per gallon in Portland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.52 and $52.69. The most frequently booked car type in Portland is Full-size (Volkswagen Jetta or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Class Compact SUV or similar) are, on average, 56% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Portland costs $47 per day, on average, or $95 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Budget, Alamo and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Portland is the Budget branch at 1001 Westbrook Street, which is 3 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 23% cheaper than airport locations in Portland.

Expect to pay $3.29 per gallon in Portland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.52 and $52.69. The most frequently booked car type in Portland is Full-size (Volkswagen Jetta or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Class Compact SUV or similar) are, on average, 56% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Portland

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$24/day

Supplier choice

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$25/day

Full-size
Find car rentals in Portland