10 Best Things to Do in Portland Maine in 24 Hours

The ultimate travel guide to Portland, Maine, I’ll show you the ten best things to do in 24 hours including where to stay and what to eat!

Last month I had the opportunity to return to one of my favorite states in the nation: Maine! While this wasn’t my first visit to Maine (Rich proposed to me in Bar Harbor!), it had been several years so I couldn’t wait to return.

In case you ever find yourself in Portland, Maine, here is my guide to the ten best things to do in 24 hours!

First up: check in to your hotel. When choosing a hotel in Portland, I highly recommend the Portland Harbor Hotel which is centrally located downtown and within walking distance to countless shops, restaurants and attractions.

The guest rooms are modern and spacious – perfect for couples, families or a girl’s trip.

In fact, the Portland Harbor Hotel is so centrally located we rarely needed to drive anywhere during our visit.

Second: Slurp Noodles at The Honey Paw! This Asian restaurant features house made noodles, soups, stir-fries, veggie dishes, brunch items and more.

These wok charred veggies topped with crunchy peanuts and scallions are still on my mind and it’s been weeks since I visited The Honey Paw.

Of course, I couldn’t leave without trying their house made noodles. This spicy beef pho did not disappoint.

My third suggestion for what to do in Portland in 24 hours is to walk around the downtown area and shop local. There are countless boutiques, clothing stores, gift shops and more.

Two stores in particular that I highly recommend are Portland Trading Co. and Rough and Tumble. Both are locally owned and feature craft made items that are perfect for treating yourself.

Number four: get your caffeine fix at Bard Coffee.

This cute and trendy coffee shop is right downtown, perfect for an iced coffee or warm chocolate mocha on a cool day.

Tip number five: enjoy happy hour cocktails at Portland Hunt & Alpine Club located downtown.

Refreshing, adventurous, classic and wild card – their cocktail menu has a little something for everyone.

Number six: enjoy dinner at BlueFin North Atlantic Seafood Restaurant located inside the beautiful Portland Harbor Hotel. Offering seating both indoors and outdoors, this is the perfect restaurant to enjoy fresh, locally caught and sustainable seafood. Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the calamari fries!

The next morning, it’s time for recommendation number seven: grab a healthy breakfast at LB Kitchen. Featuring smoothies, breakfast bowls, hearty egg dishes and more, this is a great spot to start your day with plenty of energy.

Tip number eight: after breakfast get your sweat on at Hustle and Flow Studio. Offering a wide variety of classes, I really enjoyed the fun and laid back format of the “hustlercise” class I took.

My ninth suggestion is to treat yourself at Duckfat.

Featuring hand-cut Maine potatoes fried Belgian-style in duck fat, tossed with their seasoning salt and served in a cone with your choice of five homemade dipping sauces – these fries are worth the trip to Portland alone.

Don’t worry – the salads are amazing as well. Many of which featured locally grown, seasonal ingredients.

Last but not least, tip number ten: catch a ferry to visit Diamond Cove Island! In fact, stay tuned for my travel guide to the Inn at Diamond Cove coming soon.

What are your favorite spots in Portland, Maine? Did I miss any? Let me know!

Disclosure: Portland Harbor Hotel hosted my overnight accommodations during my visit. All thoughts are my own. 

Want more travel tips? Check out my Pinterest board!