The Best Things to Do in Boothbay Harbor, Maine: Your Complete Travel Guide
Boothbay Harbor, Maine, is a quintessential Maine experience. As someone born and raised in Massachusetts, summer visits to Maine were a part of growing up. I have been to Boothbay Harbor a few times, the most recent being summer of 2026 with my husband and parents.
Boothbay Harbor has retained its charm over the years. In this article, I will share our must-see activities and the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor based upon my most recent trip.
The Best Things to Do in Boothbay Harbor
Stroll Through Downtown Boothbay Harbor
Downtown Boothbay Harbor is a charming, picturesque waterfront Maine village. Along with a working waterfront, there are boutiques and restaurants, along with art galleries and walkable streets.
The footbridge in Boothbay Harbor is a pedestrian bridge that connects the east side of the town directly to the main commercial area. If you stay at the Boothbay Harbor Inn as we did, there is direct access to the footbridge, and it is easy to leave the car and explore on foot.
Walking over the footbridge, there are plenty of places to stop and take photos and relax on a bench. The Bridge House is an iconic house that was once used for the original bridge tender. It is now a private seasonal home.
Many boat tours depart directly from the downtown area. There are harbor cruises, puffin and whale watching tours, as well as visits to nearby islands.
The downtown area also has plenty to do, from wandering the boutiques to dining on the waterfront. There are galleries to peruse as well as the historic Opera House for live concerts and theater.
Visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
One of the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor is visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which are open from May to October. They are about a 9-minute drive from the downtown harbor area. Admission fees are $28 for adults, $24 for seniors and veterans, and $12 for children ages 3-17. Children under 3 are free. Tickets are $4 more when purchased in person, so it makes sense to book online in advance. You do not need to book a specific time; you can arrive at any time on the date of your ticket.
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest botanical garden in New England at over 325 acres. Depending on what month you visit, you will have a chance to see different things in bloom, from azaleas and peonies in May to chrysanthemums and dahlias in October.
The gardens offer two free tours daily at 11 am and 1 pm. The 11 am tour focuses on the highlights of the garden with a broad overview and information on the garden’s history. The 1 pm tour is a guided hike to find all of the 5 hidden trolls on the garden’s grounds. The troll tour is about 2.5 miles in total.
The gardens also have some themed areas that you can visit according to your interests. There is a peaceful meditation garden with stone sculptures. Slater Forest Pond is filled with frogs and other aquatic creatures. It has dragonflies that are there to keep the mosquitoes away. The perennial garden sits on a hillside and features more than 175 varieties of rhododendron and azaleas.
Take a Boothbay Harbor Boat Tour
One of the most popular activities to do in Boothbay Harbor by far is a boat tour. There are plenty of options to choose from for boat tours, from short harbor cruises to longer excursions.
Balmy Days Cruises offers tours including a trip to the Burnt Island Lighthouse, Monhegan Islands, as well as a short scenic mailboat tour with stops along the way.
Hardy Boat Cruises offers a Puffin cruise tour 7 days a week. The Puffin cruise is about 1.5 hours and is narrated by National Audubon’s puffin naturalists. The cost is $71 for adults, $61 for children ages 2-12, and children under 2 are free.
Visit Burnt Island Lighthouse
Burnt Island Lighthouse is accessible only by boat. It is a short 15-minute ferry ride to the island. Balmy Days Cruises offers round-trip tours to the island for $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 0-11 years old.
After the short ferry ride, you have about an hour and a half on the island to explore on your own before getting on the boat to return to Boothbay Harbor. The island features 5 acres of nature trails, the 1857 keeper’s house, and the 1821 light tower.
Walk the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge
The Boothbay Harbor Footbridge was built in 1901. There is a sign at the entrance from the west side with the name of the bridge and establishment date on it.
On my last trip here, I stayed at the Boothbay Harbor Inn, which is right next to the footbridge. We walked back and forth on this bridge many times to explore the downtown area, meet our cruise, shop, and dine.
There are benches located along the bridge so visitors can stop and enjoy the view. The Bridge House, located directly in the center, was built to house the bridge tender. It is now a private seasonal home that visitors can view from the outside.
Go Whale Watching
Whale watching cruises are offered from May to October. Cap’n Fish’s Cruises offers tours for whale watching or a combination puffin and whale watching tour.
The whale watching tour is about 3.5 hours. The cost is $91 for adults (13+), $81 for children (2-12 years), and $21 for children under 2. The cruise is narrated by marine biologists.
Although they do their best, occasionally it might be hard to find whales. On those dates, they offer a free standby ticket so you can join a cruise on another date.
Explore Barrett Park
Barrett Park is a 10-acre public park located on Lobster Cove Road. There is a large grassy area for setting up chairs and picnics. There is also a small beach for swimming or to launch your kayak from.
The park features restrooms and has plenty of shade from trees. There is a parking lot on the other side of the road. I did not see lifeguards there. Depending on the tides, there are also areas where you can walk along the rocks and explore little tidepools.
Browse Local Shops and Galleries
Since we were a group of adults, we all enjoyed wandering in the shops in the downtown area. In Maine in early July, there are bound to be weather variations. Our first night there was quite cold, and we stopped into the Three Buoys gift shop for sweatshirts.
The Footbridge Shop was also a favorite of ours during our stay. We got some nice stemless glasses to have our drinks, and they made for a nice souvenir to bring home.
Gimbel & Sons Country Store is also a nice store with souvenirs and food items like fudge and taffy, and other locally sourced products.
The Best Outdoor Activities in Boothbay Harbor
Kayaking Around the Harbor
Equipment rental is available through Maine Kayak. You can rent single or tandem kayaks, and delivery to your location is also available!
If you are looking for something more structured, there are also options for lessons as well as guided trips ranging from 2-hour guided trips to sunset tours to half- and full-day tours.
Take a Scenic Harbor Cruise
A harbor cruise is one of the best things to do in Boothbay Harbor, especially if you do not have time for a half- or full-day boat trip. Balmy Day Cruises offers a scenic mailboat tour that goes around the harbor and stops in different locations, including Squirrel Island. Although it leaves from Pier 8, it also stops at other locations. After completing the tour, we chose to get off at the pier right in front of our hotel, the Boothbay Harbor Inn, which was very convenient.
The mailboat has an upper and lower level. The upper level is exposed to the sun and offers better views overall. The lower level was inside and shaded, but it was harder to see the scenery. Surprisingly enough, the upper level also felt a bit more stable.
Where to Eat in Boothbay Harbor
Fresh Lobster Restaurants
There is an eclectic mix of restaurants that serve lobster in Boothbay Harbor. From standard lobster rolls to things like lobster risotto, there is something for every palate.
Boothbay Lobster Wharf is right on Atlantic Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. They don’t take reservations. This is basically a working lobster wharf where you can pick out your own lobster. They also have veggie options, lobster mac & cheese, and salads.
Cozy’s Dockside is located a short drive from Boothbay Harbor in nearby Southport and is considered a hidden gem. It’s a casual waterfront spot with outdoor seating. The lobster rolls were gobbled up, and I think they were a bit small for the men in our group. As the only vegetarian, I was able to order a portobello mushroom burger, which was good. The service was really fast, but there were not many empty tables when we went. Our waiter was not super responsive to getting our order, including our drinks. We may have caught them on an off night.
Waterfront Dining
Pretty much every restaurant in the area offers some form of waterfront dining. Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern has a waterfront location right on the pier. It is attached to the Fisherman’s Wharf Inn. The tavern is casual, offering a variety of cocktails, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and lobster dishes. There is a traditional tavern inside and a nice covered patio outside.
If you don’t mind climbing stairs, the Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar & Restaurant has three floors, with the top deck offering open-air seating with panoramic views of Boothbay Harbor. There is also a great variety of food here with vegan options, tapas, soups and salads, seafood, and sandwiches.
Harborside 1901 Bar & Grill was a bit nicer but had a small indoor dining room that felt a bit cramped. The food here was delicious. They offer starters, entrees, and a sushi bar. There were also a couple of vegetarian options available.
Casual Cafés
Harbor Treats is right at the entrance to the footbridge. They have an extensive breakfast menu but also ice cream and treats. We stopped here a few times during our visit, including for some dessert to bring back to our room. A favorite was the salted caramel whoopie pies!
Red Cup Coffeehouse is a breakfast and coffee place located on Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor. You order at a window on the sidewalk and then pick up your order from another window. There is a small seating area right there, but we chose to take our breakfast across the street on the pier, where there are plenty of picnic tables to sit at.
Where to Stay in Boothbay Harbor
Waterfront Hotels
Boothbay Harbor Inn is where we chose to stay on our recent visit. It is right next to the footbridge, making it a convenient place to stay to explore Boothbay Harbor on foot. The rooms are simple and comfortable. They also offer coffee and drinks in the main building behind the lobby. When we went on our boat tour, there was also a stop right outside so we could get off the boat in front of our hotel.
The Fisherman’s Wharf Inn is located right in Boothbay Harbor. Its accommodations are similar to the Boothbay Harbor Inn. There are a variety of rooms, some with harbor views and balconies. There is also the tavern on site as well as a fitness center.
Boutique Inns
Greenleaf Inn and Admiral’s Quarter Suites are two bed-and-breakfast inns and hotels across from the Tugboat Inn. There are relaxing common areas, solariums, balconies, and outdoor spaces. The Admiral’s Quarter Suites offers 8 guest rooms. The Greenleaf Inn offers 10 different suites. This is also a walkable location right near downtown.
The Spruce Point Inn and Spa is more of a destination. It is removed from the downtown area and offers a full-service spa, two pools, a fitness center, free bicycles, and restaurants on site. We have stayed here in the past, and it is an amazing place to stay if you want to splurge on your hotel.
Tips for Visiting Boothbay Harbor
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Boothbay Harbor is in the summer. There is still going to be ups and downs with the weather, but summertime will offer the best weather for outdoor activities. Summer is also going to be the most crowded time and probably more expensive. A way around the prices and crowds is to travel midweek. On our recent visit, we traveled to Boothbay Harbor before the 4th of July long weekend and found that it was not too crowded. Summer is an ideal time to do all the best things that Boothbay Harbor offers, from outdoor activities to boating to eateries.
September and October are also popular times as there is still nice weather, better prices, and fall foliage. There may be less wait for restaurant reservations during this time. Some shops and restaurants are seasonal, but pretty much all stay open for the fall season as well.
How Many Days to Spend
Plan to spend at least 2-3 days exploring Boothbay Harbor. This gives you time to explore the shops, take a boat tour, take in the scenic views, and eat at local eateries. If you are staying at a place like the Spruce Point Inn, that can be stretched to enjoy pool days and relax a bit more. Also, there are many nearby towns to explore if you are extending to 4 or 5 days. The region has a lot to offer, including Southport, Georgetown, and Wiscasset.
Getting Around
Boothbay Harbor is extremely walkable. Driving around town and finding parking is not easy. It is best explored on foot (or by boat!). If you stay in the downtown area, you can leave your car at your inn and walk everywhere. We walked around town for breakfast, shopping, and dinner. Plus we were able to walk to the free trolley and enjoyed the ride all the way from the downtown area to Barrett Park and back. There are signs on the sidewalk indicating shuttle stops, but we did not know anything about wait times, so check out the website to learn where the trolley will be at various times.
Parking Tips
There are four municipal lots at Boothbay Harbor that offer parking by the hour from 8 am to 8 pm. There are kiosks that take major credit cards and also the Park Mobile app. Parking in municipal lots is $2 per hour for a maximum of 12 hours.
Street parking is also available on a first-come, first-served basis for two or four hours free (check signs). These times are enforced, so please do not try to take advantage of this. Many side streets are narrow and do not allow parking on them.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Boothbay Harbor Maine
Boothbay Harbor is a charming midcoast Maine working harbor. The best things to do in Boothbay Harbor include enjoying fresh seafood, boating, exploring the shops and galleries, and taking in the nature and scenery in the area. It is worth a stop for at least 2-3 days to give yourself enough time to explore the area without rushing.
