Where to Find a Hop On Hop Off Bus in Portland, Maine
Ride the City Loop Shuttle in Downtown Portland
new sightseeing city bus loop
Explore Portland’s diverse neighborhoods abroad our hop on hop off shuttle bus. Take a loop around the peninsula to see more of our city by the sea: Eastern Promenade, Historic Downtown District, Art’s District, and Top of the Old Port. The City Loop Shuttle operates when larger cruise ships visit. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or anytime at the Visitor Information Center at Ocean Gateway.
This shuttle is a transportation loop – not a narrated tour.
Take a scenic tour of the region! Check out the exciting things to do while you’re in town from schooners and sunset sails to guided downtown tours and lighthouse excursions below.
City Loop Shuttle Tickets + Map
A route map identifying each stop and what is featured at each stop is available. Riders are free to get on and off at any stop throughout the day. The City Loop Shuttle begins service one hour after ship arrival and concludes one- and one-half hours before departure on most days. More information is available at our Visitor Information Center at Ocean Gateway.
2024 City Loop Shuttle Days of Operation*
September 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29
October 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29
*Dates are subject to be added, removed, and altered due to Cruise Ship schedules.
10 Stops + Route Highlights
- Ocean Gateway: Features a year-round Visitor Information Center with free WiFi, public restrooms, and friendly Visit Portland ambassadors to help you navigate your stay in Maine.
- Eastern Promenade: Offers a fantastic view of Casco Bay and its islands. This park has a playground and benches to enjoy a picnic lunch or grab a bite from one of Portland’s several renowned food trucks.
- Munjoy Hill: A neighborhood of classic 3-storywalk-ups built to house the early Italian and Irish immigrants who worked on the waterfront. Nearby isa great photo opportunity on North Street; Fort Sumner Park has excellent views of Portland’s Back Bay and Mount Washington. Tour The Portland Observatory, the historic maritime signal tower built in 1807.
- Washington Avenue + East Bayside: Washington Avenue, a hotspot known for its fine restaurants, distilleries, and artisans. A variety of cultures make this a vibrant, fast-changing neighborhood. It also serves as a gateway to the bustling East Bayside area, where more breweries, distilleries, and artists call home.
- Top of Congress Street: This East End neighborhood features the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland’s largest Catholic church. Taking our public bus service to Freeport? Hop off here as this stop is also a Metro stop for the Freeport bound Breeze public bus service. Across the street is a commercial pharmacy.
- City Hall: Considered the “Top of the Old Port,” you will find Portland’s City Hall, built between 1909 and 1912. Its tower measures 200 feet and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Across the street is a post office, and the restroom is in City Hall.
- Monument Square: Rich in culture and history, this neighborhood connects the Arts District and the Old Port. Tour the childhood home of celebrated poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow or peruse the Portland Public Library rotating art exhibits. Walk around and enjoy the heart of Portland. Restroom is in the Portland Public Library.
- Arts District: A neighborhood bustling with galleries, theatres, and other venues for live entertainment, here the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) anchors Portland’s Arts District. PMA houses more than 22,000 works of art, with featured works ranging from Andrew Wyeth to Picasso.
- Tommy’s Park and Post Office Park: Each cobblestone plaza is treelined and offers plenty of shade and benches to enjoy a book or wander the surrounding pubs, restaurants, shops, and galleries.
- Portland Ocean Terminal: Home to Portland’s first cruise ship terminal and Casco Bay Lines, serving the island communities outside Portland Harbor. It is part of the Working Waterfront and adjacent to the historic Old Port. Restrooms are located in the Casco Bay Lines terminal.
book a hop on hop off bus in portland, maine
Want to secure your tickets to The City Loop Shuttle?
Start here to book tickets and see an updated list of all dates of operation.
