Why go?

Bar Harbor sits on the eastern shore of Mount Desert Island, Maine, on a glorious coast of sheltered bays and verdant, wooded hills that have long attracted visitors. The town is the epitome of the former rural community turned tourist attraction – all cafés, galleries and quaint, tree-lined streets – but as a result is busy in summer. It lies at the heart of Acadia National Park, one of the US’s smallest but most popular parks and the main attraction for cruise and other visitors. 

Cruise port location

Cruise ships anchor in Frenchman Bay and tender to the Town Pier, which lies close to the intersection of West Street and Main Street within moments of the downtown area. Summer 2019 saw visits from the likes of Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and more.

Can I walk to any places of interest?

Everything you want to see in the town is within walking distance of the Town Pier. Most visitors, though, will want to explore Arcadia National Park. Free shuttles (see below) to parts of the park and elsewhere depart from the Village Green, located seven minutes’ walk south from the Town Pier on Main Street. Park permits, which are obligatory, can be obtained by independent travellers from the small park visitor centre on the east side of the Green or online. Tour operators will usually have the relevant permits for visitors joining organised excursions.

Getting around

Island Explorer offers free bus shuttles on 10 routes from Village Green. You can link and loop these routes, and sit aboard the bus simply for a tour of the park, or hop on and off to take hikes and to admire viewpoints and visit attractions en route. The park is on Bar Harbor’s doorstep, so you can also easily explore on a bike, with rentals available downtown from Acadia Bike. Many cyclists head for the gravel-surface, car-free former carriage road network near Eagle Lake. You can cycle here from town or take a bike there on the free Bicycle Express shuttle.

What to see and do

For all its summer crowds, Bar Harbor retains its charm, so allow an hour or two to wander its streets and dip into its museums and many galleries and craft stores. Devote most of your time, though, to the scenery of Acadia National Park, with the possible addition or alternative of seal and whale-watching tours, lobster boat or sailing excursions.

What can I do in four hours or less?

You an easily explore Bar Harbor under your own steam, with key targets its two small museums: the Abbe Museum explores Maine’s Native heritage in a location downtown and a smaller, older building south of town at Sieur de Monts Spring, while the Historical Society Museum is especially good on the rural estates created in the region by wealthy dynasties such as the Rockefellers, Carnegies, Vanderbilts and Fords in the first half of the 20th century. Numerous walking tours are available if you want a more in-depth look at the town and its history. The park, like the town, can be explored easily under your own steam (see below), but if time is short, then consider a park tour with an operator such as Acadia Tours, which runs roughly three-hour tours (from $35) by bus with three stops at key points in the park, notably Cadillac Mountain (at 1530ft/466m its highest point) and ocean-side Thunder Hole. Half-day boat tours to see the park from the water are also available from operators such as the long-established Sea Princess from $32 per person.

What can I do in eight hours or less?

Eight hours is plenty to see something of Bar Harbor and then board a shuttle bus from the Village Green to explore the park on your own. Hiking is the obvious option, with plenty of walks, from strolls to half-day and longer hikes. A little planning, or help from the visitor centre, will allow you to start a walk from one shuttle stop and loop back or walk to another stop for the return to the Village Green. If you want to admire the park from the water, join one of many longer cruise excursions available, including several with narration from national park rangers. Flightseeing is also popular, and need not be expensive: 15-minute flights with Acadia Air Tours start at under £40 per person.

Eat and drink

This is the Maine coast so lobster is a key regional speciality, but other fish and seafood – clams, oysters, halibut, scallop, crab – also abound. Bar Harbor has a microbrewery, the Atlantic Brewing Company, which has an outlet in town at 52 Cottage Street and a larger brewery seven miles (10km) west of Bar Harbor which offers tours and tastings.

Don’t leave without…

Paintings and other arts and crafts are the best buys among a plethora of galleries and souvenir stores aimed at visitors. Bar Harbor is also a good source of speciality and gourmet foodstuffs. Consider a tour if the region’s gastronomy appeals.

Need to know

Safety

The town of Bar Harbor is very safe to visit, but make sure you are properly equipped for hiking and other outdoor activities in the park.

Best time to go 

Cruise ships tend to visit Bar Harbor from May to October, with a summer peak season from June to August. September still offers good weather but fewer visitors. Autumn colours in the park are spectacular, so cruises later in the year are also worthwhile. Visit Maine’s state government Maine Foliage service for updates and tips on when and where to see the leaves at their best.

Closures

The Island Explorer shuttle bus timetables change seasonally so check schedules carefully when planning your trip. Seasonal closures to trails and certain areas may also apply in the national park. Some visitor-dependent businesses, such as bike rental outlets, also close from November to April. Abbe Museum downtown closes in January and Sunday – Wednesday from November to April. Its second location and the Historical Society Museum both shut in winter.