Portland, and Maine in general, does not have an extensive public transportation system, so renting a car is generally the best option. While 5 o'clock traffic can get a little congested, driving in Portland is not a daunting task.
Metro, 114 Valley St, +1 207 774-0351, . Bus line has a regular schedule, and provides a high level of service for a city of its size. Metro is not the best option for late night socializing. There are numerous taxicab companies. Downtown, especially in the Old Port or by the waterfront, walking is probably the best option.
The Old Port and Downtown Arts District areas are very walkable and pedestrian friendly. The pedestrian always has the right of way,with or without a cross walk. This is a state law and is very much enforced in the State of Maine. Pedestrians always have the right of way no matter what. $500 fine and 6 month loss of license for non compliance, no excuses are ever tolerated. When driving you should be on the watch for pedestrians.
Remember, the state of Maine has a tough OUI (operating under the influence) law. This law does not stop at only cars, people have been arrested for OUI on boats, horses, lawn mowers. The legal limit is .08 (~5 drinks) 60 days in jail and loss of license for one year, as well as a $2500 fine for the first offense. After the first offense, you license will be revoked permanently, not suspended for further infractions of this law. You do not want to get charged with OUI in Maine. Best to stay off of the road if drinking anything at all. 36 states co operate with Maine when it comes to license suspensions, and even after a year, unless you have completed a six month course at an alcohol rehab at your own expense, you will not get your license back. Once again, in Maine this is not taken lightly, and you are best off to stay off of the road when drinking anything at all.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Portland (Maine)
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Portland (Maine) - updated May 2024
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Portland (Maine) Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
