Bar Harbor Itinerary: One Perfect Day in Bar Harbor, Maine
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Formerly a hidden gem, Bar Harbor has become a hot spot in recent years. It’s easy to see why, with an adorable shopping district downtown, tons of great restaurants, and it’s just minutes away from the beautiful Acadia National Park. Lucky for you, I’ve crafted the ultimate Bar Harbor itinerary for one perfect day in this quaint New England town.
Things to do in Bar Harbor, Maine
Despite being a pretty small town, there are lots of things to do in Bar Harbor and many places to visit. A day in Bar Harbor is pretty laid back, and should primarily be spent exploring the downtown area. Downtown Bar Harbor is SO cute, and it’s made of a small network of streets, making it super easy to get around on foot.
You’ll can spend the majority of the day browsing the various shops, grabbing a bite to eat, and even enjoying some of the nightlife, if you’re up for it!
Here are some of the best things to do in Bar Harbor:
- Shopping at Maine’s Oldest Bookstore, Sherman’s
- A beautiful woodworking shop where you can ride a giant rocking horse and browse around a beautiful woodworking shop at In the Woods
- Collecting some cool souvenirs at Cool as a Moose or one of the other souvenir stores (there’s a lot!)
- Trying lobster ice cream at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium (don’t worry, they have lots of other handmade flavors, too)
- Sipping on a hot coffee from Coffee Hound or Choco-Latte
- Buying something for your furry friend at Bark Harbor, a pet store and a quirky pun
Bass Harbor Head Light
Everyone knows you can’t visit Maine without stopping by at least one lighthouse! The most famous lighthouse around is without a doubt The Bass Harbor Head Light. Just remember: it’s located on the southwest side of Mount Desert Island, so it’s about a 30 minute drive from the city center. Nonetheless, it still definitely deserves a spot on any Bar Harbor itinerary.
If you’re looking for iconic “Maine” vibes, you’ll find it here. This beautiful lighthouse is surrounded by tall pines, and it teeters on the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the roaring sea.
I visited at sunset, and although the views are lovely, it’s SUPER crowded. The parking lot is pretty small, so you sometimes have to wait a while just to find a spot. If I ever visit again, I’ll definitely go earlier in the day for sunrise. It was already pretty difficult taking photos on all those slippery, uneven rocks, but clueless tourists standing RIGHT IN FRONT of the lighthouse made it even worse. The life of travel blogger – am I right?
If one lighthouse isn’t enough, be sure to check out my post on a Weekend in Portland, Maine for locations and photography tips for all the best lighthouses in Portland.
Where to Eat in Bar Harbor
If you only have one day in Bar Harbor, you’ll want to scope out all the best places to eat. There are lots of fantastic restaurants here, so you won’t be disappointed no matter where you eat. I’ll give you some highly recommended eats that I’m still dying to try along with the restaurants I actually went to – so you know they’re good!
Galyn’s – During my one day in Bar Harbor, this is where my mom and I went for dinner. I opted for the steak, and it was easily one of the best cooked steaks I’ve ever had. My mom is a seafood fanatic, so she ordered the sampler plate. Even though seafood isn’t my favorite, I nibbled on all the different samplers. I’m now a HUGE fan of scallops! This place is on the end of the Main Street towards the wharf, and it’s pretty fancy. I suggest calling ahead to make reservations.
Side Street Cafe – As you might have guessed The Side Street Cafe is located on a side street just a few blocks from the main tourist area, so it’s not a place you’ll just stumble upon, but rather should make plans to visit ASAP. Everyone knows I’m not a big seafood lover, but I was pleased with the lobster quesadilla, and the fresh blueberry pie was heavenly!
This is a trendy hot spot among locals. With great food at great prices, it’s easy to see why. If you don’t come for the food, come for happy hour and the beer!
The Thirsty Whale – This laid back tavern is the perfect place to enjoy some hearty dishes and good drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. The prices aren’t bad, either! I’ve been told the lobster bisque is a highlight on the menu. Checkout the website The Thirsty Whale for more info.
Pink Pastry Shop – Yes, this place is as adorable as it sounds. Before we hit the road for the long drive back to Portland, we stopped here and stocked up on as many goodies as we could carry! I highly recommend one of the whoopie pies and a chocolate peanut butter cookie. They also have lots of yummy cupcakes, donuts, and different coffees, teas, and smoothies.
Other suggested Bar Harbor restaurants:
- 2 Cats Restaurant
- C-Ray Lobster
- Lompoc Cafe
- The Reading Room, Bar Harbor Inn
Where to stay in Bar Harbor
There is no shortage of great places to stay in and around Bar Harbor. There’s lots of adorable inns in the downtown area, and they host fun parties outside on the lawn with fires and food. But those inns are popular so they fill up pretty fast. There’s lots of hotels, too, just outside the city center. I stayed at a Comfort Inn just five minutes down the road. It was super affordable and in a great location.
What do you think of my Bar Harbor itinerary? I hope now you’re ready to visit Bar Harbor for an awesome day trip!
Cristina Reina
I would love to explore more places in the United States 🙂 Maine sounds a good place to visit and I’d love to try those restaurant/cafes too! I am saving your post for the future.
Sightseeing Señorita
Cristina ReinaIt’s definitely a hidden gem in the States! Thanks for saving. I’m glad you found it helpful.:)
Michelle
This looks so great. I have said for years that I want to go to Maine and just eat my weight in lobster. LOL. Well, thanks to this post I can also add delicious pastries to that list.
Sightseeing Señorita
MichelleHaha yes if you’re looking to eat your weight in lobster, then this is definitely the right place! I hope you make it up to Maine soon! 🙂
Josy A
The food all looks fantastic! I know that when you visit Maine you should be walking around looking at the lighthouses, but I am just drawn to all that amazing seafood. Your mom is so sweet to share the scallops! I am not good at sharing those when they are really good!
Sightseeing Señorita
Josy AYes, there was so much delicious food! But who says you can’t eat while you’re sightseeing? Haha I had never tried scallop before so she wanted me to get on the bandwagon, but she didn’t save me much! Haha
Farrah
Maine has been on the top of my list in terms of states I want to visit for agessss. I want to eat everything and check out the parks/hikes nearby!
Sightseeing Señorita
FarrahYes, Farrah, I just know you would LOVE Maine! It is right up your alley. 🙂
Caitlin
O.K. lobster ice cream…not sure I could get on board with that!! Did you try it?
Sightseeing Señorita
CaitlinNoooo I’m not a big enough fan of lobster and WAY too big of an ice cream aficionado to risk it haha.
Margarita Ibbott
I have always wanted to go to Bar Harbor. Great post. I’d love if you had a pin to pin though.
Sightseeing Señorita
Margarita IbbottThanks! I’ve been having a little trouble with integrating them onto my blog, but hopefully I’ll have one soon!
Lina
I’ve never heard of Bar Harbor before but it looks really lovely! Your photos are beautiful too 🙂
Sightseeing Señorita
LinaThank you so much, Lina!
MagicandBliss
You have such a beautiful blog and thanks for such an interesting read. Such pretty pictures! This place looks awesome to visit. Thanks for sharing!
MagicandBliss | https://magicandbliss.com/
Sightseeing Señorita
MagicandBlissThank you so much! That means the world to me. 🙂
Nancy Hann
I LOVE Bar Harbor. We visited several years ago but didn’t have much more than a day. I’d love to go back and spend at least 4 or 5 days there. These are some great ideas. Acadia National Park is also a must-see if you have time.
Sightseeing Señorita
Nancy HannI visited Acadia, too, and I loved it! My post on that is being written as we speak. 🙂
Krista
You would definitely find me at that pastry shop as soon as it opened for the day. Such a cute place to explore!
Sightseeing Señorita
KristaHaha it’s too good to pass up!
Olivia
Oh my gosh all of the food looks SO GOOD! Not sure if I’d be on board with the lobster ice cream though.
Sightseeing Señorita
OliviaRIGHT?? But yeah I was too chicken to try it!
Megan
What a beautiful little town! Looks like its filled with great food and great places to stay, not to mention great things to see 🙂
Sightseeing Señorita
MeganYep, exactly! Definitely not to be missed if you’re ever in Maine.
Vanessa Shields
Lovely post! I’ve been to Portland, Maine but would love to visit Bar Harbor one day as it looks so charming. Wandering the town, seeing lighthouses and eating plenty of seafood would be right up my alley!
Sightseeing Señorita
Vanessa ShieldsIf you enjoyed Portland then you will definitely love Bar Harbor!