Should I Visit Portland, Maine or Calgary? Which is Better for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive? | Budget Your Trip (2024)

Should you visit Portland, Maine or Calgary?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Portland, Maine or Calgary? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine is a picturesque, seaside, and laid-back coastal town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Calgary

Calgary is a authentic, western, and local city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Portland, Maine and Calgary: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Portland, Maine than Calgary. While Calgary is larger than Portland, Maine, Portland, Maine has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Portland, Maine is more popular for its food, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Calgary is known for its museums. Calgary is more touristy than Portland, Maine and is known for its farming and oil industries as well as the Calgary Stampede. Portland, Maine is popular for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks. It is also home to The Portland Head Light.

How is Portland, Maine different from Calgary?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Calgary and Portland, Maine. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

Calgary is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Calgary. It's worth visiting the Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, the Hangar Flight Museum, and Heritage Park, among others.

Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Portland, Maine or Calgary? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Portland, Maine is a coastal town with good options for its restaurant scene. However, Calgary is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Portland, Maine. The town has grown into a foodie destination that takes advantage of its waterfront setting. Many restaurants make use of the fresh seafood with lobster rolls and oysters on the half shell being popular. You'll also find a lot of dishes that use haddock and whole lobsters.

Calgary may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The food scene is constantly evolving and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants. The city is known for its beef, so you should definitely sample a local steak.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Portland, Maine and Calgary.

Portland, Maine has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has many microbreweries, wine bars, taverns, and pubs. You'll find many places concentrated in the Old Port, which has a charming and fun atmosphere.

If you're looking for night time activities Calgary has a few options to choose from. Visitors often head to Stephen Avenue Walk for its bars and pubs. There's also a decent theater scene around town.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Beaches?

Portland, Maine is well known for the beache. However, Calgary is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Portland, Maine attract visitors from all over. It has many sandy and calm beaches. The water may be too cold to swim, but the beaches are perfect for flying a kite or hanging out with family.

Calgary is not a beach destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Hiking?

Portland, Maine is a coastal town with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Portland, Maine. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Calgary is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Calgary and Portland, Maine.

Many visitors go to Portland, Maine to go shopping. The town has many nice local boutiques to explore. Head downtown for the best local venues and the most interesting shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Calgary. There are plenty of independent shops around town as well as some great shopping neighborhoods. Make sure you check out Fourth Street and 17th Avenue. There are also large shopping malls.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Christmas?

Portland, Maine is a coastal town with a few options for its Christmas activities. However, Calgary does not offer Christmas activities.

The Christmas holiday can be fun in Portland, Maine. Watch the Christmas tree lighting or listen to the symphony at Christmas time.

Calgary does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Portland, Maine or Calgary.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Portland, Maine. It is a charming town with a number of kid-friendly museums, walks, and waterfront activities. You can visit the Portland Observatory, Bug Light Park, or grab ice cream in the Old Port. There are also children's museums such as the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Calgary offers lots of family activities. There are a surprising number of things around town to do with kids such as petting zoos, museums, and even amusem*nt parks. The Calgary Zoo is worth a visit, but also make sure you check out Calaway Park Amusem*nt Park and the Telus Spark science center.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Portland, Maine and Calgary make for a good place to visit.

Portland, Maine is a good coastal town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy the beautiful waterfront setting, the fine dining restaurants, and everything that the city has to offer. Head to the Old Port for romantic restaurants and a great atmosphere or catch a show at Portland Stage.

Calgary is a nice destination for couples. You'll find outdoor sports, boat tours, and plenty of great restaurants around town. If you're looking for a low key destination with a great vibe, then this is a great city for a weekend trip.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Calgary is a popular place for backpackers. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Calgary. A surprising number of backpackers end up passing through town, so you'll find a handful of hostels to choose from.

Portland, Maine is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It isn't so much a backpacker destination, but there are some budget accommodation options around town.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Calgary is a popular place for its public transit. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Calgary, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The public transportation system is relatively efficient with both light rail and buses.

Public transit is quite limited in Portland, Maine. There is a very basic bus system but you really must have a car to explore the city.

Is Portland, Maine or Calgary a more walkable city?

Portland, Maine and Calgary both are decent when exploring on foot.

Portland, Maine is generally not very walkable. Downtown is very walkable but if you want to travel to other areas you'll need a car.

Calgary is generally not a very walkable coastal town. While there are a couple of walkable neighborhood's around town, it's definitely not the most walkable city.

For even more information, also check out Is Portland, Maine Worth Visiting? and Is Calgary Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Calgary or Portland, Maine?

How long in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Portland, Maine or Calgary to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Portland, Maine than Calgary because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Portland, Maine, and 1-2 days is enough time in Calgary.

Families should spend more time in Portland, Maine than Calgary. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Portland, Maine, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Portland, Maine than Calgary. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Portland, Maine that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Calgary than Portland, Maine if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Calgary.

One day in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

In Portland, Maine, you'll find shopping and nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This coastal town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The western destination of Calgary offers shopping and museums. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

In Portland, Maine, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Portland, Maine has to offer.

The city of Calgary offers museums and nightlife. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

Portland, Maine is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Calgary is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Portland, Maine or Calgary?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portland, Maine. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Portland, Maine. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Calgary. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vancouver.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portland, Maine and Calgary, we can see that Portland, Maine is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Portland, Maine would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portland, Maine than you might in Calgary.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Portland, Maine Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Portland, Maine or Calgary?

Calgary has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Portland, Maine. When comparing the sizes of Portland, Maine and Calgary, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.