Things to do & places to visit in Bangor, Maine, United States

The city of Bangor is perhaps most well known as the setting for many of Stephen King's stories, a reputation that has led to the nickname Transylmainia. There is more to Bangor than just tales of horror, however. There is a thriving arts scene, with museums, galleries, theaters, a symphony orchestra and a popular sidewalk art festival every summer. The area around Bangor includes the coastal Acadia National Park and the wooded Baxter State Park, providing plenty of outdoor adventure.

Bangor city in Maine, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 13:37.

Top things to do (26)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 SK Tours Of Maine, LLC (1.606 reviews)
- AN ABSOLUTE "MUST" FOR CONSTANT READERS & THIER FAMILIES! CUJO LOVED IT!
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sightseeing Tours

We just took the tour last week and it was excellent. Our guide Jamie was knowledgeable not only about King, his family and his works but also the Bangor area. We booked a private tour for 5 plus our St Bernard and the tour was roomy and comfortable for all of us. We were thrilled to learn that our dog "Cujo" was the first Cujo EVER to take the tour! I am a self-proclaimed SK expert and I learned a few things. My wife and kids also had a great time. Its a great tour for fans of the books, movies OR both. I am also interested in the history of Betts Bookstore....and as a bonus...Jamie's father was the previous owner....so I got extra history there as well! I only wish I would have booked another tour for later that day JUST to ask additional questions and see additional sites. We will definitely be back to do another tour in the future. A MUST for Constant Readers! See more..
5.0 Penobscot Theatre Company (215 reviews)
- Penobscot Theatre, a Bangor Treasure!
Spent 2-3 hours Theaters

Penobscot Theatre Company is America’s Northeastern-most professional, year round, not-for-profit theatre company, producing a wide variety of plays and musicals each season. Penobscot Theatre Company proudly owns and operates the historic Bangor Opera House, the last remaining opera house in Bangor, Maine -- which was once had seven opera houses and was called "the little Broadway of the North". We are committed to presenting high-quality, professional works of theatre that inspire the imagination and cultivate a lifelong passion for the art form. See more..
5.0 Mount Hope Garden Cemetery (186 reviews)
- Beautiful Garden Cemetery with a lot of history
Monday: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Cemeteries

We visited the Mt. Hope Cemetery because of our fascination with Stephen King. The grounds were beautiful and well maintained and we enjoyed learning about the history. There is a YouTube video to guide visitors to graves of interest See more..
5.0 Orono Bog Boardwalk (69 reviews)
- Worth the walk
Nature & Wildlife Areas

Nice peaceful morning walk. Paths were laid out well. Different scenery. Would love to come back in the spring to see the wild flowers blooming. Good job U of Maine! See more..
5.0 Maine Savings Amphitheater (2 reviews)
- New Downtown Venue
Theaters

This is a brand new venue still under construction. It is located downtown. Venue is really with nice sight lines that are good from any seat. There is a small artificial hill that is open”seating” with blankets but it’s tight and people just stand. Parking is a big issue. If you can reserve a garage space before, do it it will save you headaches . See more..
5.0 Maine Air Museum (2 reviews)
- Small, but packed with information & fun
Speciality Museums

This small museum is packed with lots of information regarding aviation in the Bangor area and Maine in general. Located at the Bangor Airport (the former site of Dow Air Force Base), it covers a good deal of the several former Air Force bases, local aviation events, and aviation technology. Many of the displays are hands on/touchable. Our visit was a wonderful adventure. See more..
4.5 Cole Land Transportation Museum (347 reviews)
- Great find in Bangor
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Museum dedicated to preserving and displaying Maine's land transportation equipment. See more..
4.5 Stephen King's House (261 reviews)
- Grand Victorian Home
Spent < 1 hour Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

This spooky Victorian mansion in the heart of Bangor’s Whitney Park Historic District was, up until recently, the home of famed horror author Stephen King. Snap a picture in front of the iconic iron gate, adorned with spiders, bats, and even a three-headed dragon. There's even a frighteningly intricate tree sculpture that sits on the lawn. While you can't explore the interiors of the house—it's now a nonprofit and archive of King's work—there are tours that will take you to spots in Derry that have inspired his most famous work. The beautiful, century-old homes in the quiet neighborhood are worth a quick look, too. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Penobscot River Walkway (107 reviews)
- A beautiful view, a comfortable stroll.
Spent 1-2 hours Biking Trails • Parks • Hiking Trails

We happened upon the River Walk when we were looking for parking for a local restaurant in Brewer. We walked the entire length of the walkway, took about 30 minutes in all, but the scenery was very nice. Plenty of flowers blooming in the early September sun, the river was clean and the waterfowl were plentiful. We walked down some stone steps to the kayak launch and were greeted by no less than a dozen ducks, who are clearly used to people by now, and said hello before heading back up to traverse the rest of the path. You get to see across the Penobscot into the waterfront area of Bangor, as well as the "Children's Garden," the steeples of the churches in Bangor, the bridges over the Penobscot, and some of the local businesses over in Brewer. If you're looking to engage in some natural wonder without going too far off the beaten path, this is absolutely what you are searching for. See more..
4.5 Cascade Park (99 reviews)
- Waterfall and Fountain not working, dried leaves, grass in the pools - appears that way for some tim
Parks

The portable restrooms were completely full, no water in the falls, pools, or water fountain. Hiked up the hill to an open field. Construction signs there said "Utility Work". Like the rest of Maine, extremely green and full of wonderful vegetation See more..
4.5 Bangor City Forest (84 reviews)
- Bog Marsh Platform was awesome
Spent More than 3 hours Biking Trails • Parks • Hiking Trails

We only had time for one trail and did the platform trail. It was fantastic, and this was even on an overcast day which ultimately had light right. It was a flat walk with lots to see and we had ages 7 to 82 with us, who were all able to enjoy the walk. Perfect for families. See more..
4.5 the rock & art shop (84 reviews)
- Coolest shop to visit in the Bangor/Acadia area
Monday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Art Galleries

The Rock and Art Shop has locations in Bangor, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. We ended up visiting all three. The store has an amazing variety of gifts - and it very cool - almost like a museum - to browse in. We purchased most of the gifts for our families here and even picked up a few Christmas presents. There was no shortage of local and handmade goods. Check out the bowls made from minerals and the fossils. You'll find gifts for young and old, moms, dads and kids. Very good prices too and friendly staff. See more..
4.5 2 Feet Brewing (30 reviews)
- Pleasant surprise
Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

Quaint little brew pub with a fun atmosphere, full of life! We tried their unique jalapeño beer and it was tasty. The owner/cook can really whip up some tasty food, all homemade and fresh. Full of flavor and hard to believe she can make it all in such a small space. Great place to try if you haven’t. Very nice people! Oh and if you get lucky you might see the pirate there. See more..
4.5 Bangor Historical Society and Thomas A. Hill House Museum (17 reviews)
- Devils Half-acre tour. 5 stars.
Monday: Spent < 1 hour Military Museums • History Museums

We could only be in Bangor for a few hours, and opted to take a tour with the historical society. So glad we did. Our guide “Fanny Jones” is a wealth of knowledge and took us on an amazing tour of what life would have been in the sordid underbelly of life in the late 1800s. We really enjoyed our time on the tour. If we had more time we would have done another tour. Worth the nominal price (we did a private tour). See more..
4.5 Thomas Hill Standpipe (15 reviews)
- A very distinctive landmark in Bangor.
Points of Interest & Landmarks

After visiting the small Zillman Art Museum(under renovation), we stopped here. The large steel water tank is enclosed in a round wooden building, separated with a window lit stairway, all shingled and painted white. A very distinctive landmark, as is the nearby 19th C Victorian mansion where Stephan King lived for 37 years which may be destined to become a writer’s retreat. See more..
4.5 American Folk Festival (14 reviews)
- We build our vacation around this event
Cultural Events
The American Folk Festival brings a range of folk art and performance from traditional cultures around the globe to the Bangor waterfront. With an emphasis on music, dance and storytelling, this free festival makes the most of the magnificent Maine summer weather with a schedule of mostly outdoor events. See more..
4.5 Bangor Farmers Market (11 reviews)
- Lots of Options
Flea & Street Markets

Bangor Farmers Market, is a place to get locally grown produce and goods. This will support local economy and community. Come join us for a healthier and fresh experience. This is your Farmers Market and the place to gather. Come meet your neighbors and say hello to the lovely town of Bangor MI. See more..
4.5 Kenduskeag Stream Heritage Trail (9 reviews)
- short walking trail along the stream through Bangor
Spent < 1 hour Hiking Trails
The trail follows the stream from Bangor's inner city to the rim of the city and is good for walking or cycling. It is about a 2,5 mile long. See more..
4.5 The Gracie Theatre (2 reviews)
- Newer but Classic Style Theatre
Spent 1-2 hours Theaters

Even with Covid restrictions, the Gracie Theatre is a very cool venue for Bangor. There are about 500 seats and while the theatre is newer, built in 2009 it has a class feel. This is a great place to watch a show and is located on the Husson University grounds. It is easily accessible and parking it not an issue. See more..
4.5 Central Maine Antique Mall (2 reviews)
- A pickers great find!
Spent 1-2 hours Antique Shops
Travelling through Maine; found this great Antique shop. Very interesting and unusual pieces. Found a few gems to add to my collection. Staff friendly and helpful with knowledge of the pieces I asked about. I will definitely go back on my next Antique excursion through Maine :) See more..
4.0 Paul Bunyan Statue (514 reviews)
- Must-see roadside art
Monuments & Statues

This mighty 31-foot statue of the "great tree-biter" towers over the landscape in Bangor's Bass Park. See more..
4.0 Maine Discovery Museum (121 reviews)
- Good for kids 7 and younger...
Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Children's Museums

Three floors, eight major exhibits, daily educational programs, and Too Much Fun! See more..
4.0 Hollywood Raceway (19 reviews)
- Fun way to spend the afternoon
Horse Tracks

We attended the harness racing at Bangor Raceway on a Tuesday afternoon, and found it to be a fun way to spend the afternoon. Harness racing is not available in the part of the country where we live, so it was neat to watch and learn about the sport, and the fact that there was no charge to enter on the day we attended was an added bonus. The Raceway is well maintained, has typical shaded grand stand seating (e.g., wooden benches with backs), betting windows are easy to visit, clean restrooms and the time between races well managed. The day we attended there were 10 races in a 2 hour period. Although the snack bar was quite limited and the popcorn was well . . . probably the worse popcorn I've ever bought! Although we did not bring in our own food, several in the stands around us had brought in their own food . . . so I don't know if it's officially allowed. We had a lot of fun picking the horses and watching the races! See more..
3.5 Hollywood Casino (365 reviews)
- Las Vegas of the Northeast
Casinos

Always enjoy staying at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. A touch of Las Vegas for those who love gaming without the frustration and high expense of travelling West. Beautifully laid out with the latest in high end slots along with the older all time favourites. Lots of lower denomination penny machines. Plenty of high end table games. Very clean no smoking gaming room with plenty of space. Hotel is first rate with courteous and friendly staff that areal ways happy to greet you on your check in. Hotel is very handy to concert venues, which occur frequently throughout the year. See more..
3.5 Bangor Waterfront Pavilion (112 reviews)
- Pit view
Theaters

I don't care for the new set up the pit was way too small during Megadeth and FFDP needed to be bigger with the amount of people in there. I didn't like getting elbow at every second it was annoying more than anything. I wanted to enjoy the show not put up with some drunk jerk. See more..
3.5 Cross Insurance Center (5 reviews)
- Clean bathrooms
Arenas & Stadiums

Stadium style seating, really tight. You are literally rubbing elbows with the person next to you. We went and saw a cirque du soleil show, we sat all the way in back and can see the stage just fine. See more..
3.5 Antique Alley (3 reviews)
- Great Antiques with a story!
Monday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Antique Shops

If you are looking for seriously eclectic cool items: Leather jackets and vests from the golden 50's and 60's, delicate imported porcelain, furniture, jewelry, curiosities of all kinds, Antique Alley is the shop.Where history meets whimsy! See more..
3.0 Bangor Mall (59 reviews)
- Miss the real mall
Monday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Shopping Malls

Conveniently located off I-95, a major highway in the state, Bangor Mall serves as a go-to destination for shoppers in the top two-thirds of Maine and the Eastern provinces of Canada. JCPenney, Hollister, American Eagle, Dick's Sporting Goods, Victoria's Secret, and more. See more..
Zillman Art Museum (0 review)
Monday: Art Galleries • Art Museums

Maine's Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, with two floors of gallery space and brand new exhibitions three times a year. We are affiliated with the University of Maine and located in the heart of downtown Bangor. Free admission sponsored by Birchbrook! See more..
Bangor's European Market (0 review)
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Farmers Markets

Bangor's European Market is a unique gem of a farmers' market on Buck St., Bangor, Maine. Based in & around Maine's oldest greenhouse, Sunnyside, and Ingrid's German Gift Shop, our collection of vendors offer the best in local and worldwide-inspired produce, meats, seafood, cheese, hot & cold prepared foods, baked goods, and beautifully hand-crafted baby gifts, knitwear, and woodcrafts. There's always fresh plants, flowers, and arrangements in the greenhouse, and an array of European food, chocolates, housewares, and more, in Ingrid's store, too! We're open year-round Saturday mornings, moving indoors in the greenhouse for the winter. Come see why we're the number one spot for local foodies & exquisite gifts for all ages! We look forward to welcoming you to our community! For a full list of vendors, and weekly updates on what they'll bring to market, check out our Facebook page. See more..