A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Mystic vs. Portland, Maine for Beaches, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Mystic or Portland, Maine?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mystic and Portland, Maine. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Mystic

Mystic is a laid back, charming, and quaint town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine is a scenic, picturesque, and seaside coastal town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and hiking.

Mystic and Portland, Maine: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will usually find more to do in Mystic than Portland, Maine, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Mystic is better known for its museums and shopping, while Portland, Maine is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Mystic is more touristy than Portland, Maine and is popular for its New England charm and local character. Also, Mystic is famous for the Mystic Seaport Museum. Portland, Maine is well known for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks.

How is Mystic different from Portland, Maine?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Mystic is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

Mystic offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Mystic and Portland, Maine can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

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.

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine Better for Nightlife?

Both Mystic and Portland, Maine have notable vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Mystic. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

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.

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine Better for Beaches?

Mystic and Portland, Maine both offer superb beaches.

Many people visit Mystic for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Portland, Maine is considered a top beach destination. 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.

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine Better for Hiking?

Portland, Maine is a good destination for its hiking trails. However, Mystic is not a hiking destination.

Portland, Maine offers some nice hiking trails. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Mystic is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Mystic or Portland, Maine?

Mystic is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Portland, Maine. The town has many nice local boutiques to explore. Head downtown for the best local venues and the most interesting shopping opportunities.

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine Better for Christmas?

Portland, Maine is a decent place to visit for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Mystic does not offer Christmas activities.

Portland, Maine has some seasonal activities during Christmas. Watch the Christmas tree lighting or listen to the symphony at Christmas time.

Mystic does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine Better for Families?

Mystic is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Portland, Maine is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Mystic is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Portland, Maine offers lots of family activities. 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.

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine Better for Couples?

Mystic and Portland, Maine both notable destinations for a couple.

Mystic is a nice destination for couples. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Portland, Maine makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

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

Neither Mystic or Portland, Maine offer decent public transit.

Public transit is quite limited in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

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

Is Mystic or Portland, Maine a more walkable city?

Mystic and Portland, Maine are respectable when it comes to walkability.

Mystic is generally not a very walkable town. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

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.

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

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

How long in Mystic or Portland, Maine?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mystic and Portland, Maine. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Portland, Maine than Mystic 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 Portland, Maine.

One day in Mystic or Portland, Maine?

The charming destination of Mystic offers nightlife and food. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Portland, Maine. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Mystic or Portland, Maine?

The town of Mystic offers food and shopping. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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.

Portland, Maine is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Mystic or Portland, Maine?

Mystic is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. This town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portland, Maine. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Mystic or Portland, Maine?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Mystic. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the scenic destination of Portland, Maine. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Mystic and Portland, Maine, we can see that Mystic is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Mystic or Portland, Maine?

Portland, Maine has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Mystic and Portland, Maine, 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.

When is the best time to visit Mystic or Portland, Maine?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Mystic or Portland, Maine in the Summer?

Both Portland, Maine and Mystic during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mystic this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Portland, Maine for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Mystic is generally a little warmer than Portland, Maine. Daily temperatures in Mystic average around 73°F (23°C), and Portland, Maine fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

In Portland, Maine, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mystic. In the summer, Mystic often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Portland, Maine. Mystic gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland, Maine receives 282 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets more rain in July than Portland, Maine. Mystic gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Portland, Maine receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mystic or Portland, Maine in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mystic and Portland, Maine. Many travelers come to Mystic for the shopping scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Portland, Maine in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Mystic is a little warmer than Portland, Maine in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mystic averages around 53°F (12°C) in October, and Portland, Maine fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).

In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mystic usually receives more sunshine than Portland, Maine during autumn. Mystic gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Portland, Maine receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Mystic usually receives around the same amount of rain as Portland, Maine. Mystic gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Portland, Maine receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mystic or Portland, Maine in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mystic as well as Portland, Maine. Many visitors come to Mystic in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Portland, Maine for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Portland, Maine can be very cold during winter. Mystic can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Mystic is much warmer than Portland, Maine. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mystic in January average around 28°F (-2°C), and Portland, Maine averages at about 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Mystic often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Portland, Maine. Mystic gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland, Maine receives 163 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Portland, Maine. Mystic gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Portland, Maine receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mystic or Portland, Maine in the Spring?

Both Portland, Maine and Mystic are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Mystic for the beaches during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Portland, Maine because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, Mystic is generally a little warmer than Portland, Maine. Daily temperatures in Mystic average around 48°F (9°C), and Portland, Maine fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

It's quite sunny in Portland, Maine. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. Mystic usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Portland, Maine during spring. Mystic gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Portland, Maine receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mystic usually receives more rain than Portland, Maine. Mystic gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Portland, Maine receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Portland, Maine and Mystic