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

Should you visit Portland, Maine or Boise?

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

Should I visit Portland, Maine or Boise? 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 scenic, picturesque, and seaside coastal town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Portland, Maine and Boise: Pros and Cons

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

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Portland, Maine than Boise. While Boise is larger than Portland, Maine, Portland, Maine has more sights and attractions for tourists. Portland, Maine is very popular for its food, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Boise attracts visitors for its museums. Portland, Maine is more touristy than Boise and is popular for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks. It is also well known for The Portland Head Light. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Portland, Maine different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Boise 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 Boise?

Boise 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 Boise. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Portland, Maine is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Portland, Maine is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Portland, Maine or Boise Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Boise has a few options to choose from. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is Portland, Maine or Boise Better for Beaches?

Portland, Maine is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Boise is not a beach destination.

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.

Boise is not a beach destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Boise Better for Hiking?

Portland, Maine is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Boise is not a hiking destination.

Portland, Maine is a good destination for hiking. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Boise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Portland, Maine or Boise?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Boise 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 Boise. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Portland, Maine or Boise Better for Christmas?

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

Many enjoy the Christmas activities while in Portland, Maine. Watch the Christmas tree lighting or listen to the symphony at Christmas time.

Boise does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Portland, Maine or Boise Better for Families?

Portland, Maine is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Portland, Maine is a family-friendly coastal town. 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.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Portland, Maine or Boise Better for Couples?

Portland, Maine is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

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.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

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

Boise is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

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 Boise a more walkable city?

Portland, Maine and Boise both are reasonable 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.

Boise is generally not a very walkable coastal town. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

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

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

How long in Portland, Maine or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Portland, Maine or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Portland, Maine than Boise 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 Boise.

Families should spend more time in Portland, Maine than Boise. 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 Boise. 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 Portland, Maine than Boise 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 Portland, Maine or Boise?

In Portland, Maine, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this seaside destination offers. It's also a great beach destination, too. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The welcoming destination of Boise 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 Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portland, Maine. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

The city of Boise 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 Boise?

Portland, Maine is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Portland, Maine. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise 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 Boise?

You'll find nightlife and food around the seaside destination of Portland, Maine. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Boise. 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 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portland, Maine and Boise, we can see that Portland, Maine is more expensive. And not only is Boise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boise 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 Boise.

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 Boise Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Portland, Maine or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Portland, Maine. When comparing the sizes of Portland, Maine and Boise, 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.