A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Portland, Maine vs. Edmonton for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Portland, Maine or Edmonton?

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

Should I visit Portland, Maine or Edmonton? 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 laid-back, scenic, and picturesque coastal town. Portland, Maine is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Portland, Maine travel costs.

Edmonton

Edmonton is a friendly, cultural, and authentic city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Edmonton travel costs.

Portland, Maine and Edmonton: Pros and Cons

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

Visitors will generally find more to do in Portland, Maine than Edmonton. While Edmonton is larger than Portland, Maine, Portland, Maine has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Portland, Maine is better known for its food, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Edmonton is more popular for its museums and attractions and shopping. Portland, Maine is more touristy than Edmonton and is known for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks. Also, Portland, Maine is famous for The Portland Head Light. Edmonton is well known for its many festivals and lively personality.

How is Portland, Maine different from Edmonton?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Edmonton offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. You'll find a number of good museums around town such as the Royal Alberta Museum, Muttart Conservatory, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Portland, Maine is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Edmonton is not a good city for its restaurants.

Portland, Maine offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Edmonton. You'll find a mix of casual cafes, international eateries, and more upscale dining options.

Is Portland, Maine or Edmonton Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Edmonton has a few options to choose from. There's a mix of nightclubs, bars, and breweries around town. Head to Jasper Avenue for the high end clubs or check out a live show at one of the active theaters around town.

Is Portland, Maine or Edmonton Better for Beaches?

Portland, Maine is a well-known place for its beaches. However, Edmonton is not a beach destination.

Portland, Maine is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. 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.

Edmonton is not a beach destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Edmonton Better for Hiking?

Portland, Maine is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Portland, Maine. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Edmonton is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Portland, Maine or Edmonton?

Edmonton 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 Edmonton. The city is home to the West Edmonton Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Canada, and among the largest in the world. The mall includes hundreds of shops, restaurants, a hotel, ice rink, movie theaters, an aquarium, and Galaxyland, which is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world. The mall is divided into themed sections that represent iconic places from around the world such as Europa Boulevard and Bourbon Street.

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 Portland, Maine or Edmonton More Beautiful?

Portland, Maine is a well-known place for its scenery and beauty. However, Edmonton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Portland, Maine is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Set against the water's edge, the town offers many beautiful scenes and picturesque settings.

Edmonton is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Portland, Maine or Edmonton Better for Families?

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

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.

Edmonton offers lots of family activities. Many families live in town so if you're visiting for a few days you'll find plenty to do with kids. Most of the activities are concentrated in the downtown areas and along the south side of the North Saskatchewan River. The whole family will enjoy a visit to Telus World of Science. There's also the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the Alberta Aviation Museum, and Galaxyland, as well as many other activities.

Is Portland, Maine or Edmonton Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Portland, Maine and Edmonton make for a notable 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.

Edmonton is a nice destination for couples. There's a good theater scene, so you can enjoy dinner and a show. There are also quaint cafes, mellow breweries, and plenty of cultural activities like art museums.

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

Edmonton 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 Edmonton, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The city has both bus and light rail systems.

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 Edmonton a more walkable city?

Edmonton is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for its walkability.

Edmonton is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that are very walkable.

Portland, Maine is generally not a very walkable coastal town. 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 Portland, Maine Worth Visiting? and Is Edmonton Worth Visiting?.

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

How long in Portland, Maine or Edmonton?

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

Families should spend more time in Portland, Maine than Edmonton. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edmonton 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 Edmonton.

One day in Portland, Maine or Edmonton?

The beautiful coastal town of Portland, Maine offers nightlife and food. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The authentic destination of Edmonton 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 Edmonton?

Portland, Maine is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Portland, Maine, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

The city of Edmonton 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 Edmonton?

Portland, Maine is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Edmonton 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 Edmonton?

Portland, Maine is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal town offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Edmonton. 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 Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best Contiki Tours to Canada, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada.

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

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 Edmonton Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Portland, Maine or Edmonton?

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