Travel + Discover Castine: Maine Vacation Guide

Castine, Maine, is a quaint seaside village located on a beautiful peninsula in Penobscot Bay in the Downeast region of the state. While that might sound like a cookie-cutter summary of any coastal Maine town, Castine’s tagline is “Under the Elms and By the Sea.”

While Castine (“Kass-TEEN”) is listed in the Downeast Acadia region, you should know it’s tucked away a good 90 minutes from Bar Harbor and the Mount Desert Island section of Acadia National Park.

We’ve created a comprehensive guide to help you plan your Castine, Maine, vacation at any time of year.

An Overview of Castine, Maine

Castine is one of the oldest communities in Maine, with settlers present from at least the 1600s and the Indigenous people thousands of years before that. It’s also home to the second-oldest operating post office in the country.

From the Natives to the Dutch and a French nobleman, who gave the town its name in 1796, to the British and now college students at Castine’s Maine Maritime Academy, the town’s story is rich and complex.

Castine’s historic charm is still present today through local historic inns, beautiful old homes on tree-lined streets, and well-preserved military sites. With over 100 historical markers throughout town, Castine is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Getting to Castine, Maine

From MidCoast Maine, you can drive to Castine on the magnificent Penobscot Narrows Bridge on the north side of Stockton Springs. It’s the world’s tallest bridge observatory and the only observatory bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

Continuing on Route 1, you’ll cross a shorter bridge onto the mainland and travel east to Orlando. Then, you’ll follow State Route 166 south about 15 miles to Castine, Maine. (And what a beautiful drive it is!) Here are some driving distances to help you plan your trip:

• From Bangor: 55 minutes
• From Portland: 2:30
• From Bar Harbor: 1:10
• From Boston: 4 hours

Castine Events & Seasonal Highlights

Besides the biggest annual attractions, including the Fourth of July celebrations, Bastille Day with the Picnic en Blanc, the Castine Classic Yacht Race, and Open Lighthouse Day, Castine is a year-round destination.

Spring in Castine

Spring is a good time to visit Castine if you want to see blooming wildflowers and wildlife coming out of hibernation. Temperatures average in the 60s (that’s Fahrenheit) around mid-May, which is usually when the flowers start to bloom.

Castine in the Summer

If you’re planning to enjoy warm-weather activities, the best time to visit is from late June to early September. August is the best month for swimming with an average water temperature of 57 degrees. But, that’s still pretty chilly, so you might only want to dip your toes.

Fall in Castine

Fantastic red, orange, and gold foliage make Castine look brilliant in the fall. The colors usually peak in late September when the temperature drops to the mid to low 60s.

Simply walking the streets is beautiful, but we recommend heading to one of the nature areas to hike among the changing leaves.

Castine in the Winter

For snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, you want to visit Castine from early January to early February, which is when snowfall is most common in the town. In fact, January gets an average of 13.2 inches of snow every year. Just remember to bundle up well before you go out!

Indoor Things to Do in Castine, Maine

When it comes to indoor activities, there’s nothing like learning about the area’s history or reading a good book. Here’s where to go in Castine.

Castine Historical Society

The history of Castine is best explored by visiting the museums and sites operated by the Castine Historical Society. It’s located in The Abbott School, a restored old schoolhouse that still exhibits many historical town artifacts and memorabilia. Check the schedule for seasonal walking tours.

Wilson Museum

The Wilson Museum has exhibits featuring ancient farming and home equipment, tools, and other local historic items. The museum grounds also have the pre-Revolution John Perkins House, a blacksmith shop, and other cultural exhibits.

You’ll get hands-on activities here, too, with interactive shipbuilding and woodworking for kids. Family-friendly programming includes live music & movie viewings throughout the summer.

The museum is listed on Google Maps as the Castine Scientific Society.

Witherle Memorial Library

Established in 1801 with a small private collection of books, the Witherle Memorial Library has grown to house 13,000 volumes – from books to DVDs. On top of that, the library has a museum collection of artifacts, maps, and paintings for you to explore.

Keep in mind that the Witherle Memorial Library also has a weekly Saturday book sale with tons of hidden treasures to scoop up.

Outdoor Things to Do in Castine, Maine

While there are ways to learn about Castine indoors, there are some outdoor sites to check out as well. Some of them offer unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else.

Dice Head Lighthouse [aka Dyce Head Light]

If you’re looking to view a Maine lighthouse during your stay in Castine, head over to Dice Head Lighthouse. Although the light was discontinued in 1935, the original keeper’s house, barn, and oil house still remain on the property.

This is a private residence, but the owners allow you to view from the outside by following the trail from the road to the shoreline.

Also, you can take a Maine lighthouse cruise of nearby Belfast Bay to view Pumpkin Island Lighthouse on Little Deer Isle, Owls Head Light in Rockland Harbor, or Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park.

Fort Madison

Near the Wilson Museum are the remnants of Fort Madison. Only the grass bunkers remain, but the location at the entrance to the harbor makes it a beautiful and scenic spot for a picnic lunch or a relaxing day.

Fort George

Next to the Castine Golf Club is Fort George, which was built by the British in 1779 to protect the harbor. It has been partially restored as a state memorial, marking the last fort surrendered by the British at the end of the Revolutionary War.

Walk Battle Ave

If you want to see more than 100 historic markers, bunkers, and monuments in one swoop, take a walk along Battle Ave. This whole road, which includes Fort George, was a stronghold against the British during the 1700s and 1800s.

You can get a walking map at the Castine Visitor Center to use as a reference for the sites.

Maine Maritime Academy Campus & TS State of Maine

Castine is home to the Maine Maritime Academy, evidence of the continuing rich seafaring tradition here. Founded in 1941, it’s known for its excellent engineering, management, science, and transportation schools. It’s consistently ranked among the best colleges in the North.

You can walk the academy’s campus or climb aboard the TS State of Maine, a naval research ship recommissioned as the official training vessel for the academy. After its annual spring cruise, the Naval Oceanographic Research Vessel is usually open to the public through August.

Castine Touring Company

For a tour of Castine, Maine – by true locals – book with the Castine Touring Company. The seasonal guided 60 to 90-minute tours are run by trained volunteers who are happy to share their vast knowledge and personal experiences of the area.

The guides drive Scarlett, a six-passenger golf cart, through town.

Castine Golf Club

Athletes of all skill levels can visit Castine Golf Club, which is happy to accommodate visitors for golf, tennis, or yachting. This Maine golf resort has a 9-hole course designed in 1921 by Willie Park Jr. and four Har-Tru tennis courts for all ages.

Castine Beaches

If you want to relax on a Maine beach in Castine, take a trip to Wadsworth Cove and Backshore Beach. The protected cove offers smooth pebbly sand and gentle surf for a peaceful and serene beach setting.

The ideal western exposure also offers a great place to watch a gorgeous sunset. Since there aren’t any facilities here, we recommend packing a cooler with drinks and snacks.

Kayaking the Bagaduce River & Penobscot Bay

There are plenty of things to do in Castine for those looking to be adventurous and outdoorsy! Maine kayaking in Castine is ideal on the Penobscot Bay and Bagaduce River Watershed because of the smooth and gently flowing waters.

Some rental boat outfitters offer scenic tours for everyone from beginners to experienced paddlers. We recommend using Castine Kayak Adventures, which also offers bike rentals for exploring the area and coastline.

Boat & Sailing Tours

Water lovers can travel aboard a classic yacht, a boat cruise, or a windjammer tour to explore the scenic rocky coast and nearby islands. Castine Cruises offers tours around Castine Harbor and Holbrook Island on its Lil’ Toot boat.

Witherle Woods

Witherle Woods is a 193-acre preserve on the Castine peninsula with 6.5 miles of trails for hiking, walking, or picnicking. In the winter, you can use the groomed trails for cross-country skiing.

From Blockhouse Point, you get scenic views of Wadsworth Cove and Penobscot Bay. You’ll also come across old battle batteries and other lookout points along the rustic trails.

Greenbie Natural Area

For a short snowshoeing walk, check out Greenbie Natural Area. This 43-acre property has a 0.5-mile trail through mixed woods and across two small streams to the edge of a beaver flowage.

Some of the trees in the woods are more than 100 years old and look majestic in any season, but particularly stunning in fall and winter.

Rene Henderson Natural Area

If you’re in the mood for ice skating during the winter, head to Rene Henderson Natural Area. It has an open, beaver-generated pond that safely freezes for gliding on the ice. You can snowshoe the 2.5-mile network of trails, too. In warmer months, enjoy the 100 acres with trails to explore.

Local Castine Maine Restaurants

Nothing says good eats like a local restaurant. Although the restaurants in Castine are limited, the few that are here serve mouthwatering dishes.

Safe Harbor Cafe

A food stand on the town pier, Safe Harbor Cafe, is open seasonally like most businesses in the area. It’s open for breakfast, serving homemade pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and other rotating specials like lobster quiche.

For lunch, you can look forward to crab and lobster rolls, haddock burgers, fish tacos, and fried clams. You can even order Maine’s famous red hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese, and other land-lover baskets.

The Breeze & Castine Variety

Serving quality takeout, The Breeze & Castine Variety is a chef-owned restaurant with daily specials that feature authentic cuisines and freshly baked goods. From the marinades and sauces to the pastries and cookies, everything is made from scratch.

For breakfast, you can order pancakes or a breakfast sandwich. For lunch, you can order a wrap or burger with fries. You can choose from a range of seafood dishes as well. And, aside from baked goods, you can get some Gifford’s Ice Cream for dessert.

Pentagoet Inn & Pub

While it’s inside a bed and breakfast, the Pentagoet Pub and Restaurant are open to the public at night. We strongly suggest making reservations.

The rotating supper menu leans into local seafood, seasonal produce, and hearty mains – like duck breast or lobster linguini. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday, with seating inside the historic dining room or out on the wraparound porch.

The adjoining pub is full of charm and old travel souvenirs, and live jazz on Tuesdays makes it a good night to book.

Denette’s at the Wharf

Seasonal with a simple menu, Denette’s at the Wharf is the kind of place where you can walk up or pull up your boat to the dock.

This area was hit hard by a storm in January 2024, and the grit and determination of the community brought the restaurant back to life. Look for expanded hours and menu items as they get back on their feet.

A Quiet Escape That Stays With You

Visiting Castine, Maine, feels a bit like uncovering a well-kept secret. Its quiet streets, deep-rooted history, and scenic harbor views invite you to slow down and soak it all in.

Whether you come for a day or stay for a while, Castine offers a kind of calm that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s a place you’ll leave feeling refreshed – and maybe already planning your return.