Village Green, Bar Harbor: Our most recommended tours and activities

Acadia NP & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tour

1. Acadia NP & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Once you’ve downloaded your tours, your journey begins in either Bar Harbor or by Sand Beach. Start your Bar Harbor adventure on the John B. Ells Pier. From there, you’ll head into this historic town and hear about its Gilded Age high points. You’ll then have a detour opportunity to visit the untouched Bar Island. After that, you’ll stroll through the Historic District, packed with majestic homes dating back over a century! Here, you’ll find landmarks like La Rochelle, an extravagant Gilded Age mansion. As you walk, you’ll also hear about a devastating fire which changed the town forever. The Abbe Museum, next, houses a collection of Wabanaki artifacts unlike any other. Then you’ll see the Village Green, planned by the same designer behind the White House Rose Garden! Next stop? Main Street! Stop at any of the many shops, restaurants, and cafes for whatever your heart desires. Afterward, you’ll walk along the waterfront and learn how to spot some of Acadia’s most striking wildflowers. Your tour concludes just beyond the Bar Harbor Inn, which dates back to 1887! Your tour of the Ocean Path starts near the Ocean Path Trailhead right next to Sand Beach, one of the best swimming spots in Acadia. As you walk along this oceanside path, you’ll learn about marine wildlife like harbor porpoises and harbor seals, and you might be lucky enough to see some of them in person! You’ll also hear the true story of the dramatic Sand Beach shipwreck, which took place right on this shore. Then you’ll stop at Thunder Hole, where the ocean’s waves produce a thunderous rumble that has to be heard to be believed! After that, keep your eyes open for tide pools and their many marine denizens. Next is Monument Cove, where you can stand atop rocky bluffs for an unparalleled view of Maine’s jagged coastline (which, of course, makes for a fantastic photo op). Clamber down to the shore at Boulder Beach, or continue on to the famous Otter Cliff, which boasts some surprising World War I history! This tour concludes at the breathtaking Otter Point Overlook.

Bar Harbor, Maine: Culinary Walking Tour with Tastings

2. Bar Harbor, Maine: Culinary Walking Tour with Tastings

Immerse yourself in Bar Harbor's culinary scene during this 3-hour guided walking tour. Savor an array of local flavors at various stops along the tour, while learning about the local history from your local guide. As you sample the fare at the various stops, the establishment owners will reveal the history behind their industry and what goes into making their specialties. This tour is a fairly short walk around the Village Green and the beautiful harbor, with plenty of food stops for lunch.

Bar Harbor: Historic Self-Guided Audio Guide Tour

3. Bar Harbor: Historic Self-Guided Audio Guide Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. NOTE: This 1+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Bar Harbor in 1-2 hours. Explore Bar Harbor with your app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Enjoy animated videos that allow you to see snapshots from different centuries and interior rooms that you otherwise would not be able to see. Begin your tour at Bar Harbor Pier and hear about Bar Harbor’s early days as a fishing town and its transformation during the Gilded Age. Cross a bridge to the untouched Bar Island. Enter the West Street Historic District, with its Gilded Age homes. At the Abbe Museum, find a collection dedicated to the Native Wabanaki of the region. Stroll down Main Street, loaded with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Head to the waterfront Shore Path and encounter a strange landmark left in Bar Harbor during the Ice Age. See the personal tennis court-turned-public park which serves as an example of how Bar Harbor has transformed since the Gilded Age. See the Bar Harbor Inn, established in 1887. Your tour concludes just beyond the inn, right where you began.

Tour of LaRochelle Mansion & Historical Guided Walking Tour

4. Tour of LaRochelle Mansion & Historical Guided Walking Tour

Begin this 2-hour walking tour at LaRochelle Mansion where your guide will lead you through the History of Bar Harbor and the Gilded Age.  Set off on your walk of this fascinating, historic town. Your local, experienced guide will share stories of rum running, and tales of the town folk who influenced the development of Bar Harbor. Stroll along West Street, where the birth of tourism began in this beautiful coastal town and walk through the cemetery before visiting the civil war monument. You will hear tales of John D. Rockefeller, the Great Fire of 1947, and so much more. This tour will end in beautiful Agamont Park overlooking the ocean.

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Things to do in
Village Green, Bar Harbor

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What people are saying about Village Green, Bar Harbor

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 11 reviews

Affordable guide to highlights of the park. We were able to drive the park, listening to the audio tour and then go back to areas we wanted to explore in further detail. Informative and easy to use!

Really appreciated Senechi's knowledge about the area ... no questions he couldn't answer! Be sure to arrive HUNGRY! You'll get so much fantastic food from amazing local establishments.

Charlie was a great tour guide! Educational in history, local knowledge, and the food was tasty!

great experience, had a nice time walking around Bar Harbor and learning from your guide.

Great tour! Gave us some info and showed off some of the best spots