Easiest Canada & New England cruise ports to explore on your own

Ranked: easiest first

1. Bar Harbor Maine, USA Easy
   You land in downtown Bar Harbor. · Tender
2. Newport (Rhode Island) Rhode Island, USA Easy
   Perrotti Park is about a block from Thames Street. · Tender
3. Québec City Canada Easy
   From Wharves 21/22, Petit-Champlain and Place Royale are steps away.
4. Montréal Canada Easy
   Notre-Dame Basilica and Place Jacques-Cartier are a 5–15 minute walk.
5. Halifax Canada Easy
   The Citadel is a 20–25 minute uphill walk.
6. Boston Massachusetts, USA Easy
   The terminal is in the Seaport district.
7. Charlottetown Canada Easy
   Victoria Row is 5–7 minutes away and Province House/Confederation Centre about 10.
8. Portland (Maine) Maine, USA Easy
   The terminals are on the edge of the Old Port; shops and restaurants are a short walk (distances vary by berth).
9. Saint John (New Brunswick) Canada Easy
   Market Square is about 5 minutes away and the City Market about 10–12 minutes, uphill.
10. Sydney (Nova Scotia) Canada Easy
    The Big Fiddle is beside the pavilion, and downtown is 5–10 minutes along the boardwalk.

How we rank

Ports are grouped by our rating (Easy, then Moderate, then Book a tour). Within each group, the shortest walk to town or the main sights that our guide states comes first, then the shortest stated distance. The quote under each port comes from its guide; check your pier, because some ports have more than one. How we rate ports.