Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Portland Fire Engine Co. Tours

    4.5 (55 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Portland Fire Engine Co. Tours Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Portland Fire Engine Co. Tours

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kyle A.

    My favorite part of our honeymoon trip to Maine. This tour drives around on a refitted 1970's (I think) fire truck as the guide gives some rich and fun history about Portland Maine and some of the surrounding area. PFE drove us around much of the bay as they told stories about the history of Maine and great fire. Our driver was very careful especially on the rough roads and our guide was full of life - I can tell they've been doing this a while and love what they do. Easily one of the best thing an out of towner can do while in main for some sights and history. They even drove us around some of the different neighborhoods. I would love to bring my family on our next adventure with PFE. Thank you to this group for a fantastic adventure.

    Front of the truck
    Melinda W.

    Great tour overall! (Price) =$30 Cash was preferred but if you only have a credit card, they have to enter the information into their phone app manually. (Tip) Try to get there early, to nab the seat closest to the tourguide at the front, it allows you extra arm room and a place to maybe put your bag. The person registered us from off the street, and we were last minute additions which might account for why it's slightly cheaper than the price I've seen listed on some other sites like Trip Advisor ($35) The tour guide herself was extremely friendly, informative and had a great voice for giving tours! The tour was totally worth it, as I got to learn a lot about Portland Maine, and was able to access/learn about so many areas and places that I've passed by and not known of their significance. It was a bit bumpy at times, and I do wish there was slightly more time given to some of the more scenic spots but nonetheless, great tour! She also tries to make it fun by asking questions and gives candy out to everyone at the end (They're Atomic Fireballs!)

    Monument Square
    Stefanie B.

    We took the tour on 7/6/24 after our boat tour got cancelled due to fog. We are really glad we checked this out. First of all it's a 1970's fire truck, who wouldn't want to jump aboard this for a 45 minute ride around town?! Secondly the young man who gave the tour was not only easy on the eyes but he was a native Portlander, who brought a wealth of knowledge and personal touch to the tour! I learned so much about Portland in 45 minutes! I just had knee surgery so this was the only way I could really get a flavor of the entirety of Portland, and it delivered. It costs roughly $33.92 with booking fees if you order online as we did, but honestly well worth the cost if you want to get a nice ride with some great history nuggets. I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to see and learn the highlights of this city in a 45 minute timeframe. One piece of advice, it is hard to take a lot of pics on this tour it moves fast and only really stops at one location long enough to get some great shots, so we had a car and re-drove the route to get some other photos so we could park the car and get out to take them. The city was jammed crowded with tourists, so it would have been impossible for the truck to stop to let us take photos at every stop. All in all great tour! 5 stars from us!!

    Take your photos ON VIDEO to not miss many important sites. Very little stopping.
    Donalda M.

    CUTE idea to repurpose the firetruck, especially given the city's history with fires ! but be prepared for all-too-traditional, White-only history. Given the v.a.s.t amount of #BlackLivesMatter banners and signs ticker-taping the homes and businesses of Portland nowadays, this came off as a rather big Miss. There's repeated mention of the original Native American name of the city but, again, nothing mentioned about their people. Definitely a textbook Eurocentric perspective provided, nonetheless, the staff was friendly, easygoing, and vehicle was clean and photo-ready. Finding the loading location is a little tricky before the truck arrives. Where they have their info booth set up is not where they load. So just go actually in front of that lobster restaurant. All the various tours load from there. There's no real queue to join. And the fire truck is incredibly easy to spot in the line of white van tours. ***** That in mind, we didn't actually see our options if it rains. That truck is wide open on the sides. This makes for a great breeze but not a shelter, at all. This History teacher found this a pleasant jaunt but nothing in depth. As such, the tour felt overpriced. The $35ish was on par with the rest of the tours in the area, but without deeper background knowledge, updated context, far too few photo stops, nor rain-contingency, this is not one I'd suggest for anyone who didn't have children or young teens with them. The schtick with the truck really works. The 8-year-old with us truly enjoyed the breeze, swivel-to-look, and the bumps! That said, again, the price is too steep for most 'multiple children' families. Some tips: *Sit across from your travel companion as there are wonderful views to catch on both sides *Take video rather than photos as the best info is delivered going the full speed limit *There is no true option for physically disabled to get up onto this truck. No clue how they passed ADA compliancy laws with this one. Maybe sit in the passenger seat with the driver? Don't know but that could be a treat as he is lovely with all the Dad Jokes one could desire. * Speaking of ADA Compliant, the Hearing Impaired will be pleased to know that the company has set up surrounding sound speakers. Just sit directly under one to hear the Guide's mic'd monologue. There are no captions as an option however they're neither wearing nor requiring masks so lip reading IS an option. Sit on the RIGHT side of the truck for best angle.

    So much fun!!
    Lacey D.

    My husband and I really enjoyed this tour! First of all, how cool is it to ride in a fire engine?! The driver and tour guide were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They were also very interactive, talking with the guests the whole time, involving them in the information and letting us know what was happening and what was coming next. We got a great overview of the city in the present, as well as the history. The ride was breezy and comfortable. The only thing I wish there was more of, was opportunities to stop and take pics. I did, however, get some good ones even as we were moving, since it doesn't go too fast. Recommended!!

    1970s fire truck.
    Gary H.

    Highly rec. this 50 min. Tour of Portland. We were only in town for a couple of days, so this gave us the lay of the land. Fun driver/tour guide kept it interesting. Truck stops a few times, but you stay on truck. Ride is a tad bumpy at times. - well worth the experience.

    Our first time in Portland ME and we decided to take a sightseeing tour with a twist. We booked with Portland Fire Engine Co. and toured the city aboard a vintage fire engine. It was a fun way to see the city with a small group of people. The weather was cool and they even had a covering in case it rained. Our guide was funny, knowledgeable and gave a great slide show presentation. I loved the historical pictures and being able to compare them against the current buildings. And they gave us a piece of candy to top off the tour. A fun way to learn about Portland.

    Glenn, Portland's best tour guide!! That should be his title!!
    Ana R.

    During our cousins weekend lat weekend, we went on this tour. It was fabulous. Our tour guide, Glenn, was an endless treasure box of interesting historical & trivia information. He knew it all. And he was engaging & funny. Loved this tour & would highly recommend it to anyone. Someone please tell Glenn that Ms GoPro thinks he rocks?

    See all

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle A.
    16
    140
    305

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    This was a great tour; tour guide very personable & informative ; fun way to see the city ; highly recommend

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Great way to see Portland Maine. We stopped at quite a few historical landmarks and learned that Portland has burned down 4 times!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gary H.
    0
    50
    90

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ana R.
    48
    5
    2

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mandy M.
    206
    40
    4

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave L.
    42
    10
    5

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P E.
    1
    26
    4

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom M.
    88
    20
    1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of jay m.
    0
    11
    0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Portland Fire Engine Co. Tours

    Review Highlights - Portland Fire Engine Co. Tours

    The tour on a vintage fire engine from the 70s included stops at dozen of historical landmarks and attractions throughout Portland.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Tours 115 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Maine Day Ventures - Wild Maine blueberry crisp gelato

    Maine Day Ventures

    4.5(254 reviews)
    0.5 miWest Bayside

    We came to Maine very VERY early season (March 20th-24th) and were looking for something to do…read more Most of the area is still in full 'pre season' mode, with many restaurants and services closed, especially during the week. We found the walking Food tour on Viator and jumped at it - and boy were we glad that we did! Because of the time of year, my wife and I were alone on the tour and as such got to spend around 3 hours with our guide, Ray Sapirstein. Putting aside Ray's obvious love for Portland and food in general, he was a charming guy - keeping us engaged and entertained with stories about the area for the entire duration of the tour. Ray is a PHD trained historian and, as such, was able to fill in a lot of color about the area, going beyond the 'food' aspects of the tour, describing the 'hilly roads' which were sand dunes were covered up to build out the city. Add to that the fact that he took us to several places that we NEVER would have found via googling for 'best ofs' and would have been a HUGE failure to miss! Andy's Old Port Pub - a neighborhood bar (don't call it a dive, though in my mind it qualifies). Spend some time chatting with Thomas, the owner, and Steve the bartender - and had what I can only describe as the single best haddock taco I've ever had in my life. Do not judge a book by it's cover: this place is AWESOME. Great craft beer tap list, and a warm and friendly environment. If I lived in the area, this would be my regular. From there we went to Gilbert's Chowder house right next door - Ray was again right: don't sleep on the seafood chili - it was RIDICULOUSLY amazing. After that we paid a visit to the Harbor Fish Market where we got to see the recent catches, and as Ray pointed out the 'transparency' of the thing: fish are cleaned and prepped for sale right where the customer can watch, and all fish are labeled as 'fresh' (with VERY few pre-frozen exceptions). This is also the place to go if you want to buy Maine swag. From there we proceeded to Rigby House, an unassuming 'coffee shop and workspace' that Ray promised us had nothing short of the best lobster roll in Maine: I've had some good lobster rolls so I can't quite commit to that, but the bread it was built on was FANTASTIC, baked locally from one of the bakeries rated tops in the nation right in Portland. This stop came with either 2 samplers or 1 full pour from their 20+ menu. Don't miss the blueberry ale. It's a rare treat and again, came from Ray's love of his city. From there, we visited Dean's Sweet shop for a couple of truffles and terrible jokes, and then Fiasco's Gelato to round up our day - try the lobster gelato, it's weird and not something I'd necessarily do again...but glad to have had the experience. The whoopie pie gelato was top notch and the blueberry was one of the best gelatos I've ever had. For a 3 hour tour, with all food included, we were certainly full and happy. The walk was short - I don't think we wandered more than a mile in total - and when we were showing signs of being "Help me I'm not from Maine cold", Ray took us into Grittys, another neighborhood bar just for a warm up.

    Ross took us on a tour of downtown Portland. His encyclopedic knowledge of the city's authentic…read morehistory went far beyond what is taught or commonly studied. Native Portlanders would do well to walk and talk with Ross to gain a deeper knowledge of this spectacular place.

    Photos
    Maine Day Ventures - Clam Chowder

    Clam Chowder

    Maine Day Ventures
    Maine Day Ventures - Fish Taco

    See all

    Fish Taco

    Wicked Walking Tours - Gordon was conducting the tour in a very creepy location where ghosts walk.

    Wicked Walking Tours

    4.6(63 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Port

    Highly recommended tour in Portland, Maine. Gordon was our…read morevisual storyteller and he captured the attention of my whole family,most notably my skeptical 14 year old son who wanted follow up details to go ghost hunting while we are here. This tour combines ghost stories, local history, comedy, and some pretty fantastic storytelling while getting a nice walk in the evening in. Loved it!

    This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Portland, Maine. Aside from some amazing lobstah…read morerolls, what else might you expect out of a historic, coastal New England town? You guessed it.....ghosts. Maine has always fascinated me, ever since I read "Pet Sematary" when I was about 12 years old. In fact, the 1989 version of the movie was just on television. Perhaps no one tackled the Maine accent as well as Fred Gwynn. Ayuh, he nailed his role as the old, weathered, local Maine neighbor, Jud Crandall. (John Lithgow provided a completely different interpretation of Jud in the 2019 version.) It's only appropriate that King, who grew up in Portland, based so many of his novels in the state of Maine. This place is saturated with ghosts, savory characters, and somewhat of a dark history. Last week on my layover I took a Wicked Walking Tour with Gordon, who was absolutely fantastic. Knowledgeable and funny, his theatrical, yet historic tour was well worth my time. Gordon made the tour interactive and got to know each of us on the tour. There was another Lori (spelled differently though), another couple from Cleveland, and some newlyweds amongst our group. We started by learning about some history of the city. Portland buried their dead 18 feet under. Gordon informed us this was to keep the vampires in and the grave robbers out. The Portland Waterfront and the many islands of Casco Bay have stories of pirates, witches, ghosts, fires, and abandoned ships that we learned of throughout the tour. In this particular part of the waterfront a mysterious woman clad in black wanders the dock area, stumbling over lobster traps in search of her sailor. Aside from an occasional wharf rat, there is not much trace of life down here at night. A building that I noticed while walking around the town was the Time and Temperature Building, a building with....you guessed it: the time and temperature displayed on the outside. Gordon talked about this building on our tour. The place is allegedly haunted by a female ghost with fire-engine red hair, who enjoys riding the elevators and who will often play on them, randomly sending them to different floors. Some workers in the building have claimed to have seen an unknown female walking through their offices, and when they follow her or try speaking to her, she vanishes around a corner. Electricians insist that there is nothing wrong with the wiring of the elevators. No one is certain of the back-story here, nor why she does this. Before running through a dark and sinister alley, Gordon pointed out an other creepy building. I don't remember the details, but I remember something about a woman seeing a mermaid, attached to the front of a ship outside her third story window. Apparently the water level used to reach this part of the town and there have been phantom ships, still weathering the storms, to this day. Check out Gordan's tour......I really enjoyed it. His stories are interesting and engaging. Maine is awesome. And the people here are wicked smaht.....

    Photos
    Wicked Walking Tours - Gordon

    Gordon

    Wicked Walking Tours
    Wicked Walking Tours

    See all

    Fogg's Water Taxi and Charters - Best shucker ever

    Fogg's Water Taxi and Charters

    5.0(37 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Port

    My friends booked the Casco Bay Cat for my bachelorette party - we had a 2-hour boat ride around…read morePortland on a beautiful Saturday morning in October. The captain and staff were extremely kind and supportive of our group. They were helpful as we got things situated, accommodating our need for ice and getting it for us before we left. Once on the water, we put our music on and had a great time. We brought all our food on and enjoyed brunch, mimosas, and beautiful weather. The boat ride itself was smooth despite some choppy waters. The staff even helped us out by taking some photos of our group - the captain turned the boat and the staff member did a great job getting the lighthouse in the picture. I'd absolutely recommend!

    Heading to meet up with friends to take the Casco Bay Ferry to Great Diamond Island for a friends…read moresurprise birthday dinner. Unfortunately, on the way up the highway, there were two accidents and we knew we would miss the ferry. My spouse searched online (I was driving) and found Fogg's Water Taxi and we called to see if we could schedule a taxi. It was so easy and they were so professional. We determined our arrival time and set it up. We were greeted by the most friendlies people and they offered to sit in the lounge area (A/C) and they had fun beverages for purchase, while you waited. The captain of the taxi vessel was fantastic and professional We arrived just a few minutes late for the reservation and still surprised the birthday boy. Oh, you pay the captain of the vessel when you arrive to your destination and they take cash or card. So easy and really not that expensive. Thank you.

    Photos
    Fogg's Water Taxi and Charters - Cloud of doom

    Cloud of doom

    Fogg's Water Taxi and Charters
    Fogg's Water Taxi and Charters

    See all

    Maine Day Trips & Tours - Portland Head Light

    Maine Day Trips & Tours

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Port

    When Norm heard that we wanted a photography tour, he did not disappoint. From moment one he had…read moreplanned out an itinerary of bucolic and iconic Maine sites. From the famous Portland Head Lighthouse to off the beaten path locations that no tourist ever attended, he found spots to take gorgeous photos and videos. Although the weather on the day we visited was overcast, Norm even planned for those weather contingencies and had multiple locations ready for us to film from. He helped to structure the tour so that lighting was best for the specific shot. Prior to our tour, Norm had also location scouted a variety of different locations so that he could recommend specific spots from which to film rather than us wasting time looking for a spot to shoot from. Norm was also extremely hospitable and friendly and epitomized Maine hospitality. Norm and his company have the flexibility to cater the tour to your exact specifications: You want local only food places for foodies; you want a tour in Cantonese or Portuguese; You want a tour of all lighthouses -- nothing was a problem. Norm also took us to a local restaurant that had some of the best clam chowder in the east coast, and the absolute best lemon mascarpone cheesecake that I have ever tasted in my life. Thank you Norm. We would never do Maine without first booking a tour with you.

    My wife and I traveled to Portland Maine this past weekend (August 20th 2022) for my birthday. My…read morewife booked the Portland Venture to try a few different restaurants in the Portland area. Our guide was Jason G. He was so much fun, but moreso, very knowledgeable about the city, restaurants, and some of the historical landmarks. he was a very personable guy and you need that type of a personality on a 2 hour walk. It was one of the best parts about our trip to Portland. We were able to try some great local food and drinks and learn so much about a fantastic city! We will definitely be back. Jason was fantastic and we highly recommend asking for him through Maine Day Ventures! you won't be disappointed!

    Photos
    Maine Day Trips & Tours - Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

    Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

    Maine Day Trips & Tours
    Maine Day Trips & Tours

    See all

    Portland Fire Engine Co. Tours - tours - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...