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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Biddeford
Spend a day in Biddeford: walk the East Point Sanctuary trail, visit Timber Point Island, grab a slice at Alex Pizza, then return to Portland for night.
Biddeford is a small coastal city in southern Maine with free nature spots and a few local eateries. One full day covers its main outdoor attractions; overnight stays are better in nearby Portland (10 min drive).
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–70 excl. bed · Mid $70–120 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $2–4 |
| Slice of pizza (Alex Pizza) | $5–8 |
| Sandwich (George's Italian) | $6–9 |
| Mulligan's entree | $8–12 |
| Parking at East Point Sanctuary | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 15 min drive north via I‑95
Typical fares
- BSOOBT shuttle Biddeford ↔ Old Orchard Beach
- about $8 round trip (check schedule)
- Drive Portland ↔ Biddeford (fuel)
- ≈ $5–7 one way
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or bike the coastal trails; the BSOOBT shuttle connects Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach; drive via I‑95 for regional trips.
See and do
Known for
- East Point Sanctuary
- Timber Point Island
- Alex Pizza
- French‑Canadian heritage
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, Maine | Drive north on I‑95, about 10 min | ≈20 min round trip |
| Old Orchard Beach | BSOOBT shuttle north, about 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| Kennebunkport | Drive south on US‑1, about 20 min | ≈40 min round trip |
Sleep
- Portland (Maine)
- 10 min drive north, many hotels and B&Bs; convenient rail and bus links.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moi / Pardonex-kyoo-zay mwa / par-don |
| Thank you | Mercimehr-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte?kohm-byen sah koot |
| Where is the restroom? | Où sont les toilettes?oo sohn lay twah-let |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter storms can close coastal paths; check local forecasts.
- BSOOBT shuttle runs limited hours in off‑season; verify schedule.
Biddeford is generally safe; stay on well‑marked trails, watch for icy sidewalks in winter, and keep valuables secure in the city centre.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Biddeford yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- East Point Sanctuary
- Timber Point Island
- Alex Pizza
- French‑Canadian heritage
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Biddeford, revision 5240684 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240684
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Biddeford
À cette adresse, s’il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulate is in Portland (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/biddeford). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.