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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Castine
One day is enough to see the main sights; add a half‑day if you want a longer walk in Witherle Woods.
Castine is a small coastal town in Maine with a handful of historic sites and natural walks that can be covered in a single day. Its compact centre makes walking or biking the easiest way to get around.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (warm, long daylight)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited services)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $130–180 excl. bed · High $200+ 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 · Sheriff's Department 207‑667‑7575
- 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 |
| Ice cream cone | $3–5 |
| Parking near the harbour | $0–2 per hour |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BGR · Bangor International Airport
- About 45 km (28 mi) north; rent a car or take a shuttle to US‑1.About 28 mi (45 km) north; rent a car or take a shuttle to US‑1.
Typical fares
- Bangor → Castine (rental car, 45 km)
- ≈ $70 for 2‑day compact car (check rates).
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
Town is walkable; bicycles available at most inns. Parking is free near the harbour. No public transit.
See and do
Known for
- Dice Head Light
- Fort Madison historic forts
- Wilson Museum
- Witherle Woods trails
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth, Maine | Drive north on US‑1, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Blue Hill, Maine | Drive east on ME‑172, about 20 min | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Castine Inn
- 17 rooms, private baths, continental breakfast; $95–265 per night.
- Pentagöet Inn
- 16 rooms, full country breakfast, bicycles; $115–245 per night, open May–Oct.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez‑moi / Pardonexcusez‑moi / pardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?combien ça coûte |
| Where is the restroom? | Où sont les toilettes ?où sont les toilettes |
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
- Dice Head Light grounds are open daylight only; lighthouse interior not accessible.
- Some museums close early in winter; check opening dates.
Castine is a low‑crime town; typical U.S. safety advice applies – keep valuables secure and watch for slippery rocks near the shoreline.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Castine yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Dice Head Light
- Fort Madison historic forts
- Wilson Museum
- Witherle Woods trails
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Maine Tourism – Dice Head Light: www.mainetourism.com/listing/dyce-head-light/2055/
- Pentagöet Inn website: www.pentagoet.com/
- Wikivoyage: Castine, revision 4869384 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4869384
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Castine
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
- Sheriff's Department207‑667‑7575
US consulate in Boston; nearest foreign embassies in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/castine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.