Norumbega Inn

About The Hotel

Rates on request. Norumbega Inn is a spectacular 4.9-rated castle built in 1886 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The three-story stone manor sits on High Street with sweeping Penobscot Bay views and features grand woodwork, multiple wood-burning fireplaces, and well-appointed rooms. Gourmet daily breakfasts include a fresh hot entrée, fresh-baked afternoon cookies, and a well-stocked guest pantry. Service is top-tier (4.9 across all marks), with present, hands-on innkeepers. Rooms don’t have individual fridges (a shared guest fridge is provided). This is a signature splurge-level stay best for milestone trips and couples wanting an unforgettable architectural experience.

What Guests Are Saying

“This was the first time my family stayed at the Norumbega Inn, and it won’t be the last time. A beautiful, castle-like structure located in a quiet area, but still within walking distance to downtown Camden. It is clean and well maintained. The rooms have most modern conveniences, but retains its revival of the 19th century charm with its decor. The entire staff treated us like royalty. The breakfasts which included a special entree each morning, homemade baked goods, and fruit in the buffet were exquistely prepared and presented! Even the homebaked cookies awaiting us at check-in were a great treat. My only gripe is that one needs two hands to open the door of the suite from the inside, one hand for the lock, and one hand for the door knob. It was a bit inconvenient, but I think I can live with that!” — Ed L., 5 stars

“The Norumbega deserves all its accolades, and has got to be my best stay to-date. It’s hard for me to imagine that #1 spot being overtaken anytime soon, in my book. This was a staycation during February. The accommodations are outstanding and the service is top-notch. The morning of our arrival, I received a text message asking for me to clarify our arrival time. I did this, and when we arrived, Abby the innkeeper was expecting us, gave us a grand tour of the place, and showed us everything we needed to know about our room, including how to operate the gas fireplace, which was such a treat in the wintertime. I found the bed and linens to be extremely comfortable, the room to be easily adjustable to the perfect temperature, and the lighting to be tweakable to just-right. The guest pantry is very well-stocked - Nespresso machine, Stash teas (I happen to quite like Stash as a tea brand so I’m a bit bias), ice, filtered water, shared fridge & freezer. It is true that there are not fridges in the room. I did not find this to be a problem. We had leftovers one night, and tossed them in the shared fridge for taking home. No problems. In the afternoon, in addition to lemon water and teas available, there are fresh-baked cookies downstairs for guests. They vary each day, with two different options. That is just another example of one of the extra touches that make the Norumbega special. For a change of scenery from our room, heading downstairs with a book in hand to sit on a long, comfortable couch between their grand piano and one of four wood-burning fireplaces was more than sufficient. Not that we really wanted to leave our room very often. Breakfast is as charming as you’d expect, with a continental buffet which varies a bit each day, and a daily hot entree prepared fresh from the kitchen, upon your arrival downstairs. All of this was really splendid. Coffee is topped up regularly and plates are cleared promptly. The location itself is, of course, fantastic. The Norumbega is poised to give you gorgeous views of Penobscot Bay into the Atlantic. But the ambiance, the decor, and the service all help it to stand out. It’s maintained so well, and has all the modern amenities you could imagine, while not at all having any of its historic charm removed. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, after all. Having thought long and hard, I can hardly imagine a single thing that was not considered. I feel like everywhere I have ever stayed has at least one small thing that “could be better” - at the Norumbega, no detail is missed, in my opinion. I read the bad reviews (there aren’t many), as I was wondering what someone could have possibly been upset about. Upon doing so, I concluded that every negative thing mentioned was quite pedantic and/or subjective. Any reasonable person would stay a night here and feel the same way as me - which is that I really ought to find a way to come back here as soon as possible.” — Chad K., 5 stars

“Staff is very welcoming- the building is beautiful but also inviting and cozy. So nice to sit your room or in one of the common areas and admire the architecture and woodwork. Anything you might need is your room or nearby. Beds are very comfortable. Breakfast was delicious and there were lots of options. I wish we could have stayed longer!” — csyerxa, 5 stars

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Authentic 1886 stone castle on the National Register of Historic Places
• Sweeping Penobscot Bay views, grand woodwork, and fireplaces throughout
• Gourmet daily breakfast with hot entrée and fresh-baked afternoon cookies
• Hands-on innkeepers with exceptional service across all categories
• Well-stocked guest pantry, gas fireplaces in rooms, free parking, walk to town

Cons:

• Rates on request — a premium, splurge-level stay
• Rooms lack in-room fridges; a shared guest fridge is available
• Historic castle layout with stairs; book well ahead due to high demand

The Location

On High Street (Route 1) just north of the village, a short walk or minute’s drive to downtown Camden and the harbor. The property commands sweeping views over Penobscot Bay. Camden Hills State Park is nearby. You can find more details or book your stay on TripAdvisor.