Portland
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McKenna Mobley is an avid adventurer, traveler, mountaineer, and writer from Southern California. Her goal is to climb some of the world’s highest mountains and visit as many countries as she can. She loves Latin America and has been to almost every Latin country. She also has a thirst for solo adventuring and has hiked 400 consecutive miles by herself through the Arizona desert. You can also find her on her blog.
Why We Love Portland: Portland’s charm lies in its quirkiness. Locals live by its motto to “keep Portland weird” and they’re some of the most progressive, open-minded, and friendly people you’ll meet. Within the city lies a flourishing food scene, charming and walkable neighborhoods, and a love of all things niche, creative, and locally-produced. Expect superb access to the outdoors, incredible craft beer, bike-friendly trails, and a laid-back pace of life. The best way to experience this Pacific Northwest city? With an open itinerary.
Best of Portland
✨ Things to Do
Food carts and markets, museums and bookstores, plus hiking trails galore — there are endless things to do in Portland. Here are a few of the highlights:
- Washington Park – The International Rose Test Garden, Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, and miles of hiking trails await visitors to Portland’s most popular park.
- Portland Saturday Market – This massive market runs every Saturday from March to December, with vendors selling handmade crafts, artisan goods, and tons of food.
- Food Cart Pods – Portland is well-known for its street food culture, which visitors can experience at the many food cart pods throughout the city.
- Pittock Mansion – Expect scenic views and gorgeous scenery at this early piece of Portland’s history.
- Powell’s City of Books – An iconic stop for book lovers. Powell’s is the largest bookstore in the USA and takes up an entire city block.
👉 Explore all the things to do in Portland.
🗺️ Where to Stay
Portland caters to every interest, whether you’re visiting for nightlife, nature, or family-friendly activities. Here are my top recommended areas to stay:
- Downtown Portland – Stay close to some of the city’s best museums, restaurants, and hotels in this dense and walkable neighborhood.
- Northwest Portland – This massive area is perfect for those who want to explore some of the city’s best hiking trails or check out the cafes, restaurants, and shops in charming neighborhoods.
- Central Eastside – This area is home to affordable boutique hotels, hostels, and B&Bs, with easy access to walkable residential neighborhoods and top-rated breweries.
👉 Read the complete guide on where to stay in Portland.
🛎️ Best Hotels
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Choose from historic and luxe hotels, affordable hostels, and one-of-a-kind accommodations in Portland. Here are a few of our top picks:
- Heathman Hotel – The city’s oldest hotel is in the heart of downtown Portland, with modern amenities and an extensive library.
- KEX Hotel – This affordable boutique hotel is full of character, with both hostel and family rooms.
- Tiny Digs – Hotel of Tiny Houses – This hotel in Northeast Portland is comprised of 12 unique tiny houses, making it one of the city’s quirkier accommodations.
🍽️ Restaurants
Portland is one of the top foodie cities on the West Coast. Try these restaurants for a taste of the best.
- Tin Shed Garden Cafe – A popular breakfast and brunch spot serving American classics with a delightfully homey feel.
- Mother’s Bistro & Bar – This restaurant in downtown Portland is known for its menu featuring dishes by mothers around the world.
- Pizza Jerk – Casual pizza joint featuring a variety of unique pizzas, including vegan and gluten-free options.
- Thai Peacock – This restaurant serves delicious curries and other comforting Thai food classics.
- Le Pigeon – Come to this French-inspired restaurant for a true 5-star dining experience.
🚗 Day Trips
- Mount Hood – Just an hour and a half outside of downtown, Oregon’s highest mountain offers plenty of outdoor recreation, including skiing and hiking.
- Vancouver – Cross the Oregon-Washington Bridge to arrive in Vancouver, one of The Evergreen State’s most historic and underrated cities.
- Cannon Beach – A road trip to this coastal paradise is one of the top things to do in Oregon.
- Astoria – An adorable coastal fishing town where much of The Goonies was filmed.
- Columbia River Gorge – One of the easiest day trips from Portland, the Columbia River Gorge has hiking trails and waterfalls galore.
🏘️ Neighborhoods
- Pearl District – This hip neighborhood is one of Portland’s most walkable, with convenient access to public transit and Union Station, plus tons of shops, art galleries, and cafes.
- Alberta Arts District – This neighborhood in Northeast Portland is known for its vibrant weekly art walk, colorful murals, diverse restaurants, and eclectic shops.
- Old Town Chinatown – Portland’s oldest neighborhood is also home to its Chinatown, one of the most culturally-rich areas.
- Nob Hill – An expensive but walkable neighborhood right beside Washington Park, one of Portland’s top attractions.
- Lloyd District – This district is ideal for visitors who want to see concerts or catch a sports game.
🍸 Bars
- Teardrop Lounge – Classic cocktails are served with care at this elegant bar.
- Bible Club PDX – A speakeasy-style bar filled with antiques and a timeless ambiance.
- CC Slaughters Nightclub & Lounge – One of the city’s most popular gay bars hosts fun drag shows and has a lively dance floor.
- McMenamins Tavern & Pool – Put your pool skills to the test at this quirky tavern in Nob Hill.
- Multnomah Whiskey Library – This cozy lounge offers over a thousand spirits and a speakeasy ambiance.
🥾 Best Hikes
- Trail of Ten Falls – Just an hour outside of Portland, Silver Falls State Park’s Trail of Ten Falls is one of the best for waterfall lovers.
- Mount Tabor – Hike to the top of an extinct volcano right in the middle of Portland. Come on a clear day to admire sweeping views of the city.
- Lost Lake Trail – Hike around the perimeter of Lost Lake in Mount Hood National Forest on this scenic trail.
- Lower Macleay Trail – This hike will take you past the popular Witch’s Castle and to Pittock Mansion. It connects to several other trails within the massive Forest Park.
- Multnomah Falls – The most famous waterfall in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge can be reached via a simple hike to its bridge or a moderate hike to the top. It’s just 30 minutes from downtown Portland.
🎨 Best Museums
- Portland Art Museum – One of the city’s largest museums features a permanent collection of Indigenous, Asian, and European art, along with rotating temporary exhibits.
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) – Located right along the Willamette, this science museum is known for its natural science exhibits, submarine tour, and popular 21+ events.
- Portland Chinatown Museum – Learn about the history, culture, art, and experiences of the city’s Chinese-American population at this downtown Portland museum.
- Oregon Historical Society – Discover Oregon’s history, landscapes, and people at this fascinating and informative site.
- World Forestry Center – This museum in Washington Park provides education on sustainable forestry through interactive exhibits.
Portland Travel Advice
🗓️ Best Time to Visit
Summer is peak season in Portland, but there are fun things to do year-round.
- 🌞 Summer – Expect reliably dry weather and mud-free hiking trails when visiting during the summer. There are exciting outdoor events and festivals, but crowds at top attractions.
- 🍂 Fall – The weather is cooler and the trees transform to beautiful red and yellow hues. There are fewer crowds during this time and it’s a good time to hike, visit coffee shops, and peruse Portland’s many bookstores.
- ❄️ Winter – Plan for rainy days and cloudy weather. Winter is a great time to explore Portland’s museums and breweries or go skiing around Mount Hood.
- 🌼 Spring – The weather is unpredictable with mostly rainy days but occasional sunny stretches. This is a good time to visit gardens, go on waterfall hikes, and attend the Portland Rose Festival.
🗓️ For more, see our full guide on when to visit Portland.
🚌 Getting Around
Portland has great public transportation, plenty of bike lanes, and walkable neighborhoods. There are plenty of ways to get around. These are some of the best options:
- 🚇 Public Transit – Portland’s public transportation is reliable. Take TriMet buses, the MAX Light Rail, and the Street Car to get around the city easily.
- 📲 Ride Share – Rideshares are readily available within the city, with Uber and Lyft being the most popular services.
- 🚴♀️ Biking – Portland is incredibly bike-friendly, with hundreds of dedicated bike lanes and plenty of bike rental shops.
- 🚶♀️ Walking – Walking around Portland is one of the best ways to get to know the big city, as many of its major neighborhoods are walkable.
- 🚗 Driving – Rent a car to get around the city a bit quicker or venture out on day trips with ease.
- 🛴 Scooters – Lime e-scooters are available throughout the city and easy to rent and ride.
👉 Tips & Things to Know
- ⛽ You can pump your own gas – Until 2023, you were not allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon. Now, you can pump your gas at self-service pumps or have an attendant to help you at full-service pumps.
- 🚅 Use public transportation – Save money on a car rental by taking Portland’s widely available, reliable, and easy-to-use public transit throughout the city.
- 🛣️ Take a day trip – Portland is conveniently located for epic day trips. Visit the coast, the Columbia River Gorge, Willamette Valley wineries, and even Washington state all within two hours or less from downtown.
- 🍽️ Eat out often – Portland is one of the top culinary cities on the West Coast. You’ll find endless cuisine options at various price points.
- 💵 Portland has no sales tax – Shoppers, rejoice! Portland has no sales tax, which means shopping here can feel a little bit more affordable than in other states.
🧳 What to Pack
- 🧥 Rain jacket – Portland’s rainy season lasts from October through April. A rain jacket is the perfect way to stay dry while exploring in the misty weather.
- 🥾 Hiking boots – Don’t miss out on the hundreds of fun trails in and around Portland because you forgot to pack your hiking boots!
- 🧥 Fleece – A fleece jacket is a layering essential, especially during unpredictable spring and fall weather.
- 👟Comfortable walking shoes – You’ll likely be walking a lot in this city. Make sure you bring a comfortable pair of shoes to avoid blisters.
- ☂️ Small umbrella – Portland rarely has downpours (the rain is light, but consistent). However, you may find an umbrella useful for unexpectedly heavy showers.
🤓 Facts & Info
- Census Population (2024) – 635,749 (city), 2,537,901 (metro area)
- Time Zone – Pacific Daylight Time (GMT-7)
- Area Codes – 503, 971
- Airports – Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Nickname – Stumptown, Rose City, Bridge City, Rip City
- Demonynm – Portlander
- State – Oregon
- Country – United States of America
💵 Costs & Budgeting
- 3 Star Hotel Room – $100-$175/night
- 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – $115-$150/night
- Rental Car – ~$60/day
- Public Transit Ticket – ~3.00 ($2.80 to airport from downtown via Max Red Line)
- Ride Share from Downtown to Airport – $40
- Take Out Meal for Two – $45
- Sit Down Dinner for Two – $65
- Draft Beer – $6-$8
FAQs About Visiting Portland
Is Portland safe for tourists?
Most areas of Portland are safe for tourists, but follow the same precautions you would in any major city. Stick to well-lit areas and avoid walking by yourself at night, especially near West Burnside Street, for the safest possible experience.
What’s the best time of year to go to Portland Oregon?
Summer is the best time of year to go to Portland because it is the driest and sunniest time, with plenty of festivals and events to attend. However, early fall is also a good time to visit Portland for cooler weather, fewer crowds, and still plenty of things to do.
How many days is enough for Portland?
Aim for 2-3 days to see the best Portland has to offer. This amount of time will allow you to check out the top tourist attractions and dine at a few of the best restaurants in the city.
What is the best way to get around Portland?
Public transportation is the best way to get around Portland. Widely available buses and trains make the big city easy to navigate.
Meet Our Oregon Travel Expert
McKenna Mobley
McKenna Mobley is an avid adventurer, traveler, mountaineer, and writer from Southern California. Her goal is to climb some of the world’s highest mountains and visit as many countries as she can. She loves Latin America and has been to almost every Latin country. She also has a thirst for solo adventuring and has hiked 400 consecutive miles by herself through the Arizona desert. You can also find her on her blog.
📰 Portland Travel Guides
Check out our articles on the top tips and tricks in Portland, including where to stay, places to visit, where to hike, and more!
- Where to Stay in Portland (7 Best Areas & Places)
- The 47 Things to Do in Portland You Shouldn’t Miss
- The Best Times to Visit Portland, Oregon