Portland, Oregon is known for many things: A thriving art scene, live music, exotic food choices, eclectic neighborhoods, being an hour from the Coast, and some of the best hiking in the US.
During my time living in PDX, I took a crash course on all of the best that Portland offers, from food trucks, coffee and donut tours, nature, street art, and everything in between.
I’ve smushed all of that down into one blog post for you-
Portland By The Season
- Summer. This is the best time to visit Portland- the temperatures stay around the 70s and 80s while roses and summer flowers are in full bloom. Summer is also the peak tourist season, so prices are at their highest. Book ahead for affordable lodging.
- Winter. Portland’s winters are cold and rainy but have the best flight prices all year.
- Spring and fall. The in-between seasons have good prices on flights and hotels and the best weather!
Where to Stay in Portland
Luxury
Dossier: Powell’s City of Books is a 5-minute walk away, and Portland’s Saturday Market is a 15-minute walk. You can also pick your own specialty pillows from the hotel’s Pillow Bar, which is pretty cool!
The Heathman Hotel is within walking distance of public transport (Max) and has a beautiful library and delicious food (afternoon tea is highly recommended).
You might also like: Best Hotels in Downtown Portland
Budget
Lolo Pass is clean, modern, and close to public transit. The rooftop bar is a great way to meet people if you’re traveling solo.
Top Things To See And Do
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest waterfall at 620 feet and is famous for its 2 tiers.
The Benson Bridge is a steep but short walk up the side and allows for an up-close view of the falls. This is the most visited natural recreation area in the Pacific Northwest, which means you should expect lots of crowds and get here early.
What to do if you don’t have a rental car
If you won’t be renting a car or are only in town for a short while, consider taking this guided tour of the Columbia River Gorge and its waterfalls, including Multnomah.
Besides the benefits of having a guide, the tour will pick you up and drop you off in Portland.
Washington Park
Portland’s most well-known park has more than trees:
The 410-acre Washington Park is home to a pair of museums, The Portland International Rose Test Garden, the Hoyt Arboretum, and a Japanese Garden (which contains a waterfall and Zen garden!).
The International Rose Test Garden
Staying true to its ‘City of Roses’ Nickname, Portland, Oregon, is home to the oldest Rose Test Garden in the US, with over 650 roses on over 10,000 rosebushes.
The roses start popping in May and stay vibrant until September, but the peak blooming season is June-August.
Portland’s Rose Test Garden is at the top of a hill, which allows for some great views of downtown and Mt. Hood. A Bluetooth-controlled tripod is your best friend.
Forest Park
With 5,200 acres and more than 80 miles of trails, with patches of Old Growth, Forest Park is bigger than New York’s Central Park.
If you want to experience Oregon’s natural beauty without leaving Portland, Forest Park is the perfect alternative.
Pittock Mansion
The Pittock Mansion was constructed in 1909 by the publisher and businessman Henry Pittock as a residence for himself and his wife, Georgiana.
Today, the mansion is a pretty piece of architecture that has some of the best views of Portland.
You can drive up to Pittock Mansion, located here.
Wildwood Trail through Forest Park also crosses the designated parking area, so you can hike up to the mansion to make the experience more unique.
The Grotto
Formerly known as The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, The Grotto is a 62-acre Catholic shrine.
Elegant statues of Jesus, Mary, and other saints stand watch throughout the heavily tree’d trails. Mass is still held regularly, an excellent site for religious and non-religious folk.
Powell’s City of Books
Portland’s book culture is no joke- Powell’s is the largest independent bookstore in the world.
You’ll need an actual map to navigate it, so grab one as you walk in.
Powell’s City of Books occupies an entire block and stocks more than a million books across 9 color-coded rooms with over 3,500 different sections.
Pick a Portland Bridge (or two!)
Portland is connected by a series of bridges of all shapes, lengths, and levels of walkability. Another nickname for Portland is ‘the City of Bridges.’
Top 3 Bridges in Portland
Tilikum Crossing
Known as the ‘Bridge of the People,’ Tilikum is the first major bridge in the U.S. that was designed specifically for transit vehicles and pedestrians but not cars.
St. Johns Bridge
This is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful bridges in the US. The friendly green color and gothic cathedral-like appearance overlooking the river are so unlike anything else I’ve seen.
Hawthorne Bridge
The oldest bridge in Portland, Hawthorne Bridge, has awesome views of downtown!
Where To Hike
Portland is the motherland for hiking and the outdoors. You don’t have to go very far from the city to be completely immersed in nature or even leave the city at all. Be sure to pack for a day hike.
Here are 4 of the Best Hikes in Portland:
Powell Butte
This is the largest extinct volcano in Portland and has stunning mountain views throughout the park. The Powell Butte Loop Hike takes you through its fern-rich forests and onto the open grasslands at the top.
Council Crest
Council Crest is one of the highest points in the city and can also be reached by car if you don’t wish to hike to the top. Try the Marquam Trail to Council Crest Hike Trail.
Mt. Tabor
Mount Tabor is another extinct volcano where you get the feeling ‘there’s something special here, not entirely sure why.’
If you’re up-to-date on your squats, follow the stairs to the top to find incredible views of Downtown.
Tryon Creek Natural Area
I recommend the Outer Loop Hike, which extends nearly 6 miles and takes you through an orchard and a forest area.
Pro Tip: Oregon’s hikes are ripe with poison oak, which I’m extremely allergic to, so I use these.
Museums
Portland Art Museum
The mission at POM is the presentation, interpretation, and conservation of art and film. It also happens to be the 7th oldest art museum in the US.
The Feakybuttrue Peculiarium
This museum focuses on oddities and artwork while also housing an ice cream parlor and gift shop worth a visit!
Note: You won’t find anything too shocking or gory in the Peculiarium. PG-13.
Unique Things to Do in Portland:
Burnside Skate Park
Made famous by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games, Burnside Skatepark was the first do-it-yourself concrete skatepark project and has inspired similar projects across the world.
Collins Nude Beach on Sauvie Island
The title says it all. If nude beaches are your thing (or on your bucket list), this one happens to be cleaner than most.
First or last Thursday? Pick your Poison
No matter who you are, you have a place in Portland.
- First Thursday in the historic Pearl District of Portland is where expensively dressed people gather to sip wine samples while browsing local art galleries.
- Last Thursday on the trendy Alberta Street is basically the exact opposite. Goths gather outside the stores, hippies hoop in the streets, people dress up like fantasy characters, and the sidewalks are lined with bizarre and macabre art.
8 Great Spots For Photos
1. The International Rose Test Garden
2. One of Portland’s many murals. See The 10 Best Murals in Portland
3. The Portland Oregon White Stag sign is an absolute icon in the Pearl District. Find it on Google
4. Cathedral City Park and St. Johns Bridge
5. Tom Mccall Waterfront Park, for great bridge and window views
For views of the city:
8. A Boat Tour
FAQ
How Safe is Portland, Oregon?
Portland’s current violent crime rate remains below the average for violent crime in large US cities.
Statistics show that some violence is rising, just as with other major cities like Seattle or Dallas.
What’s it like living in Portland, Oregon?
Living in Portland, Oregon, is relatively inexpensive compared to other West Coast cities.
Portland’s job market is lively, wages are higher than average, and public schools are ranked better than average.
For an in-depth look at what it’s like to live in PDX, check out NeighborWho’s guide to living in Portland, complete with updated stats on crime, schools, population, and more.
What are some of Portland’s Nicknames (and What Do They Mean?)
- The City of Roses. This has been the official nickname of Portland since 1888, after thousands of bushes of Madame Caroline Testout, a species of massive pink roses, were planted in the city. Today we have the International Rose Test Garden and many smaller rose gardens around the city to remind us of Portland’s rosy past.
- Rip City. This nickname came from the Portland Trail Blazers.
- Bridge City or Bridgetown. Portland is a city connected by bridges, so this nickname is definitely fitting.
- PDX. This is Portland’s airport code/ the name of Portland’s airport.
- Stumptown. When the city’s growth exploded after 1847, Portland couldn’t keep up. Many trees were cut down and left as stumps until the town could later afford to remove them. This nickname inspired the name of Stumptown Coffee, which originated in Portland.
What Are The Best Portland Coffee Shops?
Picking just a few options was rough! There is so much good coffee in Portland (+ Oregon in general!), and new shops open up every day.
Top 3 Coffee Shops in Portland:
What are the best food trucks in Portland?
Some of the best food trucks in Portland–
- Farmer and the Beast is where you’ll find colorful dishes that showcase some of the region’s finest seasonal produce. F&B is one of the best plant-based options.
- Stretch the Noodle is where chef Xuemei Simard stretches and pulls noodles for bowls of flavorful soup or fragrant stir-fries.
- Viking Soul Food is a tiny airstream trailer on SE Belmont that serves out Norwegian lefse (picture tortillas or flatbread, but made from potato).
- Baby Blue Woodfired Pizza was started by vegan chef Odie O’Connor and features wood-fired pies and fresh ingredients exclusively.
- Birrieria La Plaza is far from the area’s only birrieria but is definitely one of the best. All of the recipes are family-owned and kept top secret.
- Potato Champion appreciates every form of the potato and is located in the legendary Cartopia, one of Portland’s original food pods.
If you’re serious about food carting, consider the Portland Food Cart Tour.
How many Bridges are in Portland, Oregon?
There are 12 bridges within Portland City Limits.
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