Visit Portland

A city of bridges and gardens at the foot of Mount Hood, where you go from a bookstore filling an entire city block to an urban forest without leaving public transit. Three days cover the city, two more add the waterfalls and the coast.

Why visit Portland, Oregon?

Portland, Oregon's largest city, combines a food cart and craft brewery scene with direct access to nature: Forest Park within city limits, the Columbia River Gorge 50 km away and Mount Hood about 1.5 hours out. Oregon has no sales tax, a rare advantage in the United States.

Portland's must-sees

Bookstore, gardens, museums and waterfalls: the essentials of the city and its immediate surroundings.

Powell's City of Books

Independent new and used bookstore filling an entire city block, organized into color-coded rooms. A Portland institution, open every day of the week.

International Rose Test Garden

Test garden founded in 1917 where thousands of rose bushes bloom above the city. Admission is free and the view stretches all the way to Mount Hood.

Japanese Garden

Several gardens in distinct styles, a pond, mosses and a tea house in the hills of Washington Park. Admission is charged and it is calmest at opening time.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Walled Suzhou-style garden built with Chinese artisans in the heart of Chinatown. Its teahouse makes an ideal break when the Portland rain sets in.

Pittock Mansion

A 1914 mansion perched in the West Hills, with a panorama over the city and, on clear days, several volcanoes of the Cascade Range.

Multnomah Falls

Two-tiered waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge, spanned by the Benson Bridge. A short paved path leads to the bridge, the climb to the top is steeper.

OMSI

Science museum on the east bank of the Willamette, with a planetarium and a docked submarine open to visitors. A safe bet with kids or on a rainy day.

Portland Aerial Tram

Urban cable car linking South Waterfront to the top of Marquam Hill in a few minutes. The ride offers a clear view over the river and its bridges.

Food carts

Stationary food trucks grouped in small pods across several neighborhoods, serving cuisines from all over the world. The most Portland and affordable way to have lunch.

What to discover in Portland, neighborhood by neighborhood?

Downtown and Old Town on the Willamette

Downtown is walkable in half a day: its blocks are short, about 60 m per side, which makes walking pleasant. Pioneer Courthouse Square is the usual meeting point, then Tom McCall Waterfront Park runs along the river for nearly 2 km to the Burnside Bridge, where the Saturday Market sets up on weekends from March to Christmas Eve. Old Town and Chinatown are home to Lan Su Chinese Garden. A few Old Town streets have homeless encampments: stay alert in the evening and keep to busy streets.

The Pearl District, a former warehouse quarter

Northwest of downtown, the old railroad warehouses of the Pearl District have become lofts, galleries and restaurants. Most people come first for Powell's, a new and used bookstore occupying a full city block: allow at least an hour and grab the map at the entrance. On the first Thursday of each month, galleries stay open late for a free art evening. The Portland Streetcar links the area to downtown and South Waterfront in a few minutes, handy on rainy days.

Washington Park and the West Hills

Up in the hills, Washington Park brings together the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum and the Oregon Zoo. Set aside half a day, or a full day if you visit all four. The Washington Park MAX station, dug about 80 m underground, saves you hunting for parking, which is scarce and paid on weekends. Rose bloom peaks from late May through June, during the Rose Festival that livens up the city all month.

Forest Park and the Wildwood Trail

Covering more than 2,000 hectares, Forest Park ranks among the largest urban forests in the country. The Wildwood Trail crosses it for nearly 48 km, but a 2 to 3 hour loop is enough to feel the damp forest atmosphere, moss and ferns included. From Lower Macleay Park, allow about an hour of climbing to Pittock Mansion and its view of Mount Hood on clear days. Trails stay muddy from October to May, so good shoes are essential.

The Eastside: Hawthorne, Division and Alberta

Across the Willamette, the residential Eastside neighborhoods are where local life happens. Hawthorne and Division are lined with thrift stores, roaster cafes and food carts grouped in small pods where a meal costs far less than in a restaurant. Further north, the Alberta Arts District throws a street party on the last Thursday of the month, liveliest in summer, and Mississippi Avenue gathers breweries and music venues. Frequent TriMet buses link each neighborhood to downtown in 15 to 20 minutes.

The Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood

About fifty kilometers east, the Historic Columbia River Highway winds between cliffs streaming with waterfalls, including the 189 m Multnomah Falls. A timed-entry reservation system has applied on this stretch in some summers: check before you go and arrive before 9 am. Continuing on the Mount Hood loop makes for a long day: Timberline Lodge, about 1.5 hours from the city, offers skiing into early summer on the volcano's snowfields.

The Oregon Coast and the road to Seattle

The Pacific is only about 1.5 hours by road: Cannon Beach and its Haystack Rock make an easy day trip, though the water stays cold year-round and morning fog is common. To the north, Seattle lies about 280 km away, roughly 3 hours by car or a little more on the Amtrak Cascades train. Combining both cities in a week works well, as long as you keep at least three nights in Portland.

Frequently asked questions about Portland

How much time should I plan at Powell's City of Books?
An hour is enough for a quick tour, but book lovers easily spend half a day there. Pick up the map at the entrance: each room has its own color and theme. The flagship store is in the Pearl District, a few minutes' walk from downtown.
When are the roses in bloom at the International Rose Test Garden?
Bloom peaks from late May through June, which coincides with the Rose Festival and its parades. Flowers remain visible until September or October, though fewer. Admission is free year-round, with a view of Mount Hood on clear days.
Do I need a reservation to see Multnomah Falls?
In some summers, a timed-entry permit has been required to drive into the Multnomah Falls area and the Historic Columbia River Highway corridor. Rules change from year to year: check the Forest Service website before you go, or arrive very early in the morning.
Can I combine Portland and Seattle in one trip?
Yes, the two cities are about 3 hours apart via Interstate 5 or the Amtrak Cascades train. A week lets you spend three nights in each, with a transition day via Mount St. Helens if you have a car.
Why is shopping cheaper in Portland?
Oregon is one of the few US states with no sales tax: the displayed price is the price you pay at the register. Many visitors take advantage of it for electronics or outdoor gear. Restaurants and hotels still involve tipping and the lodging tax.
How many days for Portland, the Gorge and Mount Hood?
Plan five days: three for the city, its gardens and the Eastside, one day for the Columbia River Gorge and one for the Mount Hood loop. Add a day for the coast and Cannon Beach if you rent a car.
Is downtown Portland safe at night?
Tourist areas stay busy, but some streets in Old Town and downtown have encampments and people in distress. Usual precautions are enough: keep to lively streets at night and leave nothing visible in a parked car.
What does the Keep Portland Weird slogan mean?
Borrowed from Austin, Texas, this slogan painted on a wall near Voodoo Doughnut champions independent businesses and the city's alternative culture. You find that spirit in the Hawthorne thrift stores, the food carts and the many craft breweries.

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