Whether you are looking for Portland attractions for your first visit or simply want to learn a few new things to do in Portland, I’m here to help!
After a year of living in Portland, Oregon, I have discovered a ton of fun things to do in Portland – including where to eat, where to find the best views, and how to travel Portland like a local (which I finally am!).
To be totally honest, any list of things to do in Portland will vary depending on who you ask, but I have compiled some of my absolute favorite spots in Portland. I’ll go into way more detail, but here’s a quick overview of my favorite things to do (in no particular order) in Portland.
- Drink Personalized Coffee at Presso
- Visit the Japanese Garden
- Smell the roses at the International Rose Test Garden
- Buy local goodies at the Portland Saturday Market
- Culturally immerse yourself at the Chinese Garden
- Eat a voodoo man at Voodoo Doughnuts
- Listen to free music at Waterfront Park
- Walk or Bike the Springwater Corridor Trail
- View Portland from the Pittock Mansion
- Read a book at Powell’s City of Books
- Happy hour at Portland City Grill
- Sample Portland culture at a food cart
- Disco tubing in the snow at Mt. Hood
- Sip a local spirit at a brewery or winery
- Bewilder your tastebuds at Salt and Straw
Like I said, my ultimate list of things to do in Portland is likely very different than others you will read on the internet, but I can say that as a local, these are things I actually enjoy doing that show off Portland’s beauty, rather than just checking off Portland tourist sites from a list. Without further ado, let’s get into the details!
Where to Stay in Portland Oregon
Wondering where to stay in Portland, Oregon? The city is fairly easy to access, but I would recommend staying in downtown Portland if you want to be extremely close to public transportation, pretty sites and of course, many of the things on this list. If you’re looking for a hotel during your stay, check out the map below to book or get an idea of prices.
Booking.com1. Drink Personalized Coffee at Presso
If Portland wasn’t already dubbed the city of roses, the “city of coffee” would be a great title. There is a fierce debate among Portlanders about the best coffee in Portland. A few local favorites are Stumptown and Heart Coffee, but my personal favorite is Presso Coffee Bar. The decor is fun, they have fabulous avocado toast and best of all, they use a ripple machine to draw designs on your coffee, which you can also personalize if you use the Ripple App.
Even if Presso isn’t your thing, I would suggest starting your day in Portland with a cup of coffee or tea – after all, that’s where all the locals will be.
2. Visit the Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden is on most tourist lists for Portland, but sometimes it’s a bit hard to understand from all the hype what the garden actually is, and what it isn’t. The Portland Japanese Garden is located in northwest Portland and is a massive, 12 acre garden with eight different gardens, a traditional Japanese tea house and great views of Mt. Hood.
How To Get to the Portland Japanese Garden
The Portland Japanese Garden is located at 611 SW Kingston Avenue, Portland, OR 97205. Parking is located below the actual garden, and to access the garden you should be prepared to walk up a paved path to the hill above. While access is quite easy, elderly individuals may find the climb slightly challenging.
Cost of Admission for Portland Japanese Garden
If you thought “garden” meant “free entry,” think again. As of the date of this publication, adult tickets are $16.95 per person, students $13.50 and while children under 6 are free, ages 6-17 need to pay $11.50. In other words, if you are going with your entire family, the garden can be quite expensive.
Is it worth the price?
That’s the real question – in my opinion, it is worth seeing, but not if it means you will miss out on something else in Portland due to the cost. As the garden is outdoors (obviously), you will also want to check the weather forecast before planning your trip to the garden, since it’s a lot less enjoyable in the rain.
3. Smell the Roses at the International Test Garden
Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is one of my absolute favorite spots in the city. First of all, it’s free, which is incredible. It’s also located steps away from the Portland Japanese Garden, so if you’re wanting to see both, plan to see them at the same time.
The International Rose Test Garden is located in Washington Park, and it basically shows off Portland’s love affair with roses. You can find countless breeds of roses in virtually any color at the garden, which you can wander at your leisure.
In my personal opinion, the rose garden is one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots in Portland, and if you like flowers at all, it should definitely be on your list of places to visit. Since both the International Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Garden are located on a hill in Washington Park, you also have opportunities for great views of the city and surrounding nature while at this location.
4. Buy local goodies at the Portland Saturday Market
Portland’s unofficial (or is it official?) motto is “keep Portland weird,” and there’s no better way to do that than by checking out some of the local craftsmanship at the Portland Saturday Market.
Hopefully it’s obvious from the name, but the Saturday Market takes place on – you guessed it – Saturdays. It is located near the Portland Waterfront, giving you great views of the river while you stroll between the various stalls offering everything from food, to soaps, to artisan jewelry.
Eclectic is really the best way to describe the market, and you will likely find an eclectic crowd there as well. Many times there are opportunities to hear live music and other special events, making it well worth a quick visit.
5. Culturally immerse yourself at the Chinese Garden
If you’re reading this thinking “not another garden,” hear me out – this one is worth a visit. Located in Portland’s China Town, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is an incredible space that truly feels like you’ve been transported to China. In fact, the garden claims to be the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China.
You do need tickets to visit the Chinese Garden, which cost $10.95 per person, with children 5 and under entering for free. Depending on the day, there are also various activities offered at the garden, ranging from board games to traditional Chinese tea.
I should clarify, this garden is more of an architectural display than an area with just plants, which is what makes it worth visiting in my opinion. The architecture is truly incredible, and it makes for a really nice but not incredibly long stop.
6. Eat a voodoo man at Voodoo Doughnuts
Out with the gardens, and in with the food. For reasons not entirely clear to me, Portland has numerous specialty doughnut shops who are in a never-ending competition for the title of “best doughnut in Portland.” Blue Star Donuts and Pip’s Doughnuts are close contenders, but the weirdest doughnuts by far can be found at Voodoo Doughnuts.
You can get a coffin of doughnuts if you’re looking to feed a party, but the average person probably will only get through one or two. They have everything from vegan doughnuts to cock and balls doughnuts (seriously), but my personal favorite is the voodoo man doughnut.
It’s worth noting that Voodoo Doughnuts (at the least the downtown branch) only accepts cash, so bring some with you or risk waiting 30 minutes in line to find out you can’t pay. There is almost always a long line at Voodoo, but it moves pretty quickly and gives you just enough time to sort through the doughnut options before it’s your turn to order.
Insider tip: Portlanders don’t think of doughnuts as a breakfast only food, so expect to see long lines at any of these places. If you’re wanting some real food for breakfast before grabbing a sweet treat, check out these amazing places for brunch in Portland.
7. Listen to free music at Waterfront Park
If you want to truly experience Portland like a local (or live in Portland and just want something to do on the weekend), head on over to Waterfront Park for one of the many events that can be found going on there most weekends. Want to see if there’s something going on the day you want to visit? Websites like this one show the park’s event calendar, giving you lots of options to choose from.
I have attended everything from jazz festivals to yoga retreats at the Waterfront Park, which are all really fun and attract a lot of people. Even if there are no events going on, walking along the waterfront is a great way to see some of the city’s natural beauty, and it’s also a great place to stop for a picnic.
8. Walk or bike the Springwater Corridor Trail
Another outdoor gem that is not widely advertised but every Portlander seems to know about is the Springwater Corridor Trail, a bike and walking path that is the southeast part of a trail that winds a whooping 40 miles through Portland.
The trail is an oasis of nature in the middle of a fairly large city, and much of it is lined with trees and plants, making you feel like you’re not in Portland at all. On virtually any day of the year (including when it rains or snows!) you can find bikers, walkers and runners making their way along the trail, and it’s a great way to see where the locals hang out. It also shows off another key cultural aspect of Portland: Portlanders love to be active and be outside.
9. View Portland from the Pittock Mansion
The Pittock Mansionis a historic house museum, meaning it was once a personal residence that has now turned into a museum that is open to the public. While the house itself is interesting and offers a fascinating look into Portland’s history, the real treat is the view offered from the property, which is entirely free.
The property offers free parking and a picnic area where you can enjoy views of Portland from above, and on a clear day you can see across the entire city.
If you like history, the mansion itself is worth a visit, but either way, make sure to stop and enjoy the view.
10. Read a book at Powell’s City of Books
If you like books or just like hanging out at unusual places, Powell’s City of Books is for you. It proudly claims to be the world’s largest independent book store, and with several floors of books on just about every subject you could imagine, you’ll certainly find something to help you pass the time.
There is also a cafe located at Powell’s where you can hang out and read, drink coffee and basically do Portland like the Portlanders do.
11. Happy hour at Portland City Grill
If you want good food and unbeatable views of Portland, Portland City Grill is the place to be. Portland City Grill is located on the 30th floor of one of city’s high rises, and its massive glass windows provide spectacular views of the city.
There are two separate areas of Portland City Grill: the actual restaurant and a bar area where happy hour and cocktails are served. You don’t need a reservation for the bar area, but be prepared to order ahead if you want to eat in the more expensive restaurant area.
I have been to both areas several times, and while I love the restaurant for lunch or dinner, I prefer the bar area for its incredible views and laid-back vibe. If you arrive for happy hour, you can also count on great food and drink deals, ensuring you can see the city from the sky without breaking the bank.
12. Sample Portland culture at a food cart
One of the most Portland things about Portland is its standing obsession with food carts. If you’re wondering what a food cart is, it’s basically a miniature takeout restaurant in a truck or small trailer. The food is takeout, although some places have tables located nearby so you can sit and enjoy your food.
My favorite food cart location in Portland is Cartlandia, which has over 30 different food carts ranging from Indian-Mexican fusion to bubble tea. There tons of other great food cart locations as well, including Cartopia, Carts on Foster, Piedmont Station Food Carts, Alder St. Food Cart Pod, Third Street Food Cart Pod and more.
For an overview of most of Portland’s food carts, you can check them out here.
13. Disco tubing in the snow at Mt. Hood
If you like skiing or snowboarding and are in Portland from November to May, you’ll likely want to hit the slopes at Mt. Hood. There are several different ski areas, including Mt. Hood Meadows, Timberline, Cooper Spur and Mt. Hood Skibowl.
While all of these locations are fun, if you want to go for wild and weird, head to Skibowl for its famous night tubing, where you can inner-tube in the dark under disco lights to dance music. It might sound weird, but don’t bash it till you try it – it’s practically a guaranteed good time with lots of laughs. It is also located next to the town of Government Camp, meaning you can walk on over to one of the local pubs after for a few beers with your friends.
14. Sip a local spirit at a brewery or winery
Speaking of beer, Portland is known as the craft brew capital of the world, and Portland ranks 4th in the U.S. for most craft breweries per capita. If you want to truly do Portland like the Portlanders do, then head to one of the local breweries and sample a flight of local craft beers.
Portland natives generally love drinking and talking about beer, so if you’re looking to meet some locals just start asking the bartender a few questions about what you’re drinking.
15. Bewilder your tastebuds at Salt and Straw
Portlanders love the unusual and unique, and you’ll find both of those at Salt and Straw, an ice cream chain in Portland that features a rotating menu of nontraditional ice cream flavors. For example, on one of my visits I tried a blue cheese and pear ice cream, which was weirdly incredible. If you do visit Salt and Straw, be prepared to wait in a long line, but also know that when you reach the front you can literally sample every flavor in the shop.
It wouldn’t be Portland if there wasn’t also a vegan ice cream option – which there definitely is at Salt and Straw. If you have a dairy allergy or just prefer to not have milk-based products, you’ll also find a number of vegan ice cream flavors that will give you all the gooey satisfaction minus the stomach ache.
That wraps it up for this epic list of the top things to do in Portland, Oregon. Have you been to any of these places, or do you have others that you think belong on this list? Comment and let me know!
