Portland is famous and maybe also infamous for many things. From its early history as a ship building hub, strategically located at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette River. To it’s modern day reputation as an eclectic melting pot of all things different.
Portland is a huge city, so narrowing it down to just 10 things is a little silly. But as adventurous and budget-minded travelers, we focus on uncovering those unique, can’t find anywhere else, attractions.
This desire to break free from normal is what makes this city so special. And personally, as nature lovers, we appreciate the amazing nature right in Portland or just a short drive away. So lets get to the top 10 things to do in Portland Oregon.
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure policy.
Aerial Tram
Riding the aerial tram offers an incredible view of Portland from above. It’s $8 per person for a round trip. But it’s totally worth it on a clear day, for taking in the beauty of the city and greater Portland.
From the top you can see Mt Hood, Mt St Helen’s, and sometimes little slices of Mt Adam’s and Mt Rainer.
But the tram is more than just a tourist attraction. It carries workers and students up to the Oregon Health and Science University and hospitals. Actually it felt kind of funny to be such a tourist with others just going about their daily commute.
At the top you can walk around to a viewing platform to take in the views. but otherwise There’s not really much else to do at the top. So just take the tram back down when you’re ready.
Saturday Market
Portland’s Saturday Market is a great place to find something unique. The variety of skilled artisans simply blew us away. We’ve been to tons of markets in our travels and this one really stands out.
And despite the name, the market actually takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s held at the Tom McCall waterfront park, which is a great place to stroll the Willamette River. But plenty of other events are hosted here too.
Powell’s City Of Books
Powell’s City of Books is a famous Portland institution and one of the largest independent bookstores in the world. They have multiple floors filled with just about every kind of book under the sun, from new releases and used books to rare finds and specialty sections. You’re sure to find something that interests you!
Even if you’re not a huge reader, it’s fun to wander through the seemingly endless shelves and see what you stumble across. Give yourself at least an hour or two to explore, you could easily spend much longer here if you love books.
Columbia River Gorge
One of the things that makes Portland so special is its close proximity to incredible nature. The Columbia River Gorge makes for the perfect day trip. This scenic drive is famous for a seemingly endless variety of gorgeous waterfalls.
But if we had to pick our favorites, make sure you add Multnomah, Latourell, and Waclela Falls.
Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural recreation site in the Northwest, seeing over 2 million visitors annually. So for visiting between May and September, Multnomah Falls requires a timed-entry permit between 9am and 4pm.
This falls practically doesn’t even feel like nature with the restaurant, gift shop, and crowds of people. But this double waterfall split with the iconic stone bridge is like a fairytale setting.
Lautourelle Falls is another really popular one, with a couple easy viewpoints, and short hike down to the base of the falls.
Wahclella Falls requires a little more a hike, but still only about 2 miles and 300 feet of elevation gain. This is one of our top 5 waterfalls we’ve ever seen. The way it plunges into this gorgeous pool is just amazing. Coming here to swim on a hot day would be pure magic.
And if you want the best panoramic views of the gorge, drive up to the Vista House at Crown Point. Of if you want the views without the crowds, the Angel’s Rest trail is a great hiking trail for views.
If you want to explore the Columbia River Gorge without a car, check out the Waterfall Trolley. It provides daily hop-on hop-off service to most of the biggest attractions in the gorge. This narrated trolley ride is a great way to avoid parking issues. The trolley begins in the nearby town of Corbett, though you can hop on at any trolley stop. Or you can book a coach bus transfer that picks up right at Director Park in downtown Portland.
Voodoo Donuts
Voodoo Donuts is a vibrant and wildly successful donut shop that started right here in Portland. They are famous for the variety of crazy donut creations.
It somewhat controversial what donut shop is the best among Portlanders. But I still think they have some of the best donuts, and it’s very eclectic inside their shops.
My go-to is the maple bacon long john. But you can can anything from a fruit loops creation to just about whatever you can think of. Plus they also have vegan and gluten-free options.
But if you want to see which donuts are best for yourself, you might consider checking out Delicious Donuts, Blue Star Donuts, and Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai. And if you are vegan, try Doe Donuts!
Mt. Tabor Park
Portland has so many beautiful city parks if you’re looking for a peaceful place to exercise, take a walk, or enjoy a picnic. Our favorite was Mt. Tabor Park, which sits on an extinct volcanic cinder cone and offers some pretty exceptional views of the city. We especially loved watching the sunset from just above the reservoir here—it was such a sweet and relaxing way to end the day.
If you have more time to explore, Forest Park is another great option, with miles of trails that make you feel like you’ve escaped the city without actually leaving Portland. Laurelhurst Park is a little more laid-back, with open lawns, walking paths, and a pretty pond, while Sellwood Riverfront Park is a nice spot to relax along the Willamette River and enjoy the waterfront views.
McMenamins Kennedy School
McMenamins is kind of Pacific Northwest gem. Their collection of businesses across Oregon and Washington offer eclectic lodging, dining, and entertainment that you won’t find anywhere else. They take abandoned historic properties, and re-imagine them into something special. Always drawing inspiration from the building’s origins, turning them into a sort of living museum.
The Kennedy School is a former elementary school, now turned into unique hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, a brewery, movie theater, and an outdoor soaking tub.
The soaking pool requires reservations for non-hotel guests. And it’s $10 per person for a one hour soak. You can even grab a beer from one of the bars to bring with you. Just tell them you need a plastic cup.
The old auditorium has been turned into a movie theater, with super affordable tickets. And they even deliver food to your seat, so you don’t miss the show.
There’s a variety of bars and restaurants on site. Enjoy an aged whiskey in the “Detention Room” Or our favorite is the Boiler Room. They’ve turned what was likely the most uninviting room of the entire school, into quite possibly one of the coolest bars I’ve ever been in. Just levels of mechanically inspired furnishings, and eclectic artwork turn this space into something so unique.
Visit A Food Truck Pod
Portland is known for having an abundance of food trucks. And with cuisines from all over the world. While food trucks can be found almost anywhere, a few permanent clusters are the Hawthorne Asylum, Cartopia, Third Avenue pod, or in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Otherwise, Portland is full of great restaurants, too many for us to possibly include. But when we are in a city, we love to take advantage of the opportunity to try something unique. We had a tasty meal at Mirisata, a Sri Lankan vegan restaurant.
Salt & Straw
I’ve been enjoying ice cream all my life, so very rarely does any ice cream shop surprise me. But Salt & Straw really pushes the limits of what can be an ice cream flavor. And even the ones that seem too weird still deliver.
It’s common to have a massive line here, so try to visit at off peak times.
Pioneer Courthouse Square
This urban park is the heart of downtown Portland, hosting some 300 events per year. It’s often referred to as the city’s living room, though a few “unwelcomed” smells made it seem like the city’s bathroom too. But jokes aside, this community supported space is a lively meeting place for cultural events, performances, art shows, and more.
Check the event calendar to see upcoming events. We were excited to check out Noon Tunes, the free concert series, but the timing didn’t work with our itinerary.
And the food cart “Fried Egg, I’m In Love” is very highly rated.
The namesake of this park, the Pioneer Courthouse, is a treasured historical landmark active since 1875. And it’s open for self-guided tours Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm.
International Rose Test Garden
While this may not seem like the most exciting attraction on the list, we couldn’t help but be amazed by the sheer number of roses at Portland’s International Rose Test Garden. There are countless varieties spread throughout the garden, with colorful blooms in just about every direction you look. And the best part? It’s completely free to visit.
It’s a really pleasant place to slow down, wander the paths, and take in the views of Portland. The garden is also part of Washington Park, so you can easily combine your visit with the nearby Portland Japanese Garden and Hoyt Arboretum.
Brewery Hopping
Brewery hopping is basically a rite of passage when visiting Portland. With more than 80 breweries around the city, there’s no shortage of places to grab a good local beer.
One we would highly recommend is Migration Brewing’s rooftop, especially around sunset. The tasting room itself is pretty bare-bones, but honestly, with views overlooking the city and a good beer in your hand, that’s all you need.
They also host events throughout the week, and when we visited, there was a DJ playing some pretty chill house music, which was a fun surprise. Migration has a little bit of everything, but their lineup is especially strong if you like IPAs, pale ales, and lagers.
Another cool spot we stumbled across was Treebeerd’s Taphouse, a Lord of the Rings-inspired beer hall in downtown Portland. It has a cozy atmosphere, a rotating selection of Oregon craft beers and ciders, and just enough Tolkien touches to make it fun without feeling over-the-top.
If you want to check out a few more breweries, Wayfinder Beer is a great choice for crisp lagers and German- and Czech-inspired styles, while Breakside Brewery is known for its excellent IPAs and broad variety of beers. Great Notion is another popular stop if you like hazy IPAs, fruited sours, and more experimental beers.
Stumpton Coffee
Portland has a seriously good coffee culture, with excellent cafes scattered throughout the city. One we tried was Stumptown Coffee, a Portland institution that has been serving up specialty coffee here since 1999. It’s a bit like Starbucks to Seattle, just much more focused on the craft of coffee. We had some delicious espresso, and you could tell the baristas knew what they were doing.
If you have time to try a few different local spots, Coava Coffee Roasters, Heart Coffee Roasters, and Sterling Coffee Roasters are also worth checking out. Coava is especially known for its pour-overs, while Heart is a favorite for espresso and single-origin coffees.
Pittock Mansion Viewpoint
Pittock Mansion sits high in Portland’s West Hills, offering incredible views overlooking the city and the surrounding Cascade Mountains. We actually skipped the tour of the mansion itself, but the viewpoint in the backyard was more than worth the drive up.
Sitting about 1,000 feet above Portland, you get an amazing perspective of the downtown skyline, and on a clear day, you can even spot Mount Hood and several other Cascade peaks.
If you’re interested in the history and architecture, you can also purchase admission to tour the historic mansion and explore its beautifully preserved rooms. General admission is self-guided, with special Behind-the-Scenes and Architecture Tours available on select dates.
Huber’s Cafe
This is the oldest restaurant in Portland, operating since 1879. It maintains that old-fashioned vibe, with excellent food, drinks, and service.
They are famous for roasted turkey and Spanish Coffee.
The presentation of this flaming coffee cocktail is a performance in itself.
And if you feel like the entrees are a little pricey, the happy hour menu has some super affordable options.
Tips for Visiting Portland
Despite all the great things about Portland, the city definitely has a reputation for some not so great things. Vehicle break-ins are super common in and around Portland. Even in broad daylight with other people around.
So if you have a car, it needs to be “showroom floor” empty every time you park it. With our rental car, that was pretty easy, but if we were in our campervan, literally impossible.
Many places downtown charge a lot for overnight parking. You can usually find a cheaper deal at a lot nearby, but were not sure its worth it for the extra risk.
Portland has really amazing bike lanes. So bringing or renting a bike can be a great way to get around the city. Otherwise the public transportation is pretty good too.
Where To Stay In Portland, Oregon
One thing we quickly realized while visiting Portland is that you don’t necessarily need to stay downtown. The city has so many unique neighborhoods, restaurants, and attractions spread throughout the area that staying outside the downtown core can still put you in a great location, especially if you have a car.
The Royal Sonesta Portland Downtown – Best for a Downtown Stay
This is where we stayed during our visit, and we loved the fun, eclectic decor. It’s right in the heart of downtown, making it easy to walk to many of Portland’s top attractions, restaurants, and shops.
McMenamins – Best for a Quirky Stay
If you want your hotel to be part of the experience, McMenamins is hard to beat. There are four unique properties around Portland, each with its own personality:
- Crystal Hotel – Downtown, right on the edge of the Pearl District
- White Eagle Saloon & Hotel – North Portland, about 2 miles from downtown
- Kennedy School – Northeast Portland, about 4 miles from downtown
- Edgefield – Troutdale, about 15 miles east of downtown
Each property has its own restaurants, bars, and unique history, making McMenamins a fun choice for travelers who want something a little different.
The Society Hotel – Best Affordable Option
For a more budget-friendly stay, The Society Hotel offers private rooms and hostel-style accommodations in a historic building in Old Town. It’s also home to a rooftop deck with great city views, making this a nice option if you want to save money without staying somewhere boring.
Jupiter NEXT – Best for the East Side
Located in Portland’s Central Eastside, Jupiter NEXT is a fun boutique hotel just outside downtown. It has a modern, funky vibe, an on-site restaurant and bar, and puts you close to some of the city’s great restaurants and nightlife.
Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn – Best for Nature & Multnomah Falls
If your main goal is exploring the Columbia River Gorge, this is where we’d stay instead of Portland. It’s in Cascade Locks, about 40 miles from Portland, so it’s definitely not convenient for exploring the city, but it puts you much closer to Multnomah Falls, waterfalls, hiking, and the Gorge.
Use the map below to find some great options for where to stay near Portland, Oregon.
Check Out Our YouTube Video of Portland, Oregon
Save This Post For Later
