Portland – A Stunning Tour in the City of Roses

The city of Portland, also known as the City of Roses, is one of the most liberal cities in the United States. Portland is a city that offers a high quality of life, featuring everything from museums to shopping, markets, attractive streets, and near as well as within the city, a vast abundance of breathtaking natural sites.

Washington Park is a place where mankind has tamed nature, but surrounding the city are breathtaking parks and reserves such as the magnificent Mount Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, and the boulders of Cannon Beach on the Pacific coast.

How many days should you spend in Portland?

For a trip in Portland itself, it's worth dedicating a full day to two days, including the unique nature sites around the city. For a trip to Cannon Beach and the Pacific coast, it's advisable to set aside an additional half-day trip.

It's highly recommended to find accommodation in Portland for one or two nights.

Click here to check availability and prices in Portland's hotels…

10 Must-See and Do Things in Portland

1. International Rose Test Garden
2. Shopping and Galleries in Nob Hill (23rd Avenue Northwest)
3. Lan Su Chinese Garden
4. The USS Blueback Submarine at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
5. Saturday Market at Tom McCall Waterfront Park
6. Enjoy Tea at the Portland Japanese Garden
7. The Trail Leading Up to Multnomah Falls
8. The View of the Columbia River and Cascade Mountains at Columbia River Gorge
9. Ski Sites up Mount Hood
10. The Massive Boulders at Cannon Beach

For a free guided tour in downtown Portland, click here…

What Is Portland?

• Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon
• The city has around 650,000 residents and the metropolitan area (including parts of Washington State to the north) is home to about 2.5 million people, roughly half of the state's population
• Downtown Portland sits on the left (west) bank of the Willamette River, just south of its confluence with the mighty Columbia River, which marks the city’s (and Oregon’s) northern boundary.
• The city is located on the historic Oregon Trail, the path blazed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition during their groundbreaking journey that set out from St. Louis, aiming to annex the Pacific coast to the United States.
• The first settlement at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers dates back to 1830. The city grew from a small community primarily reliant on logging and shipping timber down the Columbia River.
• This settlement of pioneers included several figures from New England, and in 1845 they decided to incorporate the settlement as a city. Asa Lovejoy from Boston and Francis Pettygrove from Calais in eastern Maine were considered the main founders and initiators of the city. Lovejoy wanted to name it Boston after his hometown, while Pettygrove wanted to call it Portland after the largest city in his home state. After a coin toss, Pettygrove won, and the city was named after the city of Portland in Maine.

The Transformation of Portland

In the mid to late 19th century, Portland was considered somewhat of a New England colony and a tough, crime-ridden port city. All the negative elements of the Wild West were active in the city, and the majority of its population at that time were men who came to Oregon as part of the Gold Rush.

• The city only began to develop during World War II as an important industrial center.
• After the war, the city's reputation became very positive, and in the 1960s it became one of the most liberal cities in the United States, with a population that was the complete opposite of those who lived there about fifty years earlier
• The city played an important role in the political and intellectual development of what is called the counterculture of the 60s. Portland's progressive status remains to this day
• With liberalism came high-tech, and today's city is an important hub in the computer industry (secondary to two major cities to its north and south on the Pacific coast, both Seattle and San Francisco, but still very significant)

Click here for the Great Portland Food Tour + tasting…

Map of Portland

How to Get to Portland?

How to fly to Portland?

Portland International Airport (PDX) – The Portland International Airport is located north of downtown on the southern bank of the Columbia River. It's conveniently connected to the city center, just a fifteen-minute drive from Old Town. This airport is one of the hubs for Alaska Airlines and is linked with all major airports across the United States and Canada. It also receives several flights from major airports in Europe, and it's quite easy to reach via transfer through major European airports or via New York or Los Angeles.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – The largest airport in Seattle, officially known as SeaTac, is the main gateway to the Northwest. Nationally, it's the home airport for Alaska Airlines, which operates routes to all neighboring states' airports and major airports across the USA. The airport offers a wide variety of international routes, including from major European airports. The travel time from Seattle Airport to Portland is about two and a half hours.

How to get to Portland by car?

Portland is situated on the Pacific highway I-5, which connects San Diego with Seattle (and continues to Vancouver in Canada). The 5 runs right through the center of Portland and splits into highway 405, forming a loop around the central area. The 5 is also Portland's main link to the suburb of Vancouver (not to be confused with Vancouver in British Columbia across the border), on the northern bank of the Columbia River, in the southern part of Washington State.

Portland is an hour's drive north from Salem, the capital of Oregon, and roughly two hours and forty-five minutes drive south of Seattle. Highway 84 connects Portland with Boise, the capital of neighboring Idaho, and continues to join the I-15 near Yellowstone Park.

Click here for all the info on car rentals in the USA + useful tips and great discounts…

When's the best time to visit Portland?

Portland, like the entire Pacific coast north of San Francisco, is very seasonal. The city's weather is temperate, which means a very rainy, cold, and foggy winter (sometimes snowy) and a short, warm, and pleasant summer.

• The best season to visit Portland is the summer, and only the summer. In the summer, temperatures in the city are very pleasant, there is hardly any precipitation, and it is usually sunny. This is not a sunny city, and in the summer, you can see its residents quite astonished by the fiery ball warming up the sky.
• Spring in Portland is not a bad season either. It's less rainy compared to winter or fall, with occasional clear days, and it can be warm (it can also be quite cold and freezing). The natural areas around the city in spring are breathtakingly beautiful, including snowmelt waters in the streams of Mount Hood and increased flow in the Columbia River.
• Winter and fall in Portland are quite harsh. These are rainy and cold months, and there's a fair chance of snow in winter, although snow accumulation isn't very common. The city is foggy and very cold in winter.

Click here for a tour following the small cafes and chocolate makers of Portland…

How to Plan a Trip Itinerary in Portland?

The city of Portland is part of the travel itinerary on the north Pacific coast of the USA. The city is well connected with Seattle to the north, less than a three-hour drive away. You can take a day trip to Portland from Seattle or stay in the city for a night or two to explore it and the surrounding countryside.

Click here to plan a trip itinerary in Portland and get professional advice…

• The Northwest road trip begins at Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, a four-hour drive south of Portland.
• The trip includes natural sites near Portland such as Mount Hood, Cannon Beach, and Mount Saint Helens in southern Washington.
• From Portland, head north towards Seattle to visit the city center and the two nearby national parks, Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park. You can also continue north to Vancouver, which is across the Canadian border.

Click here for a day trip from Portland to the natural sites at Mount Saint Helens…

The trip within Portland itself is relatively short.

• It is recommended to start the city tour in downtown and on 23rd Avenue Northwest (Nob Hill).
• Downtown features several must-see spots, such as the Portland Art Museum, Lan Su Chinese Garden, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The city's popular Saturday markets are held near the museum and in the park along the riverbank.
• The centerpiece of downtown Portland is Pioneer Courthouse Square, surrounded by malls and shopping streets.
• Washington Park is the main attraction in Portland, where you can find the charming Rose and Japanese Gardens.
• The park is also home to the historic Oregon Zoo.
• A trip to Portland also includes the unique natural sites around the city like the Columbia River Gorge to the east, Multnomah Falls, and the breathtaking view of Mount Hood.
• To the west of the city, it's highly recommended to visit Cannon Beach, where the famous boulders line the shore.

Click here for a day tour from Portland to the Pacific Coast and Cannon Beach…

Everything you need to know about lodging and hotels in Portland

Portland is perfect for a one or two-day trip, and it's definitely worth staying there or nearby. Lodging in Portland is roughly divided into two options:

1. Lodging in urban hotels downtown Portland
2. Accommodations in motel clusters along highways near the city center

Downtown Portland boasts a large selection of three and four-star urban hotels. Unlike other big cities, parking in central Portland isn't a major issue, and most hotels offer convenient parking arrangements.

Portland's motel clusters are located just a short drive from downtown. There's a substantial group of hotels and motels near the city airport, along Airport Way. Another significant cluster is along the I-5 north of downtown, both in Portland and in neighboring Vancouver, Washington. Near the city, there are branches of all major motel chains such as Motel 6, Super 8, Holiday Inn Express by IHG, and brands like Marriott, Hilton, Comfort Inn, and more.

The overall quality of hotels and motels in Portland is good to very good. For those planning to explore the natural landscapes around the city, it's advisable to stay in motels outside the center.

Click here to find accommodation in Portland hotels…

Map of Accommodation Areas in Portland

Everything to See and Do in Portland

Downtown Portland

Downtown Portland isn't large and is relatively pleasant. It stretches along the west bank of the Willamette from the Old Town in the north to the Portland State University campus in the south. The downtown is cut off to the west by the 405 freeway beyond which lies the trendiest part of the city – Nob Hill, in the Northwest District. Downtown Portland isn't tall in terms of skyscrapers and is relatively spacious.

Click here for the Grand Portland Pizza Tour + Tastings…

Downtown Portland has deteriorated in recent years with the protests in the United States, and nowadays, as a reflection of the city's liberal nature, there are quite a few homeless and drug users there.

The downtown streets are laid out in a grid pattern. In the heart of downtown is the charming Pioneer Courthouse Square, home to the city's historic courthouse. Surrounding the ancient courthouse building (by Pacific Coast standards) are tall and beautiful structures. The entire area around the square is packed with restaurants, cinemas, malls, and entertainment venues.

Click here for a guided tour of Portland, including all the major sites in the city…

Nob Hill

Nob Hill is Portland's trendy neighborhood and one of the prettiest places in the heart of the city. Nob Hill is the nickname for NW 23rd Avenue. Along the avenue and nearby streets, you'll find the coolest restaurants, hip cafés, boutique shops, and galleries. The avenue is the nicest place in Portland for strolling and shopping, with a European vibe in America, making it one of the most attractive hangout spots in Portland, especially on weekends.

Portland Art Museum

Portland's top-notch art museum is nestled in the heart of the city's downtown, along the downtown park avenue stretching from what's called Shemanski Park to the southward Route 405. The museum opened in 1932 and boasts a collection of over 40,000 artworks, primarily by American and European artists.

The museum's collection is extremely diverse, featuring works by European and American artists from various periods. It includes paintings by modern masters like Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, and more. In the collection, there are also earlier masters such as Taddeo Gaddi from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque painters like Giambattista Pittoni.

Just south of the museum, on the park, the popular PSU Farmers Market is held on Saturdays. In this colorful market, local farmers sell fresh produce, organic food, and there are also great food stalls. It's a very popular hangout spot on Saturdays.

Address: 1219 SW Park Ave., Portland

Click here for the current museum visiting hours…

OMSI – Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is located in the southern part of East Portland (the east bank of the Willamette River), under the Marquam Bridge, on Interstate number 5. The museum was founded in 1944 and initially operated in the historic Portland Hotel, which stood in Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown. In 1955, the museum moved to Washington Park, where it remained until relocating to its current location in 1992.

This informative and cutting-edge museum focuses on science, technology, and industry. In many aspects, it deals with the history of Portland and the city's development over the years, especially concerning the timber industry in the late 19th century. The museum features fascinating sections, well-developed educational programs, and a lot of enlightening experiences for kids.

The museum's main attraction is the USS Blueback Submarine, which served America during the Cold War. The submarine was built in 1959 and remained active until 1990. With the opening of the museum, it was placed on the river nearby, and you can come see it on deck.

Address: SE Water Ave. 1945, Portland

Click here for the museum's current opening hours…

Lan Su Chinese Garden

This charming garden is the main attraction of Portland's Chinatown, situated in the northern part of the Old Town district, not far from the Japanese American Museum of Oregon. Portland's Chinatown, along with Japantown, is a small area with a concentration of oriental restaurants, but it is very different in character from the large Chinatowns of San Francisco or Seattle. The bleak ethnic scene is redeemed by the Lan Su Chinese Garden, one of the most beautiful and oriental places in Portland.

The garden was designed based on the famous gardens of Suzhou city on the outskirts of Shanghai, following the twin cities agreement between Portland and the Chinese city. The garden opened to the public in 2000 and has since become a beloved attraction in the heart of the city. It features shaded walking paths, a lake, and stunning landscape design techniques that make the most of the small space. At the heart of the park, there is a magnificent traditional tea house.

Address: NW Everett St. 239, Portland

Click here for the latest information on visiting the garden – opening hours and fees…

Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Portland's Waterfront Park stretches south from the Steel Bridge, the railway bridge, to the South Hawthorne Waterfront Park. This is the downtown Portland urban park along the Willamette River. The park was built on the route where the Harbor Drive once blocked the river from the public.

The park was built in 1974 in place of the road and has become one of the most beloved spots for central residents. Along the waterfront lies the Waterfront Bike Trail. This peaceful and elongated park offers a stunning view of the downtown buildings and the river and is now a popular recreational spot where the city hosts major events.

Every Saturday, in a large pavilion near the Burnside Bridge, the Portland Saturday Market is held, the city's flea market. It is a very popular market that includes food stalls, second-hand goods, vintage items, and more. The market began operation with the park's creation in 1974 and is now the main attraction there.

Click here for a bike tour + street food tasting in Portland…

Mount Tabor Park

Mount Tabor (named after Mount Tavor, of course) is located right within the city area, in the heart of East Portland's residential zone. The mountain is quite a stunning anomaly right in the city's heart. It's a dormant volcanic cone situated in the valley formed between the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The cone was formed from the volcanic activity of the Cascade Range, as an ancient lava outlet. Today, a green park has been built on the mountain, offering views westward toward downtown and eastward to the impressive Mount Hood.

Washington Park

Washington Park, the massive urban park in Portland, is one of the main attractions in the City of Roses, Rose City as it's called. The city got its name from the mass planting of roses throughout the city in the late 19th century, primarily because the city's weather and soil are perfect for growing roses. Today, the city's roses are symbolized by the stunning rose garden at the heart of the park.

The park was established in 1909 in the western part of the city, on the gentle eastern slopes of the Tualatin Mountains. The range, also known as the West Hills, overlooks the Willamette River Valley where the city's downtown is located. Today, the park is probably Portland's most attractive public attraction. It offers plenty of places to explore, including designed gardens, picnic areas, various sports fields, and, of course, the large Oregon Zoo.

Click here for all current information about park activities…

International Rose Test Garden

The giant Rose Garden in Portland's Washington Park has over ten thousand roses in a variety of species and colors. The rose garden's landscape is stunningly beautiful and is most popular in June and July when the roses are in full bloom. The garden is divided into rose beds according to species.

In the southern part of the Rose Garden, you'll find the Shakespeare Garden, featuring various plants mentioned in the works of the great British playwright. In the northern section is the Washington Park Amphitheater. The Rose Garden was planted and designed in 1918 and has since become one of Portland’s most famous landmarks.

The Portland Japanese Garden

Up the slopes, next to the Rose Garden (beyond the parking lot and tennis club), lies the Japanese Garden. This garden complements the charming Rose Garden nearby with the gentle sound of flowing water, tea, and truly stunning landscape architecture. It's nestled in a wooded area with walking paths. The park features artificial ponds, canals, and, of course, waterfalls, all shaded by typical Japanese trees that were planted here, along with a lovely collection of bonsai trees. There's also a traditional Japanese tea house operating on-site.

Click here for current hours and admission fees to the garden…

Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo is probably the number one attraction in the City of Roses for a visit with children. It's located in the southern part of Washington Park on a modest area on the eastern slopes of the hill range. This is the oldest zoo on the Pacific coast of the United States, founded in 1888. The zoo houses about two thousand specimens of over two hundred different species of terrestrial and amphibious animals. The zoo excels in conservation and environmental values, making it a place that combines fun with educational value for kids.

Address: SW Canyon Rd. 4001, Portland

Click here for the current operating hours and entry fees of the zoo…

Pittock Mansion

The unique mansion is located north of Washington Park and can be accessed via a walking trail that includes the special crossing named after Barbara Walker, the Barbara Walker Crossing, nestled in the heart of the forest. The mansion is situated at the edge of Portland on the West Hills ridge (Tualatin Mountains) with Macleay Park to its north, a wooded natural area crisscrossed by numerous streams and hiking trails. It was built in 1914 as the residence of Henry Pittock and his wife. Pittock was a publisher born in London who left his homeland and moved to live in Portland.

The grand mansion was constructed in the French style modeled after the Château, the grand estates, and palaces built in France during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Today, the house serves as a period museum where you can learn a lot about the affluent lifestyle in Portland in the early 20th century. The house displays Pittock's items, luxurious furniture, and exquisite decorative items.

Address: NW Pittock Dr. 3229, Portland

Click here for the latest visiting hours for the mansion…

Everything to See and Do Around Portland

Portland's Forest Park

Forest Park is a massive nature reserve stretching north from Washington Park and Macleay Park along the Tualatin Mountains. This nature reserve extends from the south bank of the Columbia River, where the mountain range meets the river. Along the northern slopes of the range are dozens of mountain stream channels, marked forest nature trails, and more. Technically, the park is considered part of the city of Portland, making it one of the largest urban parks in the United States, but it is genuinely a wild natural forest with well-maintained hiking trails.

Click here for a guided hike in Forest Park…

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is one of the most popular natural sites near the city of Portland. The falls are accessible from a large parking lot near the I-84 freeway, which runs along the Columbia River, just a half-hour drive east of downtown Portland.

The falls are the outlet of the mountainous channel of Multnomah Creek just above the Columbia River in the geological fault that technically forms the northern basalt slopes of Mount Hood. It's a series of falls, the tallest of which has about 165 meters of massive water flow. Convenient trails climb from the parking lot near the I-84 up to the top of the falls.

Click here for a day trip from Portland to Multnomah Falls and Mount Hood…

Mount Hood

Mount Hood is to Portland what Mount Rainier is to its northern neighbor, Seattle. This stunning volcano is part of the Cascade Range and is one of its most photogenic peaks. On a clear day, it can be seen from every corner of Portland (on days with good visibility, you can also see Mount St. Helens to the north). Mount Hood towers over 3,400 meters and is 80 kilometers by air from downtown Portland.

The mountain is accessible via a one-hour drive from Portland to Mount Hood Village by taking Interstate 35. From the village, there is access to two ski resorts on the southern slopes of the mountain. In the summer, the mountain is a favorite destination for hikers. Around the summit, there are numerous marked hiking trails, some easy and pleasant, and some quite challenging.

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is the gigantic and impressive canyon of the Columbia River. The canyon stretches over 130 kilometers and reaches a depth of 1,200 meters. It officially begins with the confluence of the Snake River into the Columbia, then the river turns westward, carving its way through the Cascade Mountain Range. Throughout the canyon area, there are several towns with numerous hiking trails of different levels, most of them in the forests above the cliff. The best viewpoint to observe the canyon is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near Carson, Washington State.

Cannon Beach

The coastal town of Cannon Beach is a one-and-a-half-hour drive west of Portland, on the Pacific Ocean coast. The town is known for its giant boulders right on the shoreline, called The Needles. The largest of them is the massive Haystack Rock. The boulders are located dozens of meters from the shoreline and are among the most impressive natural sites in the northern part of the Pacific coast.

The town has become a popular vacation spot (in the summer, the rest of the year it’s very rainy) and it has quite a few hotels and motels in its center. During summer weekends, it's a good idea to book accommodation well in advance as the town is in high demand, and there can be traffic jams coming from Portland.

Sports Events and Teams in Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers are the most important sports team in Portland. The team was founded in 1970 and has won the NBA championship once in its history, in 1977. They are the city's main attraction, currently enjoying a good period and frequently making it to the higher stages of the playoffs. The team plays at the Moda Center in East Portland, not far from downtown. The stadium seats 19,000 spectators and usually, there isn’t any special problem getting tickets to the games, unless it's a playoff game. Soccer fans can catch Portland Timbers matches in the MLS.

Home stadium address: N Center Ct St. 1, Portland

Click here to book tickets for the Trail Blazers games on the NBA site…