10 Best Things To Do In Portland, Oregon

Welcome to the best things to do in Portland, Oregon!

Boasting the slogan “Keep Portland Weird,” this city is quirky with lots of character.

Not only that, it’s close to some of Oregon’s most beautiful sights.

On today’s post, I’ve put together the top things to do in Portland, Oregon.

Let’s dive in.

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Portland Essentials

Top Tours & Experiences In Portland

Where To Stay In Portland

How To Get Around Portland, Oregon

Having to find (and pay for) parking can be a nuisance inside the city.

So I recommend staying at a hotel downtown to be near all the best things to do.

That way, you can walk or Uber anywhere you need to go.

However, if you’re planning on combining your time in Portland with other adventures in the area, you definitely DO need a rental a car.

Make sure to reserve your rental car in advance on RentalCars.com.

Short on time? I recommend booking a Half-Day Columbia River Gorge and Waterfall Hiking Tour!

1. Visit Pittock Mansion

Built in 1914, Pittock Mansion explores Portland’s history through the legacy of one of its most influential families.

Today, you can tour the mansion to learn more about both the Pittock family and the city.

Or, you can just explore the grounds and take in the beautiful views.

If you choose the latter, you’ll only have to pay for parking.

One of the highlights of Pittock Mansion is its unrivaled view of the Portland skyline and Cascade Mountains.

On a clear day, you’ll see that iconic view of Mount Hood towering over the city.

Pittock Mansion’s history and beautiful scenery make it one of the best things to do in Portland, Oregon.

Related: Portland Instagram Captions

2. Browse Powell’s City of Books

Powell’s City of Books is the largest book store in the world.

It was founded in 1971, and has been a Portland landmark ever since.

Spending a morning here is definitely one of the best things to do in Portland, Oregon.

The store boasts an impressive 68,000 square feet, and covers an entire city block.

Inside, you can browse three floors and 3,500 sections of both new and used books.

If you want to grab coffee or a pastry while you peruse, head to the Guilder Café inside the store.

Powell’s Books is located in Portland’s Pearl District, which I recommend exploring afterwards.

This neighborhood is home to trendy shops, eateries, and art galleries.

3. Stroll the International Rose Test Garden

Fun fact, Portland is known as the “City of Roses” because its climate is ideal for growing them.

For that reason, one of Portland’s crown jewels is the International Rose Test Garden.

The garden started out during World War I, and has served as a testing ground for new rose varieties ever since.

Today, over 10,000 roses bloom here annually, filling the park with dreamy colors and fragrances.

Keep in mind that to see the garden at its best, you’ll have to visit around mid-summer.

I visited in late May, and none of the roses had actually bloomed yet.

It was still a relaxing place to walk though, a world away from the hustle and bustle of downtown.

And a bonus, admission is completely free.

4. Visit the Portland Japanese Garden

If you’re not visiting during rose season, consider heading to the Portland Japanese Garden.

According to a former Japanese ambassador, it’s “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.”

It’s also right next to the International Rose Test Garden, so you could even see both if you’d like.

If you visit Portland Japanese Garden in March or April, you may be able to catch the cherry blossoms blooming.

5. Try local donuts

At some point, Portland became a destination for donut lovers.

Many say this happened with the meteoric rise of the now-infamous Voodoo Doughnut.

In 2003, Voodoo Doughnut hit the Portland food scene, and has amassed a cult-like following ever since.

With their eccentric donut flavors, dramatic decor, and Instagrammable designs, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone that hasn’t heard of Voodoo.

In fact, the pastry powerhouse now has 13 locations across the US.

On the other hand, Portland houses another popular shop, Blue Star Donuts.

Blue Star boasts the slogan “Donuts for Grownups,” and focuses on the complexity and quality of their donuts.

Using signature brioche dough, they offer flavors like Blueberry Bourbon Basil and Cointreau Creme Brûlée.

Ask any Portlander, and they’ll tell you that Blue Star has better tasting donuts than Voodoo.

Or, if you want to try a true local gem, head to Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai.

6. Explore Forest Park

If you want a nature getaway without leaving the city, head to Forest Park.

This urban wilderness spans over 5,000 acres, with many popular hiking and biking trails.

Some of the park’s trails even connect to Portland highlights, like Pittock Mansion.

If you visit Forest Park, make sure to find the iconic Witch’s Castle, the moss-covered remains of a stone building from the early 1900’s.

7. Visit a museum

If you need a way to spend a rainy day in Portland (there sure are a lot of them!) head to one of the city’s best museums.

The Portland Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the country, housing a wide-ranging collection of art.

The museum has strong collections of Asian, Native American (especially Pacific Coast), European and American art.

If you want to explore Portland’s weird side, check out the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum.

This one-of-a-kind gallery holds exhibits spanning aliens, bigfoot, zombies, the supernatural, and all other kinds of oddities.

With an admission of only $5, it’s well worth spending a quirky afternoon.

8. Find your favorite food cart pod

Although food trucks have taken the world by storm, they’re something special in Portland.

According to CNN Traveler, “With an abundance of fresh and local ingredients, this is a city where street food rivals the finest restaurants.”

In fact, the US Chamber of Commerce named Portland the top food truck-friendly city in America!

What’s first most unique about Portland’s street food scene, is that food trucks are called “food carts” here.

Second, these food carts stay put in collections called “pods.”

These pods are sprinkled throughout Portland, holding anywhere from a handful, to dozens of food carts.

This makes them easy to track down, and offers an awesome way to sample many different types of cuisines.

If you don’t know where to start, check out Cartlandia in southeast Portland.

Cartlandia is a self-described “super pod,” holding over 30 food carts and a full-service bar.

Here, you’ll find mobile versions of Portland staples like Voodoo Doughnut, cuisines spanning 15 different countries, and a family and dog-friendly beer garden.

Find out more about the different pods here: travelportland.com

9. Explore the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the best things to do in Portland, Oregon, because it features some of the state’s best scenery at only a 30-45 minute drive away from town.

For one, this National Scenic Area holds one of Oregon’s most picturesque waterfalls, Multnomah Falls.

The way the cascade frames its stone bridge just looks so dreamy!

You can view the waterfall from the lower viewpoint, which is just a short walk from the parking lot.

Or, you can hike up to the bridge and view the falls from there.

Although, I think you get the best view and pictures from the lower viewpoint.

Nearby, you can also visit the beautiful Latourell Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Each of these waterfalls can be reached by short, easy hikes.

For stunning panoramic views of the gorge from atop a cliff, stop by the historic Vista House.

If you want to get out and explore without needing your own car, I recommend this highly-rated Half-Day Columbia River Gorge and Waterfall Hiking Tour.

Click here to check availability on Viator.

10. Take a day trip

If you have some extra time in your Portland itinerary, you should definitely consider venturing out a little further.

Some of Oregon’s best sights are just a day trip away from Portland.

Silver Falls State Park

Distance from Downtown Portland: 1 hour 10 minutes

Silver Falls State Park is the crown jewel of Oregon’s state parks.

It’s home to the Trail of Ten Falls, which features (you guessed it) ten spectacular waterfalls.

Five of these are over 100 feet tall, and you can walk behind four of them.

The entire loop is almost 10 miles, but there are various options to shorten the route.

Mount Hood

Distance from Downtown Portland: 1 hour 40 minutes

The tallest mountain in Oregon, Mount Hood is an outdoor lovers paradise year round.

In the summer, Mount Hood National Forest offers beautiful alpine hiking with waterfalls, wildflowers, and mountain views.

In the colder months, you can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, and other snow sports.

The mountain has three different ski resorts: Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood Skibowl, and Timberline Lodge & Ski Area.

Make sure to visit the Timberline Lodge, which is a destination in itself.

It’s a National Historic Landmark, and its exterior was even featured in The Shining.

For beautiful views of Mount Hood, head to Mirror Lake or Trillium Lake.

If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a perfect reflection.

Cannon Beach

Distance from Downtown Portland: 1 hour 22 minutes

Cannon Beach is one of my favorite beach towns in America!

If you can squeeze it in, taking a day trip is one of the best things to do in Portland, Oregon.

In fact, National Geographic has named it one of the “World’s 100 Most Beautiful Places.”

The town itself is super cute, featuring a small main street lined with shops and restaurants.

I love how all of the buildings and houses here look like adorable gingerbread houses.

The town’s vibe is quiet and upscale, so it’s a perfect getaway for couples or small families.

The beach itself is expansive, and features the famous Haystack Rock.

Nearby, Ecola State Park offers beautiful hiking and beaches with waterfalls and tide pools.

Posted By: Arabella · In: oregon, travel, usa