Travel guide · United States
Portland travel guide
Food carts, gardens, bookshops and the Columbia Gorge on the doorstep
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Spicypepper999, CC0
Quick answer
Portland, Oregon's largest city, straddles the Willamette River about 100 km inland from the Pacific, with Mount Hood on the eastern horizon. Its compact downtown and the Pearl District hold Powell's City of Books and the riverfront park, while the hills of Washington Park have the Rose Test Garden and the Japanese Garden. Across the river, the east-side neighbourhoods are where most of the city's food carts, breweries, coffee roasters and independent shops are. Oregon has no general sales tax, and the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood and the coast are all within about 90 minutes. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are June–September.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- June–September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- PDX
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$340 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Food carts, Powell's City of Books, Craft beer and Coffee roasters
Why visit Portland
- Powell's City of Books fills a whole city block with new and used books — one of the largest independent bookshops in the world.
- Washington Park combines the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden, the Oregon Zoo and Hoyt Arboretum on one wooded hill.
- Food carts, gathered in 'pods' across the city, serve cuisines from Thai to Georgian at low prices.
- Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge are about 50 km away, and Mount Hood and the Oregon coast are under two hours' drive.
- Oregon has no general sales tax, so shopping prices are what you see on the tag.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Landmark · Pearl District
Powell's City of Books
Powell's occupies a full city block on West Burnside with new and used books shelved side by side in colour-coded rooms.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Garden · Washington Park
International Rose Test Garden
Opened in 1917, this free terraced garden in Washington Park grows more than 10,000 rose bushes of several hundred varieties, tested for new cultivars.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- Nature
Garden · Washington Park
Portland Japanese Garden
Considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan, it has five garden styles, including a sand-and-stone garden and a strolling pond garden, plus a cultural village designed by architect Kengo Kuma.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Experience · Citywide
Food cart pods
Portland has hundreds of food carts, many grouped into pods with shared seating and beer taps.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Kids
- Iconic
Garden · Downtown
Lan Su Chinese Garden
A walled Ming dynasty-style garden built by artisans from Suzhou, Portland's sister city, filling a city block in Old Town Chinatown with pavilions, a lake, rockeries and a teahouse.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Couples
- Nature
- Rainy day
Historic site · Northwest and Nob Hill
Pittock Mansion
Built in 1914 for newspaper publisher Henry Pittock, this French Renaissance-style mansion sits about 300 metres above the city, with period rooms inside and grounds that look out over downtown to Mount Hood, Mount St.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Architecture
Where to stay
Downtown is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Downtown
Hotels, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the riverfront park
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, shopping and first-timers
Pearl District
Converted warehouses, galleries, Powell's and the Jamison Square fountain
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and quiet stays
Northwest and Nob Hill
Victorian houses, boutiques and cafés along NW 23rd Avenue
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Hawthorne and Belmont
Vintage shops, food carts and old theatres in inner Southeast
What to eat
- Food cart meals — Food carts are central to Portland eating: Thai chicken and rice, Mexican tacos, Korean fusion, Georgian cheese bread, Polish pierogi and vegan bowls, usually for less than a sit-down meal.
- Craft doughnuts — Portland is known for doughnuts, from novelty creations covered in cereal or bacon to brioche doughnuts with seasonal glazes like marionberry or blood orange.
- Marionberry pie — The marionberry is a blackberry variety developed at Oregon State University and grown in the Willamette Valley; it is baked into pies, cobblers and jams.
- Craft beer — Portland has dozens of breweries and is a centre of American craft brewing, helped by hops grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
- Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — Oregon's Willamette Valley, south of Portland, is renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and most city wine lists feature them.
- Coffee from local roasters — Portland has a strong third-wave coffee culture, with roasters serving pour-overs and single-origin espresso; Stumptown started here in 1999.
When to go
The best time to visit Portland is from June to September, when it is dry and sunny, the roses are blooming and the Gorge, Mount Hood and the coast are easy to explore. September is often the sweet spot, with warm weather and fewer visitors. From November to March the city is grey and wet, but prices are lower and indoor attractions are uncrowded.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Showers, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons and full-flowing waterfalls; it warms and dries out through May. |
| Summer | June–August | Dry, warm and sunny, with the Rose Festival, outdoor concerts and the busiest season; occasional heat and smoke. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September harvests, autumn colour in October and steady rain by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, grey and wet with occasional snow or ice; quiet and lower-priced, with ski season on Mount Hood. |
Getting there and around
Portland International Airport (PDX) is about 15 km northeast of downtown. The MAX Red Line runs from the terminal to downtown in about 35–40 minutes, and taxis or rideshares take about 20–30 minutes. Oregon's lack of sales tax extends to the airport's shops and restaurants.
Downtown, the Pearl District and the riverfront are walkable, and TriMet's MAX light rail, streetcar and buses connect them to the east-side neighbourhoods. Portland is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US.
Plan your days
Two days covers downtown, the Pearl District, Powell's, Washington Park and an evening on the east side. Four days adds the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood or the Willamette Valley wine country, and a slower look at the neighbourhoods.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and excellent to drink; it comes mainly from the protected Bull Run watershed near Mount Hood.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares; a small tip at food carts and coffee shops is common but optional.
Car break-ins are common, including at trailheads in the Gorge, so leave nothing visible in parked cars. Parts of downtown and Old Town have visible homelessness and drug use; stay on busier streets at night.
Flights to Portland
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Portland?
Two days covers downtown, the Pearl District, Powell's, Washington Park and an evening on the east side. Four days adds the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood or the Willamette Valley wine country, and a slower look at the neighbourhoods. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Portland?
The best time to visit Portland is from June to September, when it is dry and sunny, the roses are blooming and the Gorge, Mount Hood and the coast are easy to explore. September is often the sweet spot, with warm weather and fewer visitors. From November to March the city is grey and wet, but prices are lower and indoor attractions are uncrowded.
+What is Portland known for?
Food carts, Powell's City of Books, Craft beer, Coffee roasters, Rose gardens, Doughnuts and Bridges over the Willamette. Powell's City of Books fills a whole city block with new and used books — one of the largest independent bookshops in the world.
+Is Portland expensive?
Portland is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$340 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Portland?
Not for the city itself, where transit, bikes and walking work well. A car is very helpful for the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, the Oregon coast and the Willamette Valley wineries.