5 days in Portland

Day by day

1. Day 1: Powell's City of Books and Pearl District galleries and First Thursday

   Powell's City of Books, Pearl District galleries and First Thursday and International Rose Test Garden, then Central Eastside in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Powell's City of Books

      Pick up a free store map at the entrance; it is easy to lose an hour in a single room. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Pearl District galleries and First Thursday

      Combine an evening gallery walk with dinner nearby and a browse at Powell's. (2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Food cart meals

      Cart pods in Southeast, North Portland and downtown; carts come and go, so check what is open on the day.

   4. Afternoon

      International Rose Test Garden

      Visit from late May to September for blooms; June is peak. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Central Eastside

      Warehouse bars, distillery tasting rooms and cocktail lounges near the river.

2. Day 2: Portland Japanese Garden and Oregon Zoo

   Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon Zoo and Hoyt Arboretum, then Mississippi and Williams in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Portland Japanese Garden

      Go early on a weekday, or in October when the maples turn red. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Oregon Zoo

      Ride the MAX Red or Blue Line to Washington Park to skip the limited parking. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Craft doughnuts

      Long-established doughnut shops downtown and on the east side; queues build on weekend mornings.

   4. Afternoon

      Hoyt Arboretum

      Start at the visitor centre for a trail map, and walk the short Redwood Trail. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Mississippi and Williams

      Brewpubs, live-music venues and late-night food.

3. Day 3: Food cart pods and Lan Su Chinese Garden

   Food cart pods, Lan Su Chinese Garden and Pittock Mansion, then Downtown and Old Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Food cart pods

      Go with friends and order from several carts to share; most pods have covered seating for rainy days. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Lan Su Chinese Garden

      Stop at the teahouse in the two-storey tower for tea and dumplings overlooking the lake. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Marionberry pie

      Bakeries and diners citywide, and farm stands in summer; marionberry jam is sold everywhere.

   4. Afternoon

      Pittock Mansion

      The grounds and viewpoint are free; you can hike up from Lower Macleay Park on Forest Park's trails. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Downtown and Old Town

      Clubs, LGBTQ+ bars and music venues such as the Crystal Ballroom on West Burnside.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls

   About 40 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car via Interstate 84 or the Historic Columbia River Highway.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls

      About 40 minutes by car (Car via Interstate 84 or the Historic Columbia River Highway); about 50 km.

   2. Day

      Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls

      A dramatic river canyon east of Portland lined with waterfalls; Multnomah Falls drops about 189 metres in two tiers below a stone footbridge. Best for first-timers, families and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Portland

      Dinner: try Craft beer.

5. Day 5: Forest Park and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

   Forest Park, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and Portland Saturday Market, then Southeast Division and Hawthorne in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Forest Park

      For a short taste, walk the Lower Macleay Trail from NW Upshur Street to the Stone House and back. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

      Book the submarine tour on arrival; times are limited. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Craft beer

      Brewpubs in the Pearl, Southeast and North Portland, and taps at most food-cart pods.

   4. Afternoon

      Portland Saturday Market

      Despite the name it runs on Sundays too; check the season dates before planning around it. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Southeast Division and Hawthorne

      Neighbourhood bars, beer halls and cocktail spots.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Portland Japanese Garden before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Downtown keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Pearl District ($$$) suits couples, food lovers, shopping and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 19–26 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.7 hours in December to 15.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Portland
• 2 days in Portland
• 3 days in Portland

Questions travellers ask