For couples · Portland · United States
Romantic things to do in Portland
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jake DeGroot, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Romantic Portland is low-key: gardens and views, wine country, cosy bars and long dinners at small restaurants. Couples tend to stay in Pearl District.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- Pearl District
- Best months
- June–September
Romantic ideas
1.Japanese Garden in autumn
Walk the moss and maple paths in October, then watch the sunset over the city from the Rose Garden below.
2.Willamette Valley wine tasting
Spend a day sampling Pinot Noir at wineries in the Dundee Hills.
3.Sunset at Pittock Mansion
Watch the light fade over downtown and the Cascade volcanoes from the mansion's lawn.
4.Tea at Lan Su
Share a pot of tea in the garden's teahouse overlooking the lake.
5.Gorge drive
Drive the Historic Columbia River Highway to Vista House and the waterfalls on a clear day.
Sights couples love
Garden · Washington Park
International Rose Test Garden
Visit from late May to September for blooms; June is peak.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- Nature
Garden · Washington Park
Portland Japanese Garden
Go early on a weekday, or in October when the maples turn red.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Garden · Downtown
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Stop at the teahouse in the two-storey tower for tea and dumplings overlooking the lake.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Couples
- Nature
- Rainy day
Garden · Eastmoreland
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Peak bloom is usually April and May.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Couples
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, shopping and first-timers
Pearl District
Former rail yards and warehouses north of downtown have become a district of lofts, galleries, design shops and restaurants. Powell's City of Books is on its southern edge, the streetcar runs through it, and Jamison Square's stepped fountain is a summer splash spot for children.
- Good
- Polished, walkable streets; Good restaurants and galleries; Streetcar connections
- Watch out
- Pricier hotels; Less character than the east side
- Nearby
- Powell's City of Books, Jamison Square, Union Station
Romantic day trips
- Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls (About 40 minutes by car) — A dramatic river canyon east of Portland lined with waterfalls; Multnomah Falls drops about 189 metres in two tiers below a stone footbridge.
- Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge (About 1.5 hours by car) — Oregon's highest peak has year-round skiing on its upper slopes and summer hiking through wildflower meadows.
- Cannon Beach (About 1.5 hours by car) — An artsy coastal town beside Haystack Rock, a 72-metre sea stack with tide pools at its base and puffins nesting in late spring and early summer.
- Willamette Valley wine country (About 45–60 minutes by car) — Rolling hills of vineyards around Dundee, Newberg and McMinnville produce Oregon's celebrated Pinot Noir.
- Hood River (About 1 hour by car) — A small town in the Gorge known for windsurfing and kiteboarding on the Columbia, and the Fruit Loop of orchards, farm stands and cideries in the valley below Mount Hood.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Dungeness crab and Pacific seafood. Happy hours are widespread and often include food deals in the late afternoon.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Portland romantic?
Romantic Portland is low-key: gardens and views, wine country, cosy bars and long dinners at small restaurants.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Portland?
Japanese Garden in autumn: Walk the moss and maple paths in October, then watch the sunset over the city from the Rose Garden below.
+Where should couples stay in Portland?
Pearl District: Converted warehouses, galleries, Powell's and the Jamison Square fountain.