Where to stay · Portland · United States
Where to stay in Portland
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: EncMstr, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown. Hotels, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the riverfront park. Best alternatives — budget: Hawthorne and Belmont; nightlife: Mississippi and Williams.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown
- Families
- Downtown
- Budget
- Hawthorne and Belmont
- Nightlife
- Mississippi and Williams
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown | Hotels, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the riverfront park |
| Families | Downtown | Hotels, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the riverfront park |
| Couples | Pearl District | Converted warehouses, galleries, Powell's and the Jamison Square fountain |
| Budget | Hawthorne and Belmont | Vintage shops, food carts and old theatres in inner Southeast |
| Nightlife | Mississippi and Williams | Brewpubs, music venues and food carts in North Portland |
| Food lovers | Pearl District | Converted warehouses, galleries, Powell's and the Jamison Square fountain |
| Solo travellers | Hawthorne and Belmont | Vintage shops, food carts and old theatres in inner Southeast |
| Shopping | Downtown | Hotels, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the riverfront park |
| Quiet stays | Northwest and Nob Hill | Victorian houses, boutiques and cafés along NW 23rd Avenue |
Portland neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Downtown
Downtown is the most convenient base, with hotels around Pioneer Courthouse Square, MAX light rail lines to the airport and the zoo, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette. The Portland Saturday Market sets up by the Burnside Bridge, and the Lan Su Chinese Garden is just north in Old Town.
- Good
- Direct MAX from the airport; Walkable to the Pearl and the river; Wide choice of hotels
- Watch out
- Quiet after office hours; Visible homelessness on some blocks
- Nearby
- Pioneer Courthouse Square, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland Saturday Market, Lan Su Chinese Garden
$$$ · 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
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and quiet stays
Northwest and Nob Hill
Northwest Portland's Nob Hill area centres on NW 23rd and NW 21st Avenues, where Victorian houses hold boutiques, bakeries and restaurants. It is the gateway to Forest Park and the Pittock Mansion, with the streetcar running back to the Pearl and downtown.
- Good
- Pretty residential streets; Close to Forest Park trails; Streetcar to downtown
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Parking is tight
- Nearby
- Forest Park, Pittock Mansion, NW 23rd Avenue
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Hawthorne and Belmont
Hawthorne Boulevard and Belmont Street run east from the river through inner Southeast Portland, lined with vintage and second-hand shops, the Bagdad Theater, bars and food-cart pods. Mount Tabor, a park on an extinct volcanic cinder cone, is at the eastern end.
- Good
- Local feel and good-value food; Lots of independent shops; Frequent buses downtown
- Watch out
- Mostly rentals rather than hotels; A bus or bike ride from the main sights
- Nearby
- Mount Tabor Park, Laurelhurst Park, Division Street
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and culture
Alberta Arts District
Alberta Street in Northeast Portland is lined with murals, galleries, craft shops, ice-cream parlours and restaurants. On the last Thursday of the month in summer, the street hosts Last Thursday, an informal art walk with street performers and vendors.
- Good
- Creative, independent atmosphere; Good restaurants and dessert shops; Quieter than downtown
- Watch out
- Few hotels; About 20 minutes by bus from downtown
- Nearby
- Alberta Street, Mississippi Avenue, Peninsula Park
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Mississippi and Williams
North Mississippi Avenue and nearby North Williams Avenue have brewpubs, restaurants, a long-running salvaged building-materials store and the Mississippi Studios music venue. Many of the city's newer restaurants have opened along Williams.
- Good
- Lively evenings; Good breweries and food carts; Easy bike routes to downtown
- Watch out
- Mostly rentals; Noisy on weekend nights
- Nearby
- Mississippi Studios, Alberta Arts District, Moda Center
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and budget
Central Eastside and Lloyd
Just across the Burnside and Morrison bridges, the Central Eastside's warehouses house distilleries along 'Distillery Row', bars, coffee roasters and restaurants. The Lloyd District to the north has the Convention Center, the Moda Center arena and several large hotels on the MAX line.
- Good
- Walk or ride MAX across the river to downtown; Strong bar and restaurant scene; Lloyd hotels often cheaper
- Watch out
- Industrial feel in places; Busy around conventions and arena events
- Nearby
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Eastbank Esplanade, Oregon Convention Center
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $$$ | Pioneer Courthouse Square, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland Saturday Market, Lan Su Chinese Garden |
| Pearl District | $$$ | Powell's City of Books, Jamison Square, Union Station |
| Northwest and Nob Hill | $$$ | Forest Park, Pittock Mansion, NW 23rd Avenue |
| Hawthorne and Belmont | $$ | Mount Tabor Park, Laurelhurst Park, Division Street |
| Alberta Arts District | $$ | Alberta Street, Mississippi Avenue, Peninsula Park |
| Mississippi and Williams | $$ | Mississippi Studios, Alberta Arts District, Moda Center |
| Central Eastside and Lloyd | $$ | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Eastbank Esplanade, Oregon Convention Center |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Portland for first-time visitors?
Downtown. Downtown is the most convenient base, with hotels around Pioneer Courthouse Square, MAX light rail lines to the airport and the zoo, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the Willamette.
+Where should families stay in Portland?
Downtown: Direct MAX from the airport.
+Which area of Portland is best for a budget stay?
Hawthorne and Belmont ($$): Vintage shops, food carts and old theatres in inner Southeast.