Portland: what's actually worth it
Portland’s identity is rooted in its early 20th-century rejection of streetcars, a decision that forced the city to embrace automobiles and sprawl, shaping its unique car-centric layout today. Yet, despite this infrastructure, the soul of Portland feels intimately human, defined by a quiet, creative resilience where neighbors know each other on tree-lined streets. It is now a vibrant hub for independent coffee roasters and craft breweries, inviting you to slow down and savor the local flavor amidst the ever-present mist.
Top things to do in Portland
Washington Park
Park · ★ 4.7 (17,039 reviews)
Huge park with varied attractions including zoo, rose garden, Japanese garden & 12 miles of trails.
Check tours & tickets →International Rose Test Garden
Garden · ★ 4.8 (9,719 reviews)
City-maintained rose test gardens founded in 1917, featuring 10,000+ plants in manicured displays.
Check tours & tickets →Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Museum · ★ 4.8 (7,050 reviews)
Home to several historic aircraft, including the world's largest, plus a water park & 3D theater.
Check tours & tickets →Pittock Mansion
Museum · ★ 4.7 (8,384 reviews)
23-room mansion from 1914 now a museum, featuring gardens, period furnishings & scenic views.
Check tours & tickets →OMSI
Museum · ★ 4.5 (10,437 reviews)
Rotating shows, science labs, submarine tours & planetarium at a museum with monthly 21+ events.
Check tours & tickets →Portland Japanese Garden
Garden · ★ 4.6 (8,219 reviews)
Many styles of gardens showcased in serene 5.5-acre space with waterfall, teahouse & mountain view.
Check tours & tickets →Portland Art Museum
Art museum · ★ 4.6 (6,438 reviews)
Collection of Asian, American, Native American & European art, plus touring shows & film screenings.
Check tours & tickets →Oaks Amusement Park
Amusement Park · ★ 4.4 (7,606 reviews)
Family-oriented, circa-1905 amusement park offering wooden skating rink, mini-golf & picnic grounds.
Check tours & tickets →Forest Park
Park · ★ 4.8 (3,512 reviews)
5,000+-acre wooded area with trails for hiking, biking & bird-watching, including a 30-mile route.
Check tours & tickets →Where to eat
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine | Pearl District
Restaurant · ★ 4.9 (9,494 reviews)
Website →Voodoo Doughnut
Donut Shop · ★ 4.4 (19,604 reviews)
This counter-serve bakeshop serves creative donuts in colorful, quirky environs.
Website →Screen Door Eastside
American Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (7,718 reviews)
Refined Southern specialties like buttermilk-fried chicken in roomy digs offering weekend brunch.
Website →Mother's Bistro & Bar
Family Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (5,527 reviews)
Homey cafe & bar with country-chic decor & chandeliers specializes in hearty comfort-food classics.
Website →Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen
Vietnamese Restaurant · ★ 4.4 (6,830 reviews)
Bustling counter-serve restaurant in a stylish setting serving pho, banh mi & other Vietnamese fare.
Website →Andina
Peruvian Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,572 reviews)
Upscale Peruvian tapas & entrees, plus regional cocktails, presented in a warm, bustling room.
Website →Huber's Cafe
American Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,357 reviews)
American eatery with clubby bar, founded in 1879, is known for roast turkey & Spanish coffee.
Website →¿Por Qué No?
Mexican Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,283 reviews)
Small outpost drawing crowds for tacos & other Mexican basics made with a nod to sustainability.
Website →Tours worth booking ahead
Portland Spirit Cruises and Events
Event Venue · ★ 4.4 (1,050 reviews)
Lunch & dinner cruising around the Portland waterways with booking for couples or large groups.
Check tours & tickets →Director Park
City Park · ★ 4.4 (984 reviews)
A popular lunch spot, this lively urban plaza offers a giant chess game, seating areas & a fountain.
Check tours & tickets →Clever Cycles Bike & Ebike Store
Bicycle Shop · ★ 4.9 (416 reviews)
Roomy retailer specializing in folding, family transit & cargo bicycles plus apparel & accessories.
Check tours & tickets →Get outside
Forest Park
Park · ★ 4.8 (3,512 reviews)
5,000+-acre wooded area with trails for hiking, biking & bird-watching, including a 30-mile route.
Website →Powell Butte Nature Park
Park · ★ 4.7 (3,578 reviews)
Family-friendly natural area with plenty of hiking, biking & equestrian trails among scenic vistas.
Website →Tryon Creek State Natural Area
State Park · ★ 4.8 (2,697 reviews)
658-acre forested area along a ravine with well-maintained trails for hikers, horses & leashed dogs.
Website →Rooster Rock State Park
State Park · ★ 4.6 (3,083 reviews)
Riverside park with a 200-ft. stone pinnacle, trails & 2 beaches, 1 of them clothing-optional.
Website →Rocky Butte Natural Area
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.6 (2,732 reviews)
Out-of-the-way option for relaxing on the grass amid sweeping views of the city, airport & river.
Website →After dark
Raven's Manor
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.7 (1,627 reviews)
Eerie destination with a supernatural motif offering creative cocktails & hearty meals.
Website →The Alibi Tiki Lounge
Bar · ★ 4.2 (2,536 reviews)
Long-lived tiki bar with island-themed murals, tropical cocktails & nightly high-energy karaoke.
Website →Teardrop Lounge
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.6 (1,203 reviews)
Classic & inventive cocktails with top-shelf spirits by talented mixologists in a chic, buzzy space.
Website →District Nightclub
Bar · ★ 4.7 (803 reviews)
Chic lounge with a Roaring '20s vibe, craft cocktails & a light fare menu, plus DJs on the weekends.
Website →More guides
Amsterdam Aruba Asheville Athens Atlanta Austin Bali Banff Bangkok Barcelona Berlin Boston Cabo San Lucas Cancún