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City guide · Oregon, USA

Things to do in Portland, Oregon

Food carts, rose gardens, and a gorge full of waterfalls

  • Shopping
  • Sport & Outdoor
  • Museums
  • Sightseeing
  • Nearest airport: PDX, about 6 miles
Portland, Oregon skyline

Start here

Three to see first in Portland, Oregon

Sport & Outdoor
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Timberline Lodge

Free

A hand-built 1937 stone-and-timber lodge on Mount Hood, famous as the filming location for The Shining's exterior.

Shopping
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Powell's City of Books

Free

A city-block-sized independent bookstore with color-coded rooms and a million new and used titles.

Sport & Outdoor
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International Rose Test Garden

Free

Portland's oldest continuously operating public rose garden, with skyline and Mount Hood views.

Everything we cover

Everything in Portland, Oregon, on the map

Filter by the kind of day you want. Tap a card to open the place, or a dot on the map to find it in the list.

Shopping
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Powell's City of Books

Free

A city-block-sized independent bookstore with color-coded rooms and a million new and used titles.

Sport & Outdoor
Iconic

International Rose Test Garden

Free

Portland's oldest continuously operating public rose garden, with skyline and Mount Hood views.

Sport & Outdoor
Date Night

Portland Japanese Garden

Under $25

A meticulously tended traditional Japanese garden called one of the most authentic outside Japan.

Museums
Family Favorite

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

Under $25

A hands-on science museum on the Willamette riverbank with a planetarium and a retired submarine.

Museums
Rainy-Day Pick

Portland Art Museum

$25–$50

The Pacific Northwest's oldest art museum, spanning Native American art to contemporary photography.

Sightseeing
History Buff

Pittock Mansion

Under $25

A hilltop 1914 chateau-style mansion with sweeping views of Portland and, on clear days, five Cascade peaks.

Sport & Outdoor
Family Favorite

Oregon Zoo

$25–$50

A hillside zoo in Washington Park known for its elephants and a summer concert series.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Multnomah Falls

Free

Oregon's tallest waterfall, a 620-foot two-tiered cascade just off the Columbia River Gorge highway.

Eat & Drink
Quirky Fun

Voodoo Doughnut

Under $25

The original 24-hour doughnut shop behind the bacon-topped maple bar and the pink boxes all over Portland.

Eat & Drink
Foodie Favorite

Portland Food Cart Pods

Under $25

Downtown blocks packed with dozens of independent food carts serving everything from Thai to Halal to Georgian khachapuri.

Shopping
Local Gem

Portland Saturday Market

Free

A sprawling open-air arts and crafts market under the Burnside Bridge, running weekends since 1974.

Sport & Outdoor
Iconic

Timberline Lodge

Free

A hand-built 1937 stone-and-timber lodge on Mount Hood, famous as the filming location for The Shining's exterior.

Attractions
Quirky Fun

Portland Aerial Tram

Under $25

A gondola climbing from the South Waterfront to OHSU's hilltop campus, with skyline and mountain views.

Theatre & Events
Date Night

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

$25–$50

A restored 1928 vaudeville palace downtown, now home to the Oregon Symphony and touring shows.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Columbia River Gorge Waterfall Tour

$50+

A small-group day tour along the Historic Columbia River Highway, stopping at Vista House and a string of waterfalls.

Sightseeing
Outdoor Adventure

Lincoln City

Free

Official visitor guide for Lincoln City, Oregon, covering its beaches, forests and central Oregon Coast attractions.

Museums
Quirky Fun

Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum

Under $25

Hangar museum of still-flying antique planes and still-driving classic cars and motorcycles near Hood River.

Sightseeing
Foodie Favorite

Portland

Free

Oregon's largest city, known for its parks, food and coffee scene, and quick access to the Columbia River Gorge.

Tours
Family Favorite

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad

$25–$50

Heritage train excursions along the Tillamook Coast aboard steam and vintage diesel locomotives.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Klickitat County

Free

The north shore of the Columbia River Gorge, with whitewater, wind sports, hiking and small towns.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Ebike Multnomah Falls

$50+

Self-guided e-bike rentals along the Historic Columbia River Highway past Multnomah Falls and other Gorge waterfalls.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Newberg

Free

Gateway to Oregon's Willamette Valley wine country, with over 100 wineries, a walkable downtown and a historic Hoover home.

Museums
History Buff

Columbia River Maritime Museum

Under $25

Oregon's official maritime museum on the Astoria waterfront, with a historic lightship and exhibits on the treacherous Columbia River Bar.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Mt. Hood Territory

Free

Official tourism office for Clackamas County, Oregon, branded Mt. Hood Territory, covering the region's rivers, waterfalls and trails.

Tours
Date Night

Portland Spirit

$25–$50

Willamette River sightseeing and dining cruises departing downtown Portland year round.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Vancouver, Washington

Free

Washington city on the Columbia River across from Portland, promoted by Visit Vancouver WA for leisure and event travel.

Tours
Quirky Fun

Envi Adventures

$50+

Scenic airplane tours over the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood and Portland from Troutdale, Oregon.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Tualatin Valley

Free

Oregon wine and farm country west of Portland, covering Washington County's towns, trails and vineyards.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

The Dalles

Free

Columbia River Gorge town whose chamber of commerce also runs the official visitor center.

Attractions
Local Gem

Swan Island Dahlias

Free

A nearly 50-acre dahlia farm near Portland with hundreds of varieties and a late-summer flower festival.

Museums
History Buff

Oregon Historical Society

Under $25

A downtown Portland museum with three floors of exhibits and more than 85,000 artifacts spanning Oregon history.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Portland Rose Balloons

$50+

Family-run sunrise hot air balloon flights over Oregon's Willamette Valley near Portland.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Corvallis

Free

Official visitor site for Corvallis, Oregon, in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country.

Eat & Drink
Date Night

Willamette Valley Vineyards

$25–$50

An Oregon estate winery near Salem with a tasting room, lookout tower, and Pinot Noir focused wine flights.

Museums
History Buff

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

Under $25

Interactive history museum marking the historic end point of the Oregon Trail with pioneer exhibits and covered wagons.

Museums
Quirky Fun

North American Bigfoot Center

Under $25

Quirky museum devoted to Bigfoot research and lore, curated by a Finding Bigfoot investigator.

Shopping
Local Gem

Fiber Rhythm Craft & Design

Free

Shop a friendly Portland yarn and fiber arts store stocked for knitting, weaving, and felting.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Gresham

Free

Explore Gresham, Oregon, a gateway city near Mt. Hood and the Columbia Gorge with local shops and parks.

Sport & Outdoor
History Buff

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Under $25

Walk an authentic walled Suzhou style garden in Portland's Old Town with a pond and teahouse.

Nightlife
Quirky Fun

The Sandy Jug

Under $25

A Portland landmark bar inside a 1928 jug-shaped building, serving cocktails and burgers late into the night.

Tours
Foodie Favorite

Third Wave Coffee Tours

$25–$50

A guided walking tour through Portland's specialty coffee scene, sampling brews at five local cafes.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Wildwood Adventures

$50+

Small-group van tours from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood and the Oregon coast.

Museums
Family Favorite

World Forestry Center

Under $25

An interactive Portland museum in Washington Park teaching visitors about forests and sustainable forestry.

Sightseeing
Foodie Favorite

Willamette Valley

Free

Oregon's noted Pinot Noir wine region, mapped and promoted by the Willamette Valley Wineries Association's touring guide.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Downtown Camas

Free

A nonprofit merchants association promoting shopping, dining and events in historic downtown Camas, Washington.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Skamania Lodge Zip Line Tour

$50+

Guided zip line and aerial adventure course with seven lines and sky bridges above the Columbia River Gorge.

Sport & Outdoor
Family Favorite

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Under $25

Walk more than 40 acres of blooming tulip fields at Oregon's largest spring festival, with wine tasting and a farm market.

Attractions
Family Favorite

Albany Historic Carousel and Museum

Free

Hand-carved carousel with more than 40 animals on a restored 1909 mechanism, plus a small carving museum in downtown Albany.

Shopping
Local Gem

Gallery Calapooia

Free

Artist-run cooperative gallery in downtown Albany selling paintings, ceramics, jewelry and fiber art.

Tours
Family Favorite

Mount Hood Railroad

$25–$50

A century-old scenic train line running narrated excursions through the Hood River Valley beneath Mt. Hood.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Always Catchin Fishing Charters

$50+

Licensed guide service running salmon, steelhead and sturgeon fishing trips on the Columbia River.

Sightseeing
Outdoor Adventure

Cascade Locks

Free

Columbia River Gorge town known for the Bridge of the Gods, Bonneville Dam and river tours.

Sport & Outdoor
Family Favorite

Hood River Fruit Loop

Free

Self-guided 35-mile driving loop through Hood River Valley farm stands, orchards, wineries and cideries.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Portland Rafting Company

$50+

Small, owner-operated whitewater rafting outfitter running White Salmon River trips near Hood River.

Attractions
Family Favorite

Bonneville Lock and Dam

Free

Free Columbia River dam site with visitor centers, fish ladders and underwater salmon viewing near Cascade Locks.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Wet Planet Whitewater

$50+

Guided whitewater rafting and kayaking outfitter on the White Salmon River near Hood River.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys

$50+

Multi-generation whitewater rafting outfitter on the White Salmon and Klickitat rivers, also running Northwest Llama Treks.

Museums
History Buff

The Historic Trust

Free

Nonprofit that preserves and offers tours of Vancouver, Washington's historic Officers Row and Providence Academy.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Astoria-Warrenton

Free

Chamber of commerce and visitor center for Astoria and Warrenton on the north Oregon coast.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Bike the Gorge

$50+

E-bike and mountain bike rentals with guided and self-guided tours to Columbia River Gorge waterfalls.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Cannon Beach

Free

Chamber of commerce and visitor center for the artist beach town of Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Attractions
Family Favorite

Captain Kid Amusement Park

Under $25

Family-owned outdoor amusement park in Seaside with go karts, mini golf and a small roller coaster.

Attractions
Family Favorite

Cedar Creek Alpacas

Free

Family alpaca farm in the Columbia River Gorge offering free tours and a fiber boutique.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Columbia River Outdoors

$50+

Whitewater rafting outfitter running guided trips on the White Salmon and Klickitat rivers.

Sport & Outdoor
Family Favorite

Draper Girls Country Farm

Under $25

Family orchard on the Hood River Fruit Loop with u-pick fruit, a farmstand, goat feeding and hard cider tasting.

Tours
Date Night

Gorge Sail Ventures

$50+

Private two-hour sailing charters on the Columbia River Gorge aboard a 34-foot yacht from Hood River Marina.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Hood River

Free

Official tourism bureau for Hood River, Oregon, with guides to Gorge wineries, outdoor recreation and dining.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Martin's Gorge Tours

$50+

Guided wine, waterfall and hiking tours of the Columbia River Gorge, based in Stevenson, Washington.

Sightseeing
Family Favorite

Seaside

Free

Official visitor bureau for the Oregon Coast town of Seaside, home to the historic beachfront Promenade.

Shopping
Quirky Fun

2Cs Vendor Mall

Free

Three-story antique mall in Saint Helens with more than 70 vendors of vintage furniture, collectibles and crafts.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Garibaldi Charters

$50+

Family-owned deep sea and bottom fishing charters out of the Oregon coast port of Garibaldi.

Sightseeing
Foodie Favorite

Tillamook

Free

Oregon coast town and gateway to the North Coast Food Trail, promoted through its area chamber of commerce.

Museums
History Buff

Powerland Heritage Park

Under $25

A 62-acre heritage park of 15 volunteer-run museums covering antique tractors, trucks, logging gear and steam power.

Sightseeing
Foodie Favorite

Oregon Cheese Trail

Free

Self-guided road-trip trail connecting Oregon's artisan creameries and cheesemakers for tastings and tours.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Southern Oregon Coast

Free

Oregon coastal region from Coos Bay to the California border, with state parks and small beach towns.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Travel Salem Visitor Center

Free

Oregon's official welcome center in the state capital, with free travel counseling, maps and statewide visitor guides.

Tours
Family Favorite

Gray Line of Portland

$25–$50

Hop-on hop-off pink trolley tours of Portland plus seasonal day trips along the Columbia River Gorge waterfall corridor.

Tours
Local Gem

Creo Chocolate

$25–$50

Bean to bar chocolate factory tours and tasting bar in Portland's Lloyd district.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance

Free

Regional tourism office promoting scenic drives, waterfalls and food trails across the Columbia River Gorge.

Sport & Outdoor
Family Favorite

Washington Park

Free

A 410-acre Portland park home to the Oregon Zoo, Japanese Garden, Rose Test Garden and miles of trails.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Around Portland Tours

$25–$50

Guided walking, biking and hiking tours around Portland covering parks, bridges, food carts and city history.

Sightseeing
Local Gem

Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center

Free

Troutdale's official visitor center inside the historic rail depot, with information on the Trout Route river shuttle and Gorge-area sights.

Museums
History Buff

Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

Under $25

Portland's Jewish history museum and Holocaust education center, the only Jewish museum in the Pacific Northwest.

Tours
Foodie Favorite

Portland By Mouth

$50+

Guided walking food tours through Portland neighborhoods, sampling local restaurants, markets and food carts.

Attractions
Quirky Fun

Hopscotch Portland

Under $25

A 23,000 square foot immersive art gallery with 14 interactive installations in a former hardware store.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Skamania County

Free

Washington county on the Columbia River Gorge known for waterfalls, hiking trails and scenic byways near Stevenson.

Museums
History Buff

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

Under $25

Interpretive museum on the Columbia River Gorge covering the region's geology, Native American culture and Oregon Trail history.

Shopping
Local Gem

Betsy & Iya

Free

A Portland jewelry studio and shop making ethically sourced wedding rings and handcrafted fine jewelry.

Museums
Quirky Fun

Skeleton Key Odditorium

Under $25

An oddity museum and curiosity shop showcasing macabre antiques, sideshow history and gothic art in downtown Portland.

Sport & Outdoor
Family Favorite

Packer Orchards

Under $25

A fourth-generation family farm near Hood River with u-pick fruit, a farm market bakery and seasonal family events.

Museums
Local Gem

Cascade Locks Historical Museum

Free

A volunteer-run riverside museum on the history of the Columbia Gorge locks, railroads and steamboats.

Attractions
Free

Englewood Forest Festival

Free

Free annual arts, music and nature festival held in a historic native oak and fir forest park in Salem.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

Willamette Jetboat Excursions

$25–$50

Narrated jetboat tours on the Willamette River departing from downtown Portland.

Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure

Bungee Masters

$50+

Bungee jump off a 200-foot private bridge over Canyon Creek near Portland, Oregon.

Sport & Outdoor
Local Gem

A Convenient Cycle

Under $25

An inner Southeast Portland bike shop renting, selling and touring bikes since 2009.

Tours
Outdoor Adventure

EcoTours of Oregon

$50+

A Portland tour operator running guided day trips to the Columbia Gorge, Mount Hood, the coast and wine country since 1992.

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About

About Portland, Oregon

Portland does small-scale excellence: blocks of food carts, the country's largest independent bookstore, and rose gardens with volcano views. Half an hour east the Columbia River Gorge stacks waterfall after waterfall, with Mount Hood's slopes just beyond. It is a city built for lingering, then hiking off the pastries.

Plan the day

Three ways to turn this list into a day