Discover the Best Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

Portland OR The City of Roses, and Relax in a deservingly hip city that combines outdoor fun and unspeakably good food. This Town Never Ceases to Amaze Whether you are a first-timer or long-time resident, this town will always be a surprise. In this complete guide you will see all key tourist attractions, supplemented by a few nice details from Portland that make the city distinguish from many others.

Fun Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

Finally, families and the curious will appreciate the Portland Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) with some fantastic hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and a top-notch IMAX theatre. MTSetIt combines fun with learning.

Must-Experience

• The Turbine Hall T
• he Planetarium shows 
• USS Blueback Submarine Tour

Voodoo Doughnut

For a good quirky snack, you may want to check out Voodoo Doughnut. Classic still-doing-it-better-than-anybody-else donut shop with off-the-wall and clever flavours and names that are a must try for food nerds like us.

Popular Choices

• The Bacon Maple Bar 
• The Voodoo Doll doughnut 
• The Portland Cream

Exploring Portland’s Iconic Landmarks

The International Rose Test Garden

The International Rose Test Garden is an oasis for garden lovers right in Washington Park. Marina Gardens’ buff blooming pathways feature 10,000 rose bushes including 650 cultivars, making a sweet and colourful respite from the urban grind. With panoramic views of downtown Portland and Mount Hood, the garden is also a popular location for photographers.

Pro Tip for Visiting

Late June, when the roses are at their peak. Not only is the light better for photos in the morning, but there are also a lot fewer people.

Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is the most authentic Japanese garden in any city outside of Japan, promoting a bond of friendship between Portland and her sister city Sapporo focusing on peace and beauty. Japanese garden featuring koi-filled pond & views of Mount Hood. Ideal for tranquil walks in the woods, this spot is a woodland escape.

What to See

• The Sand and Stone Garden 
• The Flat Garden 
• The Strolling Pond Garden

Enjoying Portland’s Food and Drink Scene

Best Food Carts in PortlandPortland, Oregon is food cart mecca. From gourmet burgers to exotic international eats, these mobile eateries have it all. Portland has plenty of food cart pods all over the city making it easy to try out different foo at a single stop.

Top Food Cart Pods

• Cartopia 
• Hawthorne Asylum 
• The Portland Mercado

Craft Breweries and Distilleries

Everyone knows that Portland = beer. Portland has more than 75 breweries within city limits, more than any other city in the U.S., and a growing craft distillery movement that crafts unique spirits and tasting opportunities.

Must-Visit Breweries and Distilleries

• Deschutes Brewery 
• Breakside Brewery 
• Westward Whiskey

Embracing Portland’s Natural Beauty

Forest Park

That means plenty of hiking, running, and biking in the 80-plus miles of trails inside what’s officially one of the country’s largest urban forests: Forest Park. The jungle is a wildlife sanctuary zone and for the lovers of the wild, there are different locales to be visited inside of the Sanctuary – it is an asylum for the nature darlings to get away inside the nature, not to make tracks in an opposite direction from it.

Popular Trails

• Wildwood Trail
• Maple Trail Loop
• Lower Macleay Trail

The Columbia River Gorge

Away from Portland, The Columbia River Gorge is a breathtaking natural wonder of stunning views, waterfalls to beautify hikes. The tallest and most photographed waterfall in Oregon — short of resisting the urge to stop and take selfies in front of Multnomah Falls.

Key Attractions

• Multnomah Falls
• Horsetail Falls
• Eagle Creek Trail

Indulging in Portland’s Festivals and Events

Portland Rose Festival

The Portland Rose Festival is a colourful celebration of one of Portland’s most incredible natural resources, our Rose Gardens. The normal running of the event involves a series of parades, city fair rides, and lots of family friendly activities that are usually held annually in May or June.

Festival Highlights

• The Grand Floral Parade
• CityFair at Tom McCall Waterfront Park
• Dragon Boat Races

Portland Saturday Market

Portland Saturday Market: Every weekend, March to December on the waterfront, this self-described largest continuously operated outdoor market in the country. Crafts you won’t see anywhere else, music and food. Great place. 

What to Explore

• Artisan booths
• Food vendors
• Live entertainment

Exploring Portland’s Parks and Gardens

Washington Park is the most popular place to visit in portland. There are also bigger features including paths and group picnic areas, playgrounds, as well as a nature playscape.

Key Attractions in Washington Park

• The Oregon Zoo
• Hoyt Arboretum
• The World Forestry Center

Lan Su Chinese Garden

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is a classical urban Chinese garden whose feeling of tranquillity amidst the rush of the city has made it an oasis and a little piece of paradise in the heart of Portland, featuring delicate pavilions with decorative eaves, stone footpaths, flourishing pools filled with colourful koi, and beds filled with happy plantings. It has a very peaceful place for thinking and to relax.

Highlights of Lan Su Chinese Garden

• The Teahouse
• Lake Zither
• The Scholar’s Courtyard

FAQs

Q1: When to visit Portland? 

THE TIME TO VISIT: Meanwhile, the ideal time to visit PORTLAND Is late spring (May and June) or early fall (September and October)—temperate months throughout the city often means there is a festival around the corner. Portland: 

Q2: Is Portland an outdoor city? 

Absolutely! It offers endless outdoor activities, like hiking through Forest Park, biking along scenic route bike paths and kayaking on the Willamette. 

Q3: How does one get the true flavour of Portland through its food? 

To dive into Portland’s food culture, you can hit one of its many food cart pods, check out its craft beer scene or visit a variety of its international restaurants. 

Q4: What sets Portland, Oregon Apart?

Portland is a special city with a mixture of urban & natural attractions, a dedication to sustainability, a wonderful arts and cultural scene, and an easygoing, friendly environment.

Conclusion

If instead you would like to know a beautiful city for its nature, then of course visit the also impeccable-Portland, which varies this beauty of being worldly and with the spirit racist by nature. Home to iconic sites and dynamic neighbourhoods, a flourishing public art scene and the edible bounty of a city known by its locally sourced cuisine, Portland has something for everyone. A serene Japanese garden, craft beer pilot house or a picturesque bike ride are all quintessential Portland offerings.

Read our more blogs:)