Things to do in Portland, Oregon
June through September is Portland at its best: warm, dry, sunny days perfect for gardens, trails, and patios. The rest of the year (October through May) is mild but persistently gray and wet, so pack rain gear.
Best months: June, July, August, September
What is worth your time in Portland, Oregon
Powell's City of BooksDo not miss
The largest independent new-and-used bookstore in the world, a full city block of color-coded rooms you can browse for hours.
Landmark · 1.5 hr4.9
International Rose Test GardenDo not miss
Portland's namesake garden, over 10,000 rose bushes terraced into Washington Park with a sweeping view of the city and Mount Hood.
Park · 1.1 hr4.8
Lan Su Chinese GardenDo not miss
A walled Ming-dynasty-style garden built by Suzhou artisans, a tranquil pond, pavilions, and a teahouse hidden in Old Town.
Park · 1.5 hr4.7
Pittock MansionDo not miss
A 1914 French Renaissance chateau on a 1,000-foot hilltop with the single best panorama of Portland and the Cascade volcanoes.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.7
Washington ParkDo not miss
A vast forested hillside park gathering the Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Arboretum, and Zoo, threaded by trails and a free shuttle.
Park · 2.8 hr4.7
Portland Art MuseumDo not miss
The oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, strong in Native American art, Northwest modernism, and traveling blockbusters.
Museum · 2.3 hr4.6
Portland Japanese GardenDo not miss
Widely considered the finest Japanese garden outside Japan, eight serene styles of garden with a Mount Hood view from the terrace.
Park · 2 hr4.6
Tom McCall Waterfront ParkDo not miss
A green mile along the Willamette where a freeway once ran, now host to festivals, cherry blossoms, and skyline-and-bridge views.
Park · 1.1 hr4.5
Pioneer Courthouse SquareDo not miss
Portland's brick-paved living room at the heart of downtown, a gathering place for festivals, markets, and people-watching.
Landmark · 45 min4.4
Forest ParkDo not miss
One of the largest urban forests in the country, 5,200 acres of fern-lined trails minutes from downtown, including the famous Wildwood Trail.
Nature · 2.8 hr
Hoyt Arboretum
A living tree museum on 190 forested acres in Washington Park, 12 miles of trails through redwoods and global conifers.
Park · 1.8 hr4.9
Lone Fir Cemetery
Portland's oldest cemetery, a quiet arboretum of towering trees and 19th-century pioneer headstones in Southeast.
Historic Site · 53 min4.9
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
A spring-fed lake garden ablaze with rhododendrons and azaleas, ringed by waterfowl and shaded paths in Southeast.
Park · 1.1 hr4.8
Mount Tabor Park
A dormant volcanic cinder cone turned park, climb forested paths to a reservoir overlook with a downtown-and-sunset view.
Viewpoint · 1.4 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Oregon has no sales tax, so the price on the tag is the price you pay.
- The downtown core, Pearl District, and many neighborhoods are flat and very walkable; the MAX light rail and streetcar cover the rest car-free.
- Expect rain October through May; a waterproof jacket beats an umbrella in Portland's wind-driven drizzle.
- Tipping is standard: 18 to 20 percent at restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars and food carts.
- Many of the best meals are at outdoor food cart pods; bring cash as backup and check seasonal hours.