Things to Do in Portland
Rose gardens, a giant bookstore, food carts and a forest inside the city limits.
See top-rated activities »About Portland
Portland sits where the Willamette River meets the Columbia, with Mount Hood on the eastern horizon on clear days. It is a compact, walkable city of a dozen bridges, small blocks and neighborhoods with their own main streets, and it has a reputation for coffee roasters, craft breweries and food carts that is well earned. Downtown, Tom McCall Waterfront Park runs along the river, and Portland Saturday Market, a large open-air crafts market, sets up under the Burnside Bridge on weekends for much of the year.
Powell's City of Books fills an entire city block on the edge of the Pearl District, with new and used books shelved together in color-coded rooms; plan to lose an hour or two. Nearby, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a walled Suzhou-style garden built by artisans from Portland's sister city, with a teahouse overlooking its pond. Across the river, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has hands-on exhibits and a retired submarine you can tour.
In the West Hills, Washington Park gathers several of the city's best sights. The International Rose Test Garden, with thousands of rose bushes, gave Portland its nickname, the City of Roses, and the Portland Japanese Garden above it is often counted among the finest outside Japan. The Oregon Zoo and Hoyt Arboretum are next door, and the Pittock Mansion, a 1914 French Renaissance house, has one of the best views of the city and the Cascade volcanoes. Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the country, stretches north from here with more than 80 miles of trails, including the popular Wildwood Trail.
Don’t Miss
A huge independent bookstore of new and used titles that fills a city block.
Thousands of rose bushes in terraced beds with views of the city, free to visit.
Several garden styles, a cultural village and a teahouse on a hillside above the rose garden.
A walled Ming dynasty-style garden with pavilions, a lake and a teahouse.
A 1914 mansion with original rooms and a lawn overlooking Portland and Mount Hood.
Hands-on science halls, a planetarium and the USS Blueback submarine on the Willamette.
An open-air market of local crafts and food booths on weekends for much of the year.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Portland
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Best of Oregon may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Plan your time in Portland
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Get free trip quotes »Portland — FAQ
How many days should I spend in Portland?
Two or three days covers the main sights in the city, Washington Park and a few food cart pods and neighborhoods. Add a day for the Columbia River Gorge and another for Mount Hood or the wine country.
Do I need a car in Portland?
Not in the city. MAX light rail runs from the airport to downtown, and streetcars, buses and bike share cover most neighborhoods. A car is useful for the Gorge, the coast and the wine country.
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