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Kam Franklin from the Suffers performs at the Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland’s longest-running music festival held yearly at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Credit: NASHCO Photo
Like the city itself, Portland's attractions are a little unexpected and always inspiring.
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Kam Franklin from the Suffers performs at the Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland’s longest-running music festival held yearly at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Credit: NASHCO Photo
It’s safe to say a visitor will never experience the same Portland twice. The city’s top attractions are constantly evolving, creating exciting pop-ups, debuting new works and hosting events that attract both locals and visitors alike. Read on for our favorite things to do, see and experience in Portland, then check out our events calendar to help you plan your trip.
Questions About Things to Do in Portland
What are the must-see attractions in Portland?
The answer truly depends on your interests; Portland caters to most. If you still can’t decide after perusing this page, check out this article about where to go if it’s your first visit to Portland. Been here a few times? Try our fourth-timers guide.
How can I spend three days in Portland?
This guide to spending 48 hours in Portland includes many of the top attractions in the central city. Use your extra day to visit one of Portland’s many beautiful parks or gardens and explore a Portland neighborhood.
You can also let fate be your guide. Check out our events page to find out what’s going on in Portland when you’re in town or if you’re still planning your trip you can browse events by month. If you want someone else to show you around, make sure your travel plans include a walking tour or biking tour and learn about Portland history, coffee or beer.
What are the best things to eat and drink in Portland?
What are you in the mood for? Portland’s local food scene includes hundreds of food carts representing cuisines from around the world, James Beard award-winning restaurants and plenty of options for diners with dietary restrictions.
As for beverages, Portland is well known for its coffee, but there are also teahouses scattered throughout the city. Most people know Portland’s reputation for craft beer but may not know Oregon is one of the top wine-producing states. There’s also a growing craft distillery scene.
I’m planning my first trip to Portland, what should I do?
If you’re a first-time visitor to the City of Roses, check out our guide for a perfect first trip.
Summer in Portland
Hop into Portland's months-long summertime festival season.
More Summer
Portland Rose Festival
Portland Rose Festival features multiple parades, waterfront carnival rides, concerts, races, fireworks and plenty of roses.
Pedalpalooza Bike Festival
Portland’s cycling culture peaks during summer’s multi-week Pedalpalooza, featuring 200+ local-led, themed rides, all open to the public.
My People’s Market Spotlights Local Entrepreneurs of Color
My People’s Market showcases local entrepreneurs and makers of color, connecting them with industry professionals and consumers.
Summer in Portland
In the summertime, Portland pulls out all the stops, with festivals celebrating craft beer, music, contemporary art and the city’s culinary scene.
Read More
The Top 10 Things to Do in Portland
Traveler favorites and quintessentially Portland attractions
Accessible Portland
Discover wheelchair-accessible and sensory-friendly attractions and activities in Portland, Oregon.
Read More
Upcoming Events in Portland
No matter when you visit, there's always something fun to see and do in Portland.
SEE EVENTS CALENDAR
Editor's Pick
May 11–June 11, 2024
Bloom Tour
Downtown Portland and Old TownFree
The Bloom Tour is part walking tour and part floral show focusing on supporting some of Portland’s unique shops…
Editor's Pick
Art & Design, Shopping
Editor's Pick
Ongoing
Pedalpalooza
Multiple locationsFree
Portland's cycling culture peaks during summer's multi-week Pedalpalooza, featuring 200+ local-led, themed rides…
Editor's Pick
Outdoors
Editor's Pick
May 24–June 9, 2024
Rose Festival CityFair
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Considered the "hub" of the annual Portland Rose Festival, CityFair fills Waterfront Park with carnival rides…
Editor's Pick
Festival, Outdoors, Portland Rose Festival
Editor's Pick
June 4–July 30, 2024
Noon Tunes Summer Concert Series
Pioneer Courthouse SquareFree
Noon Tunes Summer Concert Series Presented by 101.9 KINK: The Noon Tunes Summer Concert Series returns on Tuesdays…
Editor's Pick
Music, Outdoors
Tax-Free Shopping
Enjoy big-box and indie shopping in the Rose City — all without any sales tax.
Go To Shopping
Portland's Gorgeous Gardens
Bask in an abundance of color during the change of seasons.
Leach Botanical Garden
Walk through verdant treetops and breathe in the scent of a four-season pollinator garden in this urban oasis in SE Portland.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
Round out your floral explorations of the Rose City with a visit to Southeast Portland’s lush Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The park boasts more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, with blooms from late February -June.
The Grotto
This serene woodland sanctuary in Northeast Portland features 62 acres (25 hectares) of lush botanical gardens. No matter what time of year you visit, the Grotto offers calm, peace and introspection, transcending boundaries.
Portland is full of landmarks and attractions where you can learn about the city’s history and culture.
Read More
Date Night Ideas
Plan a magical evening with your special someone, from romantic restaurants to booze-free fun.
More Portland Nightlife
Date Night Ideas in Portland
Planning a romantic evening in Portland? We have date night ideas, activities and adventures for couples who love sports, the arts, the outdoors and more.
Restaurants With a View
Whether atop the city’s tallest buildings or nestled next to a river, these Portland restaurants with a view offer a feast for the eyes (as well as the appetite).
Portland’s Signature co*cktails
Portland is home to expert mixologists and one of America’s most vibrant craft co*cktail scenes — sip your way through the city’s signature drinks.
Top 5
Food Cart Scene
Portland is home to hundreds of food carts and food cart pods, including these five favorites.
Cartopia Food Cart Pod
The Cartopia pod is home to a wide variety of food carts and a covered, heated seating area. Most carts are lively late into the night, staying open until midnight Tuesday to Thursday and even later on the weekends.
Portland State University Food Cart Pod
Located on the south end of the Portland State University campus, this food cart pod offers cuisines from around the world. For seating, head to the shady, tree-lined South Park Blocks nearby.
Rose City Food Park
Rose City Food Park is a food cart pod that features covered, heated seating; a family-friendly, dog-friendly, bike-friendly atmosphere; a beer garden and more.
Third Avenue Food Cart Pod
With plentiful riverfront seating at nearby Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, these longtime downtown food carts are a lunchtime favorite, offering cuisine from Mexico, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam and more.
Prost Marketplace
This long-standing food cart pod is adjacent to Prost! and beloved by everyone from locals to Condé Nast writers.
Top Family-Friendly Attractions
Enjoy hands-on science at OMSI, elephants at the zoo, indoor activities for kids and more.
More Family-Friendly Things to Do
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
With interactive science labs, a planetarium, a giant-screen theater, a retired navy submarine, traveling exhibits and “After Dark” events, OMSI lures all ages.
Oregon Zoo
Located just minutes from downtown Portland, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, including elephants, polar bears, rare condors and more.
Kid-Friendly Regional Attractions
Trips outside the city promise all-ages entertainment. Here are four must-see attractions within two hours of downtown Portland.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Find the best things to do based on your interests.
Keepin' It Weird
A round-up of Portland’s eccentric events and attractions.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Umbrella Optional
5 Fun Things to Do When It Rains
Don't a little "liquid sunshine" stop you from enjoying Portland.
Pioneer Place
This shopping center occupies four city blocks in the heart of downtown Portland, offering tax-free shopping at over 100 stores, an expansive food court, bars and a movie theater.
Powell’s City of Books
From humble storefront beginnings in 1971, Powell’s has grown into an iconic Portland destination. Occupying an entire city block, the world’s largest new and used bookstore offers frequent author talks, a rare book room and a coffee shop.
OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)
OMSI’s five enormous halls bring science to life with hundreds of interactive exhibits and displays. You can experience live lab demonstrations, see a movie on a four-story-tall screen, explore the stars in a planetarium and even tour a submarine.
Portland Art Museum
The renowned Portland Art Museum is the oldest museum in the Pacific Northwest. Located in the heart of downtown’s Cultural District, the museum’s campus includes an outdoor sculpture court, permanent galleries and special exhibitions.
Cinema 21
Originally a single-screen theater and now a three-screen multiplex, Cinema 21 specializes in art-house, foreign and classic films and serves beer, wine and pizza along with concessions classics.
Free and Cheap Things to Do in Portland
Some of the best things to do in Portland are totally free. Connect with nature, discover local artists or learn something new.
Cheap Thrills
