18 Popular Tourist Attractions to See and Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

February 8, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 2208 Views

Portland is a city in the Oregon state of the United States of America. The city sits at the confluence of rivers Columbia and Willamette. The city is surrounded by abundant landscapes including river valleys, mountains, coastal areas, forests, and more. Some of the most fun things to do in Portland, Oregon revolve around exploring nature around the city.

You can bask in the views of Mount Tabor dominating the landscape and explore nature trails in the Forest Park. These places are also popular for a variety of outdoor activities to do in Portland such as hiking, camping, skiing, mountain climbing, and more. If you venture towards Portland beaches you can also enjoy water sports, boat trips, and surfing.

Even within the city limits you can experience different aspects of nature. It is called the “City of Roses” and you will see rose gardens and various species of flowers at several Portland tourist attractions. One of the best places to visit in Portland, Oregon to check out numerous species in one place is the International Rose Test Garden. Aside from this, Portland attractions also include several parks and gardens including the Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Waterfront Park, Trees Museum, Urban forests, and more.

There are also numerous historical and cultural things to see in Portland, Oregon. You can visit house museums, art museums, history museums, churches, and historical buildings. Exploring 19th-century buildings and Victorian architecture is among the top things to do in downtown Portland. The old town area is listed among National Historic Landmarks People can also see one of the largest bookstores in the world during Portland sightseeing.

In terms of the city’s culture, you should experience craft beers and street food at the food trucks when you visit Portland. Many places also host a variety of music and entertainment events that you can enjoy alongside food and beverages.

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Table of Contents

Top 18 Places to Visit in Portland, Oregon in 4 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Here below we already covered all the Top Attractions to visit in Portland, Oregon. But also here I am covering some Top-Rated Tours and Activities to do in Portland. If you are in Portland then you must try to experience below mentioned activities as per your interest.

Day 1

1. Portland Japanese Garden

In the 1950s, Portland became a sister city to Sapporo in Japan. This garden was built in 1967 to celebrate this association. It is one of the best places to visit in Portland, Oregano for leisure. The complex comprises has 5 gardens called Strolling Pond, Tea Garden, Sand Stone Garden, Natural Garden, and Flat Garden. You will see a five-tiered pagoda, moon bridge, waterfalls, ponds, streams, lawns, and several other attractive features. One of the most fun things to do in Portland, Oregon is to attend a cultural festival at these gardens. You will need about an hour to explore this place.

2. International Rose Test Garden

This garden has the oldest rose testing program in the country. You can see more than seven thousand rose plants from 550 varieties. The view of the Cascade Mountains is one of the most beautiful things to see in Portland, Oregon. The complex has a Shakespeare garden, Gold Medal Garden, Amphitheatre, fountains, picnic places, and so on. You need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this garden.

3. Hoyt Arboretum

This garden is considered a museum for trees. You can see more than ten thousand trees from 60 species. One of the biggest Portland tourist attractions is the Dawn Redwood, which became extinct in the west and was brought here from China. You will need about an hour to explore this garden.

4. Pittock Mansion

This house once belonged to newspaper editor and publisher Henry Pittock. It now serves as a house museum dedicated to his life and work. The house also has furniture, artwork, a literature collection, and decor items from different eras. The house is well known among Portland attractions for French Renaissance-style architecture. You will need about an hour to tour this mansion.

5. The Grotto

This outdoor catholic shrine is one of the top things to do in Portland. The shrine sits atop a 33 meters cliff in a cave. In the cave, you will a replica of Michelangelo’s Pieta. This place also has several other Portland tourist spots including the Chapel of Mary, Meditation Chapel, Peace Garden, Servite Friars Monastery, and St. Anne’s Chapel. You will need about 2 hours to explore the Grotto.

Day 2

1. Portland Art Museum

This art museum is the 7th oldest in the country and the oldest in Pacific West. It has a collection of more than 420,000 art pieces featuring creations from Europe, America, and Asia. You will a variety of modern and contemporary art pieces including paintings, graphic art, photographs, film clips, installation art, and more. It is also among the must-do things in Portland for Native American history. The museum has 5,000 artifacts and artworks that represent 200 cultural groups. You will need about 2 hours from Portland sightseeing to tour this museum.

2. Oregon Historical Society Museum

This museum focuses on the history of Oregon state. You will learn about the evolution of natural and human history in the region. It is one of the most fun places to go in Portland for its interactive exhibits and historical experiences. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

3. Portlandia

This iconic statue was inspired by the city’s seal. It was built in 1985 by American sculptor Raymond Kaskey. The statue depicts a woman holding a trident and reaching down toward the onlooker extending her hand. It is one of the most important Portland sites to see in the city. You should take at least a few minutes to take a picture with this lady.

4. Pioneer Courthouse Square

This public square is one of the best things to do in downtown Portland and is considered the heart of the city. This square was voted the world’s 4th best public place. It has outdoor chess boards, an amphitheater, a milepost sign, an Umbrella Man statue, cascading waterfall, and a 10-meter-tall Weather Manwhich. You can easily spend a few minutes watching people and places when you visit Portland.

5. Powell’s City of Books

This store is the headquarters of the bookstore chain and is spread over 1.6 acres, almost an entire city block. This is among the largest new and used bookstores in the world. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Portland even if you are not a bibliophile. The store has nine rooms and 3,500 sections dedicated to different categories of books. You will need about an hour from Portland travel to explore this store.

6. Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Spread over 37 acres, this is one of the top 10 parks in the country. It is known for a variety of outdoor activities to do in Portland as well as for hosting popular events. People come here for Segway trails, skateboarding, jogging, nature trails, picnics, sports, and so on. The park hosts the Portland Rose Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival, Bite of Oregon Festival, and Gay/Lesbian Pride Festival. You can easily spend an hour or so exploring this park.

7. Lan Su Chinese Garden

This garden is part of the Old Town Chinatown and comprises almost entirely indigenous Chinese plants. Many of the flora were imported from China, and some of them are over a century old. The garden also has several structures and curated landscapes that reflect Chinese culture including the Ming Dynasty Garden, Tower of Cosmic Reflection, Lan Sun Summer Garden, Moon Locking Pavilion, and more. It is also one of the best places to go in Portland to see Chinese Year celebrations and other traditional events. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this place.

Day 3

1. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

This museum is dedicated to science, technology, natural sciences, and industrialization. The museum has a planetarium, submarine exhibit, and 5 exhibition halls, each focused on a different branch of science. The museum also has a few cool things to do in Portland such as learning to track hurricanes, see the world from a satellite’s POV, take a VR trip around the city, explore a real submarine, and more. You need 2 to 3 hours to tour this museum.

2. Forest Park

This is one of the largest urban forest reserves in the USA. The park stretches for 13 km overlooking the Willamette River. It is a must-do in Portland for nature lovers. You get beautiful views of creeks and peaks along the hiking trails in the park. It is also blessed with abundant plant, bird, and animal life to keep you delighted. You need at least 3 hours to thoroughly explore this natural escape when you visit Portland.

I suggest you should try a Hiking Tour in Forest Park.

Day 4

1. Oregon Zoo

Established in 1888, this is one of the oldest zoos in the country. It houses 1,800 animals from over 250 species. You can see birds and animals from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Pacific Islands, the Arctic, and more. It is one of the best things to do in Portland, Oregon for family tourists. You can see bald eagles, otters, cougars, polar bears, penguins, chimpanzees, gibbons, elephants, lions, cheetahs, pythons, tigers, red pandas, and more. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Portland sightseeing to explore this zoo.

2. Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

This botanical garden is spread over 9.5 acres and is dedicated to the preservation of the rhododendron genus. The garden has more than 2,500 plants and trees including species other than rhododendron as well. It is also one of the best places to visit in Portland, Oregon for birdwatching. During the fall the park is greeted by several birds including herons, geese, grebes, gulls, hummingbirds, and more. You will need about 2 hours to explore this garden.

3. Oaks Park Amusement Center

The history of this amusement park goes back to 1905 making it one of the oldest in the country. The park has over 20 rides, games, and themed attractions. Many of these are reminiscent of the early days of American culture. The park is home to a hand-carved carousel built by Hershall-Spillman in 1911. Other rides at this park include bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, mini golf, a roller coaster, go-carting, carnival games, video games, arcade games, and more. You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours from Portland to explore this park.

4. Portland Beaches

There are two types of beaches in Portland, Oregon. You can enjoy sandy coasts of freshwater rivers in the city at places like Broughton Beach, Poet’s Beach, Kelly Point Park Beach, Sundial Beach, and so on. But if you want to see the ocean, you need to head west until you reach the coast. There you can find Seaside Beach, Indian Beach, Cannon Beach, Manhattan Beach, Oceanside Beach, and others. These are not technically Portland beaches but are close enough to make a day trip. You can easily spend a few hours at any of these beaches.

I suggest you should go for a Full Day Oregon Coat Tour from Portland.

If you are looking for more things to see in Portland check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of attractions and activities that you can enjoy in and around the city.

Things to do in Portland, Oregon

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Portland, Oregon

Portland Art Museum
Pittock Mansion
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Hoyt Arboretum
The Grotto
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Shanghai Tunnels
Oregon Historical Society
Witch’s Castle
Oregon Rail Heritage Center
The Freaky But True Peculiarium and Museum
Oregon Center for Photographic Arts
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Elizabeth Leach Gallery
Pearson Air Museum
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
Clark Country Historical Museum
Oregon Maritime Museum
Architectural Heritage Center
Oregon Center for Contemporary Art
Lone Fir Cemetery
Marquam Nature Park
Japanese American Museum of Oregon
Vancouver Barracks
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
Portlandia Sculpture
The Zymoglyphic Museum
Portland Puppet Museum
Movie Madness Video Museum
Museum of Tektronix
Next Level Pinbal Shop and Museum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Portland, Oregon

Forest Park
Tryon Creek State Natural Area
Powell Butte Nature Park
Portland Audubon
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
Sellwood Riverfront Park
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Springwater Coridor
Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area
Rocky Butte Natural Area
Lacamas Lake
Vancouver Lake
Gabriel Park

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Portland, Oregon

Portland Japanese Garden
Oregon Zoo
International Rose Test Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Washington Park
Oaks Amusement Park
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
World Forestry Center
Mt. Tabor Park
Laurelhurst Park
Mill Ends Park
Leach Botanical Garden
Peninsula Park
Portland International Raceway
Keller Auditorium
Ground Control Classic Arcade and Bar
Keller Fountain Park
North Clackamas Aquatic Park
Council Crest Park
George Rogers Park
Kelley Point Park
Willamette Valley Wineries
Poloff Farms
Tanner Springs Park
Blue Lake Regional Park

Shopping in Portland, Oregon

Portland Sunday Market
Lloyd Center
Washington Square Mall
Columbia Gorge Outlets
Alberta Arts District
Hollywood Farmers Market
Central City
Woodburn Premion Outlets
Nob Hill
Portland Saturday Market
Pioneer Place
Jantzen Beach Center
Portland Night Market
Union Way
Downtown Portland
Cascade Station
Portland Farmers Market
Pearl District

Beaches & Islands in Portland, Oregon

Hayden Island

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Portland, Oregon

Skiing
Surfing
Hiking
Trekking
Mountain Climbing
Water Sports
Kayaking
Tram Ride

Sightseeing in Portland, Oregon

Powell’s City of Books
Pioneer Courthouse Square
St. John’s Bridge
Tilikum Crossing Bridge
Portland Oregon Stag Sign
Steel Bridge
Eastbank Esplanade
Fremont Bridge
Southwest Hawthorne Boulevard
Vancouver Waterfront
Jamison Square
North Mississippi Avenue
Waterfront Renaissance Trail
Burnside Bridge
South Park Blocks
Northeast Alberta Street
Broadway Bridge
Oregon Washington Bridge
Ross Island Bridge
Marquam Bridge
Pearl District

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Portland, Oregon

Fuller’s Coffee
Bing Mi Food Cart
Jam on Hawthorne
Langbaan
Tercet
The Rambler
St. Jack
Off the Griddle
Murata
Mucca Osteria
Casa Zoraya
Mississipi Pizza
Bar Bar
Prince Coffee
Arden
Victoria Bar
Kate’s Ice Cream
Hey Love
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
Mirisata
Snow Bunny Coffee
Blossoming Lotus
Albina Press
Storm breaking Brewing
Black Water
Kabba’s Kitchen

Where to Stay in Portland, Oregon?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Portland, Oregon. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Portland, Oregon.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Portland, Oregon

How to Reach Portland, Oregon?

By Air

The city is served by Portland International Airport located about 15 km northwest from downtown. You can get direct flights to visit Portland from Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Orlando, Dallas, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Ontario, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Charlotte, London, Frankfurt, Detroit, Amsterdam, Seattle, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Reykjavik, New York, Calgary, and many more.

You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport.

By Road

You can reach Portland through Amtrak routes Coast Starlight, Downeaster, Empire Builder, and Amtrak Cascades. These routes connect Portland with Seattle, Tacoma, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Brunswick, Freeport, Saco, Exeter, Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Minot, Spokane, Salem, Vancouver, and Eugene.

You can get buses for Portland travel from several cities in Oregon state and major cities in the USA. However, it is better to get a bus to the nearest connecting train station and reach by rail.

If you are planning to reach Portland by road, you have head for routes Interstate 84, 5, I-405, and U.S. 26.

By Water

There are no water routes to visit Portland.

Image Reference

Portland Japanese Garden – John Fowler / Flickr
International Rose Test Garden – Sandra Richard / Flickr
Hoyt Arboretum – jlh_lunasea / Flickr
Pittock Mansion – Joe Fruechtel / Flickr
The Grotto – Scarlet Sappho / Flickr
Portland Art Museum – CTG/SF / Flickr
Oregon Historical Society Museum – Steve Morgan / Wikimedia Commons
Portlandia – David Berkowitz / Flickr
Pioneer Courthouse Square – Cacophony / Wikimedia Commons
Powell’s City of Books – Chris Booth / Flickr
Tom McCall Waterfront Park – brx0 / Flickr
Lan Su Chinese Garden – Ted / Flickr
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) – Sasha / Flickr
Forest Park – Katarina / Flickr
Oregon Zoo – brx0 / Flickr
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden – Brandon Olafsson / Flickr
Oaks Park Amusement Center – Jeff Muceus / Flickr
Portland Beaches – Tjflex2 / Flickr