Portland Travel Guide: The Best Things To Do in Portland

I went to Portland back in October last year. I absolutely loved it and am excited to share this Portland travel guide with you! My boyfriend Pat and I went to visit friends and family that live out there, and many of the recommendations below came from them. There were more than enough things to do in Portland, keeping us busy for the five days were out there. It’s definitely a foodie city so you could spend your whole trip just eating (no judgments here!). The surrounding nature was also beautiful, and I highly recommend getting out of the city for at least a day. Here’s everything you need to know for your next trip!

Getting There & Getting Around

Fly into PDX. Portland is a 25-minute drive from there, so catch a cab or Uber/Lyft to your hotel.
If you do rent a car while you’re there, keep in mind that you can’t pump your own gas by law. Pull up to a pump and an attendant will come out to help you. It’s not customary to tip them. And yes, you will feel awkward because it’s weird.
If you’re staying mostly within city limits, Portland has an extensive public transportation network. This includes the Max Light Rail, which connects the airport to the city, as well as streetcars and buses. You can read more on Travel Portland’s website. I didn’t take any public transportation while there but the locals said it was easy to use. One of our Uber drivers even told us to ride the streetcar around the city one day for fun!

What to Pack

Portland in a very laidback city, so leave the fancy clothes at home. Make sure to pack a flannel though to fit in with the locals ? I went to a fancy restaurant in a flannel and gym shoes and nobody batted an eye. Pack jeans, casual shirts, and comfy shoes. Don’t forget workout clothes if you’re going hiking. This backpack was super convenient on our hikes. It has pockets for two water bottles, is roomy enough for snacks, and folds up into a little ball for easy packing.

Things to Do in Portland

Powell’s City of Books – This is the largest used and new bookstore in the world. It takes up a whole block. Make sure to stop by and browse some of the one million books inside. There’s every book you can imagine! As a bookworm, I wanted to buy them all but restrained myself.

Washington Park – Only two miles west of the city, Washington Park has it all. There are miles of hiking trails, museums, a zoo, the Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden. We visited the Japanese Garden first. Although it’s said to be one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan and had a relaxing vibe, it didn’t blow us away. If you’re looking to save money, I would skip this and the $17 admission fee. The International Rose Test Garden is right across the street from the Japanese Garden and is free. Even though we were late in the season, there were still quite a few roses in bloom. Definitely worth a look.

Things To Do in Portland: Japanese Garden

Things To Do in Portland: International Rose Garden

Pittock Mansion – This historic house up on a hill is now a museum. The best part, however, is the view of Portland. My advice? Skip the museum (there’s an admission fee) and just check out the view. If you’re short on time, I would skip this altogether and head to Washington Park instead.

Things To Do in Portland: Pittock Mansion

Multnomah Falls – The falls are quite a sight to see at 611 feet high. They are a 30-minute drive from the city and are right off the highway. There’s a convenient parking lot right across the street. When we were there, we weren’t able to climb to the top of the falls due to the 2017 forest fires. However, we could go to the first bridge to snap a few pictures and take it all in. A must-do while you’re in the area.

Tilikum Crossing – This bridge crosses over the Willamette River and is closed off to cars, so take a stroll across it for views of the city. It’s on my list for my next visit to Portland.
Bike Tour – A friend said he did this while he was in Portland recently and it sounded fun. Bike tours are always a great way to explore a new city.
Day Trip to Mt. Hood – If you’re looking to get out of the city and experience nature, this is for you. This was my favorite part of the trip! Drive 1.5 hours to Timberline Lodge and indulge in the lunch buffet. Then start your hike around Mt. Hood. It was absolutely gorgeous! Make sure to bring layers to stay warm as you’ll be at a higher elevation. Check out this blog post for more details on Mt. Hood and the other best day trips from Portland.

Day Trip to Cannon Beach – Another 1.5-hour drive in the opposite direction. Check out the famous Haystack Rock and soak up some rays if it’s warm enough. Cannon Beach is a cute little tourist town with shops and restaurants. We grabbed lunch at Cheri’s, which had great fish and chips. And we met Cheri herself, who was a hoot!

Accommodations in Portland

We stayed with friends in the Southeast part of the city. While this area had its own personality, it was a bit far from the main tourist attractions. If you’re booking a hotel I would recommend staying in or close to the Pearl District so you’re close to the main sights.

Where to Eat in Portland

Voodoo Doughnuts – No trip to Portland is complete without stopping at Voodoo Doughnuts. I actually ended up going twice ? This shop is known for its fun types of doughnuts, including one shaped like a voodoo doll and one with Fruit Loops on it. I tried the Chocolate Ring, a classic cake doughnut with chocolate frosting, and the Homer, a cake doughnut with pink frosting and sprinkles. The Homer was modeled after the doughnuts on The Simpsons, my favorite television show growing up. My inner child was super excited! Both doughnuts were delicious. I could go for another right now. As an added bonus, the “Keep Portland Weird” mural is right across the street from here so make sure to snap a picture before you leave.

Things To Do in Portland: Voodoo Doughnus

Things To Do in Portland: Voodoo Doughnuts

Blue Star Donuts – Portland’s other donut shop. The locals claimed that Blue Star Donuts are better than Voodoo Doughnuts, so naturally I had to do a taste test. I got the Chocolate Almond Ganache donut. I’m not a huge dark chocolate fan so I didn’t like the frosting that much. Voodoo’s cake part was also lighter and fluffier, so I crowning them the winner. Blue Star is still worth indulging in though.
Food Trucks – These are everywhere around the city and are convenient for a quick bite. The ones I saw all seemed pretty similar food-wise. I ordered a gyro from one and it was quite good.
Pok Pok – A Thai restaurant that literally every single person we talked to recommended. GO AND ORDER THE CHICKEN WINGS. They were the best chicken wings we’ve ever had and they live up to the hype! They’re called Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings on the menu. We asked for spice on the side since I don’t like hot food and they were still just as good. We also ordered Kai Yaang, the dish that inspired Pok Pok. It was basically just a roasted chicken with two sauces. A good option for people who don’t like spicy food but maybe not the most flavorful item on the menu. I enjoyed the sticky rice as well, which you eat with your hands.
Salt & Straw – No vacation is complete without ice cream. This ice cream shop is right down the street from Pok Pok, so head on over for dessert. Salt & Straw is known for its unique flavors of ice cream. The best part is they let you taste as many as you want before ordering. I tried the Roasted Strawberry Coconut, Freckled Woodblock Chocolate, Double Fold Vanilla, and Arbequina Olive Oil. I settled for the chocolate one (I’m boring, I know). They also had an October Spooktacular Series for Halloween, including one with actual bugs in it. In case you’re wondering, they were crunchy but not bad.
Andina – A highly recommended Peruvian restaurant. It was on the pricier side but was worth it. Pat and I split the De Pescado “5 Elementos” ceviche, croquettes, and lomo saltado. Pat absolutely loved the ceviche and thinks you all should try it.
Lardo – This is a casual, order-at-the-counter restaurant known for its sandwiches. The Portland West location on Hawthorne has a decent size patio with outdoor seating. Order Dirty Fries for the table. You won’t regret it.

Where to Drink in Portland

10 Barrell – Portland is known for its breweries, and 10 Barrell was a personal favorite (and only a few blocks away from Andina). You can get a flight of 10 beers for $10, which is a great way to sample them. There’s a rooftop patio to enjoy your beverages at when it’s nice out. Deschutes is also only a few blocks away from here.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Portland is also known for its coffee, so make sure you grab a cup of joe before you leave. Stumptown is one of the most well-known roasters in the city.

Wineries – There are lots of great wineries outside the city. You’ll need a car to reach them but I think it’s worth it for the good wine and pretty scenery. We did tastings at Kramer (the prettiest scenery), Elk Cove (also nice scenery), and Pike Road (in an old bank building in a small town but the great Pinot Noirs made up for the lack of scenery).