Free Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

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Always Free
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Almost Free

You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy Portland. Sample food and beverage and plenty of the famous "Keep Portland Weird" spirit at these free and almost-free attractions.

Always Free

Brewery and Distillery Tours

Many of Portland's breweries and distilleries offer complimentary tours and tastings. Contact each facility for times and details.

BridgePort Brewing Company

1313 N.W. Marshall St.
503.241.7179
www.bridgeportbrew.com

Clear Creek Distillery

2389 N.W. Wilson St.
503.248.9470
www.clearcreekdistillery.com

House Spirits Distillery

2025 S.E. Seventh Ave.
503.235.3174
www.housespirits.com

Rogue Ales Distillery and Public House

1339 N.W. Flanders St.
503.222.5910
www.rogue.com

Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

929 N. Russell St.
503.281.2437
www.widmer.com

Central Library

The oldest public library on the West Coast, Portland's Central Library was built in 1913. The library boasts more than 17 miles of bookshelves and terrific artwork, much of which reflects a "Garden of Knowledge" theme. Highlights include the ornately decorated stairs and a 14-foot cast-bronze tree in the children's room. The tree's bark is a sculptural relief of images that intrigue children: vines, musical instruments, toys, ballet slippers, animals, storybook characters and letters.

Hours: Monday and Thursday – Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Location: 801 S.W. 10th Ave.
503.988.5123
www.multcolib.org/agcy/cen.html

Oregon Rail Heritage Center

Portland is home to more working steam locomotives than any other city in the country, and you’ll find them at the volunteer-run Oregon Rail Heritage Center, opened in 2012. Guided interpretation, presentations, exhibits and events tell the story of Pacific Northwest railroads and, during the holiday season, light-adorned “Holiday Express” trains tour passengers along the Willamette River. Located near OMSI and accessible via Portland Streetcar.

Open Thursday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; admission is by donation.

2250 S.E. Water Ave.
503.680.8895
www.orhf.org

Monthly Gallery Walks

One of the best times to explore Portland's galleries is on the first Thursday of every month during the aptly named First Thursday Gallery Walk. On these nights, galleries and shops in Old Town, the Pearl District and downtown stay open late, inviting the public to mingle with the artists and explore new exhibits. The streets buzz with performers, sidewalk artists and enthusiastic crowds, and many galleries offer free appetizers and wine. Map of participating galleries

Complementing First Thursday is Northeast Alberta Street's Last Thursday event, which falls on the last Thursday evening of each month. This event offers plenty of gallery shows, plus sidewalk vendors, live music and a street-fair vibe. Held on Northeast Alberta Street between 15th and 30th avenues. Participating venues include Ampersand, Antler, Appendix Project Space, Guardino Gallery, Screaming Sky Gallery, Talisman Gallery and others.

Portland's newest monthly art event is First Friday in the Central Eastside District, just across the Willamette River from downtown. Several First Friday shows and events are held in artists' studios, cafés and other nontraditional exhibit spaces. Map of participating galleries

Forest Park

For outdoor enthusiasts, winter and fall are a wonderful time to hike through Forest Park, the nation's largest urban wilderness. This nearly 5,000-acre wilderness has miles of hiking, jogging and mountain biking trails that are relatively free of traffic during the cooler winter months. Autumn sees the park's mostly evergreen forest dotted with vibrant fall color. This is the perfect time of year to escape to the quiet solitude of the woods — and all within a 10-minute drive of most downtown hotels.

Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.

Location: Northwest 29th Avenue and Upshur Street to Newberry Road
www.friendsofforestpark.org

The Grotto

This 62-acre Catholic sanctuary is one of Portland's most visited attractions, greeting more than 175,000 guests of all faiths each year. Visitors can stroll through this natural gallery in the woods; view the marble replica of Michelangelo's famous Pietà, carved into the base of a 110-foot cliff; or ride the elevator to the top of the bluff for an impressive, panoramic view of the area's highlights, including the Columbia River Valley, the Cascade Mountain Range and Mount St. Helens.

Hours: Open year-round; hours vary. Admission: There is no charge to see the lower-level gardens and structures. To access the upper gardens, each visitor must purchase an elevator token. Tokens are $4.00 for ages 12-64, ages 6-11 $2.50, and seniors over 65 $3.00. Children under 6 are free.

Location: Northeast Sandy Boulevard at 85th Avenue
503.254.7371
www.thegrotto.org

Hoyt Arboretum

Home to plants from all seven continents, this 185-acre hiker's paradise contains more than 1,100 species of trees and 12 miles of trails. At the south end of the arboretum is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. An interpretive center offers restrooms, maps and brochures.

Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. The visitor center is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 pm. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays and major holidays.

Location: In Washington Park
4000 S.W. Fairview Blvd.
www.hoytarboretum.org

International Rose Test Garden

In Washington Park, you can also explore one of the largest and oldest rose test gardens in the country — for free. This is the largest of Portland's three rose gardens. Started in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden, just minutes from downtown Portland, has 7,000 rose bushes, spectacular views of the city and an on-site gift shop.

Free tours are offered from June through September on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Gift shop hours vary; check website for details.

Location: In Washington Park
400 S.W. Kingston Ave.
503.823.3636

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square is affectionately known as the city's "living room." Once a grim parking structure, the square is now a thriving urban park and the single most-visited site in Oregon, attracting more than 9.5 million visitors annually. The square's on-site resources include the Travel Portland Visitor Information Center and TriMet's bus and light rail ticket office. The square is also one of Portland's leading outdoor venues, hosting 300 events each year, from large-scale concerts to cultural festivals. The Portland Farmers Market operates in the Square every Monday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June-October.

Hours: Open 5 a.m.-midnight daily, year-round.
Location: Bordered by Southwest Sixth Avenue, Broadway, and Yamhill and Morrison streets.
www.pioneercourthousesquare.org

Portland Farmers Market

Enjoy live music and samples of wonderful locally grown and prepared foods. During peak season, markets are held on most days of the week around the city. At the Saturday market, chefs demonstrate how to create dishes with fresh market ingredients.

Locations/dates: The flagship market is held on Saturdays in the South Park Blocks at Portland State University, March-December. On Mondays, the market comes to Pioneer Courthouse Square (June-October), and Wednesday's market is held in the South Park Blocks of the Cultural District (May-October). Hours vary by location.
www.portlandfarmersmarket.org

Portland Saturday Market

Even though the market shuts down in January and February, this is still a great fall and early-winter attraction. You don't have to buy anything, just browse through booth after booth of handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing and artwork. Street musicians, local performers, tarot card readers and international food kiosks round out the scene. The best thing about Saturday Market is that the people staffing the booths and selling the items are the same artists who created the crafts for sale. The market is open Sundays too.

Hours: Open rain or shine, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March through December 24.

Location: Southwest Ankeny Street & Naito Parkway (in Waterfront Park, Skidmore Fountain MAX station)
503.222.6072
www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com

Powell's City of Books

Spend an afternoon exploring Powell's City of Books, the world's largest independent bookstore, covering an entire city block. Boasting more than a million titles, Powell's is a mecca for bibliophiles searching for used, out-of-print, rare or autographed books. While the browsing is free, book-lovers will be hard pressed not to purchase something — especially from the bargain tables. Browsers are welcome to take up to three titles into the coffee shop for perusing. Ride Powell's three-door elevator – one of only a handful in the United States – or check out the Rare Book Room.

Hours: Open 9 a.m.-11 p.m., 365 days a year.

Location: 1005 W. Burnside St.
503.228.4651
www.powells.com

Public Art

You can't visit Portland without encountering public art. In the central city, you'll discover a surprising mix of artistic styles, materials and settings within any given 10-block radius. Public art is integrated into architectural façades, along the street, in the parks, inside public buildings and in the sculpture garden outside of the Portland Art Museum. There are even indoor exhibits — perfect for rainy-day sightseeing. Download the public art map and guide.

Wells Fargo History Museum

Located in downtown Portland's Wells Fargo Center tower, this free museum showcases the company's role in regional history, along with displays of original Concord Coaches, mining tools and working telegraphs.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Location: 1300 S.W. Fifth Ave., second floor
503.886.1102
Website

Free Days

Museum of Contemporary Craft

Free–first Thursday of every month, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Oregon History Museum

Family day–third Saturday of every month; free admission for up to two children with each adult admission paid.

Portland Art Museum

Free–fourth Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m.; always free for ages 17 and under.

Portland Children's Museum

Free–first Friday of every month, 4-8 p.m.

Almost Free

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
$2–first Sunday of every month.

Oregon Zoo
$4–second Tuesday of every month.