Search Free and Cheap Things to Do in Portland
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy Portland.
A trip to Portland doesn’t require emptying your wallet. Along with free-to-visit attractions and things to do and see throughout the city, Portland also hosts dozens of no-cost events and festivals throughout the year. They say the best things in life are free: connect with nature, discover local artists, or learn something new – all without spending a dime.
Free and Discount Admissions
Explore our roundup of local attractions and museums with free admission or discounts for cheap things to do in Portland.
Art Museums
At the Portland Art Museum, admission is always free for ages 17 and under. On the First Thursday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., admission to the museum is free for everyone, and you can find free programs at the museum’s film project, Tomorrow Theater in Southeast Portland.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University is a free art museum that is open to the public. The multi-floor museum features works by Northwest artists and art by PSU faculty and students. The museum also hosts frequent events and exhibitions of national and international artists, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Hockney.
Oregon Zoo
The Oregon Zoo offers occasional discount days throughout the year, such as their Paws and Relax Discount Days or Veteran’s Day complimentary admissions for active military personnel and veterans. Check their upcoming events calendar for specific days and deals.
History Museums
To truly get to know Portland, it’s good to start with its historical roots. Explore the rich history of the state at the Oregon Historical Society, with affordable ticket prices for the whole family; $8 for adults, $5 for children 6-18, and children under 5 get in for free.
At the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, located in the heart of where Nihonmachi (Japantown) once stood in Old Town Chinatown, the center features a permanent exhibit that retraces the history of Japanese immigration and internment, while rotating exhibits have explored topics such as multi-generational storytelling, printmaking and photography. Ticket prices are affordable, $8 for adults, $5 for children 12-18, and children under 11 get in for free. Explore the history of the neighborhood with the aid of this story map created by the Architectural Heritage Center and the Japanese American Museum of Oregon.
The volunteer-run Oregon Rail Heritage Museum offers guided interpretation, presentations, exhibits and events that tell the story of Pacific Northwest railroads. The museum is located near OMSI. Oregon Rail Heritage Museum can be reached via Portland Streetcar, and admission is always free.
Free Events
Enjoy live music and samples of wonderful locally grown and prepared foods at Portland’s farmers’ markets all around town. At the Portland Saturday Market, browse booths selling handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, and artwork. Street musicians, local performers, tarot card readers and international food kiosks round out the scene. Beyond the markets, there’s plenty of live entertainment in Portland, including free shows from lunchtime music events, happy hour with live music, comedy open mics and more.
Explore Portland’s art scene in one fell swoop at the monthly First Thursday event in Old Town and Pearl District. Galleries 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. See a 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. Held on Northeast Alberta Street between 15th and 30th Avenues, this event offers gallery shows, sidewalk vendors, and live music. Participating venues include Antler and Guardino Gallery and others. Portland’s newest monthly art event is First Friday in the Central Eastside district. Several First Friday shows and events are held in artists’ studios, cafés and other nontraditional exhibit spaces.
Parks & Gardens
In the spring and summer months, the lush green gardens of Portland offer much to see. At The Grotto in Northeast Portland, the entire lower level is free. Ride the elevator (about $10) 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. The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park is always free, with rose-scented blooms filling the air from May through September.
Credit: Justin Katigbak
In Southeast Portland, Leach Botanical Garden tickets are only $8 to explore 17 acres (6.9 ha) of native blooms. Visitors can access free entry through Leach’s Garden for All program, designed to support folks and families for which admission is a barrier to entry. With water features and trails meandering through seasonal blooms, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden offers affordable tickets: $8.95 for adults and $5.95 for students ages 6-21, children 5 and under, get in for free.
In the forested West Hills, you’ll find a living museum of trees at the Hoyt Arboretum with over 6,000 varieties of trees as you walk through the 12 miles (19.3 km) of trails. For more free fun outside, explore more hikes in and near Portland.
Gorgeous Gardens
Scenic views and lush blooms await in Portland's gardens.
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.
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.
Visiting the Portland International Rose Test Garden
Since 1924, the International Rose Test Garden has grown beautiful roses from around the world. Today, over 10,000 bushes, representing over 610 varieties, dazzle with colorful blooms in Washington Park, just west of downtown Portland.
Public Art & Murals in Portland
Credit: Justin Katigbak, Travel Portland
Home to nearly 1,000 pieces of public art, Portland has cultivated a vibrant mural and street art scene. Start in the Central Eastside, at the Viaduct Arts Columns under the Hawthorne Bridge and find We Are Portland and What Keeps Us Together, then explore more than 100 centrally located works of art in the central city by downloading this free walking map or the official Portland Near Me Now app to explore more murals and public art.
Free Historic Sights
Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square is affectionately known as the city’s “living room,” attracting more than 11 million visitors annually. A few blocks away, find Portland’s Central Library, the oldest public library on the West Coast.
Credit: Jon Kraft
Take a stroll through the South Park Blocks, a Dutch elm-lined corridor developed in the late 19th-century. In Ankeny Plaza, discover the oldest piece of public art, the Skidmore Fountain, installed in 1888.
Head to Northeast Alberta Street for an educational, self-guided walking tour of the area’s rich Black history. Debuted in 2019, the Alberta Street Black Heritage Markers are a series of five markers commemorating the accomplishments and experiences of Black residents from the Alberta neighborhood. The markers stretch along Northeast Alberta Street from 11th to 24th avenues.
Don’t forget to stop and see Paul Bunyan in the Kenton neighborhood, built in 1959 to commemorate Oregon’s centennial, this 31-foot statue of the mythical logger is a must-see.
Mentioned Elsewhere Online
Regional Arts & Culture Council
City Cast Portland
Affordable Attractions
Traveling on a budget? There's a lot to see and do without overspending.
Transit on the Cheap
Explore Portland on a budget with these wallet-friendly transportation options.
Biking
One of the best ways to explore the Rose City is on two wheels.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hour_Party_People
Electric Scooters (E-Scooters) in Portland
E-scooter sharing lets users rent vehicles via an app for one-way trips. Before boarding, check out our dos and don’ts for riding e-scooters in Portland.
MAX Light Rail
Portland’s efficient light rail system connects the metro area and downtown core. Learn how to ride and where to go on MAX.
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