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The Official Guide to Portland

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    • Alberta Arts District
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  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people dining at picnic tables in front of a food cartView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
    • Portland Maps
    • Portland Visitor Center
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • Accessible Portland
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Safety in Portland
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More

Riding Max Light Rail
i
The MAX Light Rail is a budget-friendly way to reach Washington Park.
Credit: Ashley Anderson
Attractions / Portland on a Budget

Cheap Things to Do in Portland for Weekend Adventurers

Experience Portland’s food and culture without breaking your budget on this Saturday or Sunday itinerary.

Updated July 26, 2022 2 min read
Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More

Bring your walking shoes, water bottle and day-pack for an urban adventure that highlights several things locals love about Portland. This itinerary of cheap things to do in Portland is designed to help you make the most of a weekend day in the city.

Getting Around on a Budget

For each of our budget itineraries, we recommend getting an all-day TriMet pass ($5) good for the city’s public light rail, streetcar and bus.

Transit on the Cheap

Public transit, biking and e-scooters make navigating Portland a breeze.

Go To Transportation
A light rail train passes in front of a modern, glass-encased retail store

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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Biketown Bike-Share in Portland

Introduced in 2016, Portland’s bike-share program brings 1,000 smart bicycles to the central city.

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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.

Cheap Weekend Activities in Portland

A Morning at the Market (and Lunch for Later)

Estimated cost: $8–20

Portland offers lively farmers’ markets throughout the city, but the granddaddy of them all is the Saturday-morning edition at Portland State University in downtown Portland.

The Portland Farmers Market at PSU runs year-round on Saturdays (8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. April–October; 9 a.m.–2 p.m. November–March). In operation since 1996, this vibrant market boasts fresh produce, food carts and flowers galore. There’s also live music every week and chef demonstrations from June–October. Visit more than 100 vendor stalls, and keep an eye out for free samples of fruit, cheese, baked goods and more. Grab breakfast at one of the food carts ($4–10) and stock up for a healthy lunch for later ($4–10).

Portland Farmers Market

Enjoy fresh, local produce, meals and treats at every Portland Farmers Market location.

Read more

Travel Time to Next Destination

30 minutes by transit20 minutes by bike15 minutes by car

A Walk in the Park

Estimated cost: $3

Next, hop on the speedy MAX Light Rail Red or Blue line toward attraction-filled Washington Park. Use the free Washington Park shuttle to reach the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center (located within the park) by noon for a stunning 90-minute tour ($3 donation requested). Portland’s 190-acre (77 ha) museum of living trees is home to more than 6,000 specimens, including vulnerable and endangered types. Aromatic magnolias and dogwoods abound in spring, wildflowers thrive in summer and warm autumnal colors paint the sky in fall. (Free.)

After the tour, keep exploring the arboretum’s 12 miles [19 km] of trails, or make the 30-minute trek to Forest Park for an equally awe-inspiring change of setting within city bounds. Take plenty of breaks and enjoy a scenic lunch in nature.

Parks & Gardens

In a city as green as Portland, it’s only fitting that some of the top attractions are outdoor spots that appeal to home gardeners and hikers alike. With more than 200 parks and gardens within city limits the urban greens offer a breath of fresh air.

Read more

Travel Time to Next Destination

45 minutes by transit30 minutes by bike20 minutes by car

Dinner & Down-Home Tunes

Estimated cost: $8–12

Return downtown using bus 63 or MAX, then make your way to Portland’s east side via bus 19.

Enjoy a leisurely dinner at Northeast Portland institution Laurelthirst Public House after a day exploring the town. Choose from standard pub fare like BLTs and mac ‘n’ cheese (for vegans and vegetarians, they also make a mean kale salad and vegan burger [$8–12]). Every meal comes with a free side of live music — typically of the down-home bluegrass, Americana and folk varieties.

Budget, Outdoors, Tours & Itineraries

Affordable Activities

From free live music to wallet-friendly happy hours, having fun in Portland doesn't require breaking the bank.

More on a Budget
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Free & Nearly Free

Some of the best things to do in Portland are totally free. Connect with nature, discover local artists or learn something new.

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Free Live Music and Comedy in Portland

Discover a new favorite comic or musician at Portland's free concerts and comedy nights, scattered across the city and scheduled throughout the week.

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Cheap/Affordable Things to Do in Portland for Arts Lovers

Experience Portland’s stellar music scene, ample museums and galleries, arts walks and festivals — all without busting your budget.

People lounging and walking dogs on the green lawn of a park in front of a large water tower

Cheap Things to Do in Portland for History Buffs

Experience Portland’s history without breaking your budget.

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Happy Hours in Portland

If you sense it's five o'clock somewhere, Portland has you covered — whether you’re craving cocktails, beer, wine, pub food or pizza, read on to find the best happy hour to satisfy your appetite.

a couple walks their dog in Forest Park

Hikes in and Near Portland

With easy access to the great outdoors, Portland is a perfect destination for hikers — explore the city’s urban walks, verdant parks and lush gardens, or escape to the nearby gorge and mountains.

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Visitor Information

visitorinfo@travelportland.com
1-888-503-3291 (toll free)
503-427-1372
Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Portland Visitor Center

1132 SW Harvey Milk St #104,
Portland, OR 97205

Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

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