Skip to content

The Official Guide to Portland

  • Attractions
    • View All Attractions
    • Attractions Open Now
    • Museums & History
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • View All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • View 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
    • View All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • View All Plan
    • Maps
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • International Resources
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Primary Menu 31 Events Near Me Search
  • Attractions
    • View All Attractions
    • Attractions Open Now
    • Museums & History
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • View All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • View 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
    • View All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
  • Plan
    • View All Plan
    • Maps
    • Where to Stay
    • Tours & Itineraries
    • Transportation
    • When to Visit
    • International Resources
    • Portland Weather
    • COVID-19 FAQ
    • Plan a Meeting
  • Events
  • Search
Emilly Prado

Emilly Prado

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

The MAX Light Rail is a budget-friendly way to reach Washington Park.
i
The MAX Light Rail is a budget-friendly way to reach Washington Park.
Credit: Ashley Anderson
Attractions

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 Apr. 30, 2020 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
MAX Light Rail connects downtown Portland to points throughout the city and region, including PDX International Airport.

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.

Biketown bike-share bicycles are available throughout Portland.

Biketown Bike-Share in Portland

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

A year-long pilot program for electric scooters (aka “e-scooters\") returns April 26, 2019.

Electric Scooters (E-Scooters) in Portland

In April 2019, Portland launched a year-long citywide trial in of shareable electric scooters ("e-scooters"). 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 PSU Farmers Market 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.

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

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
The Alberta Arts District\'s monthly Last Thursday art walk and street fair

Free & Nearly Free

Sample food and beverage and plenty of the famous "Keep Portland Weird" spirit at these free and almost-free attractions.

Al\'s Den, at McMenamins Crystal Hotel, hosts free live music nightly.

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.

Spot this eye-catching mural on Northwest Fourth Avenue and Everest Street in Portland\'s Old Town Chinatown.

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.

\"Experience Oregon\" is a 7,000-square-foot permanent exhibit at Oregon Historical Society, reflecting the people, places and events that shaped the land that is now known as Oregon.

Cheap Things to Do in Portland for History Buffs

Experience Portland’s history without breaking your budget.

Take in the view at Portland City Grill.

Happy Hours in Portland

Portland's Happy Hour Guidebook details over 500 locations, so if you sense it's five-o-clock somewhere, the city almost certainly has you covered. Here are some favorites.

The Eastbank Esplanade is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists.

Where to Walk

In addition to Portland’s many pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, your feet can take you to some fantastic places around town.

Was this page helpful?

Visitor’s Guide

cover of Travel Portland's visitor guide, 2019-'20, featuring a woman walking through Portland Japanese Garden

Get the Guide

 

Newsletter Signup

Get your monthly guide to Portland's events, attractions and news.

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Information For

Local Businesses
Media
Meeting Planners
Travel Industry Professionals
Event Organizers

Brought to you by

Travel Portland Logo

We are a promoter and steward of this evolving city and its progressive values, which have the power to transform the travelers who visit us.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Español
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • 日本語
  • 汉语
  • 漢語
  • 한국어
Copyright © 2021 Travel Portland
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Copyright Policy
Visit The USA Logo