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  • Attractions
    • woman photographing view of portlandView All Attractions
    • Attractions Open Now
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people sitting at tables eating foodView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • people walking on the sidewalk under a vintage Hollywood Theater signView 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
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    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
    • Portland Maps
    • Where to Stay
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three people doing yoga surrounded by trees three people doing yoga surrounded by trees
i
Take a peaceful outdoor yoga class at the crest of Mt. Tabor Park with local yoga instructor Mary Wagstaff (marywagstaffcoach.com).
Credit: Catalina Gaitan
Attractions

Ways to Practice Self-Care in Portland

Treat yourself at these spas, soak spots, tea shops and much more.

Updated July 7, 2022 8 min read

It’s okay to admit that you occasionally get stressed, tired or overwhelmed — even (or especially) while traveling. Take a break at some of these wellness-focused gems to find your moment of zen before getting back out there and discovering the rest of the adventures Portland has to offer.

Know Before You Go

The statewide mask mandate has been lifted. However, masks are still required in health care settings and are recommended on public transportation, including buses, trains, airplanes and in airports.

Some businesses may continue to require masks and/or proof of vaccination or negative COVID test. Check with individual businesses before visiting and carry a mask with you just in case.

Visit the Oregon Health Authority website for more information.

Hit the Spa

Portland has a fantastic array of spas and massage spots to suit every price point and personality. Let these local spas pamper you while you relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.

Blooming Moon Wellness Spa

Whether it’s deep-tissue massage, Thai massage, elaborate detox wraps or a simple foot soak, Blooming Moon delivers­ otherworldly relaxation, with vegan and cruelty-free products. This transformed house has several treatment rooms, a beautiful lobby and a private steam shower.

Dosha Spa Salon

With several spas around town, Dosha is a modern full-service day spa. The all-inclusive amenities at their Hawthorne location can’t be beat. With any spa service, including hot stone massages, body wraps and rejuvenation facials, guests have access to their luxurious steam room, sauna and shower facilities, plush with natural stone and wood touches. You’ll feel your stress levels drop just walking in.

Kanani Pearl Spa

If your relaxation style is more surf than snow, Kanani Pearl Spa is the mini Hawaiian retreat of your dreams. Kanani provides a variety of massage and esthetic services, all with plenty of island flare. Try the traditional Hawaiian deep-tissue massage, the Island Espresso Mud Wrap or the Papaya Pineapple Body Polish.

Kiva Tea Cafe and Spa

Kiva helps guests find wellness both inside and out, with a myriad of rejuvenating spa services and a beautiful cafe offering tea, juice, smoothies and fresh treats. Give your feet some love and care with Kiva’s Foot Sanctuary, which offers reflexology, foot massage and leg wraps – pot of tea included.

a couple receiving massages at Kiva Tea Cafe and Spa
Enjoy a soothing massage at Kiva Tea Cafe and Spa.
Credit: Erika Plummer Photography

Löyly Sauna

Scandinavians know a thing or two about riding out dark, cold winters in style. But you don’t need to book a flight to Finland for a true sauna experience: The sleek, wood-adorned facilities at Löyly provide a dose of traditional European sauna culture right here in Portland. Löyly’s two locations also offer a variety of massage and facial services to help you dial up your sauna experience.

Mudra Massage

Looking to mix up your massage routine? Mudra Massage specializes in Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, a barefoot massage technique. (Translation: Someone walks on your back.) But this is no gimmick — therapists leverage gravity to achieve a deep tissue massage with virtually no pain. Mudra also offers classic massage styles such as Swedish and hot stone, as well as newer crazes like floatation therapy in sensory deprivation tanks.

The Dragontree Holistic Day Spa

Along with Eastern-focused treatments like acupuncture, herbal medicine and Ayurvedic therapies, The Dragontree offers relaxing hand, foot and head massages in their community Sangha Room. They also have an apothecary with their own line of soothing, hand-crafted body products made right here in Portland, including massage oils, body scrubs, tonics and tinctures.

Zama Massage

In addition to traditional massage therapy and facials, Zama Massage offers a handful of distinctive spa services aimed at physical and spiritual wellness. Try the Infrared Detox Wrap or Halo Massage, an ancient massage technique that takes place in Zama’s “halotherapy salt caves” lined with Himalayan salt bricks and ambient LED lights.

Take a Walk

In the mood for a meditative stroll? Portland boasts nearly 300 parks and natural areas, including Forest Park, one of the country’s largest urban forests with 70 miles (113 km) of trails. Find peace in the tranquil beauty of the Portland Japanese Garden or wander in blissful silence through the authentic Ming Dynasty-style Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Fitness Classes for Fun

Work up a sweat with spin classes, CrossFit, yoga and more. Portland offers plenty of structured opportunities for your daily workout.

Read More
5 To Try

Work It Out

Endorphins are fantastic mood-boosters and Portland offers myriad ways to work out.

  • MeFitness Studios

    Me Fitness Studios offers a range of fitness classes, including yoga, Pilates, Zumba and cycling. The studio also provides therapeutic massage and nutrition training.

  • BurnCycle

    BurnCycle is an indoor cycling center located in Northwest Portland’s Pearl District. The studio offers multiple 45-minute full-body cycling classes per day set to music worthy of a dance club.

  • Barre3

    This company’s flagship location opened in Portland in 2008 — today they have studios all over the country. Their classes feature a signature full-body workout that includes holds, micro-movements and cardio bursts.

  • Forest Park

    Portland’s 5,200-acre urban forest, just minutes from the central city, stretches seven miles in length and contains more than 80 miles of trails.

  • Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade

    Named after former Portland mayor Vera Katz, this 1.5-mile esplanade provides a riverfront bike and pedestrian path between the Hawthorne and Steel bridges. The esplanade features public art and popular swimming docks.

Float Away

Let your stress evaporate with a trip to a local soak spot. Get straight to relaxing in traditional soaking pools, float tanks, and natural hot springs.

Place to Soak in Portland

Common Ground Wellness

For over 30 years, Portland’s Common Ground Wellness Cooperative has been a home for alternative healing and care. The co-op’s services include acupuncture, naturopathy, massage and counseling, in addition to their communal soaking pool and sauna. The intimate space is mostly clothing-optional and all-gender inclusive, but designated hours are also reserved for only women, only men, and only trans and genderqueer-identified individuals. Book a “massage sandwich” to enjoy soaks before and after a relaxing rubdown.

Float On

Though the term “sensory deprivation” may sound odd, you shouldn’t knock it until you’ve melted away your stress in a soothing, futuristic cocoon. One of the largest float tank centers in the United States, Float On is open 24 hours every day except Monday and houses six different tanks filled with heavily salted, buoyant water. For those frightened by the thought of lying in a small space, the center offers 6-foot tall tanks, and each unit has interior light settings and a private showering area for breaks, as needed.

Knot Springs

Luxurious, with incredible views of downtown and the Willamette River, Knot Springs is a high-end social club with fitness classes and a world-class spa with its hot, tepid and cold pools, plus sauna and steam room.

McMenamins Kennedy School

Do you dream of sipping a craft cocktail while soaking in a ceramic saltwater pool? For about the cost of a latte (or free with an overnight stay), you can do just that at McMenamins Kennedy School, a picturesque former schoolhouse in Northeast Portland. Built in 1915 and restored in the mid-1970s, the historic building now functions as a hotel complete with a restaurant, bars and movie theater. Bring your swimsuit and share the warm waters with patrons of all ages in this scenic setting.

Hot Springs Around Portland

Some things in Portland are better in the cold winter months. Sitting in a steaming spring while cool, fresh drops of rain splash your face is a downright ethereal experience. Numerous natural hot springs are scattered around the Portland metro area, and they’re worth the short car trip to get there. Check in advance for inclement weather and road conditions before heading out on your mini road trip. And if you’re looking to maximize your time, consider renting a cabin for a leisurely and cozy getaway.

Deer Creek Hot Springs
Warm up at Deer Creek Hot Springs while taking in scenic views.
Credit: Emilly Prado

Bigelow (Deer Creek) Hot Springs

The smallest and most rustic of the bunch, Bigelow sits right against the winding and rushing McKenzie River. Also called Deer Creek Hot Springs, this tiny natural spring is off the beaten path, about 20 minutes from Cougar (3 hours from Portland) and a quick walk from a nearby trailhead.

The pool only fits two to four people comfortably and runs a bit cooler than other springs, but slinking into the cave can increase your exposure to warm spurts. (The water temperature is warmest in summer and fall.) Clothing choice is up to each bather, and since the pool is mostly private, you won’t have to succumb to peer pressure either way.

Breitenbush Hot Springs

The quickest route to Breitenbush Hot Springs will take 2.5 hours from Portland, but if you’re looking for a full day (or more) of relaxation with the works, this is the place. This majestic center located on the Breitenbush riverbank feels like camp for new-age adults. The expansive facility offers several options for hot springs including three natural, stone-lined pools with one designated tub for silence; four spiral tubs of varying temperatures; and a cold plunge nearby. Indulge in daily wellness offerings, such as mindful meditation, ayurvedic yoga and deep-tissue massage. Reservations are required for all visits and book well in advance to enjoy this retreat for more than a day, but daily passes are also offered on a $20 to $36 sliding scale. Because of the lack of cell phone service, it’s especially important to check and note directions before driving there.

Bagby Hot Springs

Know Before You Go

Bagby Hot Springs is currently closed due to damaged access roads resulting from the Riverside Fire in 2020. For more information, visit the U.S. Forest Service website.

The cluster of hot springs closest to Portland is located just under two hours away in the lush Mt. Hood National Forest. Popular year-round Bagby Hot Springs features several bathhouses and bathing options. After a 1979 fire burned down the original bathhouse, a new structure was built in its place that houses five private stalls, each with its own tub. Below the main bathhouse, a large, round, wooden tub can comfortably fit a handful of friends, while tubs made of logs fit single bathers.

The rustic tubs are filled from nearby hot springs. Because the temperatures are typically scalding, bathers must fill and carry buckets of cold water to get the baths to a comfortable warmth. Clothing is rare, and late in the evening it’s been known to get fairly busy. Since the springs are only accessible by a 1.5-mile hike, it’s best to arrive with plenty of time (or flashlights) to make it back before dark. Bring $5 cash for parking.

Wellness Food & Drink

Self care doesn't have to stop, nourishing eats and drinks await.

a closeup of a healthy meal

Healthy Food in Portland

Portland may be known for its ice cream, doughnuts, cured meats and fish sauce chicken wings, but it’s also a heavenly spot for healthy eats.

Lan Su Chinese Garden Tea House

Tea: Portland’s Other Hot Brewing Scene

Tea drinkers can enjoy a favorite cuppa or sample exotic varietals in Portland's teahouses. Chai tea, bubble tea and classic green tea are just a few of the many teas brewed in and around Portland.

dish of truffle chocolates next to a mug of coffee on a wooden coffee table

Portland Candy Makers and Chocolatiers

These Portland candy artisans craft unique sweets, be they creamy cacao confections, rainbow-colored candies or salty-sweet treats.

Natural Remedies

You don’t need to be an herbal master to take advantage of Portland’s great herb shops and apothecaries. Stock up on anti-anxiety aromatherapy oils at Clary Sage Herbarium or try traditional natural remedies at the Herb Shoppe Pharmacy. At Wildish you’ll find an extensive selection of locally-sourced herbs, tinctures and tonics along with expert advice.

Attractions

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