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Cascada’s premier facilities offer a full-service spa and soaking experience worth traveling for.

Credit: CASCADA

Wellness in Portland

With self-care options like spas, soaking pools and massage, there's no shortage of relaxing things to do in Portland.

Updated Jan. 22, 2026 4 min read

Paola Santiago

Paola Santiago is the Senior Content Manager for Travel Portland and originates from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Read More

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It’s okay to admit that you occasionally get stressed, tired or overwhelmed — even while traveling. When it comes to wellness in Portland, we take things seriously, especially during the city’s winter season, which lends itself to cozy indoor adventures. Take a break at some of these self-care gems to find your moment of zen before getting back out there and discovering the rest of the adventures Portland has to offer.

Soaking Pools and Saunas in Portland

Inspired by Oregon’s abundant natural hot springs like Breitenbush or Bigelow Hot Springs, you’ll find a range of urban pools and steamy spots that even a city-slicker can melt into.

Credit: CASCADA

Cascada

Cascada is a top-notch wellness destination — Portland’s first underground thermal springs and spa, they offer hot and ambient vitality pools, dry and wet saunas, a cold plunge, relaxation spaces and more. Treatments include massages, facials, scrubs and muds. Best of all, it’s is also a luxury hotel, so you can truly unwind while staying in one of their well-appointed suites. Level up your stay with a yoga class or a strength-training session, then enjoy a nourishing meal at one of several on-site eateries.

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 a sauna and steam room. It’s the perfect wellness retreat to practice self-care.

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 with a restaurant, bars and movie theater. Bring your swimsuit and share the warm waters with patrons of all ages in this scenic setting

Credit: Ashley Anderson

Common Ground Wellness Cooperative

For over 40 years, Portland’s Common Ground has been a home for alternative healing and care. The co-op’s services include massage therapy, naturopathy, skin care, acupuncture, chiropractic care, structural integration, and access 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 any of their services from over 20 experienced practitioners, and enjoy the bathhouse before and after a service session.

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, the other in Southeast, also offer a variety of massage and facial services to help you dial up your sauna experience.

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 every day until midnight and features six different tanks filled with heavily salted, buoyant water. The center offers 6-foot-tall tanks, and each unit has interior light settings and a private showering area.

Spas and Massage in Portland

Discover Pacific Northwest vibes blended with global influences, creating diverse spa experiences with a range of affordability. Scattered all across Portland, self-care abounds from full-service spas to bodywork.

Dragontree Holistic Day Spa

Along with Eastern-focused treatments like acupuncture, herbal medicine and Ayurvedic therapies, Dragontree offers a 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.

Blooming Moon Wellness Spa

Whether it’s deep-tissue massage, aromatherapy, 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 brand-new private soaking studio with a steam shower, hot tub and relaxation accessories like robes, sandals and herbal tea.

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 and newer crazes like floatation therapy in sensory deprivation tanks.

Zama Massage

In addition to traditional massage therapy and facials, Zama Massage offers several distinctive spa services for 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.

5 To Try

Yoga and Exercise in Portland

Resting your body only gets you so far; explore self-care that feels good inside and out.

• Yoga on Yamhill

  This yoga studio fosters a non-competitive, “stay in your own practice” approach, encouraging awareness of pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation.

• 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.

• A-WOL Dance Collective

  Formed in 2003, the A-WOL Dance Collective merges the worlds of dance and aerial. They stage exhilarating performances year-round, as well as the annual outdoor Art in the Dark festival.

• Barre3

  This studio that opened in NW Portland in 2008 now has studios all over the country. Their classes feature a signature full-body workout that includes holds, micro-movements and cardio bursts.

• The People’s Yoga – Killingsworth

  The People’s Yoga is an inclusive community-oriented yoga studio offering classes for people of all levels, backgrounds and incomes. Drop in classes are $12 each and they have a scholarship program available at any of their four locations across town

More Self-Care in Portland

From relaxing strolls to cannabis stores, find more ways to take care of yourself in Portland.

Parks & Gardens

In a city as green as Portland, it’s only fitting that some of the top attractions are spots that appeal to home gardeners and hikers alike. With more than 275 parks and gardens within city limits the urban greens offer a breath of fresh air.

Portland Cannabis and Dispensaries

Learn all about legal cannabis in Portland: rules for cannabis consumption, where to find top dispensaries, places to try CBD and more.

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.

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