Emilly Prado
Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More
Cheap Things to Do in Portland for History Buffs
Experience Portland’s history without breaking your budget.
Emilly Prado
Emilly Prado is a writer, award-winning journalist and consultant living in Portland. Read More
Know Before You Go
For any budget itinerary in Portland, we recommend getting an all-day TriMet pass ($5) good for the city’s public light rail, streetcar and bus.
To truly get to know Portland, it’s good to start with its historical roots. These beloved, longstanding local institutions and attractions allow you to explore the Rose City’s history without busting your budget.
Morning
Breakfast in Old Town
Estimated cost: $7–10
Start your morning with diner classics like cheesy Denver omelets and decadent chicken-fried steak and eggs at John’s Café ($7–10, cash only). This retro, family-run breakfast joint in Portland’s oldest neighborhood is perfect for early birds. John and Kristina Kapsopoulos have served customers in their cozy establishment since 1973 and eagerly share stories of yesteryear.
Travel Time to Next Destination
Step Back in Time Downtown
Estimated cost: $5
Next, head to the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center ($5) for an exploration of Oregon’s history of Nikkei, or people of Japanese descent living in the United States. Located in the heart of where Nihonmachi (Japantown) once stood, 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. Walk around historic Old Town Chinatown with the aid of the free “Japantown PDX” app.
Travel Time to Next Destination
Take a quick stroll through the South Park Blocks (free), a Dutch elm-lined corridor developed in the late 19th century. Two blocks south of the Oregon Historical Society (free to Multnomah County residents, with ID), you’ll find Director Park (free), a modern spin on the park blocks. This former parking lot turned European-style plaza features a seasonal wading fountain, family games and cultural events in the summer.
A couple of blocks west, you’ll arrive at the Multnomah County Central Library (free). Built in 1913, it’s the oldest library on the West Coast! Peruse the library’s expansive collection, gorgeous Georgian architecture and works by local zinesters. Between April and October, you may even be able to snag a spot on the library’s free eco-roof tour. General library tours are offered a couple of times a month, all year.
Travel Time to Next Destination
Afternoon
Lunch in Northeast Portland
Estimated cost: $5–10
After all the knowledge-building works up your appetite, take TriMet bus line #6 to Northeast Portland’s Alberta Street for lunch. Budget-friendly choices include hefty, vegan burritos from family-owned El Nutri Taco ($6–10) or La Bonita ($5–9). Or opt for a gooey sandwich from Grilled Cheese Grill ($5–8) or wings and jojos from popular corner store Alberta Street Market ($6).
Alberta Street Black Heritage Walk
Estimated cost: Free
After lunch, 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 African American residents from the Alberta neighborhood. The markers stretch along Northeast Alberta Street from 11th to 24th avenues.
Travel Time to Next Destination
Drink (And Dine) at School
Estimated cost: $10–12
End with dinner, drinks and educational entertainment at McMenamins Kennedy School. This quirky hotel and entertainment complex inhabits the refurbished site of a once-abandoned elementary school, originally constructed in 1915.
Happy hour offerings at the former school’s five bars and restaurants include $5 pints of brewed-on-site beer and pub fare like Cajun tater tots and cheeseburger sliders ($4.25–7). The Kennedy School hosts trivia twice a month and regular free history-themed events in the on-site movie theater, and offers a ceramic saltwater soaking pool ($5 per person, per hour) that’s open to non-hotel guests daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (don’t forget your swimsuit and towel!).
Portland on a Budget
Explore more wallet-friendly activities and attractions in Portland.
Upcoming Free Events
There's no need to break the bank with these upcoming no-cost events.
Portland Greek Festival
The Portland Greek Festival is celebrated as the largest Greek Festival on the west coast with more than 15,000 people attending. This cultural experience features Greek food, music, dance and shopping! The Agora – the Greek marketplace features imported merchandise, clothing, jewelry, icons, flokati rugs and cookbooks. Among the fabulous food, exclusive cooking demonstrations, and…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday and Sunday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a water course.
Veterans Day Parade
Honor Veterans Day with Portland’s annual Veterans Day Parade. The Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at Northeast 40th and Northeast Sandy Boulevard and travels down Sandy, ending at Sandy & 48th in front of Ross Hollywood Chapel, which is the site of the Veterans Memorial Flag pole. At the conclusion of the parade, there is…
GeekCraft Expo
GeekCraft Expo is a curated craft market specializing in handmade, “geek”-themed crafts of all kinds; clothing, accessories, toys, home decoration, furniture, art . . . if it’s geeky and made by hand, it can be found at a GeekCraft Expo. Cosplay is highly encouraged and admission is free (you just need to pre-register).
St. Johns Bizarre & Parade
The St. Johns Bizarre is a uniquely crafted celebration that kicks off the summer street fair season in Portland with music, kids’ activities and more. Held annually on the second Saturday in May, the Bizarre brings music, crafts and food to the crowds attending the St. Johns Parade. After the parade, the entire six block…
Garden Shop Sale at Lan Su Chinese Garden
Enjoy 35% – 60% off on over 200 regular priced items in stationery, clothing, jewelry, books, housewares and more! Come take advantage of this sale while visiting your favorite Chinese garden in Portland. All sales are final. No additional discounts apply. Garden admission or membership required.
YOU WERE HERE – PORTLAND: A look back at Portland, forgotten icons
Print exhibition with 30+ prints of images of people, places and things that no longer exist in Portland. From the magnificent to the mundane.
Loopholes – Devin Harclerode and Laura Camila Medina
Fuller Rosen Gallery proudly presents Loopholes, a two-person show featuring new work by Devin Harclerode and Laura Camila Medina. Loopholes explores myth-making as it relates to personal experience, memory, and manipulation. Harclerode and Medina use a unique lexicon of symbols, language, and imagery to guide the viewer through their constructed realities. Loopholes will be the…
Art Museum: Free First Thursday
Enjoy free admission to the Museum the first Thursday of each month from 5 – 8 p.m.
Free First Thursday
On the First Thursday of the month from 5-8 p.m, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education participates in the city-wide First Thursday Gallery Walk. During the First Thursday hours, the museum is open and free to the public.
Jaded: A Comedy Open Mic
A comedy open mic hosted by Eddie Churnetski and Benton Crider. 18+ until 8 p.m., 21+ after 8 p.m. If you are under 21 and would like to go up early, please message the Trash Amp Productions Facebook page.
Bach Sonatas: Part II
Portland Baroque Orchestra presents the second part of Bach’s six beloved sonatas for violin and obbligato harpsichord performed by Artistic Director Monica Huggett and harpsichordist Byron Schenkman. Huggett and Schenkman’s performance of Part I premiered in August. Veiw the online premiere on YouTube. This performance, like all of PBO’s 20-21 Season, is presented through Great…
THE 2020 GLEAN EXHIBITION
This exhibition will feature new works by May Maylisa Cat, Curtis Reid Henderson, Christina Kemp, Cristina Niculescu and Lynn Yarne. GLEAN is a juried art program that taps into the creativity of artists to inspire people to think about their consumption habits, the waste they generate and the resources they throw away. In light of…
Travel Oregon: Oregon Tourism Commission
The Oregon Tourism Commission meets five times annually, and meetings are open to the public. Topics for the October meeting include COVID-19 and wildfire emergency response, regional partner updates and a public affairs and policy update. A full copy of the agenda is available online.
Write Around Portland's Bi-Monthly BIPOC Writing Workshops
Writing is often thought of as something done in isolation; we know there is immense power when writing is done in community. Join Write Around Portland for creativity and community-building, with generative writing exercises, sharing and strengths-based feedback. Thier workshop model, refined over 21 years, is proven for people of all writing levels: from the…
Our Bold Voices Presents: National Coming Out Day
Local voices come alive for National Coming Out Day. Our Bold Voices presents local stories, live Q&A, and music. National Coming Out Day is celebrated annually since 1988 to raise awareness of the LGBT+ community and the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
Soovin Kim: Bach’s Complete Violin Sonatas & Partitas
Soovin Kim, Chamber Music Northwest’s new Co-Artistic Director, kicks off the season with a free performance of Bach’s majestic set of six sonatas and partitas for solo violin. Kim is internationally recognized for his solo and chamber music performances as well as his work as a teacher and an artistic director. Witness Kim bring each…
Housing Justice in Portland: Featuring Rukaiyah Adams
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the root causes of racial disparities in housing, you will not want to miss this event. Free to attend. Learn about the impacts of Portland’s racist housing practices. Hear from one of Portland’s most highly regarded leaders—Rukaiyah Adams— as she helps bring to light racial disparities…
Sleuthing COVID-19: Lessons Learned and What’s to Come
As the virus bore down on our planet, infectious disease researcher Dr. William Messer and data scientist Dr. Peter Graven helped OHSU and Oregon plot a path to safety. What do we know now about the virus and what can we expect as winter approaches? This is one of three in the Marquam Talks virtual…
Virtual Portland Light The Night
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual Light The Night will look a little different this year— with a $750,000 fundraising goal, the October 17th walk welcomes teams of friends, family and co-workers to join the fight against blood cancers. The virtual event will still include many of the meaningful events including the Circle of…
Open Labyrinth Walk
A public labyrinth walk held on the third Monday of every month on the beautiful wood labyrinth at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. No prior experience needed, and there is no wrong way to walk.
Art Museum Photography Brown Bag Talk
Every third Wednesday of the month at noon, photography enthusiasts gather at the Portland Art Museum to hear talks by regional photographers, gallerists, historians, curators and collectors.
Redrawing Story Lines: Improving Health for Older African Americans in Changing Neighborhoods
Neurologist and medical anthropologist Dr. Raina Croff combines neighborhood walks with active reminiscence to forestall memory loss in older African Americans, while reclaiming their sense of place, self and social connection. This is one of three in the Marquam Talks virtual lecture series sponsored by Oregon Health & Science University. It is free and all…
Lents International Farmers Market
Lents International Farmers Market opens on Sunday, June 2, 2019 and is open every Sunday through November 24, 2019. The Lents International Farmers Market (LIFM) is the only one in Portland with an intentional international focus. LIFM provides fresh, affordable and culturally appropriate produce to the diverse community of Lents neighbors. Founded in 2006 by…