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 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.
Earth Day Oregon in Forest Park
Forest Park Conservancy will be celebrating Earth Day Oregon this year on Saturday, April 24, and we’re inviting you to join! We will create small volunteer experiences for small groups spread throughout Forest Park. We will be planting native species and removing invasive species throughout Forest Park. Our goal is to provide fun, helpful ways…
Portland Saturday Market
Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.
Portland Flea + Food
The Portland Flea + Food is a monthly market held on the last Sunday of the month in Portland, Oregon. Every market features 80+ local artists, makers, and curators of the best vintage, handmade and locally-sourced goods in town.
St. Johns Bizarre & Parade
The 2021 St. Johns Bizarre has been canceled. 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…
Pedalpalooza
Pedalpalooza 2021 will last all June, July and August to allow more opportunities for smaller group rides. All ride leaders and participants will be required to wear face masks. Visit the Pedalpalooza website for more details. Every year, Pedalpalooza brings over four weeks of biking fun with special rides and events throughout Portland. With over…
Fleet Week
In 2021, Rose Festival Fleet Week will be virtual, with ship tours and stories about members of the sea services shared virtually, on video. Please visit the event website for current information. Since the very beginning of the Rose Festival back in 1907, visiting ships and other fleet-related elements (like submarines) have been making their…
Portland Rose Society Annual Spring Rose Show
This annual rose show is the nation’s largest and long-running rose show, bringing more than 4,000 blooms to Lloyd Center in Northeast Portland. Explore a huge variety of roses, from the quarter-inch micro-minis to the 8 inch standard blooms.
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).
Soaring – Lavaun Benavidez-Heaster Memorial Show
Lavaun Benavidez-Heaster was a legally blind paper collage artist and a cherished member of the Alberta Street Gallery community. A longtime advocate for others with disabilities, she was a champion for accessibility. Embracing her Indigenous heritage and Ladina culture through her art, she created vibrant, touchable work and guided the gallery toward greater diversity. Lavaun…
umm no, Yuyang Zhang
Fuller Rosen Gallery is delighted to announce umm no, a solo show of new work by Portland-based artist Yuyang Zhang. umm no presents two distinct bodies of work by Zhang; a selection of digital collages and paintings created during quarantine in 2020-21. The gallery will also exhibit a textile banner designed by the artist in…
Unquiet Objects | Curated by Lucy Cotter
Disjecta Contemporary Art Center is pleased to present Unquiet Objects, the second exhibition in Turnstones, Lucy Cotter’s program as Curator in Residence 2020-21. Presenting works by ten international artists, Unquiet Objects questions the naturalized but uneasy separation of cultural objects from human life and social reality. The exhibition highlights the value of (art) objects as…
Seasons of Bulgaria: Folk-inspired Music for Solo Violin
Portland Baroque Orchestra presents the very first performance from Great Arts. Period.’s new studio: Seasons of Bulgaria. Join PBO violinist Toma Iliev as he takes us on a journey through the year with four folk-inspired solo violin pieces by fellow Bulgarian, composer Peter Hristoskov. From the lively dances of Spring to the tumultuous yet hopeful…
HopeBuilder Breakfast Featuring Ann Curry
Join Habitat for Humanity Portland Region for a powerful and inspiring virtual event that will raise funds to build and repair homes for families and individuals across the Portland region. Featuring award-winning journalist Ann Curry, this is a program you won’t want to miss.
Ceramic Showcase + Gathering of the Guilds
Ceramic Showcase and The Gathering of the Guilds are hosting their first virtual show together. The website will feature more than 200 exceptional artists, from 6 Pacific Northwest guilds, working in Metals, Glass, Wood, Beads, Fibers and Clay! Find your favorite artists and learn the best way to purchase from them – ranging from online…
Portland State Steinway Piano Series featuring Anton Nel
The PSU Steinway Piano Series is proud to announce its 2021 feature artist, the internationally celebrated Anton Nel. An acclaimed interpreter and former first prize winner of the Naumburg International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall, Nel performs with “a beautifully weighted tone and a nearly flawless legato.”(Chicago Tribune) Through the PSU Steinway Piano Series, Nel…
Zebrafish and the Secret to Brain Development
Zebrafish, a popular aquarium fish, can reveal the inner workings of the nervous system, according to exciting research from OHSU Professor Kelly Monk, Ph.D. Dr. Monk will share insights on her team’s recent discoveries and how they are opening up exciting opportunities to learn more about brain biology and neurological disease.
FCCO's 23rd Annual Furball – 2021: A Spay Odyssey
Join FCCO’s 23rd Annual Furball. This event will feature a Mission Control, satellite sponsor locations, and crew members joining from far and wide for an evening of exploration and raising much-needed funds for spaying/neutering feral cats in our region. Please consider donating to the auction and/or being a sponsor of the event. You will directly…
Psychedelic Therapy: The Science and Safety of Psilocybin
In November 2020, Oregon became the first state to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms. Join OHSU Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Chris Stauffer, M.D., on a journey through the history, research and modern-day application of psychedelic therapy.
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.
COVID-19 and the Brain: What do we know?
Some people who contract COVID-19 have no symptoms, while some have serious, long-lasting health issues. Peter Spencer, M.D., and Juliette Preston, M.D., will give an overview of what the international and local OHSU communities are doing to track the full-body effects of COVID-19, particularly on the brain. Following their talks, Jacqueline Bernard, M.D., and Andrew…
Lavender Celebration
Experience an abundance of the most fragrant and beautiful lavender in existence. Explore the twists and turns of a Lavender-a-maze. Experience everything lavender you can imagine. Award winning essential oils, plants, and products. If it can be made with this magical herb, Wayward Winds Lavendar Farms do it! Enjoy our Vintage Marketplace and rustic charm.
Gresham Arts Festival
Celebrate art with free, family-friendly fun at the annual Gresham Arts Festival with more than 140 artists, live music, a break dance competition and more. The Gresham Arts Festival draws thousands from around the region each year to Gresham’s charming downtown streets to meet, browse and shop from a carefully curated selection of Northwest artisans,…
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…
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