Credit: Diego Diaz

Cozy Winter in Portland

Dial into the Pacific Northwest version of hygge, where rainy winter days meet Portland’s expert take on cozy culture.

Credit: Diego Diaz

Yes, it does rain in the winter in Portland, not all the time, but plenty. However, the rain and cooler temperatures provide the perfect excuse to do as locals do and indulge in Portland’s legendary culinary scene, sample craft beers from our 70+ breweries, drink a few extra cups of locally roasted coffee, check out live music performances, and get lost wandering aisles of our independent bookstores.

Several locally beloved events return every winter season, including the vibrant Portland Winter Light Festival a dazzling display of light installations around the city; the epic PDX Jazz Festival; and multiple art, film and music festivals like Portland Old Time Music Gathering, Fan Expo Portland and the Winter Blues Music Festival.

Winter in Portland Quick Facts

What is the coldest month in Portland?

The coldest month in Portland is December, when the average daily low is 35 °F (2 °C), and the daily high is 46 °F (8 °C). January and February are very similar, averaging 36–47 °F (2–8 °C) and 36–51 °F (2–11 °C), respectively.

Does it snow in Portland?

When it comes to snow, Portland gets very little. Average snowfall in Portland is around 3 inches (8 cm) of snow annually, well below the country’s average of 28 inches (71 cm).

Does it rain every day in the winter in Portland?

Winter weather in Portland mainly consists of cool temperatures and rain. On average, Portland gets 43 inches (109 cm) of rain per year. The US average is 38 inches (97 cm) of rain annually. Portland gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 156 days per year. This means it rains (or has some kind of precipitation) less than half of the year.

What is the winter weather like in Portland?

Winter in Portland is the coolest season of the year, with frequent rain showers and mostly cloudy skies from late November to March. Significant snowfall is rare within Portland city limits. The drop in temperature makes for great conditions at Mount Hood, where locals love to ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or just cozy up to a fireplace with a warm drink in hand, the perfect winter activity.

What to Pack

For a wintertime visit to Portland, anytime from November through March, we recommend packing a waterproof or water-resistant coat, a jacket you can layer with, and rain-friendly shoes. If you’re a skier or snowboarder, don’t forget your gear since rain in Portland means plenty of snow on Mount Hood.

Some other useful items to pack if you’re a pluviophile (one who loves rain) are rainboots for jumping into puddles, a yellow rain jacket for a classic Portland photo shoot, and your favorite umbrella, preferably clear, to watch the rain under.

Events, Winter

a night image of the word LOVE spelled out in large letters made of hundreds of small bulbs attached to bicycles in front of a large brick building

Portland Winter Light Festival

Brighten your February with glowing sculptures and thousands of twinkling lights at Portland’s annual Winter Lights Festival.

large lotus shaped lanterns sit in the water with people gazing over a koi pond in a traditional Chinese garden

Lunar New Year Celebrations

Portland's Asian communities celebrate the Lunar New Year with traditional dances, lantern ceremonies and stunning performances.

a band plays in front of a crowd under green, blue, and purple stage lights

January is Portland Music Month

January is officially Portland Music Month and MusicPortland has curated a lineup of 100+ local artists to support the music community. Get tickets to hear extraordinary live music that will light up the winters at venues all over Portland.

Black History Month in Portland

Every February, Americans of all races and backgrounds celebrate Black History Month. Celebrate with these Portland events.

Biamp Portland Jazz Festival

The Portland Jazz Festival returns every February with a stellar series of concerts and events celebrating Black History Month.

$a man in a joker hat is among a crowd of people running in a fun run for new year\'s eve$

New Year’s Eve Events in Portland

When the clock strikes midnight, you could be dancing to bhangra beats, cruising on the Willamette River or indulging in chocolate and Champagne.

Christmas Ships Parade

What started as a lone ribbon-clad sailboat from the Portland Yacht Club in the 1950s became a decades-long nautical Christmas tradition with dozens of boats lighting up the riverfront.

Afuri Ramen & Izakaya in downtown Portland is a favorite spot for comforting soup.

Portland Soup Spots

Whether you’re craving ramen, Mexican pozole or classic chicken noodle, these local soup spots will warm you from the inside out.

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.

A person sitting at a table holds a ramen spoon in a bowl

Portland Ramen Restaurants

The Portland ramen scene has exploded in recent years, spurred by the arrival of two authentic eateries straight from Tokyo.

Knot Springs

Knot Springs is a unique upscale fitness and social club offering workout classes, personal training, massage services, spa facilities with a stunning view and more.
Common Ground Wellness Cooperative

This "urban oasis" is more than just a bathhouse. In addition to an outdoor soaking pool and sauna, Common Ground offers a variety of massage services, naturopathy, acupuncture and more.
Loyly Sauna

This spa is ideal for relaxing in a clean and communal setting inspired by the saunas of Scandinavia.
McMenamins Kennedy School

This 1915 elementary school was renovated in 1997 to encompass hotel rooms, bars, a movie theater, a saltwater soaking pool, a restaurant in the former cafeteria and even a working brewery set in a former girls’ lavatory.
Dosha Salon Spa

This highly regarded salon and spa offers massage, skin and body care, day spa, nail and hair services. This location features a steam room and shower that are complimentary with services such as massages, facials and skin soothing body treatments.

Exterior of a coffeeshop with two benches, hanging plants and a striped awning

Quiet Places Made for Reading

Pick up a winning read at one of Portland’s many independent bookstores and curl up in a cozy corner of one of these eight local coffee shops.

a music dj looking at a laptop connected to electronic turntables

Niche Live Music Venues in Portland

These hidden gems are havens for jazz, punk, bluegrass, funk and more.

a couple observes artwork at Portland Art Museum

Portland Museums

Portland is known for its rich creative community, and DIY makers. From these established museums that showcase the greatest fine artists, to the mailbox-sized galleries of passions, Portland displays all kinds of art and curiosities.

a family roller skating at Oaks Amusement Park

Indoor Activities for Kids

When Portland's weather prevents kids from running around outside, families can choose from dozens of indoor activities.

A bassist performs on stage in front of a drummer

Even More Live Music Venues in Portland

From gritty rock to velvety jazz, Portland’s live music scene offers tunes for all types.

Pájaro

Pájaro is a coffee shop emphasizing low-waste and plant-based drink options. Try the mushroom- and date-derived “horchata de hongo,” an herbaceous take on the classic Latin American beverage horchata.
Deadstock Coffee & Gallery

Inspired by “sneaker culture,” Deadstock Coffee & Gallery offers premium coffee alongside an eclectic mix of coffee-related gift items, including t-shirts, hats, mugs, drawing journals and espresso tampers.
Portland Cà Phê

Known for Vietnamese coffee (iced coffee with condensed milk), this Vietnamese women-owned coffee roaster specializes in single-origin coffee grown in the Central Highlands of Vietnam that can be enjoyed however you normally prepare your coffee.
Tov Coffee & Tea

A trip to Tov Coffee & Tea is truly a unique experience — not technically a coffee “shop,” this coffee bar is housed in a double-decker bus. They specialize in authentic Egyptian coffee and tea, traditional espresso and other house originals.
Proud Mary Cafe

This café serves fine coffee, all-day breakfast, lunch offerings, high-end tea, fresh juice, smoothies, cakes and pastries. They use fresh, sustainable ingredients that are ethically sourced.

a woman walking on a pathway Irving Park

Winter Walks in Portland

Trade muddy trails for winter walks along the smooth, paved walkways of Portland's parks, then treat yourself to a warm mug of coffee or tea.

aerial view of whale watching center and the main street of Depoe Bay

Whale Watching on the Oregon Coast

Up to 20,000 gray whales migrate along Oregon's coast every winter and spring. Spot them from these five locations.

cars driving on snowy highway towards a snow covered Mount Hood

Winter Sports on Mount Hood

Just a 90-minute drive from downtown, Mount Hood sits right in the city’s backyard and makes for a heck of a winter playground.

holiday tree lit up in a large city square

December Events

Favorite December events in Portland include light displays, holiday shopping, seasonal traditions and a caroling competition.

Two actors from the Fertile Ground Festival, dressed in cowboy hats, sit on a curb beneath a freeway overpass. She plays a small guitar as he looks on.

January Events

From folk music to dog shows, Portland kicks off the year with an eclectic assortment of events.

February Events

February in Portland is the perfect month to explore live music, dancing, cultural festivals and more.

Editor's Pick

Ongoing

Portland Saturday Market

Tom McCall Waterfront Park Free

Open every Saturday from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.

Editor's Pick

Attractions

Events

Shopping

Editor's Pick

Ongoing

Portland Latin American Film Festival

Hollywood Theatre $8 – $12

The Portland Latin American Film Festival announces its XVII Season at the Hollywood Theatre, featuring feature films, documentaries, and short films from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay and the USA. Please visit the event website for information on additional screenings. PDXLAFF is a cultural promoter under the guidance of Hollywood…

Editor's Pick

Cultural Communities

Festival

Film

Editor's Pick

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023

Portland Book Festival

Portland Art Museum $0 – $25

Portland Book Festival (formerly “Wordstock”) returns every November with an impressive (and extensive) lineup of local and national authors.

Editor's Pick

Arts

Fall

Festivals

Literary

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

Keller Auditorium $35 – $65

A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip-hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. The…

Performing Arts

Editor's Pick

Nov. 17–Dec. 31, 2023

Silverton Christmas Market

The Oregon Garden $0 – $20

Join an awe-inspiring light display and market at the Oregon Garden Resort. This annual event offers a joyous and magical holiday experience for all ages. Stroll along immersive paths draped in more than one million lights. Explore the authentic German Christmas Market for gifts from artisan vendors and imported German nutcrackers, smokers and ornaments. Visit…

Editor's Pick

Outdoors

Shopping

Editor's Pick

Nov. 24–26, 2023

Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival

Multiple venues Cost Varies

The Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festival, originally conceived in 2018 as a fleeting comedy extravaganza during the Thanksgiving weekend, has since evolved into a premier showcase of comedic talent. With its annual growth in stature and allure, the festival has become a beloved highlight of the Portland comedy scene. It features an impressive lineup of…

Editor's Pick

Comedy

Festival

Nightlife

Editor's Pick

Nov. 24–Dec. 17, 2023

Holiday Express

Oregon Rail Heritage Center $25 – $99

Join Santa Claus and his elves for a magical ride behind the 1912 Polson #2 steam locomotive. Decorated in festive cheer, the heated vintage rail cars transport you along the Willamette River in the heart of the city. Before or after your ride, enjoy concessions, t-shirts, videos, and toys on sale at the Gift Shop…

Editor's Pick

For Kids

History

Editor's Pick

Nov. 24–Dec. 30, 2023

Christmas Festival of Lights

The Grotto TBA

Presenting the sights, sounds and sensations of the season, The Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights is the largest Christmas choral festival in the world. The festival features nearly 160 indoor holiday concerts performed by many of the region’s finest school, church and civic choirs. Offering a family-oriented blend of traditional celebration and serene reflection, the…

Editor's Pick

Festival

Editor's Pick

Nov. 25–Dec. 27, 2023

Cinnamon Bear Holiday Cruises

Portland Spirit Cruises $49 – $66

Cinnamon Bear and his friends from Maybeland are back this holiday season. The whole family will enjoy reserved seating and a plated breakfast while a cast of fanciful characters entertains the kids with storytelling, music and magic. Tickets include a picture with Cinnamon Bear atop his magical throne. Cinnamon Bear has been a holiday tradition…

Editor's Pick

For Kids

Editor's Pick

Nov. 25–Dec. 31, 2023

Winter Wonderland

Portland International Raceway Cost Varies

Recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the “Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi”, Winter Wonderland will grab your attention with glimmers and glows around every corner. Since 1993, a journey through Winter Wonderland has become a holiday tradition for many families, friends, and social organizations to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season….

Editor's Pick

Festival

For Kids

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