Portland’s downtown area showcases its many bridges and expansive waterfront park.

Credit: NASHCO Photo

Neighborhoods

You haven’t truly been to Portland until you’ve connected with our diverse communities.

Updated Oct. 19, 2022

Illustration by Subin Yang

A City of Neighborhoods

In our classic quirky fashion, Portland’s six main geographical sections (North, Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast and Southwest) are referred to by residents as the city’s “quadrants.” The city is divided into north and south by Burnside Street and into east and west by the Willamette River.

Portland actually has more than 90 formally recognized neighborhoods with distinct boundaries. Our highlighted neighborhood and street guides highlight some of the best places to explore as a visitor to the city, where many restaurants and shops are consolidated.

Portland Central City Map

An overview of the central city and Washington Park

Portland Overview Map

Outside of Central City perimeter map view

Portland Region Map

A beyond-Portland map view

Convention Center Area Parking

A map of parking locations around OCC.

People entering and exiting a TriMet bus downtown

Bus Service

The TriMet bus system, which covers the city and its suburbs, offers low fares, friendly drivers and full wheelchair accessibility.

A light rail train passes in front of a modern, glass-encased retail store

MAX Light Rail

Portland's efficient light rail system connects the metro area and downtown core. Learn how to ride and where to go on MAX.

$A streetcar passes by a large, red sculpture in front of a building with a neon sign reading, \"Go By Streetcar.\"$

Portland Streetcar

The City of Roses built the nation’s first modern-day streetcar in 2001: the sleek and modern Portland Streetcar.

A person standing over an orange bike next to bike stands

Biketown Bike-Share in Portland

Introduced in 2016, Portland’s bike-share program brings 1,000 smart bicycles to the central city.

person on e-scooter passes mural reading Long Live the Wildcards, Misfits & Dabblers

Electric Scooters (E-Scooters) in Portland

E-scooter sharing lets users rent vehicles via an app for one-way trips. Before boarding, check out our dos and don’ts for riding e-scooters in Portland.

North Portland

Sometimes called the “Fifth Quadrant,” North Portland encompasses a range of neighborhoods and commercial districts, including Cathedral Park, Mississippi/Williams and Kenton. Attractions include the St. Johns Bridge, Portland International Raceway and Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area.

two people browse products inside a shop

Mississippi

Enjoy live music, local shops, an LGBTQ+ center and popular restaurants and bar on this historic North Portland street.

St. Johns

Discover a lesser-known side of Portland in St. Johns, home to one of Bridgetown’s most gorgeous spans and most beloved parks.

two bartenders make drinks while customers sit at bar looking at a menu

Williams

Steps away from bustling Mississippi Avenue, this vibrant North Portland street offers stellar shopping, dining and activities.

Northeast Portland

This quadrant contains many popular neighborhoods, including Lloyd, the Alberta Arts District and Hollywood. The Moda Center and Rose Quarter play host to NBA games and major concerts in what used to be the historically Black Albina neighborhood. The Oregon Convention Center is centrally located in Northeast Portland, with local arts gems like Hollywood Theater and Alberta Street Gallery found in their namesake neighborhoods.

Alberta Arts District

Lined with street art, galleries, restaurants and bars, this Northeast Portland neighborhood is best known for its colorful monthly street fair.

a white person with long hair on one side and a shaved head on the other side, sips from a coffee mug in a warmly lit bakery.

Beaumont

Home to bakeries, coffee shops and yoga studios galore, Portland's largely residential Beaumont neighborhood is an excellent place to start your day.

Cully

This family-friendly Northeast Portland community brims with historic architecture and great eateries.

A historic movie theater with an ornate facade

Hollywood

This historic corner of Northeast Portland is home to an array of treasured Old Portland gems.

sunset distant landscape view of the oregon convention center and city lights

Lloyd

Just across the river from downtown, the Lloyd neighborhood in Northeast Portland caters to convention attendees, sports fans and shoppers.

A woman spoons the whipped cream from the top of a milkshake at a pharmacy soda fountain

Roseway

Roseway is a thriving, family-friendly community brimming with nonprofits, historic architecture and some great places to nosh. This family-friendly Northeast Portland community brims with historic architecture and great eateries.

people walking on the sidewalk under a vintage Hollywood Theater sign

Sandy Boulevard

Sandy Boulevard, stretching diagonally across the east side of the city, was once a stretch of auto shops and warehouses but is now a destination for dining, drinking and entertainment on Portland's east side.

$A well-lit building at dusk has outdoor seating and a sign out front that reads, \"Migration.\"$

28th Avenue

Spend a day dining, drinking and exploring along the lively restaurant row on Portland's Northeast 28th Avenue.

a cyclists walks through piles of autumn leaves beneath a very large tree with more yellow leaves, in autumn

42nd Avenue

Urban farms and foodies define this Northeast Portland strip, once home to one of the earliest dairies in East Portland. 42nd Ave is one of the most charming areas for eating, dancing, recreation and immersing yourself in the local community.

Northwest Portland

Home to a neighborhood that shares its name with the quadrant (Northwest Portland, also called Nob Hill), this quadrant boasts sophisticated shopping and dining, as well as Forest Park’s urban wilderness and sweeping city views from historic Pittock Mansion.

groups of people and couples walking on busy tree-lined street filled with storefronts in old Victorian homes

Northwest / Nob Hill

Old Portland charm lives through the repurposed Victorian homes, now boutiques and restaurants which line the streets of Portland's Northwest district with sophisticated shopping, dining, an urban forest and breathtaking views of the city.

person sitting on the ground in front of a pond with a bicycle with cityscape in front and a blue sky with white clouds overhead

Pearl District

The chic Pearl District features galleries and cultural institutions, as well as stylish shops and acclaimed eateries on loading docks with cobblestone streets, which hint at this former warehouse district’s past.

portland oregon old town neon sign with white stage in twilight sky

Old Town Chinatown

Today, Portland’s original downtown is a bustling entertainment district, home to Portland's famous Saturday Market, Chinatown Museum and Lan Su Chinese Garden.

Central Eastside

Criss-crossed with train tracks and lined with old industrial factories, some of Portland's favorite restaurants, microbreweries, boutiques and events call the Central Eastside home.

Go To Central Eastside

Southeast Portland

East of the Willamette River and south of Burnside Street, this large quadrant is home to many favorite neighborhoods and business districts, as well as the dormant volcano at Mount Tabor Park and delectable Asian food in the Jade District.

person walking through a cannabis dispensary

Belmont

Located a few blocks from Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Belmont, a once sleepy residential street boasts its own mix of vintage and indie shops, coffee houses, bars and food carts.

row of colorful shops on southeast division street

Division/Clinton

Division is now one of Portland’s most dynamic and stylish neighborhoods. Spend a day wandering its many blocks, stopping along the way to snack, sip and shop at its many must see— and must-eat — destinations.

Square pizzas and beer samplers on a table

Foster-Powell

This bike- and pedestrian-friendly Southeast Portland neighborhood (affectionately known as "FoPo") has a character all its own. FoPo is home to unique experiences you can’t find anywhere else in the city.

Hawthorne

Southeast Portland’s laidback, bohemian district is filled with local artisans and flare. Hawthorne Boulevard is a walkable street with block after block of vintage shops, boutiques, cafes, and historic venues.

Patrons of all ages shop at a famrers market in an urban parking lot

Lents

Discover diverse sights and flavors in this East Portland neighborhood.

a blue theater with a car parked out front

Montavilla

Follow our guide to eat and explore the best that Montavilla has to offer, only an easy 6-mile journey from downtown Portland.

Sellwood-Moreland

History — from a vintage amusement park to antique goods — and stunning views of the city along the river dominates this Southeast Portland area.

Jade District

This Southeast Portland neighborhood is a bustling cultural hub, home to a population largely composed of immigrants and people of color. Eat and explore in one of the city's most diverse communities.

Go To Jade District

Southwest Portland

Downtown Portland anchors the Southwest Portland quadrant, which extends into and beyond the West Hills to include attraction-packed Washington Park and neighborhoods like Multnomah Village, with its small-town charm.

Downtown

Portland’s compact, walkable downtown offers easy access to great food, green spaces, cultural offerings and tax-free shopping. Browse the city’s most diverse mix of retail brands, see a show and grab a bite at a food cart or fine restaurant.

Goose Hollow

With great eateries, Portland-style shopping and an abundance of things to do in Goose Hollow, sports fans, theater lovers and vegan foodies flock to this Southwest Portland district.

Wood-fired seasonal pizzas being prepared at Tastebud.

Multnomah Village

Known as “the village in the heart of Portland,” historic Multnomah Village delivers small town charm mere minutes from the city center.

Washington Park

Beyond picnics and verdant strolls, Washington Park offers up a zoo, two museums, a spectacular rose garden, an arboretum, one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the world, all lined by one of the largest urban forests, Forest Park.

a red panda walks on a tree limb, surrounded by leaves

Oregon Zoo

Located near downtown Portland in Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,600 animals.

people visiting a blooming Rose Garden in Washington Park

Portland International Rose Test Garden

The oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States, the Portland International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park features more than 10,000 roses, great views of the skyline and the Cascades.

people sitting, walking in brick plaza with white columns

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, the city’s “living room” is close to shopping, restaurants, and hotels, and hosts hundreds of events each year.

$Two people kissing in front of the \"Love Rules\" sign at Portland Art Museum.$

Portland Art Museum

The largest art museum in Oregon and one of the oldest in the country, the Portland Art Museum is central to the city's cultural district, housing a large and wide-ranging collection of artworks.

a museum exhibit featuring a wooden canoe

Oregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society collection includes thousands of historic artifacts (including the “Portland Penny") that shaped the land now known as Oregon, with permanent and rotating exhibits and an extensive research library.

vintage Portland marquee sign attached to a brick building

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

This historic downtown performance space in the heart of the cultural center houses the Oregon Symphony and hosts many touring acts. Close to downtown parks and restaurants, the Schnitz (as locals call it) resounds with art and culture.

South Portland

South Portland is a slim strip of land on the west side of the Willamette River—and Portland’s newest “quadrant,” gaining official recognition in 2020. This area offers water recreation, low-key urban green spaces and dining and shopping in the South Waterfront district.

Neighborhoods

South Portland

South Portland is a slim strip of land on the west side of the Willamette River. This laidback river community is a perfect 10 if water recreation, low-key urban green spaces and hubs to grub and shop are your things.

Go To South Portland

Was this page helpful?