Things to Do in Portland

Activities & attractions

  • Young woman shopping for boots at Solestruck in downtown's West End.

    Tax-free shopping

    Pick up everything in Portland (everything!) without sales tax. From handmade items to designer goods, you'll find it all, tax-free.

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  • Large pink and yellow rhododendron are the backdrop for a young woman playing in Portland’s Washington Park.

    Portland with kids

    Families will find lots to enjoy in Portland, from hands-on science at OMSI to baby elephants at the zoo, with plenty of parks and free attractions, too.

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  • Aerial view of downtown's Pioneer Courthouse Square filled with people, concessions and a stage for live music.

    Tours & Itineraries

    Let local experts, and our targeted itineraries, offer inspiration for your time in — and around — Portland.

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  • The Stone House in Forest Park provided a spooky backdrop for the TV show "Grimm" and is a great place for these two boys to have an adventure.

    Parks & gardens

    In a city as green as Portland, it's only fitting that some of the top attractions are outdoor spots that appeal to home gardeners and hikers alike.

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  • A couple jogs on one of Forest Park’s 70 miles of trails.

    Outdoors

    You don't have to venture far from town to find yourself paddling on a secluded bay, hiking a forested trail or observing native wildlife.

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  • Portland Timbers fans dressed in green and white, waving scarves overhead, cheer on the team.

    Spectator sports

    From seeing a soccer match with the Timbers Army to rooting for Rip City and the Trail Blazers, Portland loves its sports.

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  • Dancers hit the floor at the popular indie music venue Holocene.

    Nightlife

    Dance clubs, karaoke and comedy all come out at night in Portland — as do late happy hours, swanky bowling and other unexpected delights.

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  • October's eclectic live music lineup jumps from jazz to classical.

    Arts & Culture

    Portland's cultural offerings include live music, visual arts, dance, theater, film festivals, museums and galleries.

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Food & drink

  • Man tending crops on Meriwether's Skyline Farm.

    Farm-to-fork dining in Portland

    Close proximity to natural bounty defines Portland cuisine, and hyper-local offerings are nearly as common at food carts as they are at fine restaurants.

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  • Diners enjoying food at Clyde Common with cooks prepping food in background.

    Downtown dining

    Downtown, you'll find everything from budget food cart lunches to fine dining at acclaimed restaurants — nearly all emphasizing local, seasonal ingredients.

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  • Nong Poonsukwattana, owner of Nong's Khao Man Gai, at cart service window.

    Food carts

    Portland’s selection of food carts — the city has more than 600 — has drawn global acclaim (CNN declared Portland home to the world’s best street food). Most carts are grouped in “pods” all around town, making it easy to sample several carts at a time.

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  • It's OK to play with your food at Voodoo Doughnut.

    Chocolate & sweets

    Portland's fondness for sweet stuff goes way beyond Voodoo Doughnut to include artisan chocolates, inventive ice cream and more.

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  • A group enjoying samples of beer at The Commons brewery.

    Beer

    Beer lovers, look no further — in Portland, you’ll find over 65 breweries, scads of annual beer fests, brew ‘n’ view movie theaters, beer pairings at fine restaurants and tap lists galore.

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  • Couple sampling spirits at the New Deal Distillery as the bartender waits to serve the next taste.

    Cocktails & craft spirits

    Inspired by their forerunners in the beer and wine scenes, industrious distillers are making the city the center of a new artisan distillery movement.

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  • Two women laughing as they taste wines at Enso Winery.

    Urban wineries in Portland

    Driven by winemakers motivated to move their operations closer to where they live and socialize, Portland has nearly a dozen urban wineries.

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  • Diners enjoying breakfast at the wood themed Woodsman Tavern.

    Restaurant round-ups

    These round-ups will help you find a brunch spot, a table with a view of an acclaimed chef at work, a source for kid-pleasing vittles and more.

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Culture

  • Viewers of all ages enjoying an exhibit at Portland's Museum of Contemporary Craft.

    Museums & historic sites

    At these monuments and museums, you can explore Portland’s pioneer origins and Native history, as well as exceptional collections of art, crafts and more.

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  • Laughing couple in front of colorful canvas at Elizabeth Leach Gallery.

    Visual arts

    Famously creative Portland has a wealth of offerings for art lovers, from elite galleries to DIY artisan retailers to fascinating splashes of public art.

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  • Large audience enjoying a live musical performance at the Crystal Ballroom.

    Music

    Portland's musical offerings are diverse as the city itself, with options including indie rock, jazz, classical, pop and more.

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  • Child wearing a pincushion headdress plays toy piano under the watchful eye of another pincushion in a production at Portland Center Stage.

    Performing arts

    Portland's performing arts community includes musical, dance and theater offerings — often combined in unexpected ways.

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  • Diverse movie goers fill the seats at the colorful Hollywood Theatre for the Portland International Film Festival.

    Film

    Packing an impressive array of theaters, Portland almost always seems to have a film festival (or two) going — and the fact that many movie houses also serve delicious local beer doesn’t hurt, either.

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Events

  • Row after row of tulips in red, yellow, white and vibrant purple fill the fields at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival.

    Spring events

    April, May and June bring spring showers, blooming flowers and lots of only-in-Portland activities.

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  • Tables overflow with happy beer drinkers during the July Oregon Brewers Festival.

    Summer events

    Portland pulls out all the stops, with festivals celebrating craft beer, music, contemporary art and the city’s internationally acclaimed culinary scene.

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  • A woman and three children find their way through the tall corn at the Corn Maize at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island.

    Fall events

    As the weather cools, Portland's calendar fills with cultural, wine and holiday events.

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  • A jazz trio on piano, saxophone and double bass perform during the Portland Jazz Festival.

    Winter events

    In January, February and March, Portland offers plenty of activities to while away the cool days and long nights.

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  • The Portland Farmers Market at PSU information tent with fresh squash, peas, peppers, zucchini and kale in the foreground.

    Food & drink events

    With lush farms, rivers and the ocean all nearby — and with masterful chefs and artisan producers in the city — it's no wonder Portland has so many events centered around food and drink.

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  • A very happy man with a long red beard enjoying a dark beer at the Deschutes Brewery Street Fare.

    Beer festivals in Portland

    Portland isn't shy about its love of beer — the city has nearly as many beer festivals as it does breweries.

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  • A large gathering of men, all in red dresses, celebrate at the Red Dress Party.

    LGBT festivals & events

    From film festivals to parties and pride parades, Portland's LGBTQ community celebrates all year 'round.

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Neighborhoods & regions

  • The iconic Portland sign lights up the night as cars stream past the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

    Downtown Portland

    Portland’s compact, walkable downtown offers easy access to great food, green spaces, cultural offerings and tax-free shopping at the city’s most diverse mix of retail brands.

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  • The Portland Oregon sign is an Old Town landmark.

    Old Town Chinatown

    The city's original downtown is now a bustling entertainment district, home to the famous Portland Saturday Market, Voodoo Doughnut and Lan Su Chinese Garden.

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  • Women drinking coffee on the boardwalk outside of Lovejoy Bakers as the Portland Streetcar passes by.

    Pearl District

    Loading docks and cobblestone streets hint at this former warehouse district’s past, while stylish bars and gleaming lofts point toward the future.

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  • The Oregon Convention Center's twin green glass spires rise into a blue sky while downtown sparkles in the background.

    Lloyd District

    Easily accessible via light rail and streetcar, the Lloyd District contains the convention center, Oregon's largest mall and the Moda Center, which hosts NBA games and concerts.

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  • Shoppers stroll along the tree shaded Northwest 23rd Avenue frequently pausing before colorful shops.

    Northwest Portland / Nob Hill

    Boutiques, restaurants and Victorian houses line the streets of this neighborhood that's ideal for leisurely strolls, while adjoining Forest Park was made for hikes.

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  • Dinners enjoying the last rays of sun on the rooftop deck at Noble Rot restaurant with sweeping views of downtown in the background.

    Central Eastside

    Just across the Willamette River from downtown, this district blends warehouses, train tracks and a rising tide of restaurants, breweries and clubs — plus river access.

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  • A couple enjoys a meal and beer at one of Tasty n Sons long wooden tables.

    Mississippi/Williams

    North Mississippi Avenue features a long stretch of stores, bars and restaurants; the acclaimed eateries and bars on up-and-coming North Williams are just half a mile away.

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  • Last Thursday shopper tries on a peacock feather butterfly hair accessory.

    Alberta Arts District

    Lined with shops, galleries, restaurants and bars, Northeast Alberta Street erupts into a colorful street fair on the last Thursday of every month.

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  • A foursome laughing over drinks at the Whiskey Soda Lounge.

    Division/Clinton

    This pair of close-in Southeast Portland streets features block after block of must-see — and must-eat — destinations.

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  • The Bagdad Theater’s neon sign lights up the night on Hawthorne Boulevard.

    Hawthorne

    Eclectic is the norm on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, a walkable street with block after block of vintage shops, boutiques and cafés.

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  • A young customer at Belmont's Good Food Here food cart pod stands on a log to reach the service window.

    Belmont

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

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  • A 19th century white church stands tall over tree filled grounds and a red brick edged gravel path.

    Sellwood-Moreland

    Historic Sellwood-Moreland boasts an array of shops, vintage vendors and restaurants, as well as a rambling wildlife refuge — all just minutes from downtown.

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  • Wahclella Falls cascades down huge rock walls bordered with lush moss and trees, finally passing under two wooden foot bridges.

    Columbia River Gorge

    Starting 30 miles east of Portland, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers amazing vistas, hiking trails, dozens of waterfalls and world-class windsurfing.

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  • A snow covered Mount Hood rises above the thick forest surrounding Trillium Lake.

    Mount Hood

    Just over an hour from Portland, Oregon's tallest peak offers scenic recreation ranging from camping, hiking and fishing to nearly year-round skiing.

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  • The sun sets over Meredith Mitchell Vineyards as a worker takes his tractor homeward.

    Wine Country

    Less than an hour from Portland, the gorgeous Willamette Valley boasts more than 250 wineries, quaint towns and rolling farmland ripe for touring.

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  • Beach goers enjoy the low tide with Cannon Beach's unique Haystack Rock rising in the background.

    Oregon Coast

    Where Oregon meets the Pacific Ocean, you'll find rocky vistas, mile upon mile of public beaches, artistic enclaves, working fishing towns, family attractions, seafood and, yes, even surfing.

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  • Smith Rock’s orange cliff formations contrast with a blue evening sky filled with star trails.

    Central Oregon

    Whether you're fly-fishing, rock climbing or skiing, Central Oregon's unspoiled terrain offers the perfect setting.

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  • Crater Lake’s steep surrounding slopes and central island are offset by the deep blue water.

    Southern Oregon

    With landscapes as varied as the wild, wooded Rogue River and serene Crater Lake, Southern Oregon is no mere day trip.

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  • A helmeted person navigates a path of logs suspended from cables high above the forest floor at Tree to Tree Adventure Park.

    Nearby attractions

    From zip lines to whitewater rafting and horseback riding to pioneer history, these attractions are worth the (short) trips.

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  • Sunset’s orange glow bath Mt. Hood’s snow capped peaks, Oregon City’s homes and Willamette Falls’ frothy waters.

    Nearby towns

    Visit these burgs to explore the region's rich pioneer history and to immerse yourself in nature.

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