If you’re making a weekend trip to Portland, buckle up; there are enough things to do in and around the city to last a year. From noshing on delicious foods to hiking to stunning waterfalls to walking from the smallest park in the world to one of the biggest in the country to topping it all off with a world-class IPA, Portland has a little something for everyone.
Visitors often lament that Portland doesn’t have a big attraction like a Space Needle or Golden Gate Bridge, but we feel that’s what makes the city amazing. It’s a place where the best weekends are the ones where you get out and explore the city. Find the hidden gems, the cozy brunch spots, and the neighborhood brewery with the perfect patio to kill an hour or two.
Here are our must-do things in Portland, but use them as a starting point to get out in the city and explore everything this amazing Pacific Northwest destination has to offer.
Eat Brunch at Screen Door
A foodie city is always cycling through must-try restaurants featuring the latest and greatest in culinary creations. But sometimes, you just have to go back to what is familiar, and in Portland, that is brunch at Screen Door.
This SE (and now downtown as well) Portland brunch institution has been serving up its must-try southern cuisine since 2006. If you’ve lived in Portland for any length of time, odds are you’ve had more than a few helpings of their incredible chicken and waffles.
If you go, expect a line, but I can promise you it’s worth the wait.
Hike Through Forest Park
Forest Park runs along the hills that separate downtown Portland from the suburbs to the west. This forest oasis is one of the largest urban parks in the country and is a mecca for bikers, hikers, and trail runners who will often traverse the entire 30-mile length in a single go.
The park’s trails also connect to popular spots like the Portland Zoo, Pittock Mansion, and Washington Park.
If you go, keep an eye out for wildlife as the park is home to bobcat, deer, coyote, and even the occasional black bear.
Visit the Rose Garden
No trip to the City of Roses would be complete without a visit to the International Rose Test Garden. This garden serves as a testing ground for commercial roses, and in any given year, you can wander among approximately 10,000 individual rose bushes made up of 600+ different rose varieties.
The test garden is located in Washington Park in the hills above downtown Portland. Make sure to take time to wander the trails through the park, and remember not to pick the roses.
Take in the Splendor of Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls would probably be the closest thing to a marquee attraction in or around Portland. With over 2 million annual visitors, the parking lots have had to move to a timed entry permit to alleviate the massive overcrowding and jostling for parking spots that were taking place on busy weekends.
The hassle is worth it, though as these incredible falls, which are the tallest waterfall in the state, cascade over 600 feet from the basalt cliffs above to the pools in front of the historic lodge. The viewing bridge standing over the second stage of the falls only adds to the beauty of this incredible natural wonder.
Those feeling up for a workout can hike the 2.3-mile round trip up to the top of the falls and back for more incredible views.
Try a New Flavor of Ice Cream at Salt and Straw
Portland is well known for pushing the envelope with coffee, beer, donuts, and now ice cream. Salt and Straw is a local ice cream shop that quickly rose to prominence with its unique flavor combinations using both local and sometimes off-the-wall ingredients.
Each of their scoop shops has a set of regular flavors that are available year-round, as well as monthly seasonal flavors that feature in-season ingredients or highlight special events (hello, Halloween!)
It’s always fun to try their flavors of the month, but our go-to is usually the Chocolate Gooey Brownie.
Pick Berries at Sauvie Island
Sauvie Island is a small island situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers just north of Portland. The island is dead flat and is filled with family-owned farms that specialize in growing Portland favorites like strawberries, marionberries, and blueberries. Along with plenty of veggies, of course!
No summer visit is complete without spending an afternoon at one of the island’s U-pick farms, filling up your basket with fresh berries, or, during the fall months, visiting a pumpkin patch and wandering through the corn maze.
Look for Art at the Saturday Market
The Portland Saturday Market has been the place to pick up local art on the Portland waterfront for 50 years now. Operating every Saturday, March through Christmas, the vendors will be there rain or shine.
The market is the largest continually operating outdoor market in the United States and is a hoot to wander through on even the dreariest of Portland days. You’ll find all kinds of eclectic offerings from the people who make this wonderful city the amazing place that it is.
Browse for Books at Powell’s
If you’ve ever wanted to get truly lost among rows of books, Powell’s Books is the place for you. This new and used bookstore takes up an entire city block and is three levels high, and it is guaranteed to have something for everyone.
Looking for a Boy Scout manual from the 1970s? They probably have it. Want to check out a rare first-edition book? Head up to the rare books room. Want to grab an easy reader and drink coffee? Well, you’re in luck as there is a coffee shop inside as well.
At the very least, you can pick up a t-shirt to let everyone know that you’ve visited the largest new and used bookstore in the world.
Grab an IPA at One of Portland’s Incredible Breweries
The Pacific Northwest, and specifically Portland, is a beer mecca, with IPA being the variety of choice. With the Pacific Northwest growing the vast majority of hops grown in the entire country, it is no surprise that the most hop-forward beer would reign supreme.
There are dozens of outstanding breweries all over the city so get out and explore and find your new favorite NW IPA.
Drive (or hike) to Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion stands high above Portland in the West Hills and offers up one of the best views in the city. The mansion was originally built between 1912 and 1914 by the Pittock family but fell into deep disrepair after the Columbus Day storm in 1962.
Luckily for us, a group of Portlanders worked to save the mansion from demolition, and it still stands today as a museum and a wonderful place to spend an evening.
Find Your Inner Zen at the Japanese Garden
Another gem of Washington Park, the Japanese Garden, is one of the most tranquil places to spend an afternoon in the city. It is home to features like gardens of raked sand and stone, cascading waterfalls, an authentic tea house, and perhaps the most photographed Japanese maple in the entire city.
Despite the gardens being outdoors, the environment becomes even more magical on rainy or misty Pacific Northwest days.
Bike The Waterfront
Portland is one of the best cities for biking in the country, with miles of trails and protected bikeways crisscrossing the city’s neighborhoods. One of the best ways to see the city and lovely Willamette River is to rent a bike and bike the waterfront trails from the steel bridge all the way down to the Sellwood bridge, cross the river, and return on the other side.
Along the way you’ll pass by 8 of Portland’s bridges, Oak’s Bottom Amusement Park, and the charming neighborhood of Sellwood which makes the perfect place to stop and grab some lunch.
Try Sebastiano’s for their house-baked bread, sandwiches, and cannolis.
Explore the Spooky Witch’s Castle
Portland’s Witch’s Castle has a long history, although none of it relates to actual witches. Originally the site of a homestead back in the 1800’s, the building has been used as a ranger outpost, restrooms, and most recently as a party spot for local high schoolers.
Today, you can hike the 3/4 mile trail from the Lower Macleay Trailhead to the abandoned building that is covered in a combination of moss and graffiti. For an extra spooky experience, hike up at twilight on a misty fall day and listen to the silence, or lack thereof, of the forest.
Ride the Tram
Portland’s South Waterfront District was envisioned as a convenient place for staff of nearby OHSU to live, and to ease the uphill commute, a tram was constructed that would whisk them from their new condo buildings up to the hospital. The tram ride is a quick 5 minutes and rises 500 feet over it’s just over half-mile trip.
Even if you’re not working or visiting the hospital, it is worth the ride for the views alone!
Grab Lunch from one of the OG Food Carts: Nong’s Khao Man Gai
Portland’s food cart scene has given rise to chefs who have gained national recognition, and we would be hard-pressed to pick one who has done this more successfully than Nong of Nong’s Khao Man Gai. She opened her blockbuster chicken and rice business in an old popcorn-filled food truck and eventually expanded into two brick-and-mortar locations, both of which are still packed on a daily basis after 15 years in business.
When you visit, order the chicken and rice. You won’t be disappointed.
Sit Down for Some Pizza from Ken’s
Ken Forkish ushered in a bread and pizza scene into Portland that was unheard of at the time. With naturally leaven doughs and an authentic Napoli-style oven, they have been pumping out bread and pizza that has been enjoyed by thousands of Portlanders over the years.
Ken’s Artisan Pizza is frequently ranked as one of the top 5 pizza restaurants in the country, and after one visit, you’ll understand why. The light and airy yet perfectly chewable crust and use of premium ingredients create a pizza that melts in your mouth and will leave you craving more.
Despite being open for nearly 20 years, you can still expect lines almost every day of the week.
Visit the Smallest Park in the Country
If you need to get your fix of weird Portland attractions then there is perhaps no more underwhelming yet charming place to visit than Mill Ends Park. Known as the smallest park in the world, this 252 square inches of green space has enough room for a solitary tree and not much else.
The park originated when a local writer at the Oregon Journal noticed a hole in the median on the streets below his office and decided to pull the weeds that had grown in the space and plant flowers. Over the years the space took on a life of its own and has even featured a mini pool complete with a diving board.
Go Wine Tasting in the Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley to the south and west of Portland has grown into one of the most acclaimed wine-growing regions in the world. The incredible Pinot Noir is perfectly suited for the region’s unique soils and climate. The valley is home to over 700 wineries, boutique hotels, world-class restaurants, and wine tours to cater to the hoards of wine lovers who descend on the region year-round.
People Watch at Pioneer Courthouse Square
Pioneer Courthouse Square is often called the living room of Portland for the crowds of people who descend on the space every day to relax, perform, or enjoy the sounds of the city. On any given day, you can watch people come and go from the transit stops on both sides of the square, performers practicing their crafts, and nearby workers enjoying lunch and coffee on the steps.
Visit the Best Doughnut Shop in Town (hint: it’s not Voodoo)
One of the most well-known tourist attractions in town is a certain doughnut shop specializing in wacky flavored and shaped doughnuts. Their downtown location attracts huge lines, but the doughnuts themselves are, quite frankly, pretty underwhelming.
In a foodie town like Portland, you should expect better, and Blue Star Donuts answers that call. Made with real ingredients you can sample their mainstays like the Cointreau Crème Brûlée and Blueberry Bourbon Basil.
