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I’m a total homer for my hometown. I will always claim Portland is the best place to live on the planet. This not-small-not-large city is located an hour from both the beach and the mountains. Yes, it rains a lot, but Oregon summers are unbeatable and fall is next level. Portland prides itself on being weird, offers all the city conveniences (shopping, nightlife, activities), and somehow still maintains its lush greenery through its neighborhoods and parks.
Once known only for craft beer, Portland’s food and beverage scene has exploded. Today you can sip natural wine, find every type of donut imaginable, indulge in hand-crafted lattes, or eat your way through an ever-growing food truck culture. If that hasn’t convinced you that Portland deserves a place on your travel list, keep reading.
Here are 10 of my favorite things to do in Portland:
1. Forest Park
This 5,200-acre urban forest is the perfect place to “get out of the city” while staying right in town. Just 15 minutes from downtown, you’ll find over 80 miles of hiking, running, and biking trails. Want a deeper dive? Check out my full post on the best Forest Park trails and a dive into Portland lore.
2. Coffee
It’s basically impossible not to make this list all about food and drinks. Let’s start with coffee:
- Euko Coffee & Company: My favorite coffee shop to grab a latte, conveniently it just a stones throw away from where I work. Add in one of Jen’s Pastries that they carry in the shop (I recommend the homemade Poptarts!) which are just… wow.
- Albina Press: A very Portland coffee shop that I have loved for a decade. They have excellent service and some of the best coffee in the city.
- Kalesa Coffee: The coconut cold brew with ube whip is uniquely Portland, uniquely Kalesa, and frankly just f*cking delicious.
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3. Powell’s City of Books
Yes, it’s on every Portland list. But when a bookstore takes up a full city block, you include it. Even if you’re not on BookTok, wandering the stacks of Powell’s is a must. With everything from biographies to cook books, hand made tea towels and candles that will remind you of Portland, its hard to walk out of there without spending a fortune.
4. NW 23rd Avenue
A picturesque street lined with boutiques, restaurants, and bars, basically the perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon that leads into happy hour. Start at Burnside, end at Vaughn, and use the alphabetized cross-streets to track your progress. Don’t miss:
- Sloan (trendy women’s fashion)
- Salt & Straw (iconic ice cream, rotating seasonal flavors)
- Smith Teamaker (Portland tea institution)
- Fireside (happy hour cocktails and small bites)
5. McMenamins Kennedy School
McMenamins is technically a chain, but nothing feels chain-like about it. Yes the menus are similar and house brewed beer is the same but that is where the list ends. Each McMinnemans location holds something special and sometimes historical. The Crystal Hotel in downtown Portland has their very narrow annex bar which they call “pint-sized and pie shaped”. Edgefield out in Troutdale is a huge space with a mini golf course and an incredible outdoor concert venue. But McMinneman’s Kennedy School which is in the heart of NE Portland is a former school, turned bar/restaurant/hotel and has some gorgeous soaking pools. Spend the morning soaking, grab lunch (don’t miss the Cajun tots), and wander the quirky, historic building.
6. Bridge Walk
Portland has a lot of nicknames and one of them is Bridgetown. The Willamette River bisects the city to the east and west and there are 12 bridges that cross the river. We host yearly Bridge Pedals (bike races over the bridges) a Bridge to Brews 10k (running + beer over said bridges) amongst other things. If you want to experience the bridges first hand then a bridge to bridge stroll is for you.
- Starting at Roseline Coffee Roasters on the east side, grab a little caffeine to enjoy this walk.
- Walk down the Eastbank Esplanade towards the Steel Bridge. You’ll see its large towers. Walk across the lower pedestrian bridge.
- Walk south along the waterfront, if you are there for our glorious two weeks in March you will be rewarded with an incredible little forest of cherry blossom trees.
- Once you are near the Hawthorne Bridge, take note of Mills End Park, which was formerly the smallest urban park in the world, consisting of just one tree.
- You will continue walking along the water, passing the marina and large grassy knoll where the 4th of July Blue’s Festival takes place every year.
- Eventually you will have to cut away from the water a little bit, but keep going with the Tilikum Crossing Bridge your final destination.
- Cross over Portland’s newest (2015) bridge that allows only public transit and pedestrians. Marvel in its giant white structure.
- When you arrive back on the east side of Portland, you can walk along the gorgeous Springwater corridor, which is a mainstay of Oregon’s famous Hood to Coast Race. This is a 12 person relay race that races 200 miles from Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood to the beach in Seaside on the coast.
- Reward yourself with dinner at Shalom Ya’ll.
7. Cathedral Park
I know we already did a bridge thing, but this time I want to take you into the heart of the St. John’s neighborhood. I think of it as Portland’s dead end cul-de-sac. It is nearly as north as you can be before hitting Washington and there isn’t much west of the neighborhood either. The draw here is the beautiful St. John’s Bridge. Made in the Gothic style, this green bridge is the tallest in Portland.
But don’t miss what lies under the bridge (said no one, ever). Check out Cathedral Park where you can stand at the top of the park and see the row of arches that support the bridge. Feel free to grab provisions for a picnic and hang out here for a couple hours, or head down to the dock to watch the ducks and boaters go by.
8. Beer
Portland is one of the best craft beer destinations in the world. With over 80 breweries in Portland alone, you can find almost any beer you like and a style of pub to suit every need. Whether you need a family friendly spot or one open late into the night, the Portland beer scene has you covered. Here are a couple of my favorite spots, for your next visit:
- Steeplejack: Housed in a converted 1909 church (yes, there’s stained glass).
- Wayfinder: Top-notch beer, elevated food, and a sunny patio.
- Away Days: Bright, modern taproom with British-style ales. Food pop-ups and Portland sport watch parties are amazing here.
- Schilling Cider: Not beer, but Portland cider deserves love too. They have rotating flavors and fun flights.
9. Donuts, Pastries, and Ice Cream
Portland takes sweets seriously. A few must-stops:
- Voodoo Doughnut: A quintessential Portland stop with Pink boxes, wild donut shapes (penis) and the maple bacon classic.
- JinJu Patisserie: James Beard-winning croissants and bonbons (worth the wait).
- Blue Star Donuts: Brioche-based, seasonal flavors, and cult favorites like Raspberry Rosemary Old Fashioned.
- Salt & Straw: Famous for seasonal flavors (Marionberry Slab Pie in summer, The Great Candicopia in October). You can opt to taste them all before committing or get a scoop or 4 for pure indulgence.
- Cheese & Crack Snack Shop: Sundaes layered like trifles, soft serve with “dusts” (coffee, matcha, strawberry), and optional chocolate cowboy hats. Yes, always add a cowboy hat to your cone.
10. Day Trips
If you’re lucky enough to have extra time, these are the best day trips from Portland, and all are just about 1-ish hours outside of the city. If you haven’t rented a car while visiting Portland, below are a couple tour options so you don’t miss whats just outside the city:
- Willamette Valley Wine Country: World-class Pinot Noir, vineyard views, tasting rooms galore.
- Oregon Coast: An hour west to Seaside or Cannon Beach to see the famous Haystack Rock, chowder at Moe’s, and coastal breweries.
- Hood River & Columbia River Gorge: Endless hikes (Dog Mountain, Dry Creek Falls, Multnomah Falls), fall farm stands, and the famous Fruit Loop.
The Bottom Line
It was hard to pare this down to just 10 activities, Portland is that good. Whether you’re here for the food, the coffee, the beer, or just to see why locals can’t shut up about it, this city will win you over. Let me know your favorite stop when you visit!
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