A proudly quirky destination where unique museums, impressive galleries and a warm, eccentric culture come together wonderfully, Portland is the largest city in Oregon on the USA’s north-west coast, standing between the picturesque Willamette and Columbia rivers.
Encircled by natural wonders, stunning scenery surrounds the ‘City of Roses’ – with Mount Hood National Forest Park on the horizon, and beautifully preserved gardens throughout. It’s no surprise that Portland is one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world.
There are so many great sights to see in Portland’s wonderful neighbourhoods. We’ve outlined just some of the many highlights you won’t want to miss, so if you’re planning a visit, here’s a selection of the best things to do in Portland.
Portland Saturday Market
Blending history, culture and community, the Portland Saturday Market has brought artists together since 1974.
Located in Old Town Chinatown, you can park up in one of the many lots off West Burnside Street, and head down to explore.
Each weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, the river bank overlooking Burnside Bridge is overrun with stalls. Get caught up in the buzz of the atmosphere, enjoying the accompanying live music and street food. Browse the unique art, crafts and pottery and speak to the local sellers to learn more about their passions.
USS Blueback Submarine
The sprawling Oregon Museum of Science and Industry offers excellent interactive exhibits that will fascinate the whole family.
On the Willamette River, as part of the museum, you can explore the USS Blueback – an authentic submarine used by the US Navy from 1959 to 1990.
Delve inside the vessel to see the restored radio room, look through the periscope in the control room and ‘steer’ the ship in the helm. You can also visit the sleeping quarters and explore the engine room, for a great insight into life underwater. On a guided tour you’ll learn more about the sailors that once lived and worked on the USS Blueback.
Portland Art Museum
Portland is famous as the cultural hub of Oregon. With the city's deeply rooted creative history, explore the oldest art establishment in the USA’s north-west in Downtown Portland.
Critically acclaimed, the Portland Art Museum celebrates a variety of art styles with Asian, American and Native American creations represented, and more than 45,000 pieces of work on display.
It first opened in 1892 with just one exhibit focusing on ancient Greek sculpture. It has grown massively since then, with an outdoor sculpture park and six floors housing both modern and historic art.
This museum is huge and you can easily spend hours exploring the paintings, sculptures and pottery, as well as masks and artefacts from the famous Rasmussen Collection of the Northwest Coast.
Portland Japanese Garden
Follow W Burnside Street into the West Hills where you’ll find the enchanting 5.5-acre Portland Japanese Garden.
Catch a moment of peace away from the city centre with a stroll around this elegant paradise. Founded in 1963, the garden has grown from one maintained landscape into several plots, all with their own individual identities. Spend time in the gardens and see the vibrant Japanese Maple trees, visit the tea house and relax by the idyllic koi fish ponds.
While you're in the area, visit the International Rose Test Garden, which is right next door. It first opened in 1924 and is where more than 10,000 roses are presented in all their beautiful colours.
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
This is the largest museum dedicated to the Holocaust in the US. Through moving and profound exhibits, you can hear about the devastating impact and listen to stories from survivors.
There are also fascinating exhibits where you can learn more about Jewish culture in Oregon during the Gold Rush era too.
After visiting the museum, make your way to Washington Park in the West Hills to pay your respects at the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, unveiled in 2004.
Visit a unique museum
As Portland’s unofficial slogan ‘Keep Portland Weird’ suggests, the city embraces the strange and eccentric. One of the best ways to explore this is by visiting one of its more unusual museums. These are dotted all over the city, so you’re bound to come across something interesting no matter where you stay.
Near Mt. Tabor Park is The Lincoln Street Kayak & Canoe Museum. It showcases thousands of handmade replicas of historic hunting and fishing equipment from Alaska and the surrounding areas. Nearby is the Movie Madness Video store, which displays more than 100 artifacts and props from throughout film history.
Near the river bank, along SE Grand Avenue in Downtown, you’ll find the locally famous Stark’s Vacuums. As well as being a showroom for the latest cleaning tools, it has an interesting antique collection to behold too.
One of the most peculiar attractions is the National Hat Museum on SE Ladd Avenue, which is the largest of its kind in America. Here you can discover the fascinating history of headwear and get up close to some weird and wonderful styles that date back as far as the 1820s.
Columbia River Gorge
Just over a 30-minute drive out of north-east Portland you’ll find the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Brimming with snow-capped cliff tops, cascading waterfalls and jaw-dropping canyons, this natural park is a must-visit when you’re in the city.
With the Columbia River on one side, drive along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway into the valleys. Vista House is a historic observatory deck with a 19th-century landmark in its centre that overlooks the mountains, rivers and woodland – the views are spectacular.
The Latourell Falls Trailhead isn't too far away from here, with plenty of parking on the roadside. Follow the track into the forest to find the beautiful Latourell Waterfall flowing from 76 metres high over the rock face. Further up the highway, other waterfalls including Bridal Veil and Wahkeena Falls can be found.
The Shanghai Tunnels
Discover the dark secrets beneath Old Town Chinatown on a tour of the Shanghai Tunnels, by joining a walking tour through the dark and dingy catacombs.
It’s said they were used to hide criminal activity during the late 19th century until the early 20th century, and during the USA’s period of prohibition. Hear about the horrors of the tunnels and holding cells, where legend has it men were captured and sold to ships setting sail for the East. This interesting tour unearths the hidden history of the city.
Whatever itinerary you follow, this is an exciting place to explore. With many sights spread out over Portland, renting a car is a great way to discover everything. We have several pick-up points throughout the city, including at Portland International Airport. Arrange car rental in Portland or the wider state of Oregon, and start planning your adventure today.