Katrina Yentch

Katrina Yentch is a freelance journalist, editor, and copywriter living in Portland. When she isn't writing, she's either napping and cooking in the winter or paddling and backpacking during the summer.

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Portland’s MAX Light Rail system connects the city, airport and Portland region via 97 stations and 60 miles (96.6 km) of track.

Credit: Justin Katigbak

A Car-Free Itinerary in Portland

Embrace the Portland ethos of sustainability by challenging yourself to a car-free weekend in the city.

Updated Oct. 29, 2024 8 min read

Katrina Yentch

Katrina Yentch is a freelance journalist, editor, and copywriter living in Portland. When she isn't writing, she's either napping and cooking in the winter or paddling and backpacking during the summer.

Whether you’ve got a long layover or you’re itching for a quick weekend getaway, Portland’s public transit options make it easy to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time. Although I have a car for road trips, I love taking a break from driving to hop on my bike and meet up with friends in other neighborhoods or ride the MAX train to areas where parking is less abundant. When Portland travel hubs like the Portland International Airport and Amtrak at Union Station all offer routes to the city center, there’s no excuse to avoid public transit. If you want to save money on a rental car and spend a car-free weekend in Portland, here’s how to do it.

What You Need To Know

TriMet operates Portland’s public transit lines. This itinerary uses the MAX Light Rail, bus and Portland Streetcar. 

Accessibility

All TriMet transportation systems offer features to assist riders who need additional support for accessibility.  

Biking and Scooting

Portland has plenty of bike lanes and greenways, the latter of which are quiet, slower neighborhood streets that prioritize pedestrians and cyclists. If you choose to bike on this itinerary, you’ll mostly use bike lanes. Biketown is the city’s bike-share program, and Portland has a few e-scooter options. I personally don’t like paying by the minute for these rentals, and if you’re planning on biking the entire time, then a day rental might be a good option.  

A Car-Free Visit to Portland

Day One:

If you’re arriving at Portland International Airport, take the MAX Red Line to downtown Portland. With about an hour’s ride time, there’s nothing to do but check out the sweet views as you coast by highway traffic. Get off at the Pioneer Courthouse Square Station, which will put you right in the center of downtown. Pioneer Courthouse Square is rich with history and is now a bustling center for some of Portland’s coolest live events. Some of the best shows I’ve seen in Portland have been thanks to PDX Live’s summer concert series here. 

Credit: Justin Katigbak

If you’re looking to drop off some suitcases before starting your adventure, many hotels are less than a 10-minute walk away. The Woodlark Hotel is home to one of my favorite bars in the area, Abigail Hall — a cocktail lounge whose year-round theme is women’s history. Moxy is a newer hotel with a funky European vibe, low-key bar and eatery — think pink neon lighting and floor-to-ceiling mirrors everywhere. NW Portland International Hostel offers a chance to socialize with other travelers at the Hostel Café. It’s 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from the Providence Park MAX stop, a couple of stops beyond Pioneer Courthouse Square. 

Lunch in Downtown

Now that you’ve dropped off your luggage, it’s time to eat. I love getting a quick bite at TANAKA, a Japanese katsu sando shop that bakes homemade milk bread for its sandwiches, plus a variety of Asian-inspired pastries. Foodies who have Nong’s Khao Man Gai on their bucket list will also be thrilled to learn that there’s a downtown location for the famed chicken-and-rice dish, while Grassa is another Portland standby for fast-casual handcrafted pasta, including gluten-free pastas. All of these options are about 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Pioneer Courthouse Square. You can catch the Portland Streetcar Loop A at the Central Library station on Southwest 10th Ave for part of the trip if you like. 

Westside Parks & Gardens

Discover More

Forest Park

Escape the city without leaving Portland; with 70 miles of trails within Portland city limits, 5,156-acre Forest Park is a popular escape for runners, equestrians and hikers alike and supporting more than 112 bird and 62 mammal species.

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.

Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden offers visitors year-round serenity at a woodland sanctuary in Northwest Portland, spanning 12 acres of botanical gardens inspired by the flora and fauna of Japan.

Visiting the Portland International Rose Test Garden

Since 1924, the International Rose Test Garden has grown beautiful roses from around the world. Today, over 10,000 bushes, representing over 600 varieties, dazzle with colorful blooms in Washington Park, just west of downtown Portland.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

This year-round wonder houses an authentic Ming Dynasty-style garden built by Suzhou artisans, offering a peaceful escape in Portland's historic Chinatown.

Mill Ends Park

Located in downtown Portland, the world’s smallest park is kind of a big deal. The stories of how Mill Ends Park came to be hold a big surprise for 452 square inches.

Director Park

Downtown Portland’s Director Park is a European-style, granite-paved plaza with outdoor seating and a fountain; a perfect respite from the bustle of the city.

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Hugging the Willamette River in downtown Portland, this once bustling highway now offers a strollable, bikeable and dog-walkable public park with historical and cultural monuments, and kid-friendly fun.

Explore Portland’s Urban Parks

Head north towards Washington Park, a shining example of how lush Portland can be. Hosting several of the city’s most popular attractions like the International Rose Test Garden and the Oregon Zoo, this area also boasts great best views of Mount Hood and the city skyline.  

To get there from downtown Portland, take the 63 bus from Southwest 6th and Yamhill Street, then get off at Southwest Garden Way & Sherwood Drive. 

Visit the serene Portland Japanese Garden, one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in the world, beloved for its breathtaking seasonal changes. When you’re done, you’ll have access to Washington Park via a free shuttle that you can take from the rose garden, which can bring you to your next destination: the World Forestry Center. This beautifully designed building is quaint yet packed with information and filled with exhibits dedicated to the Pacific Northwest’s landscapes, including art, animal replicas and forest re-creations. 

Dinner and Shopping in Northwest Portland

It’s time to refuel and recharge. From the World Forestry Center, take the MAX line at the Washington Park station, which happens to be the system’s only underground station — and the deepest one in North America at 260 feet (79m). Get off at Providence Park and take the 15 bus or walk 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to Northwest 23rd Avenue. This neighborhood, known as Nob Hill or simply Northwest Portland, is a great place to shop and dine from local businesses and major brands. I usually grab souvenirs for friends at Tender Loving Empire, a gift shop and record label centering Portland-area makers. The Meadow is my go-to purveyor of floral bouquets, artisanal chocolate and high-quality cooking salts; the mantra here is all about treating yourself. I also love window shopping at Paxton Gate, a menagerie of taxidermy animals, oddities and museum-worthy crystals. 

The dining on this street is just as stellar as downtown. For an elevated izakaya experience, Takibi operates in the basement of Japanese outdoor retailer Snowpeak and serves innovative cocktails and freshly prepared sashimi. Nearby Ranch Pizza contributes to Portland’s love affair with Sicilian-style pies. Bus 15 eastbound will take you right back to downtown from this area. 

Day Two

Museums and Waterfront Views

If it’s a sunny day, your first stop should be the Tom McCall Waterfront Park to enjoy picturesque views of the Willamette River. The corner of Southwest Salmon and Southwest Naito Parkway is the perfect point to start a walk down the river, where you’ll be able to count a few of Portland’s many bridges. If it’s a Saturday, you’ll also want to hit up the Portland Saturday Market, which is practically a Portland rite of passage. With nearly 100 vendors year-round, I frequent the market the most during summer months, when I can restock my Community Supported Agriculture box and grab treats from other vendors. The market is about 0.4 mi (0.6 km) southwest of downtown, but you can also take the Portland Streetcar (loop B or NS) to Southwest Park and Market Street. 

Credit: Justin Katigbak

Regional Art at the Portland Art Museum

Walk over to the Portland Art Museum, the oldest museum in the Pacific Northwest. It has a strong set of rotating exhibits that speak to regional interests and themes, but I also love its permanent pieces, which place an emphasis on Oregon and Washington’s Indigenous peoples. Take the Portland Streetcar B and NS loop from the West End to Southwest 11th and Jefferson to get here. Or, from the farmers’ market, take loop A to the Art Museum stop.  

From the museum, you can go to the city’s crown jewel, Powell’s City of Books, which is about a half-mile (0.8km) away or a few stops on the streetcar’s A or NS loop to Northwest 10th and Couch. As this is the world’s largest independent bookstore, you may want to dedicate an hour or more to exploring its many rooms, including the Rare Book Room. After perusing the multitude of shelves, grab a coffee at Guilder Café, the café inside the store. I often accidentally end up on a shopping spree here since Powell’s is bursting with local retail goodies — I recommend their fir-scented candle.  

The Last Meal

As you’re winding down, it’s time to have that perfect last meal. I love a small plate-sharing situation, and Dolly Olive has become a favorite of mine, serving up shareable dishes like roasted sunchokes and crispy chicken confit with a Mediterranean-meets-Italian flair. Grab a cocktail while you’re here, too — the Dolly Olive Martini is a nod to the city’s obsession with savory martinis and arrives with a side of house-pickled onion, lemon peel, olives and a fennel frond. But if you’re looking for something quick before a flight, a bowl of tonkatsu broth hits the spot at Ramen Ryoma, where the noodles and izakaya-style appetizers are intensely flavorful, affordable and filling. Both restaurants are five short blocks from Powell’s. 

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