Perched atop Old Town’s White Stag Building, The Portland, Oregon sign is a great stop on your first trip to Portland.

Credit: Justin Katigbak

The Perfect First Trip to Portland

Whether it’s your first trip to Portland or you want to experience Portland with fresh eyes, explore our guide to must-sees and must-eats.

Updated Oct. 9, 2024 9 min read

Paola Santiago

Paola Santiago is the Content Manager for Travel Portland and originates from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Read More

Many things about the City of Roses are weird, exciting and downright amazing, but nothing compares to a first trip to Portland. You might have some preconceived notions of Portland: It’s enveloped in nature, the food carts are incomparable, and the city is often the stage of political and social debate. All those things are true, but Portland is more than the national headlines. Our neighborhoods encompass entire worlds, each with its own curiosities, flavors and unique experiences. There’s a vibrancy here that can only be credited to Portlanders themselves and their distinct stories that beckon visitors back to this culturally rich metropolis year after year.

Whether you’re outdoorsy, a bookworm, a foodie, you’re here to hit the shops, or you’re ready to challenge your perception of this historically complex city — your first trip to Portland will be nothing short of memorable.

Already a pro? Find more in our fourth-timer’s guide.

Rest and Wellness in Portland

Unless you’re coming to Portland from the West coast, we guarantee you’ll need a little rest after a long journey to the Pacific Northwest. Unwind in Portland’s various soaking hot spots, like Knot Springs, a veritable nirvana of relaxation. Dip into their three pools that slowly release tension from the body through a series of therapeutic temperature changes. Clear out jet lag in their eucalyptus steam room and sauna, and take a break on their sweeping patio with a view of the Portland, Oregon sign and Waterfront Park. Patrons get unlimited hot tea and sparkling water, plus free use of their expertly stocked showers.

A woman relaxes in a hot tub with a view of Willamette River and bridges in the background. — A patron enjoys the Caldarium, Knot Springs’s hottest soaking pool, and part of their wellness ritual to increase circulation, reduce pain and boost immunity.

For a holistic approach to wellness, head to Root Whole Body and replenish yourself from the inside out. Offering a full spa with services like massage and hydrotherapy, it’s the perfect place to recoup, particularly if you’re visiting Portland in the chilly winter months. Complete your visit by stopping at their on-site café for a hydrating smoothie or nourishing vegan lunch. Find more wellness and self-care here.

Can’t-Miss Coffee in Portland

Suppose you’ve centered your first trip to Portland in the Southeast or Downtown areas. In that case, chances are you’ll cross paths with Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the ushers for a third-wave coffee movement focused on specialty beans. They have multiple café locations, but you’ll also encounter their brews at many independent Portland coffeehouses. Be sure to check their rotating menu of seasonal drinks with locally inspired flavor combinations like salted maple and mint matcha lattes.

cup of coffee with latte art sitting on a wooden coffee table — One of Portland’s original coffee roasters, Stumptown Coffee on Southeast Division Street is a local favorite.

Now, Portland’s fourth-wave coffee movement focuses on sustainable and ethical coffee production and more BIPOC-owned coffee businesses. Nossa Familia brings deeply flavorful coffee from direct-trade and family-trade coffee growers in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru and Ethiopia. A visit to any of their locations across Portland includes a piece of the company’s history and relationships, not to mention a delicious cup of coffee.

Downtown Portland Coffee Crawl

Portland’s bean scene is as accessible as it is diverse. In fact, you don’t have to leave downtown to sample some of the best cups.

Explore

Bookstores in Portland

Powell’s City of Books, the country’s largest independent bookstore, is undeniably a favorite among travelers and locals alike. With a maze-like variety of titles and a rare books room, Powell’s has welcomed new generations of readers since 1971. While it may be an essential appetizer, a literary feast lies beyond Powell’s in Portland’s rich independent bookshop scene. Read like a local and explore Portland’s neighborhoods for every genre of new and used books.

Third Eye Books boasts Portland’s richest collection of exclusively BIPOC literature, from history and fiction to an entire dedicated kids’ section. “It’s disheartening sometimes to walk into a store and see you get a shelf or a box,” says co-owner Michelle Lewis. At Third Eye Books, you’ll find a healthy supply of classic authors like Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, along with the owners’ favorite Black, Indigenous and POC authors.

If ambiance is needed for your book-searching journey during your first trip to Portland, find it at Rose City Book Pub. Channel your best Ursula K. Le Guin and cozy up with a book and brew in one of the pub’s comfy oversized couches. Rose City Book Pub also has a rich calendar of events, with poetry readings, trivia nights and live music.

Portland Bookstores, Beyond Powell’s

Don’t stop with the largest independent bookstore in the world; these seven other shops offer an abundance of literary riches.

Restaurants and Food Carts in Portland

While most food trucks are mobile, food carts in Portland tend to stay put in food cart pods, allowing patrons to sample a variety of cuisines in one spot. Food cart pods in Portland typically have outdoor seating, with many providing heated or covered seating options for rainy seasons. Most pods contain anywhere from two to ten food carts, and you can find one to fit your tastes with Portland’s food cart finder.

Named after a 19th-century psychiatric hospital, Hawthorne Asylum sits just two blocks from another popular food cart pod, Cartopia, and entices diners with its unmistakable wrought-iron signage and cartoonish barbed wire fence. There are so many options to eat from here it’s hard to choose just one — but it’s great for families or groups with diverse tastes. Locals love this pod for its mini brewery, Black Dagger, offering a great selection of draft brews and fireside seating.

person using tongs to select a doughnut from a tray

Doughnut Shops in Portland

Find must-try Portland doughnuts all across the city, from zany creations to tried-and-true classics (think crullers and bear claws) to gluten-free options.

two people eating food and drinking wine at a picnic table during a busy food festival

Portland for Foodies: Three Days of Dining

There’s a reason foodies flock to Portland restaurants and bars — follow our three-day tour de fork for an ample taste of the best food city in America.

Portland Mercado

The Mercado is a food cart pod and also a hub of Latine culture and local entrepreneurship and may be one of the city’s most delicious destinations.

Southeast Portland’s “super pod” is sure to fit the bill for an even bigger selection of good eats. Meet Springwater Cart Park, home to a full-service bar with 18 beers and ciders on tap, a family-friendly and dog-welcoming outdoor beer garden with more than 30 food carts representing 15 different countries.

In case outdoor dining isn’t your scene, Portland chefs continue to bring home food accolades yearly with award-winning restaurant concepts. Complete your trip with a visit to well-loved local favorite Eem. This Thai barbecue spot is true to its “deep fried funk” mantra, offering patrons a twist of flavors between Thai street foods and curries and southern classics like hot chicken and smoked pork. Kann is another local gem, where James Beard Award-winning chef Gregory Gourdet explores his childhood in Haiti through a health-centered food lens. Kann prioritizes gluten-free and vegan dining and gives equal attention to its creative zero-proof cocktail menu, making it a great place for inclusive dining. Be warned: This is one of the hottest tickets in town, so you should definitely make reservations in advance!

Getting Outdoors in Portland

Rose gardens and bushes pepper Portland’s public parks and sidewalks, imbuing the air with a rich floral scent from May through September. Still, none compare to the Portland International Rose Test Garden (locally known as the Portland Rose Garden), which features over 10,000 roses with a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. If you’re a real rose nerd or enjoy a seasonal festival, try to line up your springtime trip with the annual Portland Rose Festival, a community celebration with parades, concerts, carnival rides, and plenty of roses.

Have you ever visited a living museum? In Portland, you can. Like a scene out of Narnia’s Wood Between the Worlds, Hoyt Arboretum features a diverse preservation site of 190 acres (76.8 ha) home to 2,300 species of trees and shrubs from six continents. While you won’t find pools that lead to other worlds here, you might be surprised to find that the Oregon Zoo, boasting a variety of Pacific Northwest-inspired animal exhibits, is just across the street.

stone building covered in green moss and colorful fall leaves — The Stone House, also known as the Witch's Castle, is a two-story structure a half-mile hike from the Upper Macleay Parking lot in Forest Park.

photo of Mt. Hood through the trees at the International Rose Test Garden — The International Rose Test Garden is located right in Washington Park. There are thousands of different types of roses to see and it is a great place to have a picnic in the summer.

a biker and two picnicking people in front of a tree lined reservoir — The slopes of Mount Tabor Park (an extinct cinder cone volcano in Southeast Portland) is a favorite with local bikers.

If you’ve spent more than a few hours walking around on your first trip to Portland, you’ll notice that ferns, moss, and conifer trees dominate the landscape here. Oregon’s Pacific temperate rainforest environment is best observed at Forest Park, where 70+ miles (112+ km) of trails give way to a lush green escape that’s verdant all year round. First-time visitors to Portland should head to the Lower Macleay trailhead that takes hikers past the tallest fir within a city, a 242-foot (74 m) heritage pine tree, and the Witch’s Castle or Stone House, a two-story, charming moss-laden structure that makes an excellent hide-and-seek fort.

End your day with a sunset walk at Mt. Tabor, the local (dormant) volcano. Depending on where you stand, you can see Mt. Hood peek through the trees or the sun dip behind the downtown skyline. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear a pianist serenade hikers on a pop-up restored piano.

a path leads toward a large observation deck among ferns and towering trees

Hoyt Arboretum: Portland’s Museum of Trees

Hoyt Arboretum is Portland’s “living museum of trees” — and is home to 2,300 species of trees and shrubs, as well as 12 miles (19.3 km) of hiking trails in Washington Park near downtown Portland.

tall bridge with circular bracing above a pond with ducks amid a forested park

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

Round out your floral explorations of the Rose City with a visit to Southeast Portland’s lush Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The park boasts more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, with blooms from late February -June.

a couple with a dog and another person sit on a park bench

Laurelhurst Park

Just north of Portland's Belmont neighborhood sits Laurelhurst Park, one of the city's most scenic escapes with over 300 trees, a duck pond and an array of free public events.

The Grotto

This serene woodland sanctuary in Northeast Portland features 62 acres (25 hectares) of lush botanical gardens. No matter what time of year you visit, the Grotto offers calm, peace and introspection, transcending boundaries.

roses bushes, climbing roses in large lush rose garden

Portland Rose Gardens and Where to Find Them

Portland has a long-standing reputation as the City of Roses — so we dive into the city’s history with the fragrant flower, share the lowdown on rose gardens around town and offer tips for visiting the Portland Rose Festival in late spring.

stairs up a hillside covered in bright blooms of flowers and fresh spring growth on trees

Leach Botanical Garden

Walk through verdant treetops and breathe in the scent of a four-season pollinator garden in this urban oasis in SE Portland.

Mount Tabor Park

Mount Tabor Park, a century-old public space, is known for its open-air reservoirs, forested hiking trails, sunset picnics, epic city views, its annual Adult Soapbox Derby, and, yes, its volcanic cinder cone.

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.

cherry blossoms burst from the trees with a bridge, blue sky and wisps of clouds above

Where to Find Portland Cherry Blossoms

Sakura blooms take over the waterfront each spring; here’s how to enjoy the best of Portland’s cherry blossom season.

$A wooden sign reading \"Mill Ends Park Portland Parks & Recreation\" stands on a concrete ring enclosing a small planter filled with an evergreen bush and light green grass$

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.

Iconic Sights in Portland

Take advantage of clear and sunny days with a ride on Portland’s Aerial Tram, which connects the South Waterfront area to the main Oregon Health & Science University campus. This is a great morning adventure; start your day off at Blue Star Donuts, then head to the lower tram terminal to begin your journey. The tram ride will give you access to some of the best bridge and skyline views the city offers, not to mention bragging rights for riding one of two commuter aerial tramways in the United States. (The other’s in some place called “New York.”)

Portland Aerial Tram with Mt. Hood is visible in background horizon — Patrons enjoy a short ride on the Portland Aerial Tram with a view of Mount Hood.

Forgetting to actually relax on vacation is common, and there’s no better city respite than Lan Su Chinese Garden. Despite the busy thoroughfare outside its stone garden walls, it’s serene and surprisingly quiet. Born out of a collaboration between China’s Suzhou city and Portland, Lan Su brings authentic Ming dynasty garden designs to Old Town Chinatown. Fall and winter are the perfect times to catch annual cultural events like the Lunar New Year Lantern Viewing and the Celebration of the Chrysanthemum.

Take the MAX Light Rail 15 minutes south and explore the Oregon’s largest museum, the Portland Art Museum, framed among the picturesque South Park Blocks. The museum features a wide collection of prints and drawings from art legends like Dürer and Rembrandt, but its curation focuses on Native American and Northwest art as the primary attraction.

woman looking at flowers for sale — The farmers' market at Portland State University overflows with flowers, food and more.

One person stands and two sit between a pond and a building with Chinese architecture. — Covered bridges and richly planted landscapes frame a picturesque lake in this authentically built Ming dynasty-style garden, which offers tours and a tea house with snacks and traditional teas.

orange pedicab rides through park under backlit cherry blossoms and a view of the Burnside Bridge — Enjoy a leisurely pedicab ride through the cherry blossoms at Waterfront Park.

Saturday mornings are the busiest; throngs of folks bustle into the park several blocks south for the Portland Farmers’ Market at PSU for a variety of food stands and fresh produce all year long. When you’ve had your fill at the market and enjoyed the many exhibits at the art museum, exit right out of the museum and head around back, where you’ll find the Behind the Museum Café , a Japanese-inspired java spot with excellent snacks and delicious matcha.

Finally, if you don’t visit the Portland Oregon Sign, did you really come to Portland? It’s not mandatory, but the sign is one of the city’s designated historic landmarks, glowing brightly each night across the Willamette river facing westbound traffic. While there are many places to snap a good picture commemorating your visit, we recommend posting up on the Burnside Bridge for the best view.

A large stone mansion with red roof surrounded by trees

Pittock Mansion

High in the West Hills, the Pittock Mansion offers picture-perfect views of the city and interesting insights into Portland's history.

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

With its huge exhibit halls, interactive science labs, multiple auditoriums, “After Dark” events and more, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) lures visitors of all ages.

A couple sits viewing a serene flat rock garden surrounded by trees and shrubs.

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.

a red panda walks on a tree limb, surrounded by leaves

Oregon Zoo

Located just minutes from downtown Portland, the Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, including elephants, polar bears, rare condors and more.

Washington Park

people stand in a lobby decorated with art, colors, and menus on the wall

Voodoo Doughnut

Since 2003, Portland's Voodoo Doughnut has sold millions of wacky, sugary snacks — and the downtown landmark still attracts lines at all hours of the day.

Portland Saturday Market

Open every weekend from March–December, Portland Saturday Market is the largest arts-and-crafts fair in the U.S.

sunrise through trees with grassy field on waterfront park

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.

people at books shelves in a books store

Powell’s City of Books

Covering an entire city block, Powell’s City of Books is more than a great bookstore: It’s a microcosm of Portland, packed with smart and eclectic books, gifting options, and passionate people. And, like Portland, it’s open 365 days a year.

Portland Art Museum

Spend a day strolling among sculptures, sketching modern art and soaking in the artistic ambiance at one of the nation’s best art museums.

A woman holds a camera to her eyes in a traditional Chinese garden with a pond, pavilion and trees.

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.

walking toward the sun, three people pass a colorful mural painted on the side of a building