16 Things to Do in Downtown Portland, Oregon

Downtown Portland provides unique experiences ranging from exploring unique landmarks to trying out some of the best foods in the city. Home to over 650,000+ people, this city is ranked as the sixth-most populous city on the West Coast.

The streets of Downtown Portland stretch 64 feet wide with 200 compact blocks, creating various numbers of corners and districts to explore. Since the city is pretty dense, you can check off a good chunk of your things to do in Downtown Portland itinerary on foot. But if walking isn’t your thing, renting a bike in Portland provides a different type of experience. This popular activity should be considered, especially if you’re planning on venturing across town. But if not, renting a car might be worth it for a day, or simply taking the trains that run within the city.

>> Read More: 21 Things to Do in Oregon State

Congratulations, you’ve made it to Portland. Now, the first thing you are probably thinking about is how you’re going to show your friends and family that you’ve arrived to Portland, right?

Swing by the Portland Stag Sign and take a quick selfie. Or, come and take some trail shots at night. It’s one of the biggest staples that you don’t want to miss out on, as it’s beautiful to visit either during the day or at night. Remember that if you’re trying to get “the shot”, you want to be on top of the bridge. There’s a flight of stairs on each side, so either side works.

If you’re planning on taking pictures of the sign at night, make sure you go with someone because there will be people walking across the bridge. And make sure you’re not parked too far because there are people hanging under the bridge at night.

Whether you call yourself the most normal human being or not, I’m sure there’s a little bit of weird in you.

The Keep Portland Weird Sign is in a parking lot and will most likely have cars parked right in front of it. Take a weird selfie with this wall art, and keep it weird while in Portland for the rest of the day.

Surrounded with food trucks of some of the most delicious cultured food, swinging by Hawthorne Asylum is a must when checking off your list of things to do in Downtown Portland.

There are tables and benches to sit at while you’re enjoying the handful of dishes picked out from the carts. It has an incredible vibe as both locals and tourists alike come and stop by for lunch. I loved the variety of food choices that range from all around the world.

If you’re not jet lagged or too tired from a hangover from the night before, wake up in the morning and read at Powell’s Books before the crowd gets in. With nine color-coded rooms and over 3,500 sections, Powell’s City of Books claims the bookstore to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world.

Anything you want to read? Powell’s Books most likely will have a copy as it has approximately one million books to choose from. Read a book and sip on some coffee before heading over the work, or swing by at the end of the day to read, relax and rest.

Located: between Northwest 10th and 11th Avenues, between West Burnside and Northwest Couch Streets.

Known as Portland’s finest historic house museum, the Pittock Mansion is worth jotting down on your Downtown Portland itinerary list.

This French Renaissance-style chateau has a ton of history to it. Henry Pittock himself and his future wife, Georgiana Burton, arrived in wagon trains in the 1850’s to isolate themselves away from the rest of the world.

The Lan Su Chinese Garden is a nice escape within the traditional city, located in Old Town Chinatown. This garden is one of a kind as the moment you step inside, you’ll wonder if you’re still in Portland.

While the authentic buildings make you believe you’re in China, relax by the teahouse inside the garden. Enter this wonderland and enjoy watching the koi fish swimming in the ponds, making them believe that you’ll feed them.

Walking around the garden will not take you too long since it’s a small little area. There are wonderful photography spots alongside the buildings, with the bridges, and in between the hallways. There’s also a gift shop near the exit, so you’ll be able to get yourself a little souvenir before you end your visit at the Lan Su Chinese Garden.

If you’re looking to expand and have the desire to tour around another garden, swinging by the Japanese Tea Garden is worth the visit. In order to get to the tea garden, you cannot go on foot from Downtown Portland. Call a Lyft or an Uber and get dropped off at the garden. Stretching 3 miles away from the main city, you’ll be able to spend a good chunk of your day exploring beautiful Japanese nature and history.

Visiting the Japanese Tea Garden was probably one of my favorite memories in Portland as it really makes you believe that you’re in Japan. If you’re not in a rush and want to take your time, set aside at least two hours not only to roam around the area, but also to get a souvenir at one of the two gift shops inside.

Sharing the same parking lot as the Japanese Tea Garden, the Rose Garden is also a beautiful garden to visit during peak season. With an open grass field filled with some of the most colorful roses, what’s better than bringing a book and reading on a bench on a sunny morning?

There are over 10,000 rose bushes of 650 varieties, as the garden is full of flowers from many parts of the world. The International Rose Garden is the oldest public rose test garden in the United States as it draws about 700,000 visitors annually.

The roses typically bloom between April and October, so make sure you’re around then. I visited the International Rose Test Garden in August and it was the most perfect time to visit as the roses were in full bloom. It’s an open field as people were coming in and out constantly, so you won’t have a problem with someone photobombing your shots.

The Oregon Zoo is home to many wildlife and endangered animals such as Packy, the Asian Elephant. Located right in Washington Park, there are more than 1,900 animals of more than 230 species.

Notable as the oldest art museum on the West Coast and seventh in the US, the Portland Art Museum showcases a diverse set of artwork.

Once upon a time, Portland was known as the most dangerous part of the world. Who would’ve guessed considering that the city is now known as “weird”? Remember, to always keep Portland weird.

The Shanghai Tunnels were known as they place people would get kidnapped during the Shanghaiing Trade. Unsuspected victims were found beneath these streets as the tunnels were later found all around Portland under hidden trap-doors.

These alleyways led to saloons, taverns, and hotels, as the Shanghai gangs would capture their next victims and disappear into these tunnels. The history and stories of these tunnels go way back, and is insane that they still exist today.

Built in 1915, students attended the John D. Kennedy Elementary School during World War I. Now, the school functions as an event space with 57 individual classrooms now turned into guest rooms, a courtyard restaurant, bar, gift shop, brewery, and soaking tub.

The building is a trip in itself as you don’t find these kind of traditional buildings these days anymore. Simply walking around and admiring the area is worth the trip in itself.

Explore the classrooms turned into bedrooms, and experience some of the city’s most entertaining spots. And as there are no direct public transportation routes to the school from Downtown Portland, call a Lyft and get to the elementary school within 15 minutes. Dine in, shop at the gift shop, and tour around the historical building.

Easily known as the most visited bakery in Portland, start off your day with a Voodoo doughnut. As a Portland icon, the shop serves both a rotating and a unique menu, such as the Voodoo Doll. Don’t forget to take a picture with the doll shaped doughnut before indulging it. There are also vegan options to choose from so you don’t miss out.

Believe it or not but the line starts forming earlier in the morning than you’d think. I visited around 9:30AM, and there was already a long line formed. It might also be because it was the weekend but doughnuts for breakfast? Count me in.

So, what’s so special about Voodoo Donuts?

Everything from the presentation to the taste of the doughnuts, Voodoo Doughnuts provides a sense of community and entertainment-minded feel when entering the store.

Experiencing and trying out the number of available beer in Portland is a must. The city has “Beervana” as its nickname because of the 75+ breweries the city has to offer.

Portland got this name as there are more breweries in Portland than in any other city on earth. Go Portland! They get fresh ingredients like barley and Bull Run water, that adds a finishing touch to the drinks.

Book your flight during Portland Beer Week and taste some of the most high-quality tasting beer. Experience the beer festivals and be proud of your love for beer. Promise, there will be enough beer to pass around for everyone.

About a 15 minute drive from downtown Portland is Pip’s Doughnuts, a mom n’ pop shop with the cutest little doughnuts. Serving some of the best chai flavored drinks, Pips Doughnuts is a staple that will leave you with a unique and memorable doughnut experience.

These bite sized doughnuts are extremely reasonable in price as the menu has just a few options to choose from. If you’re getting a dozen doughnuts, you’ll be able to get at least one of each flavored doughnuts in your to-go box. Experience the rich flavored doughnuts and chai drinks and get ready to join Pip’s Community Chai.

When visiting Portland again, swinging by Pips Doughnuts is going to be a must repeat on my list. The ambiance, customer service, and the quality of these bite sized doughnuts have earned my business.

Where are my coffee lovers? If you’re a huge coffee fanatic, you’re going to regret not visiting Proud Mary’s Coffee. I’m a coffee lover myself and I can proudly say that Proud Mary’s has some of the best coffee in Portland. Not only will their unique coffee options give you enough energy throughout the day, but they also have the best pastries.

Visiting Proud Mary’s Coffee may not be high on your things to do in downtown Portland itinerary, but trust me on this one. I was mind blown not only after taking a sip of their black iced coffee, but also from taking a bite of their salted cookie. Hands down would go back to Portland just to buy a box full of cookies. No exaggeration at all. Remember to also go early in the morning in case you’re in a rush because the line does get long. And once you get your order, enjoy your coffee and pastries outside at the outdoor benches.