Portland travel guide
Portland Tourism | Portland Guide
You're Going to Love Portland
With a population of 583.776, Portland is the largest city in Oregon, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Portland deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Portland
Where to Eat in Portland
is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Portland. These include popular favorites such as Dolly Olive (527 SW 12th Ave), RingSide Steakhouse - Uptown (2165 W Burnside) and Boedecker Cellars (2621 NW 30th Ave). If you’re looking for affordable options, Andina (1314 NW Glisan) and Meriwether's Restaurant & Skyline Farm (2601 NW Vaughn Street) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Masu Sushi (406 SW 13th Avenue) and Cornell Farm Cafe (8212 SW Barnes Rd) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Portland.
When to visit Portland
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Portland in July, when the average temperature is 69.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 80.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 5.6″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Portland, with an average rainfall of 0.7″.
How to Get to Portland
Plane
When flying to Portland, you’ll arrive at Portland Airport (PDX), which is located 10 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Portland include American Airlines, Air Canada and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Portland departs from Las Vegas and takes around 2h 17m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Portland. The train journey from Portland to Eugene takes 2h 35m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Seattle, expect to pay about $29 for a 2h 59m trip. The train station in Portland is called Portland Union Station, and is located 0.6 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Portland is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 234 km from Portland. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Kyte, among others, in Seattle.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Portland, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Amtrak. From Eugene, the bus ride to Portland takes 298 km and will cost you around $56. From Seattle, the ticket costs about $29 for a journey of 346 km. The most popular bus station is Portland Greyhound, located 0.4 km from downtown Portland. Portland Oregon Convention Center is also a commonly used station, and is 1.2 km from the city center.
Airports near Portland
Airlines serving Portland
Where to stay in Portland
From 5-star hotels such as the The Ritz-Carlton Portland to great affordable options like the Moxy Portland Downtown, Portland offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $162 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $251 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Lolo Pass and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Portland-Nw Downtown. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Portland, with prices from $52 to $517 per night. Northeast Portand is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Portland are about 23% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Downtown - In Portland’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Woodlark, Dossier and Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland.
Pearl District - Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District, Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Portland-Pearl District and Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Downtown/Pearl District have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Pearl District will cost you about $147 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Portland
Most booked hotels in Portland
Renting a car in Portland
Renting a car in Portland costs $58 per day, on average, or $116 if you want to rent if for 2 days. National, Alamo and Dollar are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Portland is the Thrifty branch at 7240 Northeast Airport Way, which is 10 km from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Portland.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Portland (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Portland is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Honda Fit or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Portland
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$27/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$28/day