Traveling to Portland? Here are 4 Places You Cannot Miss

From must-visit attractions to hidden gems, Portland’s top attractions continuously evolve to attract visitors and locals alike. It’s safe to assume that you will never have the same experience in Portland twice.

Nestled beside the Willamette River, Portland is the largest city in Oregon and one of the most desirable places to live and settle in the United States. Due to its unique city attractions and creative culture, tourists come in flocks to witness the lifestyle of ‘The City of Roses.’

Another reason that contributes to Portland’s popularity is its proximity to other Pacific Northwest destinations. Whether you want to drive down to Columbia River Gorge or the Oregon Coast, a fantastic adventure awaits you in less than two hours of driving in any direction.

If you’re all set to take your epic road trip to the culture-rich city of Portland, we have curated a list of four attractions you absolutely cannot miss during your visit.

_{Cover photo from Adobe Stock Images}

Washington Park

Washington Park features several tourist attractions, including the famous Rose Test Garden, museums, and a zoo. You can spend the whole day exploring these attractions or taking a stroll through the eccentric gardens. From the Hoyt Arboretum to the Portland Children’s Museum, there’s plenty to see at Washington Park.

Explore Washington Park has excellent maps online to guide you through your visit.

Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden

Launched in the year 2000, The Lan Su Chinese Garden highlights the Chinese history and culture of the city when Portland began a relationship with the city of Suzhou, China.

Upon entering the garden, you’ll be enchanted by the tranquility of plants, rocks, trees, and a lake of about 40,000 square feet. The artisans of Suzhou constructed the traditional walkways and buildings. What completes the garden is its exotic tea house, where you can attend special events like tai chi, mahjong, and tea tastings for cultural exchange.

Click here for directions for your visit to the Portland Lan Su Gardens.

Powell’s City of Books

For all the bibliophiles out there, this legendary used bookstore gives you the chance to browse over a million books. A roomy coffeehouse with a spacious infrastructure allows you to sit and read your picks during the day.

Directions to Portland’s Powells Books locations and hours of operation can be found at this link,

Portland Saturday Market

Founded in 1974, the Portland Saturday market has become one of the city’s most popular open-air artist markets, having more than a million visitors every year. From the beginning of March till Christmas Eve, at least 250 vendors set up shop every Saturday money in Old Town Chinatown. From jewelry and illustrations to home décor, you can explore a wide range of arts and crafts products at the market. You can also buy packaged foods at these stores, such as organic tea. What adds an element of charm is the live music that plays throughout the entire market.

For directions and hours of operation for Portland Saturday Market, click here.

Where to stay in Portland

There are many great locations to stay in the city of Portland. You can find plenty of budget, mid-range, and luxury hotels near downtown, where you’ll remain close to most tourist attractions, trendy boutiques, and popular restaurants. Click the links below to search for accommodations and vacation rentals in the Portland area. Compare each site, as not all options are available at both locations. Always look closely at recent reviews before booking.

It is important to price out accommodations on various sites. Expedia is a US-based company, whereas Booking.com is Europe-based. Not all properties appear on both, so it is ideal to check both out. Our personal first choice is Booking.com. If the establishment has a website, check the price there as well. Click the link below to check out hotels and vacation homes in the area. It may be just the motivation you need to start planning that next grand adventure.

When is the best time to visit Portland

There is no wrong time of year to visit Portland, as there is always something to see, taste, and experience in The Rose City. With the abundance of public gardens in the fall, you can enjoy the changing colors; in the spring, there are lovely blooms, and in the summer, there are magnificent rose gardens. There are also many winter festivals, summer beer and food festivals, cultural celebrations, and outdoor adventures to be enjoyed by all ages. Love biking? Portland is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. Add to that year-round, tax-free shopping, theater debuts, live concerts, award-winning culinary experiences, and more await you. Check out Travel Portland’s events calendar to discover more things to do and help you plan your next visit.

Weather-wise, Portland has four distinct seasons. The norm is the area luckily avoids extremes, which makes visiting Portland ideal at any time of the year. Average summer days may be in the 70s, and winter rarely goes below freezing. The Pacific Northwest is best known for rainy weather; showers are typically gentle and short-lived — and locals don’t let that keep them from enjoying the city.

Wrapping Up

It’s best to plan your stay for a couple of days to get the complete Portland experience of fun and sightseeing. There is so much to do and see here for all ages. You will find a unique energy and vibe in Portland.

© 2024 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved

Are you considering a trip overseas? Check out our Country Travel Guides to assist with your trip planning.

Our Top Recommended Travel Products and Services

Travel Insurance

Squaremouth.com
Our favorite travel insurance site!

We could not be stronger advocates of being well-insured—not just for the little stuff but for the big things like medical emergencies. We never leave home without it. Our go-to place is Squaremouth.com. It does a fantastic job with its user-friendly interface and uses top-rated and reputable insurance carriers. They also mediate on your behalf if you have problems.

To empower you as a consumer, we suggest you read our blog post on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage from top-rated companies for an affordable price.

buy now

MedjetAssist
Medical transport back home from anywhere in the world

They are the premier global air medical transport. One caveat to travel insurance is that medical evacuation usually gets you to the closest facility to care for you. Medjet gets you back to the U.S. to the hospital of your choice once you are stable enough to fly. A Medjet membership is only for medical transport. Medjet Horizon offers expanded coverage. They have individual trip policies starting at $99 and annual policies for around $300. Most of their policies limit the age to 74.

To learn more about how Medical Evacuation membership with Medjet Assist works, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Buy now

Accommodations and Airfare

Expedia and VRBO
Hotels, home rentals, BNBs, flights, and other transportation & tours 

Expedia is a US-based company whose mission is to power global travel for everyone and everywhere. Wanderers Compass focuses on independent travel, and using sites like Expedia makes that possible. Every aspect of travel you need, from airfare, accommodations, rental car, and cruises to activities to do at your destination, can be booked on Expedia.  

Book now

Booking.com
Hotels, Home rentals, BNBs, Flights, and other Transportation & Tours 

Booking.com connects millions of travelers to memorable experiences, various transportation options, and incredible places to stay – from homes to hotels and much more. It is one of the world’s largest travel marketplaces for established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes. It is our preferred booking site.

Book now

Transportation

Daytrip
Personalized city-to-city private car transfer service

Daytrip is an affordable private car service for city-to-city transfers around the world. We love their service, and it costs much less than renting a car. You can enjoy comfortable, stress-free travel with the added bonus of scenic sightseeing stops along your journey. For example, we used them between Budapest and Vienna, making some fantastic stops along the way. Their professional drivers and customizable routes ensure a smooth ride while allowing you to explore hidden gems and local attractions.

To learn more about how Daytrip, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.  

Book now

Travel Experiences

Viator
The leading marketplace for travel experiences

Viator believes that making memories is what travel is all about. And with 300,000+ experiences to explore—everything from simple tours to extreme adventures (and all the niche, interesting stuff in between)—making memories that will last a lifetime has never been easier. We use them often during our travels and love their liberal cancellation policy.

Explore now

Communication products for seamless connectivity overseas

GigSky International eSIM Data Plans
Local Prices. No Roaming. Fastest Networks.

GigSky eSIM keeps travelers seamlessly connected worldwide without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards or facing unexpected roaming charges. With affordable data plans and instant activation, you can enjoy reliable internet access in over 190 countries, making travel more convenient than ever. They have a great offer, a 100 MB data plan for free, and no credit card is required. They are that confident you will love their product!

Enjoy 10% off all GigSky Plans (except cruise and inflight) with our discount code WCOMPASS10

To learn more about how GigSky, check out our blog post for a more detailed review.

SHOP NOW

Shopping

Wanderers Compass Amazon Storefront
An excellent source for all travel essentials and guides

Amazon is one of the most comprehensive online shopping sources in the world. Teams worldwide provide lower prices, better selection, and rapid delivery on behalf of customers. They offer a vast inventory, and their 1.7 million small and medium businesses worldwide selling on Amazon.com offer extensive options to customers.

Shop now

This article contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!