25 Things to Do in Portland: Everything You Need to Know for Your Visit

Due to the extensive number of fun things to do in Portland, it is considered the most vibrant city in Oregon, also dearly referred to as “The City of Roses”. This vibrant energy emerges from its yearly spring blooms and spreads to the entire city.

With that said, there are plenty of ways to spend your time, but the number of days of your stay is at your fingertips.

No need to break a sweat, though, since here we’ve discussed everything from fun things to do in Portland for adults and kids to major festivals and the best time to visit. 

Without any further delay, let’s reveal what’s in the box for you!

What’s the Best Thing to Do in Portland, Oregon?

The best things to do in Portland are exploring the wilderness of Portland at the International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Garden, hiking through Forest Park, and Tryon Creek. 

This Bridge City is also known for its vibrant culture and art scenes, thus, exploring the art museums, and the local food is the best thing to do in Portland! 

Let’s hope you do justice to the trip by adding the suggestions mentioned in the following section to your itinerary. 

List of Top 10 Things to Do in Portland

A diverse set of activities can be found in Portland to occupy yourself with, like hiking, watching soccer matches, visiting the Rose Test and the Japanese Gardens, Multnomah Falls, the Portland Zoo, the riverfront park, and the art museums. 

Here’s a comprehensive list to help with finding the best things to do in Portland and around:

1. Organic Farm-to-Plate Dinner at Topaz Farm

A community favorite farm that adds a bunch of things to do in Downtown Portland. From Music festivals to organic brunches and silent reading nights, people at Topaz are always up to something. 

Insider tip: Since the seasonal sunflower bloom lasts from August to September, make a visit during this time. 

2. Soccer at City USA

The perfect spot for sports enthusiasts, the field hosts soccer games for the men’s and women’s teams. Soccer is more than a sport; it is a legacy and a tradition carried forward by the Timbers (men’s local team) and the Thorns (Women’s local team). Watch the energy of the field touch the sky with the cheering, the drumming, and the game on the field.

Insider tip: The ticket for the match also acts as a TriMet (bus, rail, and commuter rail service) free pass for going to and coming back from the stadium.  

3. International Rose Test Garden 

Responsible for giving Portland the title of “City of Roses,” Rose Test Garden is the oldest operating public rose test garden in the USA. While the park has mesmerizing views to offer year-round, the best time to witness the blooms would be from late May to October. 

Insider Tip: It counts among the free things to do in Portland. Moreover, the park is open every day, so if you wake up wondering what things to do in Portland this weekend, this is an easy go. 

4. Portland Japanese Garden

Designated by the former ambassador of Japan to the US as the most authentic Japanese Garden in the world outside of Japan. It definitely reflects the beauty and authenticity of an original Japanese garden. Moreover, it features some of the best sakura blooms in the country.

• Operational Days:  Wednesday-Monday 
• Timings: From 10:00 am-5:30 pm.
• Ticket Price: $22.50 per adult
• Remains closed on Tuesdays.

Insider Tip: Skip lines and book online through the official website. Also, the best time to visit the Portland Japanese Garden is either during spring (late March) or during fall (late October). 

5. Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo holds more than 1800 animals across 230 variety of species. Elephants and Polar Bears are among the animals that you can find here. Oregon Zoo’s wildlife tour is one of the best things to do in Portland, since it has been conserving and protecting orphaned and rescued animals, it adds value to the overall experience. 

• Operational Days: Open every day 
• Timings: From 9:30 am-5:30 pm 
• Ticket Prices:  Adults $26 (age 12 and above)

– Children $21 (age 2-11)

– Entry for infants (age 0-2) is free of cost.

Insider tip: There’s a limited capacity for each slot, so make your bookings in advance through the official website. 

6. Hike Through the Forest Park 

With more than 80 miles of trails, Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the USA. If you’re a hiker, Macleay Park Trail to Pittock Mansion will entice you. The focal charm of the park, though, resides in the graffiti-covered Witch’s Castle, with lichen sprouting out of its walls adding to its character. 

Insider Tip: Check the warnings issued before making a visit, and go as per the guidelines of Forest Park.   

7. Portland Museum of Art

It is a walk through the art and culture of Portland and therefore accessible to all. Visiting the Portland Museum of Art is among the best things to do in Portland, Maine. The museum hosts a bunch of events that you must keep checking for on the website before making your visit. Experience all this to unlock a new perspective and unclog the senses! 

• Operational days: Wednesday-Sunday
• Visiting Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
• Ticket Price: -Free entry for 21 & under

-$20 for Adults  

-$18 for Seniors & Students 22+

• Remains closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and public holidays.

Insider Tip: The entry is free for all visitors on Fridays between 4 pm and 8 pm. 

8. Knot Springs 

A good massage counts among the fun things to do in Portland for adults, as it promises to unburden your shoulders with the amazing treatments available. Being one of the swankiest spas in town, it offers foot massages, body massages, and popular skin care treatments. Get rid of those invisible knots in your body before tightening your belts to explore the whole town! 

Insider Tip: Always check the discounts and offers available on the Knot Springs’ official website before making your bookings. 

9. Gelato from Pinolo

Trying out the Pinolo Gelato is one of the must things to do in Portland, as it is a crucial part of having an authentic Portland experience. Although the treat is originally Italian, Pinolo has deliciously mastered how to make it one of Portland’s own with the locally sourced fruits. 

Insider Tip: Don’t miss the seasonal fruits like blackberries, and pumpkin, which are etched into the cold gelato texture. 

10. Tryon Creek

Being a tributary of the Willamette River, Tryon Creek features and uplifts the beauty of the flora and fauna surrounding itself. Accessible to everyone, it is among the free things to do in Portland.

Featuring hiking trails and horse trails around the meandering creek is a defining experience in nature and actually among the best things to do in Portland for an outdoorsman!

Insider Tip: Feel free to geek out on the elaborate guided trips on Saturdays conducted by the naturalists. 

We’ve covered all the tourist-friendly activities so far, let’s look at a few locals favorites in the next section, which will make your Portland trip much more memorable!

Also Read: Best Time to Visit Thailand: The Beach Paradise of Southeast Asia

What’s the Most Fun Thing to Do in Portland, Oregon?

Fun things to do in Portland are ample, for example, adventure lovers would love hiking to the Multnomah Falls, Lan Su Chinese Garden, and Council Crest Park. 

Active people also enjoy water sports at the Sellwood Riverfront, biking on the waterfront loop, Pedalpalooza ride, Oakland Amusement Park and Swift watching at Chapman Elementary. 

Let’s not forget shopping, because who doesn’t love a good spree, right? Well, Prost Marketplace, and Portland Flea Market are also among the most fun things to do in Portland, when it comes to buying souvenirs and organic food!

Top 15 Fun Things to Do in Portland–Locals’ Favorites

A few locals’ favorite things to do in Portland are–visiting the flea market, Oaks Amusement Park, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Prost Marketplace, Oregon Historical Society, visiting the Museum of Science and Industry, and visiting the Council Crest Park. Also, wine tasting, biking on the waterfront loop, and swift watching, sitting by the Multnomah Falls are popular activities.

Explore these places and activities in detail in the subsections below:

1. Multnomah Falls

Pinned to the Multnomah Creek the waterfall is a sublime sight and worth climbing every mile. This is also one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the United States. The water stream braves through various surfaces, leaving a trail behind, that results in various fascinating formations. 

Insider Tip: Carry your timed entry permit, which costs $2 and enables entry from 9 am to 6 pm every day.  

2. Clinton Street Theatre and Cabaret

Along with being a legacy of cinema and cabaret in the United States, Clinton Street Theatre is a hotspot for budding friendships and romances too. Screening “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” every Saturday night for years, it kept its promise intact even through the pandemic by screening to an empty theater. 

Insider Tip: Delve into this cult classic experience of performing arts in costumes, the way it is ought to be done!

3. Hollywood Theatre 

A central historical landmark of Hollywood and a space for both old classics and new releases, Hollywood Theatre should definitely be at the top of your list of the best things to do in Portland, especially if you’re a cinephile. 

The beauty of preservation has a big part to play in enabling the tourists and locals to appreciate the next-door, small-town vibe of this theater. 

Insider Tip: A few miles down the block lies Movie Madness, the city’s last video and DVD rental store. Quite the cherry to top off the old-school theatrical experience. 

4. Water Sport at Sellwood Riverfront

Get paddling along the currents of the Willamette River, which can be accessed via the Sellwood Ramp, as well as the boat ramp available at the Willamette Park. 

Paddle boarding and kayaking are some of the most riveting things to do in Portland. Let the water take control of your movement for once, and use the paddle board to forge your way through the stream!

Insider Tip: Rent your craft and other important equipment from local shops available around. 

5. Pedalpalooza Ride

Pedal your way to Portland by the 1st of June in order to catch on to this annual cycling festival in time, as per the Pedalpalooza calendar. Not only does it endorse good health, but it is also a fun way of creating community bonding.

Don’t worry about the state of your bicycle, since this is literally the Met Gala of bikes! Might I say, let your imagination and bicycle tires both run free. 

Insider Tip: Renting a bike for this event is very easy because of Biketown so even if you’re a tourist, you’re in for a fun ride!  

6. Portland Flea Market

A drink in one hand and money in the other makes the perfect recipe for a successful shopping spree. From cottagecore dresses to maximalist and colorful home decor, Portland Flea has a lot in the box for you. Rain or shine, the market stays! 

• Address: 831 SE Salmon St., Portland, OR 97214, United States
• Operational Days: Every last Sunday of the month from the months of April to October. 
• Timings: 11 am to 4 pm.     

Insider Tip: Carry an extra set of hands for holding your bags, because shopping is one of the most fun things to do in Portland, especially when done with loved ones. 

7. Oaks Amusement Park

While some may argue that adult fun just means sitting and dining, one of the most fun things to do in Portland for adults can actually be in going to an amusement park and let the child within wander freely! If you have kids, this can make a treasured shared experience to have with them. 

• Operational Days and Timings: The schedule and timings are different for each day of the month. Check the calendar on Oakspark’s official website before planning a visit.  
• Entry Fees: Entry is free in this park, however, you need to purchase the ride bracelet for each ride and the prices may vary according to age and the carousel. 
• Contact: +1 503 233 5777

Insider Tip: Although the other rides are operational only from spring break in March to the holiday season in October, the roller rink is open year-round.

8. Lan Su Chinese Garden

Putting in the spotlight some of the most exotic and breathtaking flowers, Lan Su Chinese Garden is rightly named “The Garden of Awakening Orchids.” A few of its highlight species are trillium, daylily, star jasmine, variegated mock orange, winter sweets, and more. 

Timings: Open daily from 10 am- 6:30 pm in summer. Timings for other months differ; check the Lan Su Garden’s official website to find out. 

Ticket Prices: Free — Members

• – $16.00 — Adult (age 19-61)
• – $15.00 — Senior (age 62 & over) / Student (18+ with I.D.)
• – $13.00 — Youth (age 6-18)
• – Free — Child (5 and under)

Insider Tip: Download the “Discover Lan Su” app to find audio tours, plant spotlights and scavenger hunts. 

9. Prost Marketplace

Foodies need to drop the pin here, since this food cart is so prominent that it has expanded from one stall to a little food marketplace over time. With proper seating arrangements and multiple businesses setting up shop, there’s variety available now. From burgers and BBQ to ice cream, it has food items to make your stomach jog. 

Address: 4233 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, Oregon.

Insider Tip: Prep your stomach a little before visiting so you can try more items!  

10. Oregon Historical Society

While Oregon Historical Society holds together the history of the entire Oregon within the confines of its three floors and four walls. Exploring its history is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Portland. 

The artifacts and information present here preserve the footprints of the Japanese soldiers from WWII, the displacement of the indigenous, and the arrival of the Black population. 

Operational Days: Open on all days except for national holidays.

Timings: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm

Entry Fees: Adults- $14

Students and teachers with ID -$12

Seniors (60+) -$12 

Youth (17 and under) -FREE

Insider Tip: Free entry is available for the citizens of Multnomah County.

11. Swirl, Sip, and Swish the Wines of Portland

Willamette Valley boasts numerous vineyards, such as the Duke’s Family Vineyard, Bellinger Estates, Crowley Wines and more. Wine tasting is actually among the most celebrated and fun things to do in Portland for adults. So dip into the wine tasting and be a sommelier for a day with the 3 S’s guiding your direction-swirl, Swish and sip! 

Insider Tip: Some of these tasting rooms have rare bottles or upcoming local launches tucked away in their breweries; make a request to try the rare ones out! 

12. Bike on the Waterfront loop

To name a few fun things to do in Portland Maine, it has waterfront loops to offer, such as Bangor Waterfront Trail and Calais Waterfront Walkway. Even when looking for things to do in Downtown Portland, there are waterfront loops that you can consider like, the classic Downtown Waterfront Loop Walk.

Insider Tip: There are 3 amusing hiking paths along the Willamette River Waterfront waiting to be traced by you!

13. Swift Watching at Chapman Elementary

A monumental sight here is when the migratory Vaux Swifts collectively roost in the chimney of Chapman Elementary. Many Portlanders gather here as this turns into an awe-striking picnic site. The best time to witness this is during late August or early September, as this is the time for their fall migration.

Insider Tip: Reach right around sunset to catch this sight in time.

14. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

While going into OMSI, do not expect the regular stuff. This is one of the most fun things to do for adults and children together as they participate in a perspective-unlocking experience. 

It is a highly educational experience with the sights and sounds exhibit, Jurassic World by Brickman and other amazing exhibits. Honestly, it’s one of the best things to do in Portland for those who geek out on cool science tricks.

Operational Days: Closed on Mondays

Timings: Tuesday-Sunday–9:30 am-5:30 pm; Saturday–9:30 am-7 pm.

Ticket Prices: Adult (14+) $20.00

 Senior (63+) $17.00

 Youth (3-13) $15.00

 Infant (Under 3 years) Free

Insider Trip: Check out the OMSI website for additional seasonal discounts before booking.

15. Council Crest Park

Originally known as ‘Talbot’s Mountain,’ Council Crest Park is one of the highest points in Portland. Although the history of its name is a little speculative in nature, it is an endeared spot since it is free and accessible to all. One of the speculations points out that it is named so because this is where Native Americans held meetings and lit signal fires, which is an interesting tidbit!

Insider Tip: Although the park is open from 5 am to midnight, parking for vehicles closes between 9 am and 5 pm.

How can we discuss must things to do in Portland without mentioning where the sauce is really at, and that is in the big festivals? Continue reading to dig more into them.

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Festivals in Portland Not to be Missed! 

The seasonal festivals and annual celebrations offer some of the best things to do in Portland in 2025. If you’re here, see the city rise to its zenith.

Check these off your list on your trip to Portland and take home treasurable memories:  

1. Portland Folk Festival:  Held at the end of January every year, it is a total blast and perfect for cultural immersion.

2. Lunar New Year at Lan Su Chinese Garden: A two-week-long celebration with 4 nights of lantern lights in February. This is the festival that celebrates Chinese New Year with love and light. 

3. St. Patrick’s Festival: An Irish festivity that grips Portland during mid-March is the biggest celebration of Irish culture. Portland celebrates this every year in a full-blown manner with bagpipes and Irish food.   

4. UFO Festival: Crazy pet costumes, people parading dressed as aliens, and, of course, spaceship landing parties—you can’t go overboard with this charade. The UFO festival transforms Portland into Area 69 for the course of a few days in May! 

5. India Festival: Celebrated every year on India’s Independence Day on the 15th of August, this festival is a big stage for indulgence in Indian dance, music, and food. It is a warm attempt to make the immigrant feel at home. 

6. Christmas: How can we miss the most cherished festival in the entirety of the United States? The nights full of light and hearts brimming with the joy of gifting make this the perfect holiday.

Be sure to experience at least one of these while you’re here. Some other aspects that will help you decide the best time to visit Portland are discussed next. 

Best Time to Visit Portland and Hacks

The best time to visit Portland is between May and September, as the temperature does not fluctuate much during this time in the coastal climate. 

This is a transition period from a warm to a cool climate, and hence the most ideal. Do not worry, rain will not be your guest during this period, as it arrives later in the year.  

Witness the colorful blooms of the spring or the orange shedding of the fall, depending upon your preference. Since, no matter which time of the year you choose, an unforgettable experience is assured. 

Hacks for Traveling to Portland 

Wondering what’s the best way to get around Portland? Well, here are 3 short hacks that go a long way: 

1. Use Public Transportation: This is a common one, but trust me, less is more when it comes to transportation. Using public transport saves a lot of money when you actually sit and do the math.

2. Find Free Things to Do in Portland: The Rose Test Garden, Chinese and Japanese gardens, Multnomah Waterfall, and exploring the riverfront are key to experiencing the real Portland and at practically no expense. This saved money allows you to be extravagant in the food or shopping department! 

3. Explore Food Carts: Street and truck food serve the authentic taste of the place with a fun twist. More than that, it is perfect for mid-meal cravings. This will spare you the time spent in restaurant waiting lines!

In Summary

There’s a lot that this city has to offer when it comes to finding fun things to do in Portland for adults and kids alike. Taking historical walks makes for free, fun experiences; on top of that, the ticketed experiences are even better. 

This comprehensive list of the best things to do in Portland in 2025 has everything from prancing around in nature to having thrilling experiences at an amusement park. There will not be a dull moment once you’re there, and that is guaranteed. 

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