Downtown Portland Travel Guide

Portland
Downtown Portland featuring boating, picnicking and a bay or harbour
Downtown Portland showing a city and street scenes
Downtown Portland showing a city, signage and street scenes
Downtown Portland - South Waterfront showing signage and a city
Downtown Portland featuring a skyscraper and a city
Make time to explore the heart of the city and discover great food, shopping and entertainment.

Any visit to Portland’s downtown district should start in Pioneer Courthouse Square, the cultural hub of the city. It’s likely your trip will coincide with one of the more than 300 events that take place in the square each year. You are bound to catch a festival, concert or, in the summer, a free movie in the amphitheatre.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park is also a popular area of downtown Portland, with wide pathways to bike, blade or walk along beneath the trees. A number of larger festivals are held here over the summer, including some of the events on the Portland Rose Festival calendar. 

Shoppers, foodies and culture buffs are catered to as well in the downtown area. The major attractions include the Portland Museum of Art and Powell’s City of Books. Powell’s occupies an entire block and contains over one million titles at any one time. 

On sidewalks, throughout parks and in parking lots you’ll see evidence of Portland’s mobile dining phenomenon. The city lays claim to more than 470 food carts, usually grouped in “pods” and offering a range of tastes from Greek gyros to Czech goulash, tacos to waffles. Some pods set up covered seating areas so even in wet weather you can enjoy a low-cost meal. 

For more traditional restaurants, Portland does not disappoint. There are many options for quality food at a reasonable prices. You will find plenty of cafes and restaurants using organic, locally sourced ingredients. Breakfast and brunch are treated with as much respect, and often innovation, as any other meal. 
With accommodation options to suit all budgets, Downtown Portland is a good home base for exploring the area.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Downtown Portland

Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center
3.5 out of 5
550 SW Oak Street, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.510.919 per night from 21 Dec to 22 Dec
Rp1.510.919
Rp1.767.743 total
includes taxes & fees
21 Dec - 22 Dec
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,475 reviews)
"Staff friendly"

Reviewed on 19 Nov 2024

Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center
Moxy Portland Downtown
Moxy Portland Downtown
3 out of 5
585 SW 10TH AVENUE, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.637.887 per night from 4 Dec to 5 Dec
Rp1.637.887
Rp1.899.948 total
includes taxes & fees
4 Dec - 5 Dec
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 4 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,003 reviews)
"Bar"

Reviewed on 22 Nov 2024

Moxy Portland Downtown
Mark Spencer Hotel
Mark Spencer Hotel
3 out of 5
409 Sw 11th Ave, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.849.589 per night from 3 Dec to 4 Dec
Rp1.849.589
Rp2.145.587 total
includes taxes & fees
3 Dec - 4 Dec
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,123 reviews)
Great stay near Powell’s
"Great location for shopping. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. Our room was simple, but clean, comfortable, and quiet."

Reviewed on 20 Nov 2024

Mark Spencer Hotel
The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel
The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel
4.5 out of 5
545 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.909.330 per night from 1 Dec to 2 Dec
Rp1.909.330
Rp2.214.824 total
includes taxes & fees
1 Dec - 2 Dec
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Portland. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, a 24-hour fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Perfect"

Reviewed on 11 Nov 2024

The Duniway Portland A Hilton Hotel
The Porter Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
The Porter Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
4.5 out of 5
1355 SW 2nd Ave., Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.611.421 per night from 26 Nov to 27 Nov
Rp1.611.421
Rp1.869.248 total
includes taxes & fees
26 Nov - 27 Nov
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the pool and the bar in their reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,238 reviews)
"Consistently solid experience. Hôtel is clean and excellent attention to detail"

Reviewed on 21 Nov 2024

The Porter Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
4 out of 5
309 SW Broadway, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.831.037 per night from 22 Dec to 23 Dec
Rp1.831.037
Rp2.124.003 total
includes taxes & fees
22 Dec - 23 Dec
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,004 reviews)
Good but I wouldn't stay again
"The lobby was very nice and clean. The room itself did not look like it was thoroughly cleaned before we got there. I even found items that belonged to the previous people staying there. The lobby was supposed to have coffee in the morning but always ran out when we came down and wouldn't replace ..."

Reviewed on 20 Nov 2024

The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Downtown Portland

Default Image

Goose Hollow

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Goose Hollow, check out sights like Providence Park or Washington Park and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Goose Hollow-SW Jefferson Street Station or Kings Hill-SW Salmon Street Station.

Goose Hollow
Default Image

Pearl District

4/5(4 area reviews)

You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in Pearl District. Spend some time visiting top spots like Broadway Bridge, and catch the metro at NW 10th & Johnson Stop or NW 11th & Johnson Stop to see more of the area.

Pearl District
Nob Hill showing street scenes

Nob Hill

While you're in Nob Hill, take in top sights like Trevett-Nunn House or Mission Theater, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at NW 23rd & Marshall Stop or NW Lovejoy & 22nd Stop.

Nob Hill
Default Image

Lloyd District

3.5/5(5 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Lloyd District. Lloyd Center is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at NE Grand & Multnomah Stop or NE 7th & Holladay Stop to see more of Portland.

Lloyd District
Default Image

Hosford-Abernethy

If you're spending time in Hosford-Abernethy, check out sights like Oregon Rail Heritage Center or Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Clinton Street-Southeast 12th Avenue Station or SE Grand & Mill Stop.

Hosford-Abernethy
Default Image

Buckman

If you're spending time in Buckman, check out sights like Hawthorne District or Belmont and hop on the metro to see more of the city at SE Grand & Belmont Stop or SE Grand & Stark Stop.

Buckman

Downtown Portland Travel Guide