Downtown Portland Travel Guide

Portland
Downtown Portland featuring boating, picnicking and a bay or harbour
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 Rp1.497.686 per night from 17 Nov to 18 Nov
Rp1.497.686
Rp1.752.261 total
includes taxes & fees
17 Nov - 18 Nov
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! (1,456 reviews)
"It's nice and clean. Wish the rooms had microwaves"

Reviewed on 1 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 Rp1.636.128 per night from 5 Nov to 6 Nov
Rp1.636.128
Rp1.897.909 total
includes taxes & fees
5 Nov - 6 Nov
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! (982 reviews)
"Great location. Only bad thing was, you can here everything your neighbors are doing."

Reviewed on 4 Nov 2024

Moxy Portland Downtown
Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown
Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown
4 out of 5
319 SW Pine St, Portland, OR
The price is Rp2.139.552 per night from 1 Dec to 2 Dec
Rp2.139.552
Rp2.481.880 total
includes taxes & fees
1 Dec - 2 Dec
Stay at this 4-star historic hotel in Portland. Enjoy free breakfast, 2 restaurants and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,015 reviews)
"Nice suits"

Reviewed on 2 Nov 2024

Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown
Mark Spencer Hotel
Mark Spencer Hotel
3 out of 5
409 Sw 11th Ave, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.725.014 per night from 11 Nov to 12 Nov
Rp1.725.014
Rp2.000.953 total
includes taxes & fees
11 Nov - 12 Nov
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! (1,113 reviews)
"The character of the hotel"

Reviewed on 3 Nov 2024

Mark Spencer Hotel
The Paramount Hotel
The Paramount Hotel
3.5 out of 5
808 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.628.734 per night from 14 Nov to 15 Nov
Rp1.628.734
Rp2.430.122 total
includes taxes & fees
14 Nov - 15 Nov
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 restaurant ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (2,118 reviews)
"It was beyond beautiful. The staff was amazing. And we had a wonderful time"

Reviewed on 1 Nov 2024

The Paramount Hotel
Hotel Lucia
Hotel Lucia
4 out of 5
400 SW Broadway, Portland, OR
The price is Rp1.591.292 per night from 5 Nov to 6 Nov
Rp1.591.292
Rp2.375.122 total
includes taxes & fees
5 Nov - 6 Nov
Stay at this boutique hotel in Portland. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,098 reviews)
"Great location, comfortable room"

Reviewed on 4 Nov 2024

Hotel Lucia
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

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Central Eastside

If you're spending time in Central Eastside, check out sights like Oregon Museum of Science and Industry or Willamette River and hop on the metro to see more of the city at SE Grand & Taylor Stop or SE Grand & Belmont Stop.

Central Eastside
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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
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Lloyd District

3.5/5(5 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Lloyd District. Moda 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
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Hosford-Abernethy

If you're spending time in Hosford-Abernethy, check out sights like Oregon Museum of Science and Industry or Willamette River 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
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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