Courtesy of Photo by Matt Payne of Durango, Colorado/Getty Images
1-day Itinerary in Portland, OR
Explore the best things to do in Portland, OR in 1 day based on recommendations from local experts.
Day 1
- 1#5
View all Photos#5 in Portland, ORShopping, FreeTYPE1 to 2 hoursTIME TO SPENDShopping, FreeTYPE1 to 2 hoursTIME TO SPENDRead MoreWhether or not you're an avid reader, Powell's City of Books is worth checking out. It occupies a square city block and rises three stories high; in fact, this bookstore is so large that exploring it actually requires a map.
While you wander through the stacks, keep in mind that you are tracing the footsteps of great writers, many of which have scrawled their signatures on one of the building's pillars. You might also schedule your visit to coincide with a reading, as the book shop hosts events nearly every day totaling more than 500 author visits a year.
10 minutes by car - 2#1
View all PhotosfreeWashington Park#1 in Portland, ORParks and Gardens, Recreation, FreeTYPE2 hours to Half DayTIME TO SPENDParks and Gardens, Recreation, FreeTYPE2 hours to Half DayTIME TO SPENDRead MoreMany critics, travelers and locals agree that of all of Portland's parks (and they are numerous), Washington Park is perhaps the best. Home to such notable landscaping feats as the Portland Japanese Garden and the International Rose Test Garden, as well as the World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum and several memorials dedicated to pivotal points in Oregon's history.
There are also family-friendly attractions like the Oregon Zoo and Portland Children's Museum along with a large playground, soccer fields, tennis courts and an archery range. Just make sure you save plenty of time for a leisurely stroll down one of the many shady paths, which are often decorated with flower displays and fountains.
5-20 minute walk - 3#2
View all Photos#2 in Portland, ORParks and Gardens, FreeTYPE1 to 2 hoursTIME TO SPENDRead MoreNot until you visit these sprawling gardens will you fully understand the reasoning behind one of Portland's nicknames, the City of Roses. Established in 1917 by the American Rose Society, it began as a sanctuary for European grown hybrid roses during World War I and is now the oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States.
Home to more than 10,000 roses, the site also offers the special Shakespeare Garden, which is filled with roses that are named after the characters in William Shakespeare's plays. To get a peek at smaller versions of your favorite roses, check out the Miniature Rose Garden. The award-winning roses are found in the aptly named Gold Award garden. If you have your heart set on seeing the roses in full bloom, plan an early summer visit.
5-10 minute walk - 4#3
View all Photos#3 in Portland, ORParks and GardensTYPE1 to 2 hoursTIME TO SPENDRead MoreWhen the hustle and bustle of Portland start to get the best of you, you can seek out the Zen-like tranquility at the Japanese Garden within Washington Park.
The 12-acre Portland Japanese Garden is made up of eight separate gardens that represent different styles of traditional Japanese gardening techniques. All of the gardens feature essential elements like stone, water and plants that come from influences of the Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies, creating a unique, serene environment where visitors feel they are becoming a part of nature. The garden also features the Kashintei Tea House, where visitors can take part in a traditional tea ceremony. If you're visiting in late March, don't miss the chance to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
5-10 minutes by car - 5#8
View all Photos#8 in Portland, ORHistoric Homes/Mansions, SightseeingTYPE1 to 2 hoursTIME TO SPENDHistoric Homes/Mansions, SightseeingTYPE1 to 2 hoursTIME TO SPENDRead MoreThe 16,000-square-foot Pittock Mansion is one of Portland's few historic attractions and definitely one of the most unique. Commissioned in 1912 by Henry Pittock – the owner of The Oregonian newspaper – and designed after the French Renaissance style, this 23-room mansion contains a Turkish smoking room, a library, a music room, and two sleeping porches, among other features.
Guided tours of the mansion are included in the price of admission, allowing you to learn how the wealthy lived here in Portland. But you'll need to call the mansion to check on the availability of the volunteer tour guides. Also, stop by the gift shop, which sells handcrafted items made by local vendors. You can also take a self-guided tour during visiting hours; maps are available at the front entrance and interpretive panels are stationed throughout the mansion.
15-20 minutes by car - 6#9
View all PhotosfreeForest Park#9 in Portland, ORHiking, Parks and Gardens, FreeTYPE2 hours to Half DayTIME TO SPENDHiking, Parks and Gardens, FreeTYPE2 hours to Half DayTIME TO SPENDRead MoreIf you're looking to spend some time outside but aren't willing to make the trek to Mount Hood, Forest Park is the place to go. With more than 5,000 acres, it's one of the largest urban parks in America.
Among the park's features is the 30-mile Wildwood Trail, which is part of the region's 40-mile Loop system connecting pedestrian and trail routes along the Columbia River to Gresham, through southeast Portland, along the Willamette Greenway, and back to the Marquam Trail in southwest Portland. To find a trailhead, check out Forest Park Conservancy's online maps. And if you're an avid bird-watcher, make sure to spend stop at the Portland Audubon Society, which offers a variety of activities especially for birders, including the Wildlife Care Center, which houses educational birds of prey. Recent travelers remarked on how close Forest Park was to the city, but how far into the wilderness it felt. They also remarked on the variety of hikes for all levels.
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