Known as a culinary darling of the Pacific Northwest, Portland enhances your Oregon road trip with unique landmarks and a plethora of enchanting sites right at its doorstep.
Last updated: July 29, 2025
Welcome to Portland, Oregon
Portland is the first city you want to travel to while visiting Oregon. The biggest city in the state, followed by Salem, the capital of Oregon, Portland has it all. From incredible parks – including Mill Ends Park, the world’s smallest urban park – to its coffee culture and book obsession, Portland offers a wide range of activities and things to do for people from different walks of life. Read on how you, too, can spend a day in Portland and find the best things to do in not just the city, but the entire state.
HOW TO SPEND ONE DAY IN PORTLAND: THE BEST THINGS TO DO
TOP THINGS TO DO IN PORTLAND
1. Shop at Powell’s City of Books
Address: 1005 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209
Powell’s City of Books is the largest bookstore in the world. The place occupies an entire city block and sells new and used books. You can spend the whole day walking between isles filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and not see everything this little corner of Portland has to offer. Add to this, a gift shop on every level and a cozy cafe, and you may call Powell’s City of Books the best place in Portland for coffee and book lovers.
I walked out of Powell’s City of Books with five new books, some of them had been on my reading wish list for a while. If I had a chance or a bigger backpack, this book haul would be at least five times bigger.
READ MORE: The Last Bookstore: A Splendid Bookshop in Los Angeles
2. Visit Washington Park
Address: 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221
To explore Oregon’s hiking trails, museums, and gardens without leaving the city, head over to Washington Park. Located in the heart of the city, it offers some of the most interesting things to do with a family or alone. It includes visiting the Oregon Zoo, exploring the Portland Japanese Garden, admiring flowers at the International Rose Test Garden and more.
3. Take a Picture of the St. Johns Bridge
Address: 8600 NW Bridge Ave, Portland, OR 97203
One of the most recognizable landmarks of the city, the St. Johns Bridge is a mandatory photo stop for every visitor of Portland.
4. Eat at Pine Street Market
Address: 126 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204
Pine Street Market is an integral part of Portland. Set in Old Town Chinatown, the place gathers all local and visiting foodies with its modern food-stall environment and gourmet lunch and dinner options.
Somehow, I find eating at Pine Street Market one of few overrated things to do in Portland, especially when it comes to breakfast choices.
5. Step Inside the Pittock Mansion
Address: 3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland, OR 97210
Originally built as the private home of businessman and publisher Henry Pittock, the Pittock Mansion is a stunning architectural masterpiece. Wandering 23 rooms of the mansion filled with works of art and antiques is one of the best things to do on a rainy day in Portland.
During a few-hour visit, the mansion tells you about the city’s history and the incredible success of Henry and Georgiana Pittock. Apart from it, the Pittock Mansion offers panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.
6. Explore the Lan Su Chinese Garden
Address: 239 NW Everett St, Portland, OR 97209
The Lan Su Chinese Garden is not a typical Chinese garden you’ll find in many big cities. An authentic Ming Dynasty style garden was open in 2000 and encompasses the entire block of the historic Chinatown district in Portland. Moreover, the Lan Su Chinese Garden features rare plants native to China and hosts several arts exhibitions a year.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PORTLAND
7. Stop at Latourell Falls
Address: Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S
Once you venture to the Columbia River Gorge, Latourell Falls are one of the first stops to make here. The waterfall is located near the Historic Columbia River Highway and is visible from the road. For a better view, follow a short path down to the base of the waterfall.
8. Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
Address: Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S
Bridal Veil Falls is located about six minutes away from Latourell Falls. Unlike the latter one, Bridal Veil Falls is hidden in lush Oregon’s forest. It can be accessed via a short, less than a mile round-trip trail. Although the hiking trail that reminds more of a walk in a park attracts a decent amount of other visitors, the waterfall is worth every effort.
9. Admire Multnomah Falls
Address: Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, Oregon, U.S
The pride of Oregon, Multnomah Falls is another beautiful site near Portland. Located on Multnomah Creek in the Columbia River Gorge, it’s one of the busiest places in the area. A 611-foot-tall waterfall consists of two tiers. The Benson Bridge suspended between two cascades visually dividing Multnomah Falls into two smaller waterfalls.
10. Check out Wahkeena Falls
Address: Wahkeena Trail #420, Corbett, OR 97019
Similar to Multnomah Falls, the Wahkeena Falls area features a small stone bridge. But the similarities end here. Unlike the Benson Bridge, this stone bridge is located at the base of Multnomah Falls. Furthermore, the water doesn’t plunge directly to the ground, but gracefully cascades down. What’s more, the crowds of visitors typical for Multnomah Falls never make it to Wahkeena Falls, allowing you to enjoy Portland’s surroundings in solitude.
Read More
- FIRST TIME IN OREGON: 7 Things to Know before Traveling to Oregon
- OREGON ROAD TRIP: Oregon Coast Road Trip for Weekend Travelers
