You never hear a lot about Portland so the big question is, is the city of Portland worth visiting? Yes! Portland is worth visiting because of its great food, artsy residents, greenspaces, and much more!
* Note * Scroll for a summary of each day listed below the maps.
Once you see this beautiful city, located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, you will quickly add it to your list of favorite places.
Whether it’s a day trip, long weekend getaway or one-month adventure, the city of Portland is a great place that offers a good time.
Out of all of the places I’ve visited in the United States, I’d say that Portland has some of the best restaurants, public transportation, and green spaces.
So How Do You Spend a Weekend In Portland?
Spend a weekend in Portland by choosing at least one event to attend, several restaurants to dine in, and checking out a couple of greenspaces!
What is Portland Known for?
Portland is known for keeping the city WEIRD! Unique artwork all over the city, interesting cafes, greenspaces, along with many other aspects you’re going to witness when you visit sets an unexplainable atmosphere in Portland.
The collective has agreed to call this feeling you will feel “weird”.
Portland has many forms of transportation
You can get around Portland without a car because Portland is a walkable city. I think that’s one of the best things about Portland.
If you’d like an option other than walking, you can also get around by using buses, the max light rail, the Portland streetcar, electric bikes, or ride-share options.
I used the max light rail several times. Getting a day pass served me well! The layout of the city also makes it very easy to do a quick bike ride or 20-minute walk to a nearby location.
First Day Suggestions for Portland
Get breakfast at Pine State Biscuits(Hours: 8 am-2 pm)! Let’s start the day off with one of the best biscuit breakfasts in existence. Not only are the biscuits AMAZING, but their pop tarts will change the way you look at pastries forever.
They’re almost too good. Be careful not to order them all! I recommend getting there early to beat the wait. This place is popular!
The amount of greenspaces Portland has is ANOTHER great thing about Portland! After eating a delicious breakfast, you could head over to one of the greenspaces that interest you.
There’s a rose garden nearby that you may want to look at if you want to experience the city of roses! Check out Ladd Circle Park and Rose Gardens.
Today the gardens feature over 3,000 roses of sixty varieties that were popular in the early 20th century.
– Portland.gov
Suggestion for your next location
I recommend visiting one of the largest city parks in the United States, Washington Park.
One of the best ways to view the city is to take a peek when you’re visiting the International Rose Test garden, which is located within Explore Washington Park.
I recommend taking a peek at the city from this high point and then proceeding to take a stroll through the rose garden.
After your stroll, go view Portland’s Japanese Garden if you want to experience breathtaking beauty! It’s located in the same portion of the park so don’t go too far!
There are a few areas where you can relax and prepare your mind for the rest of the day.
If you’re a fan of manifestation, then this is one of the best locations in Portland to meditate and think about your future, goals, and more.
I must warn you that the entrance to this garden is not very wheelchair nor stroller accessible!
Washington Park is huge, check out the map! No worries, there’s a free shuttle that will take you around the park during the daytime. How convenient is that?
If you’d prefer to stay at the park until the last shuttle has run. There’s usually an area to buy snacks located in front of the International Rose Test Garden.
If it’s your first time in Portland, you’ll want to head over to the Portland Saturday Market in the afternoon when you start to get hungry again.
The market runs from 10 am-5 pm. Get involved in some of the festivities, enjoy some live music, and grab a snack or lunch!
Spend the rest of the day hanging out in Pearl District
This district has many galleries and restaurants around so people gather in the area. You may make a friend by enjoying yourself in this location! And once you’re done exploring, you can check out the bars and Portland’s night scene!
If you’re interested in a fun bar, check out the Ground Kontrol Bar and Arcade!a
day 1 summary
1. Pine State Biscuits 2. Ladd Circle Park & Rose Gardens 3. Washington Park: International Rose Test Garden 4. Portland Japanese Garden 5. Portland Saturday Market 6. Ground Kontrol Arcade and Bar 7. Pearl District
Second Day Suggestions for Portland
Grab breakfast at Grits N Gravy! This breakfast spot is amazing! It has a large menu with all of the breakfast options you may need.
The waffles are tasty and thinner than Belgium waffles. Their chicken-fried steak will fill you with joy with every bite you take.
Man, I love this place! And to top it off, the staff are very friendly! Overall, Grits N’ Gravy is a great option if you want to have a yummy fulfilling meal to help you power through the day!
After breakfast, take a short walk to Mill Ends Park, the smallest park in the world! Be careful when viewing this tiny park because it is located in the middle of traffic lol You’ll see what I’m talking about.
It’s also located next to a much larger park, Tom McCall Waterfront park if you’d like to continue your walk.
The Portland Art Museum is nearby so art lovers check it out!
There are usually events going on during the weekend. Plan to go to an event, whether it be poetry, a magic show, or a concert, there’s sure to be something!
Your time will fill up in Portland as you get lost in the food, shops, sights to see, and more!
DAY 2 SUMMARY
1. Grits N’ Gravy 2. Mill Ends Park 3. Portland Art Museum 4. Pine Street Market 5. Explore
Eat here in Portland
Virtuous Pie – (Located near Clinton Street Theater) Not your ordinary pizzas. These pizzas are so delicious!
Voodoo Donuts – The donuts are fancy in this vibrant donut shop.
Look around.
Some of the donuts are topped with a mountain of goodies. Check out the colors! The artwork/decor in Portland’s restaurants are unmatched!
NOLA Doughnuts – Aesthetically pleasing inside the shop. I’m talking “VERY SOCIAL MEDIA WORTHY”.
The donuts are gourmet! To taste these donuts is to be blessed with happiness.
The Waffle Window (located near Clinton Street theatre) – Order a waffle meal from the window and then take a seat in the seating area beside the restaurant!
People watch, and enjoy the art scene, while you eat your food! I recommend the chicken and waffles, yum.
Gabbiano’s – If you do eat here, be sure to eat here during the daytime.
Some popular items on the menu may sell out before the day is over! The pasta at this place is fantastic.
Downtown Portland Food Trucks – If you like having options, this is the place for you.
Browse the food trucks and then make a selection! Any selection! These food trucks are good!
Pine Street Market – If you’re traveling with a group, this place is sure to help you all find food that you can eat at a common location.
Recommended Cafes/coffee shops
(near The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum ) This cafe has a latte that will shock your taste buds! The Seoul latte warmed my soul on a rainy day in Portland.
I’ve fallen in love with this drink and it’s enough to keep me booking flights to Portland. If you’re looking to get in some more sunlight, there’s a nice park across the street where you can take a walk.
Enjoy a view of the Willamette river if you decide to take that walk!
One of my favorite green spaces I’ve had the pleasure of visiting in Portland is a couple of blocks down the road, Tanner Springs Park.
I highly recommend this park. It’s beautifully crafted and offers a relaxing atmosphere. Recharge and conquer the rest of the day!
Try the matcha at this cute cafe/bar! The vibe is so chill that I can not deal!
Have fun in Portland at these places
A great way to have fun in Portland is to go shopping and seek conversations with locals about the secrets of Portland.
If you’re not a shopper or a talker, no worries, I got you! Check out an arcade or theater if you’re not feeling the outdoorsy things in the itinerary.
Clinton Street theater This theater hosts one of the longest-running screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the world.
I was able to attend a bubble show and saw my first square bubble here! If you get hungry, in the area, the entire city block is filled with cafes and restaurants.
Ground Kontrol Classic arcade and bar Portland has a 2-story arcade filled with games and colorful lights.
To make it even more awesome, the arcade serves drinks and food. Check out the list of games on their website!
Check out these unique places
Cookie Dough Cafe, seen on Shark Tank, is a yummy cookie dough place located in the downtown area of Portland and is also the perfect place to enjoy Ice cream!
I bet you will jog some memories with this one! Were you the kid who enjoyed eating cookie dough? No judgment because I was the SAME!
Powell’s city of books (located in the Pearl district)
If you’re a book lover, this large book store is sure to draw you in! It consists of 9 different rooms.
The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum (near Pearl District)This is a very small yet neat museum to check out if you want an interesting experience.
It’s less than 10 dollars to enter. It’s best to go with a buddy but solo travelers can enjoy the weird art installations too.
There are a few areas that may require someone to be your photographer if you’d like to take some fun pics! Check out the gift store for some weird stickers and magnets!
Two days are enough to have a good time in Portland
However, you will want to make a trip back once you find out how beautiful the city is.
I left a lot of things out of the itinerary, like the Lan Su Chinese Garden, Multnomah falls, Forest Park, Fields Park and other green spaces.
Portland also has many vegan food restaurants that are SHOCKINGLY good. I’d love to spend a couple of weeks in Portland just to do a food tour.
Portland has several districts with different characteristics. 2 days is just not enough to enjoy the vibes of all of them! So add Portland to your vacation list to keep experiencing a great time.
Like its monikers, Portland is pretty unique.
It has world-renowned chefs and hundreds of food carts; art in theaters and outside on the street;
the world’s largest independent bookstore and the highest concentration of craft breweries; a huge urban forest;
and a bridge reserved for bicyclists. This isn’t your typical city.
If Portland wasn’t so different, it wouldn’t be Portland. – Travel Oregon
