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Portland

Portland travel guide

Most populous city in Oregon, U.S.

Flights from$1,002 round trip
Best time to visitJune and August to September
Nearest airportPDX · 6 mi from centre
Time zoneUTC−7
Population652,503

About Portland

Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located in the Pacific Northwest at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, it is the 28th-most populous city in the United States, sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and fourth-most populous in the Pacific Northwest, with a population of 652,503 at the 2020 census. The Portland metropolitan area, with over 2.54 million residents, is the 26th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. Almost half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metro area. It is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous in the state.

Cheap flights to Portland

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $1,002 from Dublin, travelling 11 Nov – 18 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

Cheapest month to fly

$1,008 Oct $1,002 Nov $1,013 Dec $1,246 Jan $1,138 Feb $1,135 Mar $1,074 Apr $1,328 May $1,256 Jun $1,446 Jul $1,379 Aug $1,309 Sep

Airlines travellers compared most often: Finnair, Aer Lingus.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

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Places to visit in Portland

  1. Portland Japanese Garden

    Portland Japanese Garden

    Park · 1 mi from centre

    Carefully designed gardens with ponds, a waterfall, raked sand and a tea house, set on a hillside in Washington Park with a view of Mount Hood on clear days.

  2. Washington Park

    Washington Park

    Park · 1 mi from centre

    A large hillside park containing the International Rose Test Garden, the Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum and many trails, easy to reach by light rail. A free shuttle links the main sights.

  3. Powell's City of Books

    Powell's City of Books

    Landmark

    A city-block bookstore with color-coded rooms of new and used books, easy to lose hours in, and a central stop for any visit to downtown Portland.

  4. Lan Su Chinese Garden

    Lan Su Chinese Garden

    Park

    A walled Suzhou-style garden in Old Town Chinatown with pavilions, a lake, carved stone and a teahouse serving tea and snacks amid the plants. It is a calm downtown retreat.

  5. Multnomah Falls

    Multnomah Falls

    Nature · 28 mi from centre

    In the Columbia River Gorge east of the city, a tall two-tiered waterfall with a footbridge across its middle and a steep trail to the top.

  6. Forest Park

    Forest Park

    Nature · 3 mi from centre

    A vast urban forest in the West Hills crossed by the Wildwood Trail and other paths, giving a wilderness feel only minutes from downtown. Trailheads are easy to reach by bus.

  7. Pittock Mansion

    Pittock Mansion

    Historic · 2 mi from centre

    A French Renaissance-style mansion built for a newspaper publisher, with period rooms inside and lawns outside that offer sweeping views over the city and Cascade peaks.

  8. Portland Saturday Market

    Portland Saturday Market

    Market

    A weekend open-air craft market near the waterfront featuring local artisans, handmade goods and food stalls, operating seasonally under the Burnside Bridge. It also runs on Sundays and is a good place to find locally made souvenirs.

Top experiences in Portland

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 3 available.

See all things to do in Portland

Where to stay in Portland

Popular hotels in Portland, out of 240 properties you can book.

See all hotels in Portland

Best time to visit Portland

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Portland is June and August to September, when average daytime highs are around 74–83°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.

MonthTemperature (°F)Rain days
Jan 34° – 45° 17
Feb 36° – 49° 19
Mar 40° – 55° 21
Apr 42° – 60° 12
May 47° – 66° 13
Jun 53° – 74° 6
Jul 59° – 85° 2
Aug 60° – 83° 4
Sep 56° – 77° 6
Oct 47° – 62° 14
Nov 42° – 52° 19
Dec 40° – 50° 20

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Portland weather forecast

  • Wed 21 Oct 72° 54° 2%
  • Thu 22 Oct 68° 50° 10%
  • Fri 23 Oct 63° 47° 3%
  • Sat 24 Oct 66° 43° 51%
  • Sun 25 Oct 66° 46° 50%
  • Mon 26 Oct 66° 47° 13%

Know before you go

Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Language
English
Calling code
+1
Driving
On the right
Time zone
America/Los_AngelesUTC−7
Capital
Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Presidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Portland

These are the airports closest to central Portland. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

  • PDX Portland International Airport6 mi (10 km) from the city centre
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Getting around Portland

If you are touring the United States without a car, rejoice! Portland is an easy city to bicycle, walk or use public transport.

By car

Driving around downtown is not recommended. Inconvenient, expensive, and hard to find parking, combined with active parking meter enforcement (8AM-7PM) and non-intuitive street closures, transit malls, and restrictions, make it frustrating even for locals. For example, some streets have bus-only lanes where it is illegal to merge or turn across the bus-only lane to make turns at many intersections.

On foot

Portland is a great city for walking. The 200-foot (60-m) block size throughout most of Portland were designed in the 1860s for walking convenience and Portland has a lot of street life. Good mass transit also makes walking more feasible in Portland. The City of Portland Office of Transportation offers free, highly detailed walking maps that may be ordered online. For a scenic walk, the Eastside Esplanade along the Willamette River across from downtown offers lovely views of the skyline.

By bike

Portland, the self-proclaimed "Bicycle Capital" of the nation, is an excellent city for bicycle travel. The whole metro area has an extensive network of bike lanes and designated bike-friendly streets. Bike streets (also called "neighborhood greenways") are generally signed with green "Bike Route" signs and a bicycle painted on the ground. These are typically quiet residential streets that run parallel to a major arterial.

Portland travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Portland?

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Portland is June and August to September, when average daytime highs are around 74–83°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.

What is the weather like in Portland?

July is usually the warmest month in Portland, with average highs of 85°F (30°C). January is the coolest, with average lows of 34°F (1°C). The wettest month is typically December, with about 264 mm of rain.

Which airport is closest to Portland?

Portland International Airport (PDX) is the closest airport, about 6 miles (10 km) from the centre of Portland.

How much are flights to Portland?

The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Portland in the last 30 days was $1,002 from Dublin, travelling 11 Nov – 18 Nov. November is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $1,002.

What time zone is Portland in?

Portland uses the America/Los_Angeles time zone (currently UTC−7). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.

How do I get around Portland?

If you are touring the United States without a car, rejoice! Portland is an easy city to bicycle, walk or use public transport.

What are the best places to visit in Portland?

Top sights in Portland include Portland Japanese Garden, Washington Park, Powell's City of Books and Lan Su Chinese Garden. Carefully designed gardens with ponds, a waterfall, raked sand and a tea house, set on a hillside in Washington Park with a view of Mount Hood on clear days.

What are the top things to do in Portland?

Popular experiences you can book in Portland include Secret Food Tours: Portland and Downtown Portland Donut Tour. Destina Holidays offers 3 tours and activities here.

What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Portland?

The most popular types of experiences in Portland are shows, sports and special events (1), city tours (1) and gastronomy & nightlife (1). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.

Where should I stay in Portland?

Popular areas for hotels in Portland include Downtown. Well-reviewed options include The Hotel Zags Portland and The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton.

How many hotels can I book in Portland?

Destina Holidays currently lists 240 properties in and around Portland, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.