Portland Travel Tips. An article sharing travel tips about visiting Portland. How to get there and more…

Mark Ford

It’s great to have you here searching for Portland travel tips. Portland, Oregon, is located in the Northwestern United States, where the Willamette and Columbia Rivers meet. It is only a short drive away from the Pacific Ocean, sprawling forests, fertile valleys and the Cascade Range. Portland’s mountainous backdrop, combined with the city’s many urban parks and eco-friendly ambition, make it a nature lovers’ paradise. Portland was established in the mid eighteen hundreds. Due to its riverside location it was a major Pacific Northwest port until the turn of the century. With about six hundred thousand inhabitants, it is Oregon’s most populous city. Downtown Portland was built with pedestrians in mind, so you can easily walk the central district to take in the city’s architecture, parks and fountains at your own pace. The heart of the city is the amphitheater on Pioneer Courthouse Square. It’s the place everyone keeps coming back to, after browsing galleries, shopping, and sightseeing. Do bring an umbrella because showers are very common, although there is plenty of sunshine to enjoy in summer. Some Americans jokingly call Portland ‘Beervana’, because of its large number of microbreweries. If you prefer a good wine, head to the Willamette Valley. Join one of the many vineyard tours to sample the local Pinot Noir made from grapes grown in volcanic soil.

Portland Travel Tips – How To Get From The Airport To Portland

Portland, Oregon is served by Portland International Airport (PDX) located 14.5 kilometers from the city center. The airport connects 60 non-stop flights to cities in the US and several international flights from hubs like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Tokyo and Toronto. When searching for Portland travel tips the airport is efficient and convenient for travelers, with a couple of great options getting you from the airport to Portland as smoothly as possible. Let’s have a closer look at those options right now. 

Train

Flights to Portland

The MAX Light rail is the easiest and most bang for the buck option to get you from the airport to Portland. The tide from the airport cost only $2.50 and the ride takes 38 minutes. Tickets can be purchased next to the south baggage claim on the lower level of the airport. 

Taxis

Taxis are readily available outside the baggage claim area. The cab ride cost around $35 will get you from the airport into Portland in 20-40 minutes depending on where you’re staying and the traffic situation. Uber also operates in Portland, Oregon. 

Portland Travel Tips – How To Get Around Portland

Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon and with its population around just over 650.000 it’s the 25th most populated city in the United States. When searching for Portland travel tips and how to get around Portland there are a number of various options that will get you from point A to point B as smoothly as possible. Portland’s downtown area is compact, flat and offers a couple of nice green areas so it can easily be accessed by foot, but if you want to go longer distances then there are a number of options. Let’s have a closer look at those in this simple guide.

Portland Public Transport

Public transport

TriMet runs the buses, light rail trains and commuter trains that connect the in’s and out’s of Portland. Buses run frequently and there are five the MAX Light rail lines, the blue, yellow, red, green and orange that makes it a breeze to get around Portland. The red line services the airport. Downloading the Hop Fastpass app is the simplest way to plan your routes on bus, light rail or streetcar. A single ticket cost $2.50 for a generous 2.5 hour ride or $5 for a daily pass. 

Taxi

Traveling by taxi in Portland is not as expensive as in many other cities in the US because the city is so compact. The taxi fare starts at $3 with $3 charged per mile. Note that there’s an extra $1 charged for each additional passenger. Taxis are often unnecessary due to Portland’s great public transport system. Uber and Lyft are also available in Portland, Oregon. 

Best Places To Stay In Portland

Portland is one of the coolest cities in America, with a combination of breathtaking views, laid back culture, great coffee shops, craft beer and culinary experiences. When searching for Portland travel tips and looking for the best places to stay in Portland, there are a couple of neighborhoods that are especially good for first time visitors who want to make the most out of their Portland stay. That’s why we’ve made this simple guide on the top three places to stay in Portland. 

The Downtown area of Portland is an area that is well connected to the other parts of the city, it’s the home of interesting street markets, museums and galleries. There are plenty of great restaurants in the downtown area where you can try out some great food on the food trucks and street food vendors. It’s the best place to stay in Portland if you want to be within walking distance of many tourist attractions, live in the middle of the city and have easy access to the public transport.

Downtown Portland

Recommended Hotel: Staypineapple at Hotel Rose

Hawthorne is an area located in the southeast of Portland and has become one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the city, packed with historic theaters, craft beer bars, vintage shops and great restaurants. This is the place to stay if you want to live with a more laid back atmosphere, but have easy access to the downtown area. 

Recommended Hotel: HI Portland Hawthorne

Central Eastside is the place to be in Portland for the party animals and nightlife warriors. This area is packed with pubs, bars, clubs and dance floors for the perfect nightlife experience in Portland. During the daytime the area is known for its coffee culture, with cafés and bistros lining up the streets. So if you’re young at heart and looking for fun, this is the best place to stay in Portland.
Recommended Hotel: Jupiter Hotel Portland

Top 7 Experiences You MUST Have In Portland

1. Portland Saturday Market has been up and running since 1974 with over 250 booths filled with local art, clothes, toys and pet supplies created from every material imagined. The market is located near the Tom McCall Waterfront Park and there’s plenty of great food to be found here too. A great place to stop by for some local culture. 
2. Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest and is the home of the most prestigious art collection. Here you’ll get to experience works from European masters, Japanese screen prints and contemporary American pieces. The museum’s Native American gallery houses more than 5000 ancient and modern objects from over 200 various tribes – not to be missed!
3. Pittock Mansion is a 16.000 square foot house designed in French Renaissance style in 1912 by the owner of The Oregonian newspaper – Henry Pittock. Today you can have a tour of the 23-room mansion which has a Turkish smoking room, an abundant library, a lively music room and learn about the lives of the wealthy back in the early 1900s on the guided tour that is included in the ticket price.
   

   Portland

4. Washington Park is a beautiful tranquil place to take a walk with its Japanese Garden and International Rose Test Garden. Here’s also the World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum and memorials dedicated to Oregon’s history. You’ll also find family attractions such as the Oregon Zoo, Portland’s Children’s museum and a big playground, soccer fields and tennis courts. A great place to spend some time to relax after touristing the city. 
5. Multnomah Falls is a 620 feet tall waterfall that is the ultimate experience if you love hiking and a bit of a challenge. Here you can climb the ¼ mile trail to the Benson Bridge where you can have a closer look at the stunning nature. Or take the long hike to the top of the waterfall for an incredible view of the Columbia River Gorge. 
6. Brewery Tours is a must for the beer lovers out there. Portland is well known for its craft beer with over 70 breweries in the city. Taking a guided tour is the best way to explore and sample the various styles and tastes of the local craft beer scene in Portland. There are a handful of different brewery tours arranged, with Brewvana, Cycle Portland or BeerQuest Walking Tours being the most appreciated ones. 
7. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a great place to take the kids for an interesting experience of fun and educational playgrounds. This museum offers five interactive learning halls and eight labs filled with hands-on exhibits in physics, chemistry, paleontology and more. A great place to spend a couple of hours with the family. 

Portland Travel Tips Video

Accreditation: New York Times

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