Whether you want to see the top attractions, eat and drink your way through the city, or are looking for cheap things to do, we’ve got the perfect Portland itinerary for you. We’re showing you exactly how to spend one day in Portland with itinerary ideas based on your travel style!
Only have one day in Portland? No problem! While you could easily spend a week exploring the city’s quirky neighborhoods, incredible food scene, and plentiful green spaces, you can still pack a lot into just 24 hours.
There are so many things to do in Portland for every type of traveler. But with so much to do, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to plan your time.
We decided to give you a little head start and created the perfect Portland itinerary for your first time in Portland. You’re welcome!
From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, we’ll help you make the most of your short but sweet visit to the City of Roses!
Why trust us to help plan your Portland itinerary?
As fellow Oregonians residing in Bend, Oregon since 2019, we’ve been up to visit Portland more times than we can count!
We’ve visited the top attractions, done tons of eating research to find the best food and drinks in Portland, and spent time exploring all the weird and quirky nooks and crannies this city has to offer.
We have tons of ideas for how you could spend one day in Portland—so many that we couldn’t just make one itinerary, so we made 6!
Whether you’re a foodie, an outdoor adventurer, or just want to experience Portland’s unique vibe for the first time, this guide has the perfect itinerary ideas for you.
So pack your rain jacket and get ready to embrace the weird!
Portland Itinerary Guide
- First time in Portland itinerary
- Food-lovers itinerary ideas
- Outdoor adventure itinerary ideas
- Budget itinerary ideas
- Rainy day itinerary ideas
- Our favorite Portland itinerary ideas
- More Portland resources
- Oregon travel resources
First time in Portland itinerary
If you’re planning your very first trip to Portland, Oregon, this one day Portland itinerary is for you!
Morning
Start your morning in Portland off with a breakfast sandwich from Fried Egg I’m in Love.
This is our personal favorite breakfast in Portland and they have 3 locations around the city, including one downtown. Grab a bite at whichever location is nearest to where you’re staying or most convenient.
After breakfast, make your way to Washington Park. There are two stops in this park you won’t want to miss.
Open year-round, the Portland Japanese Gardens has been called “the best Japanese Gardens in the world outside Japan.” The gardens are gorgeous during each season and make a nice morning activity to escape the city and find Zen.
Portland Japanese Gardens Quick Info
- Hours: Wednesday – Monday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)
- Cost: Tickets are $21.95 for adults
- More information: A limited number of tickets are available for daily admission. Portland’s Japanese Gardens website has more information on hours and events.
And if you’re lucky enough to be visiting Portland from late-spring to early-fall, you’ll want to check out the International Rose Test Garden.
Nextdoor (so-to-speak) from the Japanese gardens, this rose garden has more than 10,000 rose bushes with just around 650 varieties. Who knew there were so many varieties of roses?! (We sure didn’t!). The roses are in bloom between April and October, peaking in June.
After you’ve made your way through the gardens of Washington Park, head up the hill to Pittock Mansion.
Just behind the Pittock Mansion is one of the best views in Portland. This vantage point overlooks the city, and on a clear day, you’ll see Mount Hood looming in the distance.
This is the exact location of the viewpoint.
Afternoon
For lunch you’ll be participating in one of our all-time favorite activities: a food tour! More specifically, the Food Carts, Pods and Patios tour from Lost Plate.
The tour starts in the Eastside Central neighborhood and lasts from 1:30 – 4:30 pm, walking you though the neighborhood and stopping along the way to discover some of Portland’s best food and drink.
Note: This tour is only offered Wednesdays through Fridays. If you are not visiting on one of these days, or just not interested in doing the tour, we have an alternative lunch idea for you.
Alternative itinerary options to the food tour
Alternatively, stick around downtown and experience something that is quintessentially Portland: a food truck pod!
Third Avenue Food Cart Pod is one of the largest food truck pods in the city and is now located on the south side of North Blocks Park. Serving up everything from classic food truck bites to world cuisines, you’re sure to find a food truck that tickles your tastebuds.
Important to note: many of these food trucks are only open for lunch, and some are closed on weekends. When we arrived in off-peak hours, there weren’t many stands to choose from.
Next pop into Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world! Even though it’s a popular spot, we think you’ll be impressed by the endless rows of literature and that signature “bookstore smell”.
After you’ve browsed to your heart’s content, it’s time for a treat!
You have plenty of options for sweet treats in Portland, but here are our top recommendations:
- Sample Portland’s best donuts at Blue Star
- Try Portland’s best ice cream at Salt & Straw
Spend the rest of your afternoon wandering around and exploring the Pearl District.
Just north of downtown, this former warehouse district has transformed into a trendy, upscale neighborhood filled with chic boutiques, art galleries, and some of the city’s best restaurants.
Don’t miss a stop into Powell’s City of Books if you haven’t already! And you’ll want to snap a photo in front of the iconic White Stag Sign.
Evening
For dinner snag yourself a table at Portland’s oldest restaurant.
Serving patrons since 1879, Huber’s Cafe is a Portland institution. The historic building retains its old world charm, making patrons feel as if they’ve stepped back in time.
They’re known for their traditional turkey dinners and Spanish coffees (a must-try!) which are prepared tableside with flames and flair.
If you’re looking for a little nightlife action after dinner, head to Al’s Den for speakeasy vibes and live music or comedy performances depending on which night you visit.
Food-Lover’s itinerary ideas
Portland is consistently ranked as one of the top food cities in America and for good reason! Below we’re sharing all of the best foodie things to do (including some can’t-miss drinks to try as well!) if you only have one day in Portland.
- Take a Food Tour with Lost Plate
- Morning coffee and doughnut tour
- Food carts, pods and patios tour (recommended in the summertime)
- Evening food and drink tour (the tour we did)
- Use our coupon code when booking: twowanderingsoles and get $5 off your evening tour!
- Sample world cuisines at a food truck pod
- Third Avenue Food Cart Pod: One of the largest food truck pods in the city.
- Cartopia: Late-night food truck pod favorite; you’ll find a selection of your comfort food favorites like pizza, crepes and wood-fired chicken
- Mississippi Marketplace: Located next to the German beer garden Prost
- Hawthorne Asylum: Situated on what used to be the grounds of a mental hospital, there’s a communal fireplace and a covered area making this a good stop any time of the year.
- Our recommendation: We liked the chicken and potato curry from the Guyanese stand (Bake on the Run). The owner was very nice and was offering generous samples to passersby.
- Sample Portland’s best doughnuts or ice cream (or both!)
- Overall best donuts: Blue Star (multiple locations)
- Unique experience: Pip’s Doughnuts
- Favorite local ice cream: Salt & Straw (multiple locations)
- Go brewery hopping
- Stormbreaker Brewing: nice patio in the heart of Mississippi Ave
- Lucky Labrador: one of the oldest breweries in Portland, this has kind of a “dive” feeling (in a cool way), they use solar panels for their brewing (so cool!), they’re dog friendly (woof!), and they have darts (our favorite)!
- Try Portland’s drool-worthy deep dish Pizza at Ranch PDX
- We loved the “Number Four” (ricotta, sausage, chilis) and “Hawaiian” (bacon, pineapple, jalapeño).
Outdoor adventures itinerary ideas
If you’re a nature lover, and happen to be visiting with good weather, here’s how we’d advise you to spend one day in Portland.
- Peruse the Portland Saturday Market (if visiting on a Saturday): Each Saturday from March through Christmas Eve, part of the Tom Mccall Waterfront Park turns into an open-air market where artisans and vendors can sell their wares.
- Stroll through the International Rose Test Garden: Free to enter in Washington Park. The roses are in bloom between April and October, peaking in June.
- Explore the city on two wheels: Try Portland’s bike share program where you can rent a bike for $12.50 per day, or go on a guided bike tour where you’ll learn local secrets and stop at non-touristy parts of town.
- Get lost in Forest Park: With more than 70 miles of trails for running, biking or just exploring and lovely views overlooking Willamette River, Forest Park’s thick trees and winding paths will make you forget you’re still technically in the city!
- Hike to the Witch’s Castle: Kinda creepy, really cool. This dilapidated house is located in the southernmost end of Portland’s Forest Park and is a sight to see!
- Get the best view of the city from behind Pittock Mansion: This vantage point overlooks the city, and on a clear day, you’ll see Mount Hood looming in the distance. Come at sunset for a really impressive sight.
Rainy day itinerary ideas
If you happen to be in Portland on one of the notoriously drizzly days, fret not – there are plenty of rainy-day activities to fill your Portland itinerary!
- Get lost in Powell’s City of Books: Famous for being the largest independent bookstore in the country, we think you’ll be impressed by the endless rows of literature and that signature “bookstore smell”.
- Visit McMenamin’s Kennedy School: Once an elementary school, this quirky venue has been transformed into an entertainment center complete with a hotel, restaurant, several bars, a movie theater, and yes, a soaking pool.
- Try and Escape Room: As a quirky city that gets lots of rain, there are a lot of Escape Rooms in Portland.
- Post up for an afternoon at a board game cafe
- Mox Boarding House is a restaurant offering an extensive library of board games for check out or dining in.
- Senet Game Bar located in southwest Portland offers up a full service bar and restaurant along with a library of board games to check out during your visit.
- Try a Spanish coffee at Huber’s Cafe: Known for their traditional turkey dinners and Spanish Coffees (a must-try!) which are prepared tableside with flames and flair, Portland’s oldest restaurant is well worth a visit.
- Go brewery hopping
- Stormbreaker Brewing: nice patio in the heart of Mississippi Ave
- Lucky Labrador: one of the oldest breweries in Portland, this has kind of a “dive” feeling (in a cool way), they use solar panels for their brewing (so cool!), they’re dog friendly (woof!), and they have darts (our favorite)!
- Check out Portland’s nightlife scene
- Quirky movie theaters
- Comedy club
- Live music
Portland on a budget itinerary ideas
If you’re a budget traveler, we’ve got all sorts of free and cheap things to fill your time in Portland.
- Stroll through the International Rose Test Garden: Free to enter in Washington Park. The roses are in bloom between April and October, peaking in June.
- Explore the city on two wheels: Try Portland’s bike share program where you can rent a bike for $12.50 per day.
- Explore the Alberta Arts District and Mississippi Ave neighborhoods: Two of our favorite neighborhoods are located outside of downtown and filled with an eclectic mix of cafes, galleries and boutiques you can window-shop.
- Spot street art: Simply wander around the city and you’ll stumble upon a handful of murals, or use this Portland street art map to plan out a route.
- Get lost in Forest Park: With more than 70 miles of trails for running, biking or just exploring and lovely views overlooking Willamette River, Forest Park’s thick trees and winding paths will make you forget you’re still technically in the city!
- Hike to the Witch’s Castle: Kinda creepy, really cool. This dilapidated house is located in the southernmost end of Portland’s Forest Park and is a sight to see!
- Get the best view of the city from behind Pittock Mansion: This vantage point overlooks the city, and on a clear day, you’ll see Mount Hood looming in the distance. Come at sunset for a really impressive sight.
Our personal favorite Portland itinerary ideas
If we had to choose our very favorite things to do for just one day in Portland, these would be the things we’d try to stuff into our itinerary.
- Relax in McMenamin’s Soaking Pool: Nestled in the Woodlawn neighborhood of northeast Portland, the McMenamin’s Kennedy School Soaking Pool is a worthy escape from the bustle of downtown.
- Have tea at Lan Su Chinese Garden: After wandering the paths around the gardens, head to the onsite teahouse and settle in with tea and traditional Chinese sweets to be truly transported.
- Stroll through the Portland Japanese Gardens: The gardens are gorgeous during each season and make a nice morning activity to escape the city and find Zen.
- Hike to the Witch’s Castle: Kinda creepy, really cool. This dilapidated house is located in the southernmost end of Portland’s Forest Park and is a sight to see!
- Take a Food Tour with Lost Plate
- Morning coffee and doughnut tour
- Food carts, pods and patios tour (recommended in the summertime)
- Evening food and drink tour (the tour we did)
- Use our coupon code when booking: twowanderingsoles and get $5 off your evening tour!
- Explore the Alberta Arts District and Mississippi Ave neighborhoods: Two of our favorite neighborhoods are located outside of downtown and filled with an eclectic mix of cafes, galleries and boutiques you can window-shop.
- Get lost in Powell’s City of Books: Famous for being the largest independent bookstore in the country, we think you’ll be impressed by the endless rows of literature and that signature “bookstore smell”.
- Sample Portland’s best doughnuts or ice cream (or both!)
- Overall best donuts: Blue Star (multiple locations)
- Unique experience: Pip’s Doughnuts
- Favorite local ice cream: Salt & Straw (multiple locations)
- Go brewery hopping
- Stormbreaker Brewing: nice patio in the heart of Mississippi Ave
- Lucky Labrador: one of the oldest breweries in Portland, this has kind of a “dive” feeling (in a cool way), they use solar panels for their brewing (so cool!), they’re dog friendly (woof!), and they have darts (our favorite)!
- Try a Spanish coffee at Huber’s Cafe: Known for their traditional turkey dinners and Spanish Coffees (a must-try!) which are prepared tableside with flames and flair, Portland’s oldest restaurant is well worth a visit.
More Things to Do in Portland
If you’re looking for more ideas for things to do, we have an entire article of weirdly awesome things to do in Portland where we share all the details and tips for visitors.
First-Timer’s Guide to Portland
If this is your first time visiting Stumptown, you’ll want to read our First Timer’s guide which is packed with helpful information like when to visit and where to find the best eats.
Where to stay in Portland
If you want more details and accommodation recommendations, we have an entire guide to where to stay in Portland, including insider tips and things to do in each neighborhood.
Best day trips from Portland
If you’re looking to combine your trip to Portland with a few other places, you’ve got a ton of options. We have an entire round-up of the best Portland day trips.
Plan your trip to Oregon state
Being that Oregon is our home state, we have TONS of content to help you plan your trip. Start with our Oregon Homepage and be sure to check out the articles below. Leave us a comment if you have any more questions!
- If you need more ideas, here are some incredible places to visit in Oregon.
- You’ll want to keep this Oregon road trip itinerary close by.
- Read up on all the fun things to do in Bend, Oregon (our hometown!)
- If you’re headed west, here are all the cutest Oregon Coast towns.
- Plan your Oregon coast road trip with our insider tips & map.
- Don’t skip Cannon Beach, our favorite small town in Oregon.
- Keep this list of our favorite things to do in Oregon handy.
- This article will help you visit the 7 wonders of Oregon.
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