Portland is such a unique city with amazing food to enjoy and sights to explore. You can pack a lot into one day, whether you’re only visiting for a short time or you’re heading out to explore the rest of the beautiful state. Follow this itinerary for everything you should experience with one day in Portland, Oregon.
1. Start Your Day with Coffee or Breakfast
Start your day at Good Coffee on NW Raleigh Street (opens 7am weekdays; 8am weekends). Enjoy seasonal specialty coffees in a variety of unique flavors and this light an airy coffee shop.
Good Coffee doesn’t serve food, so if you are in the mood for breakfast, check out Pine State Biscuits on NW 23rd, just around the corner. As with almost all of Portland’s amazing brunch spots, the wait can get extremely long, especially on weekends. Try to arrive at opening (8am Monday-Thursday; 7am Friday-Sunday).
2. Hike in Forest Park
A true nature’s haven in the middle of the city, Forest Park has over 80 miles of hiking trails through lush, green foliage. The trail to the Witch’s Castle via Lower Macleay Trail or Wildwood Trail is a great, moderate hike (experienced hikers will find it easy) with great scenery. There are some rocks and exposed roots, so hiking boots are helpful but not required.
The park is open daily from 5am to 10pm. Note: Lower Macleay Trail is closed for the remainder of 2021.
3. Visit Pittock Mansion
Marvel at the beauty of this early 1900s French Renaissance style home. The mansion grounds are open to the public daily, closing at 9pm. The outdoor portions of the estate are worth a visit even if you don’t plan to tour the home! On a clear day, visitors are treated to views of up to five mountains, including Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier.
Admission to enter the home and explore its 23 rooms costs $12, and guided tours are included (call 503-823-3624 to schedule). The mansion is open from 10am – 5pm but closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
4. Grab a Donut at Blue Star
Skip the crazy line and mediocre donuts at Voodoo (unless you have your heart set on the crazy and creative toppings). Blue Star describes its treats as “donuts for grownups,” and they are delicious, dense, and rich. They do tend to sell out of flavors throughout the day, so if you want to try a specific one, consider going in the morning instead of evening.
5. Pick Up a Great Read at Powell’s City of Books
One of the world’s largest bookstores, Powell’s City of Books takes up an entire city block, spans 68,000 square feet, and has several million books for sale. Even if you aren’t shopping for a book, it’s very cool to see if you’re in the area. The store itself is not particularly cute or charming, but it goes on and on and on… and it’s impressive to see.
There are multiple Powell’s Books locations around Portland, but be sure to plug Powell’s City of Books into your GPS for the main and largest shop. The shop is open daily 10am – 9pm.
6. Have Lunch at Pine Street Market
This charming indoor food hall with many different vendors serving a wide variety of items and flavors offers something to please everyone’s palate. The hours are limited though; Pine Street Market is only open Thursday – Sunday, 12pm – 8pm.
If you’re visiting on the days it’s closed or are ready for lunch before noon, try the delicious sandwiches at Break Bread on NW Pearl, open Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm.
7. Shop at the Portland Saturday Market
If you’re in the city on a Saturday, don’t miss visiting the largest continually-operating craft market in the United States. Browse dozens of vendor booths displaying handmade goods, photography, home décor, jewelry, art, and more. There are typically a few food vendors, but keep in mind this is more of art market than a farmer’s market.
The market is open Saturdays from 10am – 5pm.
8. Stroll Through a rose garden
Portland has several rose gardens, but with over 550 varieties of roses, the International Rose Test Garden is the largest and most impressive. Even better, it’s free to enter. Spend half an hour (or more!) walking around the manicured lawns, enjoying the sights and sweet smells.
Roses are typically in bloom from May through September, but you may get lucky in April and October. The gardens are open year-round from 5am to 10pm.
Metered parking is available but very limited. Consider taking a ride share if you’re not comfortable driving in crowds or don’t want to potentially have to wait for a spot.
9. Grab Pizza for Dinner
Portland was voted best city in America for pizza by Modernist Pizza in 2021, so you can’t visit without tasting at least one! You can’t go wrong with Oven and Shaker (in the Pearl District near Powell’s City of Books), Ken’s Artisan Pizza (a few miles east of the city), or Lovely’s Fifty Fifty (north of downtown). All are less than a 15-minute drive from the rose gardens.
Note that Lovely’s Fifty Fifty is only open Thursday through Saturday until 7:30pm. Ken’s Artisan Pizza is open daily 4:30pm – 8:00pm. Oven and Shaker is open daily 4:00pm – 9:00pm (10:00pm on weekends). Plan accordingly if you’re having a later dinner!
10. End With a Sweet Treat
My favorite ice cream in the world (so far!) is Salt & Straw, which started in Portland in 2011. Creamy and flavorful with delicious, freshly-made waffle cones, this dessert is worth waiting in the (long) line for. The staff are always great and let you sample as many flavors as you’d like. You can also order a “split scoop” – a single dip with two flavors – if you can’t decide.
There are three locations – check Google maps and pick the spot closest to you. Supposedly the shop on Alberta has shorter lines than the others, and it’s possible this is true during the day on a weekday. There was no line at the Alberta location on a Monday at 3pm this summer; however, the last time I visited, I waited 45 minutes at the Alberta location on a Monday evening after dinner.
Staying longer than just a day? Break up the one-day itinerary into two days so you aren’t rushing from place to place. Add on a unique culinary experience like a food tour (from Forktown and Lost Plate), donut tour, or brewery tour. Check out the Portland Art Museum. Try more restaurants, dessert spots, and coffee shops.
There are also a ton of great day trips from the Portland area, including wineries, beaches, mountains, and waterfalls.
