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Portland
Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0

5 Days · in Portland

5 Days in Portland: City, Gorge & Family Fun

Five days gives you time to experience Portland fully. The first three days cover Washington Park, downtown and the east side. Day four is a day trip to the Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls, and day five is a family-friendly day at OMSI, the riverfront and the Oregon Zoo.

5 days
Things to DoRestaurantsHotelsPhoto SpotsTravel TipsItinerariesLandmarks

Day 01

Washington Park, Pittock Mansion & the Pearl

Gardens in the hills, a mansion with a view and an evening in the Pearl.

  1. Morning

    International Rose Test Garden

    Take the MAX to Washington Park and walk to the Rose Test Garden while the light is soft and the terraces are quiet.

  2. Late Morning

    Portland Japanese Garden

    Cross the road to the Japanese Garden, with timed tickets booked in advance, and wander its ponds and moss gardens.

  3. Lunch

    Northwest 23rd Avenue

    Head down to Northwest 23rd Avenue for lunch at a cafe, then browse its boutiques.

  4. Afternoon

    Pittock Mansion

    Visit the mansion and its lawn for the view over the city and Mount Hood.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Powell's City of Books

    Get lost in the color-coded rooms of Powell's on West Burnside.

  6. Evening

    Pearl District

    Have dinner in the Pearl District, at Andina or another neighborhood favorite.

Day 02

Downtown, Old Town & the Waterfront

Portland's living room, a Chinese garden, the river and a famous dinner.

  1. Morning

    Pioneer Courthouse Square

    Start in Portland's living room, then walk the South Park Blocks to the Portland Art Museum.

  2. Late Morning

    Portland Art Museum

    Explore the collections and the new glass Rothko Pavilion, reopened in November 2025.

  3. Lunch

    Food cart pod

    Grab lunch at a downtown food cart pod.

  4. Afternoon

    Lan Su Chinese Garden

    Stroll the walled garden and stop for tea in the teahouse.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Tom McCall Waterfront Park

    Walk the riverfront loop across the Steel Bridge and back along the Eastbank Esplanade, passing the Keep Portland Weird sign.

  6. Evening

    Le Pigeon

    Book dinner at Le Pigeon, or walk next door to Canard for a more casual meal.

Day 03

The East Side: Division, Hawthorne & Mount Tabor

Neighborhood streets, a volcano park and Portland's food scene.

  1. Morning

    Pine State Biscuits

    Start with a biscuit sandwich, a Portland breakfast classic.

  2. Late Morning

    Hawthorne Boulevard

    Browse vintage shops, bookstores and cafes along Hawthorne.

  3. Lunch

    Nong's Khao Man Gai

    Try the famous chicken and rice that started as a food cart.

  4. Afternoon

    Mount Tabor Park

    Walk to the summit of the volcanic cinder cone and its reservoirs.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Division Street

    Explore Division Street's bakeries, bars and shops.

  6. Evening

    Kann

    Have dinner at Kann, booked well in advance, or at another east side favorite.

Day 04

Columbia River Gorge Day Trip

Waterfalls, viewpoints and the Historic Columbia River Highway.

  1. Morning

    Vista House at Crown Point

    Drive east about 30 minutes to the domed viewpoint high above the Columbia River.

  2. Late Morning

    Multnomah Falls

    Follow the Historic Columbia River Highway past Latourell Falls to Multnomah Falls, checking summer permit rules, and walk up to the Benson Bridge.

  3. Lunch

    Cascade Locks

    Stop for lunch in the small river town of Cascade Locks, near the Bridge of the Gods.

  4. Afternoon

    Hood River

    Continue to Hood River for views over the Columbia and the orchards of the valley.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Historic Columbia River Highway

    Drive back toward Portland, stopping at a viewpoint or a short waterfall trail.

  6. Evening

    Ox

    Return to Portland for a wood-fired dinner at Ox.

Day 05

Science, Zoo & Riverside Fun

A science museum, a submarine, a zoo and an evening by the river.

  1. Morning

    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

    Explore the hands-on halls and tour the USS Blueback submarine.

  2. Late Morning

    Eastbank Esplanade

    Walk the riverside path and its floating walkway with views of downtown.

  3. Lunch

    Food cart pod

    Let everyone choose their own lunch at a food cart pod.

  4. Afternoon

    Oregon Zoo

    Take the MAX to Washington Park and spend the afternoon at the zoo.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Salt & Straw

    Head to Northwest 23rd Avenue for an ice cream break.

  6. Evening

    Voodoo Doughnut

    End the day with a quirky doughnut in Old Town.