5 Fun Things to Do in Portland

Are you looking for something fun to do in Portland? Well, you’re in luck! Here are 5 of the best things to do in Portland. From the best photo spots to family amusement, there’s something for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!

The 5 Fun Things to Do in Portland

Oregon Zoo

• Address: 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (18870)
• Phone: +1 503-226-1561
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

  Tuesday: Closed

  Wednesday: Closed

  Thursday: Closed

  Friday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

  Saturday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

  Sunday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
• Reviews:
  Went on the first of January and they still had some snow from the week before but all the pathways were very well cleaned and salted. Couldn’t see some of the animals because of the cold I guess (it was a 27° kind of day). Some staff giving out some good information here and there like in the polar bear place. Cute Christmas lights all around and enough coffee and food shops. Some fun places for kids all ages to play around too. Totally wheelchair and stroller accessible.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Daniele de Oliveira (Dani) (11 months ago)

  Wife and I had a great time at the Oregon zoo. It was amazing to see the Polar bears. The zoo keeper calling them so that the public could see. They have a great structure in the zoo. Nice food (must try the elephant ears), great washrooms, lots of places ti site and take some rest. You can see the animals are well cared for. The gift shop is also a great stop, with lots of sustainable gifts. Staff is very polite and helpful.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Clauzi Guerini (4 months ago)

  I felt this zoo is underrated and should be more famous. The setting is beautifully done and each animal is given a lot of space to move around unlike the typical zoos. Probably this was the reason, every animal in here was actively moving around rather than lethargically lying in a corner. This makes it a fun experience for adults and kids alike. There were also some unusual exhibits like – Vultures feeding on a whole deer carcass which you can view at your own discretion, a beaver who has an underwater home inside a tunnel, weaver birds busy weaving pretty nests, playful otters, a mountain goat and much more. It’s divided into ecosystems like African savanna, Polar passage, Primate forest, Great Northwest etc. There are other interactive experiences at different times and also a zoo train for five bucks. We went two hours before closing and had to rush through everything to complete on time. Ample amount of paid parking available.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Varna Vincent (a month ago)

  We explored the zoo today and had a lovely time! Two adults, two teenagers and a toddler found the zoo to be very engaging and the setting is beautiful to boot.

  We arrived around 9:30 and didn’t experience any wait time and the crowds were pretty minimal. It took us about 3 hours to see just about everything, including riding the train and the carousel, which aren’t included in the ticket price. I don’t know if I can pinpoint a favorite part because there were so many awesome exhibits, truly a phenomenal zoo!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Alexandra Ruybal (5 months ago)

  The layout of this zoo is just beautiful! It took just under 3 hours for me to walk throughout the zoo. I visited from BC and it was cool to see polar bears and elephants in person. The enclosure for the elephants is amazing and it was interesting to read up on the history of elephants at the Oregon zoo. There were quite a few animal displays empty at this time of year which was disappointing but overall still a good activity for all ages.

  ✭✭✭✭ By sabrina gomes (a month ago)

Washington Park

• Address: 4033 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (13479)
• Phone: +1 503-319-0999
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Wednesday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Thursday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Friday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Saturday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Sunday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Reviews:
  We visited the Japanese Garden, and it’s beautiful! The waterfalls, the landscaping, and the trees are so amazing!
  Parking fee was $4 for 2 hours. Entrance fee was $18 for adult, not bad at all.

  From the parking lot, you have to hike maybe about one fourth of a mile to get on the top of the of hill to the garden.

  Lots of friendly employees to show directions and answer questions.

  As you enter into the garden, you’ll notice a lot of rocks and mini waterfalls. And, a lot of stair!

  Food is not allowed in the garden. Stepping on the moss is not allowed either. They really take care the garden beautifully.
  One of the most beautiful place to visit in Portland Oregon!!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Elvira Evans (7 months ago)

  Lovely park on a hill overlooking Portland. Especially enjoyable are the gardens available on the grounds. The International Rose Test Garden is free to go in and wander and features an amazing assortment of different varieties of roses. The Japanese gardens are ticketed ($20 for adults at the ticket booth currently), but are well done and worth a visit if you enjoy Japanese gardens. Plenty of good spots for kids to run around as well, including an amphitheater area. The park is roughly a 30-45 minute walk from downtown Portland (45 minutes from the riverfront, less the closer in you are), but the hill could be a bit of a challenge for some.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By James Koontz (a month ago)

  Absolutely-loved-it. Fantastic. Green all around, great for the lungs and circadian rhythm. Not hard, but might not take little kids who aren’t used to a little hike. (Think tree trunks and mud, small hilly areas.) Really liked my time there, think we hiked about an hour. (We walked down from the gardens, through the rose garden, to the right past the playground and on a trail up around the back of the garden.)

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Stevie Lynn Smith (8 months ago)

  Whether you are looking for a leisurely day in the Portland area, or garden inspiration, Washington Park with its International Test Rose Garden is one of the most beautiful parks I have enjoyed. Nestled into the hillsides, and across the way from the Portland Japanese Gardens, this is a lovely way to enjoy the beauty of Portland’s roses, especially during Rose Festival season. Parking can be challenging, as Washington Park parking also includes parking for the Japanese gardens. Early in the morning or later in the afternoon, or show a little patience and you’ll find a parking spot.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Darla Suit (5 months ago)

  Wonderful experience walking through the gardens. Roses everywhere, not even in full bloom yet! Wife and I spent 3 hours then found the free tour at 1pm. Worth another hour for certain. Tour wad great. Already want to visit again.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Gary Shatraw (5 months ago)

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

• Address: 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR 97214, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (7760)
• Phone: +1 503-797-4000
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: Closed

  Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

  Saturday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM

  Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Reviews:
  Nice museum, the staff are really customer care oriented, the exhibits were spacious and not overcrowded. Lots of learning on all levels, one area is specifically geared towards children and I can see that the people in that area enjoying themselves. The planetarium was nice and comfortable, watch the Black Holes documentary.

  The submarine was great and informative, every question I had was answered with their Naval military experienced guides.

  I would definitely come back for another visit.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Dwayne Benallie (4 months ago)

  A place to checkout while in Portland! This place is very interactive and interesting. A family-friendly place with a lot of activities and attractions for all ages. A personal favourite while visiting OMSI was the Nelson Mandela exhibit. It was well-presented and outlines his early life until post-presidency. It was a great visit!

  ✭✭✭✭ By Patrick D (9 months ago)

  Our trip to OMSI was pretty awesome! We were sad to see that the exhibit hall wasn’t open. I guess that’s my bad for not looking it up. I was happy to see that all of the children interactive exhibits were open. My 6-year-old ADHD son had a blast! We spent 2 hours there and all of us felt we saw all we needed to see and had a great experience. Definitely fun for the whole family!

  ✭✭✭✭ By Jamie L (8 months ago)

  We went to OMSI once with our young son after the vaccine was finally available for kids his age and oh my goodness, he had such a blast. Our first trip there was a special exhibit on the ocean and some stuff from James Cameron. This time, there’s a special 2 floor experience on Marvel, the history of comic books and all the super heroes in their stories.

  Our son is going through a Thor phase and he had such a blast. Seeing the wonder and excitement in the eyes of your child is one of the most rewarding things as a parent. If you have kids that are interested in science at all or for the next month or so, interested in Marvel or any of it’s heroes, i cannot recommend this enough!

  There’s also a dome theatre in the planetarium, interactive exhibits on music, earthquakes, water and air in a safe and child friendly atmosphere.

  If you live in Portland or a surrounding community and you have young children, this should be on your list of things to do!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Santi (a month ago)

  There’s exhibits and hands-on fun for everyone at this museum! My partner and I went to see the new Marvel exhibit and have to pass on the glowing reviews to other fans of the comics and movies! We could not stop saying “oh my,” at every artifact we walked up to. We also enjoyed a show in the planetarium and had the BEST submarine tour. It was a first for myself, but my partner agrees that the guide was absolutely amazing and full of great information! I almost knocked a star off for this visit though, as many other exhibits were closed or out of order for the day, which was something we really looked forward to checking out… Guess that just means we’ll have to come back again! ?

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Susan Kennedy (a month ago)

International Rose Test Garden

• Address: 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (6598)
• Phone: +1 503-823-3636
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Thursday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Friday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Saturday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Sunday: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Reviews:
  An awesome place to visit! You get to see so many varieties of roses and colors ! It’s very gorgeous and feels so good. Best of all there is no entry free to visit this place. You just need to get parking or can opt for pay by your parking. Do visit this place in jun end types for full bloom. You can easily spend two hours.. there is also a open area where you could plan a picnic with kids n enjoy leisurely the beautiful garden! You can’t get enough pics of the roses !

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Amruta M (4 months ago)

  All the roses are in full bloom now! Now is the best time to see this garden! This Free entrance rose garden is one of the best rose garden I ever seen. So many pretty roses! It surely is garden lover’s dream come true. Try to avoid the huge crowds go on weekdays or late afternoon on the weekends. Parking is a little hard to fine, but I can guarantee you that this place is worth your patience to drive around for a parking spot.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By J C (5 months ago)

  My family had a nice time visiting the rose garden and we will have to revisit again to be able to explore it in it’s entirety. You could easily spend a couple of hours here. They have different sections the roses are organized in. There is the Shakespeare Garden and an amphitheater. It was free to look around, we only had to pay for parking which was around a few dollars. Everything was very well kept, nice and neat.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Veena Violeta (4 months ago)

  Beautiful scenery. If you love nature, fresh air and most of all plants you will most definitely enjoy this place. As most have already stated it is currently too early in the season for the roses, maybe mid to late June will be better. The rest of the park is beautiful. Definitely recommend the arboretum. Bring comfortable shoes!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Ernesto Gonzalez (6 months ago)

  This place is surreal, if you are a rose lover like me. Even if you are not into plants and flowers, still this open garden is amazing, and I’m sure you would love it. It’s not far from the downtown, still so green and secluded. There are many other gardens nearby, however this garden is the best. They have many different varieties and species of roses and the entire place is so aromatic. The management runs a free tour too by the experts to explain the technicalities. I was not into that but take my time to explore the park. The parking is not free, although there is no entree fee to the park. There is tiny food/drink stalls, and I have enjoyed a snow cone here. I absolutely love this garden and can’t recommend enough.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Debisree Ray (3 months ago)

Pittock Mansion

• Address: 3229 NW Pittock Dr, Portland, OR 97210, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (6351)
• Phone: +1 503-823-3623
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Tuesday: 12:00 – 4:00 PM

  Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Fantastic views over the city and excellent photo ops in the beautiful surrounds. A small expense on parking only, about 2 dollars an hour. Could be a great trek or hike down from here to Washington park but we drove to a from. A great first stop when visiting Portland to get your overall bearings. Possibly worth touring the mansion too but we didn’t have time. Give yourself 30mins to an hour to explore the outside surrounds.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By John Phelan (5 months ago)

  when you walk into this mansion you feel like you just traveled back in time. It does not disappoint for the price it has loads of rooms for you to explore and has some amazing views. It took me about 2 hours to go through the mansion. The parking is reasonable for 2 dollars and hour.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By pandish panda (5 months ago)

  Amazing Views. You pay for Parking. Unless you park on the side road before arriving to Mansion. Entrance to walk trail and garden is Free but there’s a fee of about $10-$15 per adult for Self Tour. Super nice, well organized. Picture/Video allowed. No touching! Beautiful architecture/story.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Yohana Monzon Vasquez (5 months ago)

  An amazing example of forward thinking and innovation, hard to believe some features in this house were available 110 years ago. Well worth taking the self guided tour inside to experience the architecture and modern features. Views over Portland all the way to Mt Hood are excellent from inside the house and even better from the yard.

  ✭✭✭✭ By AussieGasser 1 (4 months ago)

  Definitely go! Bring a picnic! There are picnic benches. The entry for adults to the mansion is $ 16.95.

  It goes down incrementally for seniors, students, and youth.

  You can hike up to the pittock mansion there is a lower parking lot you can park at. Or you can drive all the way up and park in the upper parking lot.. It’s a beautiful walk through the trees and it’s challenging so if you are down for beauty and challenge then put on those hiking shoes or comfortable grip sneakers .

  There are picnic benches that overlook the beautiful view of Portland Oregon. Go on a clear day and you can see all 5 mountains! Bring some nice binoculars.

  The Pittock mansion has an amazing display about black history that’s very personal and has interpersonal histories of local black history.

  You will be moved and you will be schooled.

  It’s a very moving installation. It is in the basement. I have mixed feelings about that but the installation itself is then itself is very moving and needs to be seen. Definitely don’t forget to go to the basement and look at it.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Julie Adrianna Olsen (4 months ago)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the fun things to do in Portland, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!