One Day in Portland Oregon: Why I Wish I’d Visited Sooner?
I was very skeptical about visiting this city because, to be honest with you, there is not much noise about what there is to do in Portland. I actually only planned this as a short stop before heading to Las Vegas, which I will be posting about later. But I was so wrong, and I wish I had visited earlier.
The city has a slow vibe carrying that same “happy” West Coast energy I fell in love with in San Diego, California.
My one day in Portland Oregon, quickly turned from a quick layover into a discovery of hilltop mansions with panoramic views and a thermal spa that felt like a total secret. If you want to know how I fit the world’s largest bookstore and a tranquil Chinese garden into a single day, keep reading.
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Quick Summary: Your Portland 1 Day Itinerary
To make the most of your time, I recommend these must-stops:
- Morning: Pittock Mansion (Start here for the best city views).
- Afternoon: Gray Line Pink Sightseeing Trolley, Lan Su Chinese Garden, and The Portland Building.
- Late Afternoon: Powell’s City of Books.
- Evening: Decompress at Cascada Thermal Springs & Spa.
- Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner: Check out my guide to the best vegan food in Portland here.
How to Get to Downtown Portland?
I arrived at the Portland International Airport (PDX), which is about 12 miles from downtown. To get to the downtown area, you have two main options:
- Rideshare: I used Uber to get to downtown because I am more about time and comfort, plus I was arriving very late at night.
Pro Tip: My recommendation is to book a flight early because I arrived late and paid $45 for an Uber vs the $36 typical price I have seen on earlier timeframes.
- Train: When you land, follow the signs to the MAX light rail, and you will hop on the redline which takes you to downtown. Visit the official Portland MAX redline website for time, routes, and prices.
How to Move Around Portland?
I don’t recommend you rent a car. During my visit, I learned from our Pink trolley guide that the law favors pedestrians over drivers. I guess it is because they want to promote a pedestrian city, as I saw a lot of locals walking. You have the following options to move around:
- Public Transit: There is also the public bus (TriMet) line besides the Portland MAX line (train). You can check the prices and routes on the official website.
- Walking & Lyft: We walked most of the time or used Lyft when we had to go further distances, for example, when visiting Cascada Thermal Springs & Spa (covered below). We typically used Lyft because the fare was cheaper than Uber.
- Portland Pink Trolley: To move around, we also used the “Pink Trolley,” which I will cover below.
Portland One Day Itinerary Map
To help you plan your route ahead of time, I have created a custom map with all the must-see locations pinned.
Plan Your Portland Trip
One Day in Portland, Oregon: Must-See Places
Since you only have 24 hours, these are the unique things to do in Portland for a day that I personally love.
1. Pittock Mansion in Portland
- Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10 AM – 4 PM and Tuesday 12 – 4 PM.
- Ticket: Pittock Mansion Entry Ticket
- How to get there: We used a Lyft because the Pink Trolley does not go there.
The Pittock Mansion was built in 1914 as the primary home of the entrepreneur and pioneer newspaper publisher Henry Pittock and his family. Visiting this mansion is a cultural experience and a must-stop for architecture lovers.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the Pittock family and their impact on Portland’s development, which is very empowering.
The mansion is big, and you’ll explore each room with original furniture. The location makes it perfect because it is on a hill with panoramic views of the city skyline.
2. Portland Pink Trolley (Gray Line Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley)
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 AM – 4 PM.
- Ticket: You can book your tickets in advance online or buy them at Station Number One, which is located in Director Park.
- How to get there: You need to start your trip at Station One, located in the Director Park station (see map above).
The trolley has 10 stops and is a hop-on, hop-off trolley. If you get off, you’ll have to wait 40 minutes to get the next one. The whole tour, if you don’t get off, is about an hour.
We really loved that it takes you around Washington Park, where you can connect with nature and high trees. Plus, the guided tour did an excellent job explaining the history of the surroundings.
Pro Tip: We recommend you hop off only at the Chinese gardens (cover below), then hop back on the trolley and end at Station One at Director Park. The 40-minute wait for other stops is not beneficial if you only have 24 hours in Portland.
3. Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland, Oregon
- Hours: Monday – Sunday 10 AM – 4:30 PM (October – March) and closes at 6:30 PM (April – September).
- Ticket: Book your tickets in advance here.
- How to get there: We used the Pink trolley and got off at Stop Eight.
The Chinese garden is located in Chinatown. It was opened in 2000 as a cultural exchange between Portland and Suzhou, China.
I have to be honest, the area is a little bit full of homeless people, but don’t judge by the cover because inside the vibe is impressive. There is a security gate to get access to the garden.
Once you are inside, it truly makes you feel in another part of the world. We visited in August, but if you visit during the Chinese New Year (typically between 21 January and 20 February), you’ll be lucky to catch festivals like the lantern, dragon, and light show. Check their official calendar for events.
The garden has a Yun Shui Teahouse where I spotted several gluten-free and vegan sweets and many authentic tea flavors.
4. The Portland Building & Portlandia
- Hours: Anytime (Exterior).
- How to get there: We walked to get to the Portland Building. It is very close to the theater and the Veggie Grill, where we enjoyed the best vegan burger in Portland.
This building was designed by architect Michael Graves, the same mind behind the famous Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts. You’ll definitely see the resemblance in the post-modern style and his signature terracotta and blue facade.
It is not only famous for being designed by him, but also because the facade is the home of the famous Portlandia sculpture, which is the second-largest copper statue in the United States after the Statue of Liberty. The statue is impressive, and she is kneeling, which gives you the feeling that she is almost touching you.
5. Portland Theater Sign (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall)
- Hours: Anytime (Outdoor).
- How to get there: We walked from our hotel, the Woodlark, but if you take the Pink trolley, the Portland Theater sign is close to Station One, Director Park.
The iconic Portland theater sign is a must-visit to get a Broadway vibe in the heart of downtown. This emblematic sign is the representation of the last surviving theater in Portland from what used to be a street packed with theaters.
Pro Tip: If you want to learn more about the history behind the Portland Building and the Portland Theater, I highly recommend booking this popular 2-hour guided tour.
6. Powell’s City of Books: Largest Bookstore in Portland
- Hours: Daily 10 AM – 9 PM.
- Ticket: Free to enter.
- How to get there: We walked from the Woodlark hotel, but the Pink trolley stop number 7 is near the bookstore.
Powell’s is a must-stop, mostly because it’s actually the world’s largest new and used bookstore. I visited on a Thursday morning and was blown away by the number of people already filling the aisles.
The Powell’s bookstore takes up an entire block in the heart of downtown and is cleverly color-coded by genre, making it super easy to navigate all three stories of books.
During my visit, I loved seeing kids hunting for new stories while others browsed the business section for financial freedom wisdom. Whether you’re into romance, travel memoirs, or just want a Powell’s tote bag, you can find anything literally here.
The Powell’s Café
There is also a café on the ground level. I spotted Kate’s ice cream, which is vegan and gluten-free, and ranked the 2024 winner for best vegan ice cream in the USA by VegNews.
For the café food, I did not find gluten-free options on the menu, but they do have two vegan options. If gluten is not an issue for you, you will find a few more vegan options in the café menu.
7. Cascada Thermal Springs & Spa
- Hours: Open until 9 PM daily (Friday & Saturday until 10 PM) for non-guests.
- How to get there: The spa is 5 miles from the Woodlark hotel, and I decided to get a Lyft, but there is also the public bus (TriMet) line 8, which takes you from downtown to four blocks away.
Cascada Thermal Springs & Spa is a hotel with a thermal suite spa experience that reminded me so much of the Redemption Spa on Virgin Voyages. This 21+ adults-only retreat offers 3-hour day passes for $100, and it was the perfect experience to decompress prior to departing this city.
They offer visitors access to the thermal suites, spa, and pool facilities. I have shared my full tips and experience in a separate post, so be sure to check out my guide to Cascada Thermal Springs here to make the most of your time in the spa.
8. Portland Japanese Gardens
- Hours: Wednesday-Monday 10 AM – 3:30 PM.
- Tickets: Get your tickets here.
- How to get there: The Pink trolley stops at the Portland Japanese Gardens, or Lyft/Uber.
Unfortunately, we did not visit the Japanese Gardens because we were short on time, but if you visit during spring, from March through the first few weeks of April, make sure you enter because they have the cherry blossom trees.
To help you plan, here is a complete list of popular experiences to book for your trip:
What to Wear in August?
We visited in August, and we spent most of the trip in jeans and long sleeves. We stayed more than a day and enjoyed one warm sunny day, but the remainder of our trip was cloudy and windy.
We hit some showers when we visited Pittock Mansion, so if you visit during this month, bring a lightweight wind or raincoat.
Is Portland, Oregon Safe?
I must warn you that I noticed a lot of homeless people in the downtown area, which was where I was staying. However, even though there was a huge presence of homeless people, I walked by myself in downtown. Since there are so many locals walking around, I did not feel unsafe.
I also noticed groups of police walking around in several areas of downtown, which gave me the feeling that they don’t joke about safety.
Overall 24 hours in Portland, Oregon
Visiting Portland, Oregon, in 24 hours is possible, and with a well-planned itinerary, you can explore the city’s most iconic spots.
Beyond the city, they also have famous waterfalls. Unfortunately, we could not visit them, but if you have more than a day and are an adventure soul, you will enjoy this tour, which takes you to the famous Multnomah Falls.
In the upcoming weeks, I am going to be writing more about Portland, including a review of the Woodlark (a one-key Michelin hotel in downtown) and my full experience at the thermal springs.
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Before You Go: If you enjoyed learning about Portland in 24 hours, you might like reading some of my other one-day itineraries for cities like San Diego, California, and Miami, Florida that you can check out.
