Ultimate 24 Hour Guide to Portland Oregon
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Portland Oregon has a ton to offer visitors – great food, fun markets, scenic spots along the river plus it’s a great base to explore the rest of Oregon. We had a fabulous time checking out the city over a (busy!) 24 hours and I’m sharing our favorite must visit spots with you. Read on for the ultimate 24 hour guide to Portland Oregon.
Where to Stay: Royal Sonesta Portland
We wanted to base ourselves centrally in Portland and the Royal Sonesta Portland was the absolute perfect choice! We parked our rental car in their underground valet garage and didn’t need the car again until we left the city since we could walk to so many places.
The staff who greeted us made us feel so welcomed and ensured we had a great stay. We were booked in King room but luckily got upgraded to a beautiful King Suite. The whimsical modern decor made our room so fun and wonderful. I loved the separate seating area from the bedroom. We could even see Mt. Hood from our room peaking out behind the buildings!
We grabbed tea and coffee from the complimentary beverage bar in the morning which was great fuel for exploring. I would absolutely book another stay at Royal Sonesta Portland and hope to return someday!
Note: our stay was hosted. As always, opinions are my own.
Things to Do in 24 Hours in Portland Oregon:
1. Saturday Market
Every Saturday, Portland hosts a market full of creative vendors. From crafts to clothing to flowers and delicious food, you’re sure to find something. I particularly loved a sweet kulfi from Kulfi PDX and a warm soft pretzel from Pretzel Bakery.
2. Nob Hill (NW 23rd Ave)
One of the most vibrant and upscale areas of Portland is Nob Hill. With tons of shops and restaurants, many with outdoor seating, the whole area has a great vibe. I loved smoothies from Harlow, ice cream from Salt & Straw and shopping at Tender Loving Empire and the flagship Snow Peak store.
3. Lan Su Chinese Garden + Teahouse
One of the most special spots in the city is the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Chinatown. I loved the serene setting and enjoying a cup of tea from the teashop.
4. Food Trucks in Pioneer Square
Pioneer Square is a great area to relax and even better to grab food from a local food truck. We loved breakfast from Fried Egg I’m in Love.
5. Pip’s Original Donuts + Chai
We visited Pip’s on our way out of town so you’ll need a car for this stop but wow is it worth visiting! Delicious and fresh donuts plus an entire menu dedicated to different chais!
6. Deschutes Brewery
If you’re heading to Bend (where Deschutes is from and where we visited it), you can skip this stop. Otherwise, check out the Portland Deschutes Brewery for some delicious local Oregon beer on tap!
7. Portland Oregon Old Town Sign
A classic sign in Old Town, check it out! It’s right by the Saturday Market.
8. Powell’s Books
If you love books, you must stop at Powell’s Books. It’s one of the most special bookstores I’ve been to. There’s so much to wander and see in the various sections.
9. Pendleton Flagship Store
Pendleton Blankets come from Pendleton Oregon so their flagship store in Portland is really fun local shop to visit. They make high quality products sold to people all around the world and you can peruse all the product lines here.
10. Dinner at Aviv
If you’re looking for a healthier vegan Mediterranean restaurant, check out Aviv! They have both indoor and outdoor seating and the space is beautiful. Don’t miss the Drift West Kefir Drink – it’s only sold in Oregon!
11. Harvey Milk Street
Harvey Milk Street is filled with fun restaurants, patio dining and lively music on weekends. The colorful street is a names for civil rights leader Harvey Milk.
12. Stumptown Coffee
Popular local coffeehouse, Stumptown, is well worth a visit. It’s also sold to many shops around town.
13. Snowbunny Coffee
A newer coffeehouse (and also one you’ll need to drive to) is Snowbunny. I wanted to visit for their delicious shaved ice treat and it did not disappoint!
14. Ovation Coffee & Tea
Ovation Coffee & Tea is a newer coffee and tea shop near Snowbunny that sells Moroccan based drinks. I LOVED the Moroccan Chai tea and would enjoy going back to try more. Definitely a highlight from this 24 hour guide to Portland!
15. Blue Star Donuts
One of the most popular donut shops in town is Blue Star. I enjoyed my donut here and would recommend visiting but it wasn’t my favorite donut ever. This is another place you’ll need to drive to – we stopped en route to the Columbia River Gorge.
16. Pine Street Market
Pine Street Market is a great indoor food hall filled with fun restaurants. The pandemic caused quite a few restaurants to close but we still loved visiting for the popular Ramen restaurant.
Other notable mentions we didn’t visit on this trip: Voodoo Donuts and the Japanese Garden
Are you ready to plan a trip with stops on this 24 Guide to Portland?! Book your flights and a room at the Royal Sonesta – happy planning!
