Where to stay in Portland

See

Portland has many unique and interesting neighborhoods to explore. One of the most exciting aspects of visiting Portland is the constant possibility of discovery. Rather than containing most places of interest to a few busy streets, Portland has food, shopping, parks, and other activities sprinkled all throughout the city. Downtown Portland is the heart of the city, centered around Pioneer Square and home to modern commercial towers, new condominiums, and converted lofts, along with several museums and urban parks of interest to tourists, including Tom McCall Waterfront Park along the river.

Do

• Portland World Naked Bike Ride
• Portland Rose Festival
• Portland Thorns FC
• Portland Timbers FC
• Portland Trail Blazers

Eat

Foodies may find their nirvana in Portland. With its location in one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood raised not far from its boundaries, award-winning wines and beers, and a food culture that supports food artisans and emphasizes local, seasonal food served fresh, it's no surprise that the culinary scene in Portland has received national attention. Restaurants and food carts have popped up in large numbers throughout the city, making it quite easy to enjoy a good meal at a reasonable price.

Drink

If you're looking for a free drink while walking around downtown, look no further than the iconic Benson Bubblers. These are ornate drinking fountains scattered throughout the downtown area, made of copper and in one-bowl and four-bowl variations. Installed by Simon Benson in the 1910s, the fountains continuously run from 6AM to 11PM daily and offer a cool drink perfect for the summer months. Many cities have asked for Benson Bubblers of their own, but the City of Portland has turned them all down, respecting the wishes of Benson and his family. A single exception has been made, however — Portland has gifted one Benson Bubbler to its sister city of Sapporo, Japan.

Stay safe

Portland is generally safe for tourists, but it is still a big city with big city problems. The city's violent crime rate is moderate and is usually in the middle of the pack among U.S. cities. However, the city also has one of the highest property crime rates in the United States, usually ranking among the top ten. Portland has a very long police response time for high-priority calls: averaging around 20 minutes in 2026. Due to slow police response, many large retailers and other establishments open to the public have posted security guards wearing large tactical vests to make them look more intimidating. Old Town/Chinatown can be a bit dodgy, but is generally not dangerous during the day.