Portland in a Weekend: 2 Day Portland Itinerary

Is it doable to visit Portland in a weekend? Yes! I did just that and fell in love with this charming Oregon city. In just two days, you can experience the best of the city, from its coffee culture to its scenic waterfalls.

So, if you’re planning to explore Portland in a weekend, follow my detailed 2-day itinerary to make the most of your short trip.

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Is This 2 Day Portland Itinerary Right for You?

Explores nearby nature. Portland Oregon is a great place to spend a weekend but, even with limited time, getting outside of the city to see the incredible nature nearby is a must. With only a weekend, you must visit the nearby Multnomah Falls and hike the Trail of Ten Falls in addition to exploring the city center of Portland. This itinerary does all that.

Based in the Northwest District. Make the Northwest District your base as its the most charming and safest part of Portland. Staying here you won’t have to worry about the rampant crime and drug problems in downtown Portland.

girl standing in the middle of a street in downtown Portland with no cars anywhere — Downtown Portland

girl driving a on a street with lots of trees blurred out the window — Driving in Portland

Should You Rent a Car in Portland for a Weekend?

Yes, I highly recommend renting a car while visiting Portland.

Some must-do activities in Portland require driving outside of the city — such as the Trail of Ten Falls and Multnomah Falls.

Having a car also cuts your transportation time within the city in half, so you’ll save on precious time while in Portland for a weekend.

I rented a car from the PDX airport and was glad to have done so.

Overview of a Weekend in Portland Itinerary

Day 1: Breakfast at Carver Cafe, Get Coffee in the Northwest District, Stroll through the International Rose Test Garden, Visit the Portland Japanese Garden, Get Salt & Straw Ice Cream, See the Sunset at Multnomah Falls
Day 2: Breakfast at Voodoo Doughnuts, Browse Powell’s Bookstore, Hike the Trail of Ten Falls, Visit a Lavender Farm (if in Season)

Day 1 of Portland Weekend Itinerary

Breakfast at Carver Cafe

If you’re flying in early during your weekend in Portland, consider having breakfast at Carver Cafe. (Breakfast is served all day!)

Carver Cafe is famous for being the diner used in the Twilight movies.

Even if you’re not a Twilight fan, you may enjoy this diner’s location. Carver Cafe is in the suburbs of Portland, surrounded by trees. It was nice to come here straight out of the airport to start the trip amid nature.

It’s about a 25-minute drive from the PDX airport.

Hours Open: Wednesday-Sunday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Monday-Tuesday

sign that says "Carver Cafe" outside on the storefront with pine trees behind it — Carver Cafe

a white mug on a table in a diner with a sign in the background that says "Carver Cafe" — Carver Cafe

Get Coffee in the Northwest District

Portland is famous for its coffee, so having a cup of coffee in Portland is a must.

Why is Portland famous for its coffee? Portland is home to the highest number of coffee shops per capita in the U.S. Many of them are independent roasters, founded in Portland. Additionally, the quality of the coffee in Portland is high with most coffee shops prioritizing craftsmanship, creativity, and sustainability. The coffee culture in Portland, in short, is strong.

There are hundreds of coffee shops all over Portland, but I recommend heading to the Northwest District, which was my absolute favorite neighborhood in Portland.

Why spend time in the Northwest District? It’s a charming, safe, walkable neighborhood with lots of coffee shops and cafes. You’ll find restored Victorian homes, converted into shops, and trees lining the streets. It has an old Portland charm that I simply adored.

Recommended coffee shops in the Northwest District:

Barista
Portal Tea Company (if you’re more into tea)
Case Study Coffee Roasters
Sterling Coffee Roasters
The Dragonfly Coffee House
Prince Coffee

*We tried Barista and Portal Tea Company.

Parking: Use the Parking Kitty app to easily pay for street parking in Portland.

girl standing on a sidewalk in the Northwest District in Portland holding a warm beverage — Coffee in the Northwest District, Portland

Stroll through the International Rose Test Garden

Did you know that Portland is the City of Roses? Portland has the ideal climate for roses, and it garnered the nickname due to its long history of cultivating roses, since the 1880s.

Roses are a central part of Portland’s identity, so I highly recommend visiting the International Rose Test Garden.

The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park is the oldest public rose test garden in the U.S.

It is truly stunning, with over 10,000 rose bushes!

This massive 6-acre garden is best to visit during the blooming season in spring and summer.

Cost: While admission is free, parking is not. Use the Parking Kitty app to easily pay for parking in Portland.

Hours Open: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

girl standing amid roses in the international test rose garden in Portland — International Rose Test Garden

close up of roses in the international test rose garden in Portland — International Rose Test Garden

Visit the Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden is said to be one of the most authentic and beautiful Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

The garden was designed in 1963 after World War II when some Portland residents wanted to promote cultural understanding and healing connection with Japan, according to the garden’s website.

In the Portland Japanese Garden, visitors experience firsthand Japanese ideals and values, communicated simply through nature.

Today, the garden encompasses 12.5 acres and includes an authentic Japanese Tea House and a view of Mt. Hood (Oregon’s Mt. Fuji).

To visit, it’s recommended to book tickets online.

Hours: Wednesday–Monday: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed Tuesdays)

Get Salt & Straw Ice Cream

Salt & Straw is an ice cream shop that started in Portland and has now expanded to locations all over the U.S. It’s known for its unique flavors — such as arbequina olive oil and pear blue cheese.

You’ll often see long lines, sometimes wrapping around the shop, but the wait is worth it.

We visited the Salt & Straw location in the Alberta Arts District, but there are two other Portland locations, including one in the Northwest District.

I tried the honey lavender flavor and loved it. What flavor would you try?

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

someone holding an ice cream cup that says "Salt and Straw" with lavender ice cream inside — Salt and Straw Ice Cream

See the Sunset at Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is over 600 feet tall and definitely worth a stop if you’re in the Portland, Oregon area.

It’s an iconic, can’t-miss waterfall in Oregon.

How to Visit Without a Permit

Want to know a secret for visiting Multnomah Falls without the crowds? Sunset!

During the summer, you need a parking permit between the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to visit Multnomah Falls by car.

HOWEVER, outside of those times, no permit is necessary! So either wake up early or go for sunset to avoid the crowds and the permit process.

We opted for the latter, visiting around 7 p.m. and had plenty of parking spaces to choose from. We also got to see this beautiful waterfall at sunset. Win, win.

view of the bridge over Multnomah Falls near Portland Oregon — Multnomah Falls after 7 p.m. in summer

a girl standing next to a sign that says "Multnomah Falls: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area" with a waterfall in the background — Multnomah Falls after 7 p.m. in summer

Day 2 of Portland Weekend Itinerary

Breakfast at Voodoo Doughnuts

Voodoo Doughnut is a Portland staple; it was founded here 20 years ago and has since become incredibly popular.

We kept seeing people around town holding their pink Voodoo Doughnut boxes, and the line out the door was always incredibly long throughout the day.

A secret to beating the crowds? Going early, of course, right when they open.

We arrived about 10-15 minutes before they opened and the employee was nice enough to let us in early. We were able to pick out our doughnuts in peace before anyone else. Very cool!

Best of all their doughnuts are definitely worth the hype. There are so many different ones to choose from, even vegan options.

Start your second day in Portland by grabbing a doughnut or two from Voodoo Doughnut!

Hours: Varies by store, typically opens 5 or 6 a.m. See store website for details.

a sign that says "Voodoo Doughnut" on a storefront in Portland — Voodoo Doughnuts

a girl sitting on a brown bench holding a chocolate donut with a pink brick wall behind them, and a sign on it that says "Voodoo Doughnut" in Portland — Voodoo Doughnuts

Browse Powell’s Bookstore

Want to visit a bookstore that’s bigger than a football field?

Welcome to Powell’s City of Books, located in downtown Portland.

It’s the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world, spanning an entire city block and featuring over 1 million books.

You could easily get lost in its maze of rooms and bookshelves, and, believe me, we did.

It gets crowded, especially at the front of the store, so I’d recommend visiting early, if possible.

Hours open: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily

a row of bookshelves in Powell's City of Books in Portland Oregon — Powell’s City of Books

Hike the Trail of Ten Falls

Distance: 4.75 (shortcut) or 7.2 miles (full length)
Elevation gain: 990 feet (shortcut) or 1,568 feet (full length)
Trail of Ten Falls Map

The Trail of Ten Falls is in Oregon’s Silver Falls State Park and is often considered the ultimate and best waterfall hike in Oregon.

There’s a shortcut: The trail is 7.2 miles long to see all 10 waterfalls, but you can also take a shortcut to make it only 4.75 miles and miss out on three of the waterfalls.

We took the shortcut and didn’t feel that we missed out on anything. The 7 waterfalls we did see were pretty spectacular.

What’s the best waterfall? The best waterfall is South Falls, the first waterfall you’ll see if you start at the South Falls Trailhead. It’s the tallest waterfall at 177 feet, and you get to walk behind it. A lot of people just come to see this waterfall and turn around.

Where to park: You’ll first drive past the North Falls lot, a tiny parking area, but don’t worry if it’s full. Keep driving to the South Falls lot — it’s huge. Park at the South Falls lot (there’s tons of parking), and don’t forget to pay for a $5 parking permit at the kiosk.

Where to eat: After finishing your hike, stop in the South Falls Cafe for a yummy meal (the veggie sandwich is perfection).

the South Falls waterfall with people walking behind it in Oregon — South Falls, Trail of Ten Falls

Visit a Lavender Farm (if in Season)

Lavender season in Oregon occurs from late June to early August, and there are plenty of U-pick lavender farms to visit.

We visited Wayward Winds Lavender Farm in Newberg, Oregon. It’s sort-of on the way to the Trail of Ten Falls from Portland, so it fit into our itinerary nicely.

Add them to your list for next year’s lavender season. Just watch for bees.

Other popular lavender farms:

a girl standing in a row of lavender at a lavender farm in oregon — Wayward Winds Lavender Farm

close up of lavender in a lavender farm near Portland oregon — Wayward Winds Lavender Farm

Other Things to Do in Portland with More Time

Take a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram
Visit the Lan Su Chinese Garden
Walk along the waterfront at Eastbank Esplanade or Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Explore Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park
Head to Columbia River Gorge to see more waterfalls such as Latourell Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
Wander around the Alberta Arts District
Visit Pittock Mansion
Drive to Cannon Beach

Where to Stay in Portland Oregon

Stay in the Northwest District

The only area of Portland that I can confidently recommend for you to stay is in the Northwest District.

There are not many hotels in the Northwest District, so the best will be: Inn at Northrup Station.

Why the Northwest District?

I loved the Northwest District of Portland and deeply wished we had stayed here.

It offered a clean, safe, walkable neighborhood, full of cafes, shops, and restaurants.

We came down here several times for dinner or coffee and loved walking around — as it was the only place in central Portland that we felt safe to do so.

Don’t Stay in Downtown Portland

Do not make the mistake of staying in Downtown Portland. You may think, like I did, that it’s worth staying there because it’s right in the middle of everything, and that the drug problem on the news can’t be that bad. Oh, it is.

Why Not Downtown Portland?

I’m from Southern California, so I’m not shell-shocked by homelessness or poverty (and there was plenty of it in Portland). However, I was shocked by the blatant drug use we saw all over Downtown Portland. We saw people using needles, smoking hard drugs, drunk, and passed out on the sidewalk.

Once someone even left a beer bottle underneath our tire (we watched them do it from afar). Were they purposely trying to give us a flat tire? And while having breakfast near our hotel, we watched out the window as an injured drunk man hobbled down the street. “It’s like the apocalypse out there,” was all our waitress could say. Not exactly a safe environment to enjoy a vacation.

So while I did love Portland, I didn’t love its downtown and would avoid staying there at all costs.

Best Time to Visit Portland Oregon

You can potentially visit Portland any time of year; it just depends on what you want to do.

Summer is the warmest season with the least amount of rain. The temperatures are in the 70s-80s °F. Perfect for hiking and enjoying nature and the outdoors. Lavender farms will also be open for the season. I visited Portland in the summer, and it was such a nice change from the horribly hot 100 °F weather in Southern California, where I’m from.

During winter, snow is rare in Portland, but it rains often with lots of cloud cover. Expect temperatures in the 40s-50s °F.

In spring, temperatures start to warm up, but there is frequent rain. However, spring also means blooming flowers all over the city and waterfalls overflowing.

Fall is crisp with some rain, but this is the best season to enjoy the stunning fall foliage around the city.

Map of Things to Do in Portland in a Weekend

What to Pack for Oregon

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!