If you’re an avid Instagrammer, Portland may just be the city for you. Packed with stunning nature views, creative cafes and plenty of quirky architecture, there are countless photo opportunities waiting to be discovered in the City of Roses. To help you decide which locations to visit first, we’ve put together this list of the 10 most Instagram-worthy places in Portland. Enjoy!
Saturday Market
Locals have been going to Saturday Market for years, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s one of those perfect summer activities where you can get out, shop, wander around and take pictures while grabbing a bite to eat. And what could be better than taking a picture at Drake Park? The view of downtown is unbeatable, and everyone looks like they’re having such a great time! But if you want more gorgeous photo ops, head over to Pioneer Courthouse Square where there are plenty of statues and other art installations as well as easy access for some stellar skyline shots. Check out these photos by FatLip_Jacobson (go here) and PDXBachelorette2016 (go here) to see how fun these spots can look on camera. If you need inspiration for specific photo ideas, check out image posting sites like Flickr or 500px; many photographers post their own takes on popular city scenes so that others may recreate them exactly or try new ideas of their own. Or just walk down your own street—you never know what beautiful details might catch your eye when things slow down enough to notice! Spirit Airlines Flights is a low-cost carrier that does not have a hub and instead mostly flies to point-to-point destinations.
Voodoo Doughnuts
Voodoo Doughnuts (22 SW 3rd Ave) is an Old World donut shop opened by Kenneth Cat Daddy Pogson and Tres Shannon. There are two locations in Portland, and they’re open 24 hours a day. The donuts are covered with toppings like bacon, bananas foster, Oreos, powdered sugar and other equally epic combinations. You can also get just a taste of their creations via a sampling flight of six mini donuts called Taster’s Choice. Just make sure you have cash on hand—no credit cards accepted at Voodoo Doughnuts! Oh, and it goes without saying that you should eat your doughnut before snapping your Instagram shot. Also, be aware that there’s usually a wait for orders to be filled because doughnuts are made fresh right when ordered. This means potential long lines – but worth it if you ask us!
Pittock Mansion
You’ll find Pittock Mansion on S.W. Broadway, not far from downtown and just east of U.S. 26 (Cascade Drive). The historic residence was built in 1914 for Henry and Georgiana Pittock, who owned The Oregonian newspaper at that time. The mansion overlooks miles of gorgeous scenery from its hilltop location, making it a prime spot to snap memorable photos of your visit to Portland. It’s even become known as one of America’s most haunted houses — so if you like things with a twist of spookiness, you won’t want to miss out on spending time here! And luckily, admission is free. So head over during daylight hours or pay an extra $6 for evening access when there are fewer crowds. Tip: Also check out Pittock’s 100 Acre Wood Park (which runs up next to Metro regional park), which offers stunning vistas across Portland while hiking through a shaded forest dotted with large Douglas fir trees; watch out for wet weather, though! All trails are dog friendly too.
Chinese Garden
While only a few minutes from downtown, it feels like a world away from all of those hipsters you’ve been avoiding. The Chinese Garden is one of those hidden gems that’s both a pleasure to visit and beautiful to look at. Feel free to bring your own picnic basket and blanket, but know that food and drink are not allowed inside. They’ll even rent you chairs and tables if you’d like, though we advise taking advantage of all that nature has to offer! If nothing else, just make sure you get there during daylight hours so you can take a selfie under the kissing moon. It’s hard to beat!
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Built by 500 artisans and volunteers, Lan Su Chinese Garden is home to a courtyard with a bright red bridge, surrounding gardens featuring thousands of plants, lush rockeries and tranquil streams. The garden has been a center for Asian culture since its construction in 2005. The architectural design draws from elements of many different traditions and styles of Chinese architecture including classical Ming Dynasty style buildings with winding corridors and open courtyards, classic formal gardens that feature lots of gravels, rocks and ponds with hints of Japan’s famous tea gardens (which can be found at Portland Japanese Garden). Visitors are encouraged to take pictures with their smartphones or camera as they explore all that it has to offer. A visit to Lan Su isn’t complete without stopping off at Chintz Corner Tea Room and Tea Shop inside – where you can enjoy high quality teas served with traditional dim sum snacks. You might even see some local movie stars as Jackie Chan trained here before filming Shanghai Noon. Remember: no tripods allowed so get ready to really experiment with your photography skills! One tip: In Autumn, dawn light brings out incredible color in leaves on trees around the Pacific Northwest – so if you’re planning your trip then, consider visiting!
Rose Garden
Roses are roses and they certainly aren’t any less stunning when they’re outside. But Portland is known for its abundant rose gardens, so if you’re going to take a photo here (and why wouldn’t you?), don’t forget to tag it #portlandrosegarden so we can see how beautiful you look. Bonus points for smelling all those sweet roses! If a picture is worth 1,000 words then your caption should read something like Aaaahhhh! Roses are red!! Violets are blue! I love my life! Oops! Sorry, I accidentally took a photo of these flowers and got carried away! #bestdayever #LifeisbeautifulinPortland. Please help me. I think I lost myself while trying to get close enough to smell them! The colors were just too much! Still: one billion likes and five new followers later—I couldn’t be happier with my silly pic(s). This isn’t even fair; selfies should be banned in front of roses… oops did that again……. #nofilterneededthisissocool. I honestly can’t get over it! Wow! See what you’ve done, Rose Garden? Well played, Rose Garden…. well played indeed. Feel free to follow/like me on @Fly_Spiritt as I haven’t gotten completely hooked yet but might need some more new friends soon. Can someone explain why people from all over travel from miles around just to pet, touch and bask under an explosion of ever-so-vibrant colors? Yes! That’s exactly what I thought! Thank you for clearing that up for us, funny narrator guy who sounds nothing like Ron Swanson. You win internet today!
Mount Tabor Park
Ranked No. 1 for its namesake park, which offers gorgeous views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens on a clear day. According to our friends at Travel Portland, make sure to check out Perfumo Canyon while you’re there — it’s an extinct volcano that craters like a meteor hit it. The canyon is only two miles long, but also filled with rare wildflowers and thriving wildlife. Make sure to snap plenty of photos! To get there from downtown, drive about nine miles up S.E.
Oregon Zoo
This zoo is home to hundreds of animals, ranging from tigers and giraffes to fish and lizards. It’s an experience not to be missed if you’re traveling with kids. The Oregon Zoo is a member of zoos across America (called ZAA) that has a code of ethics that all its members follow. If you want to learn more about animal rights and how to help protect them, or even just get ideas for how you can help animals back home, check out their website here. Zoos also often have night programs, concerts and other events so keep your eyes peeled! Note: Tickets cost $13 for adults and $9 for children ages 2–12 years old. Children under 2 are free!
Pacific Science Center
Kids won’t be bored at the Pacific Science Center with over 500 hands-on activities to engage them and help them learn about science, nature, and more. Many of these activities are designed for younger kids, but their website recommends parents bring children of all ages so that they can help other kids explore. As a bonus, there’s also an IMAX theater where you can catch new releases or classic movies on a big screen! To find out what’s showing when you visit Pacific Science Center check out their events calendar online. This is another one of our favorite activities in Portland because we love going to new movie premieres as a family. You get comfortable seats, lots of leg room (no crying babies behind us!), and enjoy popcorn for much cheaper than in a traditional movie theater. Win-win! 🙂 There are plenty of Oregon Ducks games during football season (go ducks!) if you enjoy those as well. Check out the list here . One major drawback: Pacific Science Center doesn’t allow food from outside into the museum, so pack some snacks or lunch beforehand if your hungry minions need refueling. And always dress warmly; it gets cold inside even when it’s hot outside!
Oaks Amusement Park
The Oaks Park is a one of a kind Amusement park located in Portland, Oregon. Visitors come from all over to ride on its many roller coasters, play games and even enjoy mini golf. The iconic wooden structure that surrounds the entire park with mini roller coasters and more is definitely worth seeing as well. This amusement park is filled with energy, so it’s no surprise many have turned to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to share their experiences with others while they are there. When visiting Oregon’s wonderland make sure you snap a photo or two as it really does live up to its name as one of Portland’s best attractions. If you love amazing food trucks be sure to check out Bite Into Maine for some mouth watering eats! Are you looking for souvenirs to bring back home? Make sure you head into Distinctive Gifts Plus & Moxie To Burn or Village Gifts Plus, great shops packed full of fun gifts! Looking to just enjoy everything without snapping pictures and taking selfies? Grab your ticket at Stub Hub today and then once you arrive simply relax and unwind. This will truly be an adventure unlike any other because each time you visit it is almost like entering into a whole new world again and again. No matter what time of year, plan your day around going during peak hours which usually last between 12:00pm – 5:00pm daily, For more information on Spirit Airlines Customer Services, visit their Official Website.
Portland Art Museum
Just as popular with locals as it is with tourists, The Portland Art Museum (aka PAM) showcases some of Oregon’s greatest visual art. If you have time between shopping at Powell’s Bookstore and grabbing coffee at Stumptown, be sure to check out the works of Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Mary Cassatt and other great artists. PAM also hosts a number of traveling exhibits. A visit to PAM could easily cost you an entire day; instead of rushing around and seeing everything in one afternoon, focus on a few things that interest you. Take your time taking photos and don’t forget to spend some quality time outside where you can appreciate both classic sculptures by Auguste Rodin and modern pieces made from recycled materials. While there are plenty of museums in town worth visiting, if you only make it here once, avoid Tuesdays and Saturdays when crowds can get pretty big.
