We list the best hotels, hostels, B&Bs and guesthouses in Portland as recommended by travel experts from CNN, Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Fodor’s, New York Times and more. All hotel recommendations have been referenced with customer reviews and we only listed places with at least a 4 out of 5-star customer review rating.
Best cheap hotel in Portland: The Society Hotel
Best boutique hotel in Portland: Woodlark Hotel
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There is no doubt that Portland is one of the best city in the United States. It has all the sources which help people to live a high-quality lifestyle. However, as this a big city, it can be a little difficult for you to know where to stay in Portland. If you are feeling confused about this, then you have arrived at the best place. In this article, you will get to know about some best neighborhoods in Portland where you can enjoy a better lifestyle. Let’s jump right into this and explore them.
Top neighborhoods to stay in Portland
Pearl District
Pearl District has emerged as one of the best playgrounds for parks, hotels, shops and more. The area has gone through a lot of changes with time, but still, it shows the creative vibes. It is an ideal destination for those who want to experience a perfect stay in Portland. It houses Powell’s City of Books which is the cultural gateway of Pearl District. This is a paradise for book lovers.
Downtown Portland
For the first-time visitor, this can be a perfect place to stay. It is home to famous museums, galleries, locals, and markets. This central location is well connected with different areas across Portland. You can easily travel Pearl District and Hawthorne via public transport or on foot. If you love to try our different foods, then Downtown has a lot of things to offer. Here you can find a lot of street food stalls, food trucks, and hotels. Try out the delicious sandwiches to tacos. In free times, visit the Portland Art Museum. You will definitely enjoy your stay here.
Hawthorne
This neighborhood is located on the southeast side of Portland. With famous vintage shops, theatres, amazing eateries and all, this has become the trendiest neighborhood in Portland. It is the place where you can see Portland’s relaxed and cool side. If you have a limited budget, then you should choose Hawthorne. In Portland, you may not find many hostels, but Hawthorne has some budget-friendly hostels and apartments.
Central Eastside
This is a neighborhood where you can enjoy Portland’s day and nightlife. Famous for its unique coffee culture, it has a lot of bistros and cafes where you can try authentic Portland coffees. Starting from classic to flavored coffee, it has unlimited options for you. Apart from coffee, this is a great place where you can experience the excellent nightlife. Enjoy the night at pubs, clubs, and bars and hit the dancefloors. In other words, nightlife here is electric.
Nob Hill
Are you looking for a fashionable area in Portland? Then Nob Hill is the best for you. It has some famous attractions like tree-lined streets, cafes, Victorian houses, and more. It offers you a village-like environment making it perfect for families. The area is covered with forests, amazing landscapes, and parks.
So, if you are traveling to Portland, then check out these top neighborhoods to enjoy a perfect stay in Portland.
Also check out our guide about the best areas to stay in Portland.
If you're looking for a cheap hotel in Portland, then book The Society Hotel. It's an excellent budget hotel offering great value for money. It's in a good location, it's been recommended by travel experts and the hotel has excellent customer reviews. Also check out our list of the best cheap hotels in Portland.
You like some luxury but don't like the famous chain hotels. If you're looking for the best boutique hotel in Portland, you should check out Woodlark Hotel. It's a very cool hotel that has been highly recommended by travelers and experts.
Also check out our list of the best boutique hotels in Portland, it's a manually curated list of the most unique and romantic hotels in the city.
If money isn't a problem and you're looking for a luxury hotel in Portland, then go for Hotel The Nines. The hotel offers excellent service, it's in a top location, it has been rated very highly by previous guests and renowned travel critics have recommended it.
Also check out our list of the best luxury hotels in Portland, it's a manually curated list of the most exclusive 5-star hotels in the city.
If you're looking for a great hostel in Portland, then you should check out KEX. The hostel has magnificent reviews by backpackers, it has been recommended by well-known travel experts and it's in a good location. Also check out our list of the best hostels in Portland.
If you're looking for a 3-star hotel in Portland then you'll have to pay around $190 per night. For a 4-star hotel you have to pay about $260 per night and if you're looking for a luxury 5-star Portland hotel that will cost you about $380 per night.
If you're looking to start the day with a great breakfast, then try the Heathman Hotel. The hotel has excellent customer reviews for the breakfast they serve.
If you're looking to visit Portland with your family, then try Caravan The Tiny House. The hotel has excellent recent reviews by families.
Portland: Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Morning Tour. Drive the scenic Columbia River Highway on a 3.5-hour tour to some of the beautiful waterfalls, and visit sites such as the Portland Women’s Forum, Crown Point Vista House, Latourell Falls, Multnomah Falls and Horse Tail Falls. Price: $65.
Oregon Coast Day Trip: Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. Explore the stunning beaches and beautiful towns along Oregon’s northern coast on this full-day trip from Portland. Visit the charming towns of Manzanita and Cannon Beach—home of the famous Haystack Rock. Price: $100.
Bike Portland: Bridges, Doughnuts, Parks and Roses. Learn Portland's neighborhood secrets. Smell the roses, taste the doughnuts, ride across bridges, and along the river. This is the best way to experience the diversity of culture, art, poetry, nature, parks, and quadrants in Portland. Price: $45.
More things to do in Portland
If you only know Portland from the hit TV show “Portlandia,” you might expect it to be a sleepy, twee city with a quirky cafe culture and not much more to offer. In reality, however, Portland is one of the most dynamic cities in the Pacific Northwest—and one of the best places to live in America right now.
The city is full of exciting people making interesting things happen in creative fields like food, crafts, design, and technology. It’s simultaneously old and new; there are Victorian houses that would feel at home in any East Coast city as well as brand-new glass apartment towers that seem like they were airlifted directly from some futuristic metropolis.
What to see in Portland
The classic Portland experience is strolling around the city’s many beautiful parks. The most famous one is Washington Park, where you can stroll through an old mossy forest, feed the swans on the river, and visit the Japanese-inspired Portland Japanese Garden. Other favorites include the waterfalls and gardens at Pittock Mansion, and the gorgeous gardens, towers, and views from the top of Council Crest.
One of the best-known museums in Portland is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), which has lots of cool, hands-on exhibits on science, nature, and Portland’s maritime history. Another great way to explore the city is on a bike. There are tons of bike paths in Portland, including the famous Eastbank Bike Path that follows the Willamette River for miles and makes a great ride or commute.
Eat and drink in Portland
Portland is famous for its food and drinks, and there are hundreds of Portland restaurants to explore. The city’s cuisine is a unique blend of Pacific Northwest and Asian flavors and ingredients, and it’s a great place for adventurous eaters.
In fact, there’s even a special Portland food tour called the Portland Dine-and-Dash that’s just for people looking to try the city’s most famous dishes. One distinctive Portland dish you should definitely try is the famous Voodoo Doughnut, which is a donut covered in pink frosting, sprinkles, and bacon. The city also has lots of great Asian restaurants, like Pok Pok, where you can try authentic Thai food.
Parks and gardens in Portland
Besides the food and nature museums, Portland is also home to one of the world’s most beautiful libraries, the Oregon State Library. The library is surrounded by an ornate, Spanish-style garden, and it’s one of the most relaxing places in the city. Another great park is Washington Park, which has an outdoor planetarium, a rose garden, and an old-fashioned carousel. Forest Park, on the city’s eastern edge, is one of the biggest urban forests in the country, and it’s a great place to hike and explore. Another interesting park is Jamison Square, which is covered in fountains and surrounded by a library, a music hall, and the city’s courthouse.
Activities to do in Portland
There are plenty of classic Pacific Northwest experiences to have in Portland. It would be a shame not to go whale-watching at some point during your visit, and there are plenty of tours to choose from. Another must-do Portland activity is hiking up a giant forested mountain, like nearby Mount Hood or (if you’re feeling ambitious) Mount St. Helens. If you’re visiting Portland in the fall, you should definitely go apple picking at one of the area orchards. And if you visit in the summer, you’ll want to make sure to hit up one of the many summer festivals on the calendar, like the Oregon Country Fair and Feast Portland.
Where to stay in Portland
If you’re looking to stay in the city itself, you’ll probably want to stay near the downtown area. The Modera Central is a great modern hotel with rooftop views and a stylish vibe, and the Oregon Convention Center is right across the street, which makes it a convenient choice for business travelers. If you want to stay in a more residential neighborhood, there are lots of great options. The Ace Hotel is a hipster mega-hotel that’s near lots of cool bars and restaurants in the Southeast-Hawthorne neighborhood. Another convenient downtown neighborhood is the Pearl District, where the Kimpton Hotel Oregon is located. This neighborhood is full of art galleries, shops, and restaurants.
Bottom line
Portland is a great destination for visitors looking to experience the best that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. With its beautiful forests, rivers, gardens, and beaches, it’s a great place to spend a vacation any time of year. If you’re lucky enough to live in the area, Portland is a great city to call home. It’s a place where people are passionate about what they do, and there are endless opportunities to explore new interests and meet new people. It’s a city that will keep surprising and delighting you, even if you’ve been there for decades.
We recommend that you read our guide about where to stay in Portland. It provides an excellent overview of the most popular areas, highlighting the main attractions and hotel recommendations for each area.
If you like our list of the best hotels and hostels in Portland, then you should also check out our selection of recommended hotels in New Orleans or the best hotels in Seattle.