If you’re planning a trip and wondering what things to do in Portland without a car, fear not! I did the same, and this is exactly what I was able to see and do using only walking and the Portland public transportation. Not only did I easily navigate around the city, I was even able to take Columbia Area Transit to Multnomah Falls.
Where to Stay in Portland Without a Car
During my visit, I stayed at Northwest Portland Hostel, which was the perfect home base for my trip. The hostel is situated between the Pearl District and Nob Hill, 5 blocks away from the MAX light rail, and near plenty of bus stops. Read my full review on my experience staying at the Northwest Portland Hostel here!
Things to Do in Portland Without a Car
The Pearl District is home to the famous Powell’s Books, which was one of my first stops! The bookstore spans an entire city block and is known to be the biggest indie bookstore in the entire world. I walked to Powell’s from the hostel, stopping at Pho Van Fresh for lunch on the way. (Thanks to a recommendation from the front desk on my way out the door.) After spending hours lost in the bookstore, I walked across the street to Buffalo Exchange to do some thrifting before heading back.
Just a 12-minute walk from Powell’s Books can take you to the Portland Art Museum, where I had the opportunity to see Monet’s Water Lilies. Although these are so close together, I went on different days because of my schedule. I actually did a donation-based walking tour from the hostel that ended right next to the museum, then to the museum, and then I walked to a food cart pod. When you visit Portland, you can’t leave without visiting at least one of their food cart pods! Instead of choosing one restaurant, you get tons of options in one place, plus a central bar and tons of outdoor seating. I went to Midtown Beer Garden, where I had some killer Chao Mian from Stretch the Noodle. (16-minute walk from the art museum). It’s casual, affordable, and perfect when you’re exploring the city on foot.
Another spot you have to visit in Portland is the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park where hundreds of rose varieties are grown, tested, and displayed. There’s a reason they call it the city of roses! On a clear day, you can even get a view of Mt. Hood in the distance! From the Rose Test Garden, you can take a 1 mile walk on the trails to one of my personal favorites, the Hoyt Arboretum! Another popular stop at Washington Park is the Japanese Garden. I didn’t have time to visit, but it’s definitely on my list for next time. If you’re using the hostel as a home base like I did, it’s about a 30-minute walk from the hostel to the Rose Test Garden, or a 20-minute trip when you take the bus. Regardless of your home base, Washington Park is highly accessible using the MAX light rail Blue and Red lines, though, so you should add it to your Portland itinerary immediately!
Visiting Multnomah Falls Without a Car
One of the easiest day trips from Portland without a car is Multnomah Falls. A lot of the people I spoke to were shocked to hear that you don’t need a car to visit Multnomah Falls, but the Columbia Area Transit (CAT) operates the Columbia Gorge Express, offering a super convenient shuttle bus between Portland and the Gorge. The Express runs daily from the Gateway Transit Center in Portland to Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, and Hood River. You can read more about it here.
Can You Visit Portland Without a Car?
Based on my experience, Portland is an amazing destination without a car. Between how walkable the city is and how easy the Portland public transportation system is to use, getting around was never an issue. Any places I missed were because I ran out of time, not because they were hard to reach.
Staying at the Northwest Portland Hostel put me in the perfect location to explore the city without a car. Being tucked between Nob Hill and the Pearl District meant I could walk to coffee shops, bookstores, food cart pods, parks, and public transit within minutes.
If you’re looking for a city where you can explore freely, save money on transportation, and still see some incredible spots, Portland is an easy yes.