From family-friendly sightseeing strolls to ghost-busting walks, one of the best ways to experience Portland involves taking to two feet on one of the city’s many walking tours.
Portland is a highly walkable city that lends itself well to walking tours(Photo: GetYourGuide.com)
Portland is one of the United States’ most popular cities for good reason. It ticks all the boxes for sightseeing, dining and entertainment, and it’s highly walkable too. Each of the city’s five neighbourhoods is packed with personality and easily explored on a short walking tour with a local guide. They’ve moved on beyond historical sightseeing strolls too; these days guides are getting creative with entire walks dedicated to everything from donuts to ghosts. With so many to choose from, we’ve selected five of the best Portland OR walking tours based on value for money, theme, itinerary and customer reviews.
Portland: Downtown Ghost Tour
Portland has its fair share of ghosts and this 90-minute tour gives visitors the chance to bump into them. There are eight spooky spots on the itinerary, each with a spine-tingling story to tell, from kidnapped sailors to murdered siblings. Your guide will share stories and eyewitness accounts of morbid and mysterious events along the way too. Participants are encouraged to take photographs throughout the tour, and then look out for evidence of paranormal activity when the tour finishes up. From £20.44.
Book at GetYourGuide.com
Intro to Portland Small-Group Walking Tour
This small-group walking tour ticks off Portland’s most famous sights (Photo: Viator.com)
This small-group walking tour is ideal for those who have just arrived in Portland and want to get their bearings. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, group sizes are capped at 12 people for a more intimate experience. You can choose from three different tours, depending on your interests too. The first tour focuses on architecture and hits some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the second tour focuses on the city’s arts scene and the third tour is dedicated to the wacky and weird. From £21.04
Book now at Viator.com
Portland: Underground Donut Tour
Donuts are a divisive subject matter in Portland – everyone has an opinion on where to find the best. This two-hour walking tour will get you up to speed in no time, revealing four of the best donut stops near Portland State’s Campus, Pioneer Square and Downtown. The tour price includes a curated selection of some of the best donuts in town too, ranging from classic glazed rings to quirkier floral flavours. From £24.95.
Book at GetYourGuide.com
Portland: 2-Hour Family Walking Tour
This two-hour tour is designed with families in mind (Photo: GetYourGuide.com)
This family-friendly walking tour ticks off most of Portland’s best-loved sights in two hours. Unlike most walking tours, guides take special care to share entertaining anecdotes and insights that will keep little ones occupied too. As well as hitting the city’s most iconic landmarks, you’ll get to visit a handful of hidden gems that you won’t find in the guidebooks. Tours are private, but they can accommodate as many as ten guests per group, making it the perfect family activity. From £404.06 per group of 10 people.
Book at GetYourGuide.com
Forest Park Hiking Tour
For those who’ve seen all the sights, this Forest Park Hiking Tour is guaranteed to provide an alternate perspective on the city. Starting in northwest Portland, participants hike up to Forest Park – a sprawling 5,300-acre reserve teeming with native wildlife and plant species. From here, it’s a short stroll to picturesque Washington Park and up to the Rose Test Garden. The four-hour tour takes in some of the neighbourhood’s prettiest spots, including the Japanese Garden and the Witch’s Castle too. From £42.08.
Book now at Viator.com