Portland on a Budget: Free & Cheap Thrills

8 hours · Budget, free, frugal

Portland doesn't have to be expensive. This itinerary is mostly free or under $10 per stop, from world-class gardens to urban hiking.

Map & Directions

🗺️ Open in Google Maps 🗺️ Open in Apple Maps

The Itinerary

International Rose Test Garden

⏱ 1 hr 📍 400 SW Kingston Ave

Free — 10,000+ roses with Mt. Hood views

Powell's City of Books

⏱ 1.5 hr 📍 1005 W Burnside St

Free to browse — the world's largest bookstore

Hawthorne Food Cart Lunch

⏱ 1 hr 📍 2110 SE 10th Ave

$8-12 for a filling meal from a food cart

Eastbank Esplanade

⏱ 1 hr 📍 SE Water Ave & SE Hawthorne Blvd

Free — 1.5-mile riverfront path with iconic bridge views

Mt. Tabor Park

⏱ 1.5 hr 📍 SE 60th Ave & Salmon St

Free — hike the dormant volcano and see the reservoirs

Alberta Street Murals

⏱ 1 hr 📍 Alberta St & NE 11th Ave

Free self-guided mural tour

Tips

  • Max $20 total spend for the whole day
  • The Portland Streetcar is $2.50 for a 2.5-hour pass

Best For

Budget travelers, students