11 Neighborhoods to Consider When You Visit Portland

Portland, Oregon, is a charming city with a lot of fun little areas for travelers to explore. If you’re planning a trip to the Rose City, consider these Portland neighborhoods during your vacation rental search.

1. The Pearl

   

   The Pearl District is one of Portland’s swankier neighborhoods, with sleek modern buildings and upscale bars and boutiques. Powell’s City of Books, a giant bookstore that remains one of Portland’s famous tourist attractions, is located in this part of town.

2. Nob Hill/Alphabet District

   

   One of the more easily navigable parts of town, the Alphabet District area, also known as Nob Hill or simply Northwest, has streets laid out in a grid that go in alphabetical order from south to north. Stay here if you want easy access to the hiking trails of Forest Park but also want some cosmopolitan sophistication for dinner after a day outdoors.

3. Sellwood

   

   Sellwood is a great place to get a balance of quiet and access to the rest of the city. If you want to explore downtown but stay somewhere quaint and residential, Sellwood might be the right choice. Historic homes and proximity to the river help make this part of town feel cozy.

4. Ladd’s Addition

   

   Designed with maze-like streets that feature multiple gorgeous rose gardens at the center, Ladd’s Addition is a great place to take a long walk. That’s especially true in summer when the roses are in bloom.

5. Hawthorne

   

   With multiple independent movie theaters and tons of shops (including an outpost of the famous Powell’s Books), Hawthorne is a fun place to explore. There are also multiple grocery stores on Hawthorne Boulevard, so you can stock your rental house’s kitchen with affordable food.

6. Mt. Tabor

   

   Did you know that there’s a (dormant) volcano in the Portland area? The Mt. Tabor area has some great views thanks to its eponymous volcano and park.

7. Alberta

   

   Also known as the Alberta Arts District, this neighborhood centers around a vibrant street with lots of great coffee shops, restaurants and bars. If you visit toward the end of the month, make sure to check out Last Thursdays on Alberta, a reoccurring art festival.

8. Mississippi

   

   The Mississippi area is one of the best places to visit in Portland if you want to experience low-key nightlife. With multiple music venues and plenty of bars and restaurants, this part of town is like a mini city you won’t need to leave.

9. Cathedral Park

   

   Named for the soaring buttresses of the bright green St. John’s Bridge, Cathedral Park is a scenic part of town that’s undergone some rapid gentrification in recent years. Visitors are ideally placed to enjoy some of Portland’s more rugged attractions, including hiking trails in Forest Park and farms on Sauvie Island.

10. Downtown

    

    Staying downtown makes a lot of sense if you want to experience the city’s nightlife. This neighborhood is packed with bars, restaurants, clubs and venues, so you won’t find a shortage of things to occupy your time, day or night. It’s walkable and bike-friendly, and it offers a wealth of public transportation options. Downtown Portland also has a farmers’ market, so you can stock up your vacation home with local produce.

11. St. John’s

    

    Like much of Portland, St. John’s is artistic and packed with restaurants and boutiques. However, this neighborhood also has a lot to offer active types who want to visit Portland. Pier Park offers everything from skateboarding to disc golfing, whereas the Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area gives you plenty of wildlife watching opportunities.