Portland is a city built on liveability. An urban nirvana where bicycles take precedence over cars and local coffee shops and breweries outnumber fast-food chains. Straddled between two rivers with the majestic Mount Hood as the backdrop to the skyline, the city is renowned for its scenic beauty, naturally conducive for exploring the great outdoors.
On top of plenty of green space, craft beer and food carts, the city has a fabulous bumper-sticker ethos to keep it thriving: ‘Keep Portland Weird’. The official tourism bureau even promotes the satirical sketch comedy show Portlandia based on the city, offering tours of the show’s filming locations and living up to the show’s tagline about Portland being a city ‘where young people go to retire’.
Downtown Portland is compact, historic, walkable and features a great riverfront park. Stand out neighbourhoods and hotspots include Hawthorn Street’s cafes, bars and shops; Mississippi Avenue’s grittier blend of food carts and independent stores; and Alberta Street's galleries, bars and monthly street party that goes by the name 'Last Thursday'.
West of downtown is Forest Park, a dedicated green space with over 110 kilometres of trails to wander. Portland’s other moniker ‘The City of Roses’ must come from the ideal that life in Portland is quite literally a bed of roses. Stop in to smell the roses at the city’s spectacular International Rose Test Garden.
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Flights to Portland will disembark at Portland International Airport.
Portland International Airport (PDX) has consistently ranked as the nation’s best airport. Why? One reason is that it's located less than 15 kilometres from downtown with plenty of transport options, including easy light rail connection. The airport is serviced by 14 international and domestic airlines and features free wi-fi, good quality local food and drinks, and tax-free shopping.
Airport Accommodation: There are several hotels located in close proximity to Portland International Airport, including major chains Sherton, Radisson and Hyatt.
Getting to Portland
There are several airlines that offer flights to Portland from Australia, however no airlines fly direct to Portland from Australia. The most direct flights fly from Sydney with a stopover in either San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver or Honolulu, then onto Portland, totalling from 17 to 20 hours for the entire journey. You can catch a flight to Portland from all capital cities around Australia; however some cities may be subject to a stop in Sydney.
Airlines that fly to Portland
Airlines that offer flights to Portland from Australia include: