Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour

4.8 (329 reviews) 2 hours – 2 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

329 reviews

4.8

Our lady Portlandia is a highlight of every tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Colors abound in every season — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m.

Start at DIRECTOR PARK

Our downtown Portland, Oregon walking tours are engaging, well-paced and colorful: the Best of the City! It’s a weird city, but there are stories in every building, park and brick. We’ve organized our city’s best things -- and of course, it’s most complicated and conflicted, as well. In an ever-changing world we continuously change the story of the city. We walk about 2 miles/3 km.

Much of Portland’s history can be told through the buildings and street layouts including the prioritization of parks in the city center. It’s not a dry history: full of back-room deals, early deaths and greed; and then there were hippies!

How did Portland become the 1st city on the West Coast with a fine art museum? How did the city's early cultural reputation influence its mid-20th century; and how did it become such a lightning rod for racial justice protests? We'll discuss what was, is, and will be the soul of the city.

Must be able to walk 1-2 miles

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At a glance

Duration: 2 hours – 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 30 people
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: English
Operated by: Around Portland Tours

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–12 years) · Adults (13–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Certified Guide

Not included

Not included: Gratuities (always appreciated)

Itinerary

Director Park

5 min

All tours start at DIRECTOR PARK. We'll meet you in the southeast corner of this urban hardscape park, near the intersection of SW Taylor and SW Park Ave. Our meeting spot is across the street from entrance to the Regal Fox Tower.

Parking is available on the streets nearby or in lots in the adjacent building. The MAX light rail comes just a block away, at the Pioneer Square stop.
South Park Blocks

20 min

Much of Portland’s history can be told through the buildings and street layouts; most importantly, the prioritization of parks throughout the city center. We'll walk through the park blocks and learn why they were laid out this way; and what the park blocks' designer didn't do before he died.
The Portland Building

15 min

From cast iron-fronted buildings to the grandly disastrous post-modern Portland Building, we trace our history through architectural choices our city planners made.
Portland Art Museum

Passing by

We will walk by the exterior of the museum and talk about the history of art in Portland.
Pioneer Courthouse Square

15 min

No tour of downtown Portland, or history of the city's relationships with hippies, would be complete without a visit to Pioneer Courthouse Square. From its past as the center of education to the drive to keep out the "dirty hippies," we'll learn how and why this square has never been far from the minds of Portlanders and the city's visitors.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

DIRECTOR PARK, 815 SW Park Ave, diagonally across Yamhill Street from Nordstrom and across from the Elephants Deli.

We'll meet you near the paved fountain on the north end of the park, the NE corner of the park.

End point

DIRECTOR PARK, 815 SW Park Ave, diagonally across Yamhill Street from Nordstrom and across from the Elephants Deli.

We'll meet you near the paved fountain on the north end of the park, the NE corner of the park.

Using your ticket

You only need to provide the traveler’s name upon meeting your guide. Please note that we cannot wait more than five minutes for late arrivals and we cannot contact the guide after they depart from the tour start location.