Hi,

I'll be in Portland for the first time next month staying downtown at the Benson. I want to visit the Portland Art Museum, some galleries, the history muesuem and walk around some neighborhoods to do some shopping. Will I be able to get around on foot and on public transportation or do you think I need to rent a car? I am used to using public transport and am not intimidated, but I have no idea if Portland has good public transport.

Thanks!

Portland is great in that it is actually a very small city. It is very easy to walk to everything. We do have good public transportation though, so as long as you are not planning on trips out to the gorge or Mt. Hood, then you do not need a car.

You probably don't need to rent a car, but it depends where else you want to go besides the museums.

Portland has an excellent public transit system for a small city. We have a good bus system with most of the buses converging downtown on the "bus mall" (SW 5th and 6th Avenue) where you make connections. The Benson is on Broadway 1 or 2 blocks away, very easy to get to the bus mall. The Benson is in a terrific location downtown, actually.

We also have a MAX light rail train that goes east-west from the suburb of Gresham to the suburb of Hillsboro, through downtown. One spur (red line) goes to the airport, another (yellow line) goes to North Portland. On top of that, there's the Portland Streetcar that runs from NW Portland, through the Pearl District, up SW 10th/11th Ave through the west part of downtown, up to Portland State University, and (starting in early March) all the way down to Riverplace.

MAX and the Steetcar are the preferred way to get anywhere if you can, but they don't go everywhere. You can get transfers between the trains and buses ($1.65 for an all-zone ticket with an hour+ transfer) or a day pass for only $3.50 to go anywhere.

Buses and trains are free downtown (and in part of NE near Rose Quarter and Lloyd Center) in "Fareless Square." Just say "fareless" to the driver when you get on. If you are unsure how far fareless square goes, ask the driver.

You can walk to the Art Museum and the Oregon History Center from the Benson (it's about 6 blocks, an easy, safe walk). You can take the streetcar or the #17 bus to NW Portland and the Pearl. You can take the #14 bus to SE Hawthorne (shopping) and even get off at the first stop across the bridge to walk a few blocks to OMSI.

All the details are at http://www.trimet.org . Punch in your starting and ending points and it will tell you exactly how to get there.

Andrew

Hi daria!
We were in Portland for 10 days last Sept and we rented a car for one day- to drive along the Historic Highway and see the Waterfalls. We walked and took the train and trolley car and managed to see the entire city..or so it seemed!
One of the many things we loved about Portland was what a treat it was to get around without a car!
We went from the 5th Ave Suites downtown on the train to the Japanese Gardens, to the Pearl on the little trolley, the Train to the Saturday market..we walked to the Art Museum, that is an easy walk from 5th Ave..I am not sure what street the Benson is on.
I found the transport much easier to use than in my old hometown of NYC.
Have a great time, I loved Portland and look forward to going back!

I was in Portland as a tourist last year. The light rail system is easy to take from the airport and I walked everywhere else.

As far as hotels, you can get a great deal through Priceline. I got the Hilton for $35 a night and it was at the time of the Portland Marathon!

Have a great time.

Thank you so much for your replies everyone!! Fodorites are always so helpful. Happily, it sounds like, for my needs, a car is totally unnecessary. Thanks again!

FYI for Daria and anyone else: Portland city blocks are half the size of the usual city block in the United States. Our blocks are only 200 feet. So walking anywhere downtown is easier than you thought!

Short blocks... So thats why I always get lost! It's true though.. things come much faster than you expect in this compact place.

Without a rental car, what is the best way to get from the airport to hotels downtown?

Well, the MAX train takes you directly from the airport to downtown Portland in about a half hour - costs only $1.95 each way per person. Many hotels also have free shuttles. Where are you staying?

Andrew

I took the light rail MAX Red Line. From airport, $1.80, 35 minutes, every 15 minutes. Can't beat that price.

Yeah, TriMet all-zone fares are now $1.95 - prices just went up Jan 1.

Andrew

Alas Andrew, my trip has been postponed from Spring to Fall (probably) but anticipate staying at Sheraton 4-Points. Amx Train still good option?

You mean Four Points in downtown Portland, right?

Unless the hotel has a free shuttle (I don't think so - but you might call Four Points and double check), the MAX is the best option for getting from the airport to the hotel. The hotel is on the MAX line but coming from the airport, the closest stop is at 3rd and Morrison and the hotel is at 1st and Morrison (Portland blocks are short, so two blocks isn't as far as you might fear). Getting back to the airport is easier, the MAX stop going that way is at 1st and Yamhill about a block from the hotel.

Presumably you would be getting the hotel with Starwood points or something? The location is good (walk to downtown, to waterfront park, etc.), but I have read some so-so reviews of the hotel from people who have received it via Priceline.com. Check out the reviews on BiddingForTravel.com, maybe even on Trip Advisor. If you are not getting a special deal, I would probably not recommend this hotel at full price. I have not stayed but have been inside and seen a room - it's not bad, but I hear the walls are thin and it can be noisy due to outside noise.

Andrew

PRICELINE "downtown" MAP needs careful attention.....
To me downtown Portland is WEST of the river...on their map they include EAST of the river which is mostly convention area.
I really needed to be on west side of river so..I bid on only 4 star hotels..
i did get a good price at the Benson
( $ 60 ) however i my opinion the Benson is a "marginal" 4 star...a little "worn" but the location is outstanding and service wonderful...Be sure to check Trip Advisor for other hotel evaluations.
My favorites for Portland are:
Powells bookstore & Pearl Bakery-2-3 blocks from hotel,,,
Art Museum just opened a beautiful new 4 story wing..
and The Saturday Market--under the Burnside Bridge
This is a great town--you will love it--even in the rain...

My favorite in Portland is the Chinese Garden, join a free docent tour for better understanding, and then walk around on your own. Don't have tea, though, highly overpriced.

Andrew, we are taking a Cruise West cruise of the Columbia River and the 4-Points is the hotel they use for their hospitality suite on the day the cruise begins. Since we try to arrive one day early for such trips we chose to stay at the hotel of their choice. The last day of our trip includes a stay at this hotel and they provide transportation TO the airport, but since we are arriving early, the transportation on the first leg is on us.

TY for all your help.

Polly, the Four Points is not a bad hotel by any means, and it is probably the closest hotel to boarding your river cruise. But there are better hotels downtown for sure and they may not be much more expensive. If the simplicity is your first goal, I'm sure the Four Points will do fine.

Andrew

http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/

www.portlandmuseum.org

http://www.portlandchinesegarden.org/

Ahh yes, Pearl Bakery, for morning coffee or afternoon tea and anything in-between

Want restaurant recommendations too?