I get tons of questions from people wondering what there is to do in Portland, Oregon during winter. I get it. Portland isn’t exactly known as a winter destination since it doesn’t usually get snow. But I’m hoping to change that.
Portland has winter activities for everyone, whether you’re a sucker for art, the outdoors, or just want to sip coffee in a cozy sweater. Another perk of being in PDX for winter? You’re in close proximity to other wintery destinations with plenty of snow. So here it is, my favorite things to do in Portland, Oregon in the winter!
Portland, Oregon During Winter
Portland is a favorite winter destination of mine because not only is it a magical city, but it’s way less crowded in winter. While most cities hibernate in winter, PDX comes alive with holiday activities and light shows. It’s perfect for couples and families alike looking for a winter escape in a big city.
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What is the weather like in Portland, Oregon during winter?
Portland isn’t known for receiving much snow, but it can happen. But what’s more likely? Rain. November through February is PDX’s rainiest season. However, it comes consistently as a drizzle versus downpours that can wreck your plans.
One bonus is that the winters in Portland are relatively mild compared to other Oregon cities, with average daytime temps in the 40s and nights in the low 30s.
What to do in Portland, Oregon in winter
Here are all my favorite things to do in Portland, Oregon in winter. Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more ideas when I discover them!
Experience holiday events, festivals, and performances
One of the perks of spending the winter season in Portland is that there’s always a light show or holiday festival going on during the winter season. Here are some worth seeking out.
Zoolights
website | neighborhood: Washington Park (get directions) | price: ~$30-35pp | dates: mid-Nov to early Jan | best for: light installations
The Oregon Zoo’s Zoolights is an iconic winter activity that’s also the perfect opportunity to explore the exhibits without wading through crowds. Bring the kids for a memorable evening, or experience the illuminated zoo kid-free on select evenings.
PDX Holiday Beer Fest
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | price: ~$40pp | dates: early Dec | best for: craft beer lovers
Portland’s craft beer scene is undeniable, and their annual holiday beer fest is not one to miss. Oregon breweries like pFriem, Fort George, and Portland Cider Co showcase their winter ales in heated tents alongside vinyl DJs and a giant lit tree.
Christmas Ship Parade
website | neighborhood: various | price: free | dates: throughout Dec | best for: boat light show
Both the Columbia River and the Willamette River run through Rose City, so it’s not surprising they boast one heck of a ship parade. This long-running tradition features dozens of decked-out (no pun intended) boats floating along the waterways. It’s entirely volunteer led and the parade runs almost nightly in December.
Nutcracker
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | price: ~$35+pp | dates: throughout Dec | best for: ballet
Experiencing the Nutcracker is one of those quintessential holiday activities we try to do every season. The Oregon Ballet Theatre promises an evening of family-friendly delight, with dancing choreographed by the award-winning choreographer George Balanchine.
Christmas Festival of Lights
website | neighborhood: Madison South (get directions) | price:~$10-20pp | dates: Thanksgiving weekend thru Dec (closed Christmas day) | best for: religious-oriented light show
The Grotto is a Catholic shrine centered around botanical gardens. Each winter, they host a light show with over 500,000 lights and 150 choral performances to share the spirit. People of all faiths are welcome at this 60-acre park, which features a rock cave at the base of a 100-foot cliff.
Lights on Peacock Lane
website | neighborhood: Sunnyside (get directions) | price: free | dates: mid thru late Dec | best for: neighborhood light show
Since the 1920s, the residents of Portland’s Peacock Lane have hosted a spectacular holiday light show where residents go all out, bringing the brightest seasonal greetings. Note, the first three nights are pedestrian only!
Winter Wonderland
website | neighborhood: Kenton (get directions) | price: ~$50+ per vehicle | dates: Thanksgiving weekend thru Dec | best for: drive-thru light show
Each year, the Portland International Raceway hosts a non-profit light show where 100% of the proceeds go to feed hungry families. It’s considered the largest light show west of the Mississippi, with over 250 light displays.
One day of the event, cyclists can bike the route to their heart’s content, and families can even bring their dogs and walk the raceway a few days too!
Pittock Mansion Light Display
website | neighborhood: West Hills (get directions) | price: ~$15-20pp | dates: mid-Nov thru mid-Jan | best for: historic mansion light display
Pittock Mansion is a historic Portland home owned by the famous publisher Henry Pittock. Each year, visitors can enjoy festive displays across dozens of rooms, each artfully decorated to showcase the decades spanning from 1910 to the 1950s. The theme this year is “Home for the Holidays.”
Portland Bazaar
website | neighborhood: Slabtown (get directions) | price: free | dates: mid-Dec | best for: makers market
Let’s be real, most of us wait until the tail end of December to get our holiday shopping done. Thankfully Portland has holiday markets every weekend of the year that would rival some of the best Seattle Christmas markets. The PDX Bazaar is one of the biggest, featuring 150+ of Portland’s small businesses and artisan makers, with food trucks, cocktails, and live music to add to the holiday spirit.
Celebrate at the Portland Winter Light Festival
website | neighborhood: various | price: free | dates: early Feb | best for: citywide art installations and performances
The Portland Winter Light Festival isn’t just one festival; instead, it’s a series of light shows hosted all around the city. There are massive interactive artworks, live performances, light installations, and family-friendly activities like a lantern procession and illuminated bike ride all week long.
The festival is centered around three anchor sites, including Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Electric Blocks, and the World Trade Center PDX. It’s easy to walk between light installations and experience PDX at night!
Go ice skating
website | neighborhood: Downtown (get directions) | price: ~$10-20pp + ~$5 skates | dates: year round | best for: ice skating
If ice skating is essential to your holiday season, visit the Downtown Portland Winter Ice Rink located near the Morrison Bridgehead. They host weekly themed nights, pop-ups from local makers, and they have a concession stand with warm beverages for those of us who prefer to observe.
Can’t make it to the Portland Ice Rink? The Lloyd Center Ice Rink is open year round!
Ring in the Lunar New Year
website | neighborhood: Old Town (get directions) | price: ~$13-16pp | dates: February thru early March (varies based on lunar calendar year) | best for: Lunar New Year celebrations
The Lan Su Chinese Garden hosts one of the most iconic Lunar New Year celebrations in the PNW. Each year, the gardens are adorned with dazzling lantern sculptures, and interactive cultural activities promise fun for the whole family.
Soak at a spa
Retreat from the chill with a day at the spa. CASCADA is a 21+, sustainable wellness spa with day passes to the saunas and therapeutic waters. Or visit McMenamin’s Ruby Spa and Salon at Edgefield for a massage or their heated soaking pool (available to overnight guests only). Knots Springs is best for their co-ed soaking tubs overlooking the Portland skyline.
Cozy up in a cafe
Nothing is more winter-worthy than spending an afternoon in one of Portland’s cozy coffee shops. Here are some great coffee shops in Portland.
- Good Coffee – Fresh vibe with greenery and single-origin beans
- Guilder Coffee Co. – Small batch-roasted beans served inside Powell’s City of Books
- Cathedral Coffee – Neighborhood joint with fresh pastries
- Fly Awake Tea House – Quiet tea shop with Indian bites
Explore PDX’s museums
When the rain feels never ending, duck into one of Portland’s best museums. Here are some to cross off your bucket list.
- Oregon Museum of Science – Interactive exhibits, submarine tours, and planetarium shows
- Portland Art Museum – Downtown’s modern art and film museum
- Freakybuttrue Peculiarium – Self-proclaimed “weirdest art gallery in the world”
- Hopscotch – An interactive art exhibit with cool light installations
Go on a food crawl
Portland is teeming with killer restaurants, and it’s easy to hit many of the best restaurants in Portland in just a few days. Take advantage of one of these epic Portland food tours:
- Portland Walking Food Tour – Warm Donuts, History & Hidden Gems
- Portland Downtown Food Tour: 6 Tastings of Local & Global Flavors (including Voodoo Doughnuts!)
- All-Inclusive Downtown Portland Food Tour
- Old Port Culinary Walking Tour from Portland
- Food Carts of Portland Bike Tour
Cut down a Christmas tree
Don’t think that because you’re in a big city that means you can’t get a Christmas tree the old fashioned way. The Oregon Christmas Tree Growers Association has a list of u-cut tree spots, like Grabhorn Farms out of Beaverton, or Olcott’s, thirty minutes outside PDX.
If you’re cutting your own tree, refer to the US Forest Service guidelines to make sure you have everything you’ll need.
Go on a winter hike
Break out the puffies and beanies and head out for a day of winter hiking. Stay local and explore the native wildlife at Forest Park, or take a mini road trip and use my Columbia Gorge itinerary and Gorge waterfall map as your guide to breathtaking nearby scenery.
Prefer a guided tour of the Gorge? Book one of these tours.
- Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland, OR
- Columbia Gorge Waterfalls and Mt. Hood Tour
- Afternoon Half-Day Multnomah Falls and Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland
If you’re into snowshoeing, visit Marble Mountain Sno Park or Little Zigzag Falls for an easy out-and-back route close to the city. Advanced nordic skiers should head to Tamanawas Falls for dramatic scenery.
Visit hot springs
Hot springs are a must for anyone’s winter bucket list, and there are plenty to choose from just outside Portland. Here are some favorites.
- Carson Resort Hot Springs – Gorge bathhouse with bath-and-wraps and sulfur springs
- Bagby Hot Springs – Natural hot springs centered in Mt. Hood
- Breitenbush Hot Springs – 1920s era lodge turned wilderness health spa
Enjoy beer or wine tasting
PDX loves its libations and lucky for us, they’re available year round. Beer lovers will want to explore the city’s craft beer scene. One of my favorites is Great Notion, but there are also a bunch of tour options:
- Craft Beer and Portland City Walking Tour
- Portland Breweries by Bike Tour
- Haunted Portland Pub Crawl
Wine more your thing? I have a whole guide to the best Willamette Valley wineries starting just 20 minutes outside the city. If you want just my top must-visit Portland winery rec, it’s Division Wine Co. There are also a bunch of tour options:
- Portland Urban Wine Tour
- Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls & Wine Tour
- Willamette Valley Wine Tour Plus Lunch
Go snow tubing around PDX
If you’re craving snow-time fun but aren’t into skiing or snowboarding, take the family for a day of snow tubing. White River Sno-Park is free and promises easy access fun for the kids. Or head to Copper Spur Mountain Resort and ride the rope-towed snow carousel.
Explore the King Tides on the Oregon Coast
Most people will tell you to visit the Oregon coast in the summer, but I’m partial to going in the winter for one reason: storm watching!
The highest tides in Oregon occur each winter in accordance with the Lunar New Year. During this time, coastal flooding, storms, and large waves are a regular occurrence. Plus, the Oregon coastal towns make for the perfect weekend getaway.
Ski Mt. Hood or Bend
With Mt. Hood in your backyard, it only makes sense to go skiing or explore the nordic trails during the winter. Check out my complete guide on everything you need to know about Mt. Hood, including tips on when to visit and how to get the most out of your ski trip.
Or, discover all the things to do in Bend, Oregon in the winter. My vote? Check out the nordic skiing in Virginia Meissner Sno-Park and see why it’s my family’s favorite day trips from Portland.
More to do around Portland
After you check out all these things to do in Portland, Oregon during winter, check out my other guides to the Rose City.
