Add dates

Powell's Books

Powell's Books: Our most recommended tours and activities

Portland: All-Inclusive Walking Food Tour

1. Portland: All-Inclusive Walking Food Tour

Explore downtown Portland on an all-inclusive walking food tour through the heart of the city. We'll meet at "Portland's Living Room," Pioneer Courthouse Square, and venture deeper into downtown while sampling food from unique vendors. Enjoy a philosophical introduction to Portland's iconic food cart ecosystem while learning about our city's history, culture, and people. On our tour we'll walk through the neighborhoods of downtown, old town, and chinatown, while passing through the largest independent bookstore in the world, our scenic waterfront park, and the famous Saturday Market (weekends only). Come hungry.

Portland: Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour

2. Portland: Downtown Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour

Get to know Portland (Downtown and Pearl District) at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour. You'll explore the city on foot and get points for solving different types of tasks: Find sights: You will use hints to find the best sights and hidden gems throughout the city. The map function in the app will help you get there. Solve questions: Once you’ve arrived at the place you’re looking for, you’ll be asked questions about the sight. Most of the time, the answers are hidden in signs, pictures, etc. A great and fun way to learn new things about the city. Have fun: During the adventure, you can also expect exciting photo tasks that require a lot of creativity. If you master the snapshots, you will be rewarded with points. Along the way, you’ll reach amazing places like the Powell’s City of Books, Chinatown Gateway, Portlandia and many more exciting sights in the neighbourhood. After you book the game, you’ll get a game code via email with instructions on how to play. Head to the “Salmon Street Springs" and use the code to unlock the game in the app. The tour ends at the Southwest Naito Parkway. The experience is not limited in time. You can explore the city at your own pace and take breaks. Just download the Explorial-App, go to the starting point, and you’re ready to start with the game. The tour lasts on average about 1-2 hours.

Discover Portland: Half-Day Small Group City Tour

3. Discover Portland: Half-Day Small Group City Tour

Take a guided tour of Portland in a small group. Throughout the tour, you'll enjoy beautiful vistas as you drive the hills and bridges in a comfortable, climate-controlled vehicle. Your guide will pick you up at Director Park, then give you background on the landmarks you pass. Learn the city's history as you wander the neighborhoods of central Portland. Stop at the International Rose Test Garden, where you'll have 20 minutes to walk among the 550 rose varieties. Then, you'll ascend even higher into the hills to Pittock Mansion, which provides the best view of Portland and 5 stratovolcanoes, in clear weather. As you navigate the city, take in views of the parks, gardens, bridges, and trees of this lush city.

Portland: Secret Food Tour with Local Guide

4. Portland: Secret Food Tour with Local Guide

Eat your way through Downtown Portland and the Pearl District on this food tour with a local guide. Sample five dishes, including doughnuts, pretzels, and more, and learn about the city's history as you walk. Start your tour in Pioneer Square where you will stop at a food cart to sample a typical Portland dish. Next, wander around the Pearl District and try a special pretzel and dips. Afterward, discover an eclectic side of Downtown and savor the flavors of tonkatsu ramen. Try a local Simpson donut and learn why the locals gave it its name. Finish your tour with a chat in a historic local café.

Portland: City Highlights Exploration Game

5. Portland: City Highlights Exploration Game

Your adventure starts at City Hall in downtown Portland. Begin your first adventure in the app and successfully complete the challenges to unlock more whacky stories and discover more locations. Unlock stories about the Shanghai Tunnels, through which unsuspecting visitors were kidnapped and carried to sea, or the Portland Hotel, where dismembered bodies were dumped. Uncover Skidmore Fountain, which would’ve run with beer instead of water if civic leaders had a sense of fun. In another story, you embark on an adventure to the leprechaun colony in Mill Ends Park from which a pot of gold has been stolen by Portland’s famous peregrine falcons. As an Irish treasure hunter, it’s your job to track it down.

Portland: Smart Phone Scavenger Hunt

6. Portland: Smart Phone Scavenger Hunt

Turn Portland into a giant game board on a smart phone operated scavenger hunt of the city, and discover the sights from a new perspective! The interactive hunt combines all the fun of the “Amazing Race” with a sightseeing tour of some of the city’s most historic areas. Let your smart phone guide you past well-known attractions and overlooked gems, solving clues and completing challenges as you go. Start on Pioneer Courthouse Square and continue to the Arts District. See Art Deco theaters and riverside panoramas as you pass sights such as the Portland Art Museum, statue of Portlandia, Ira Keller Fountain Park, and Powells Books, flagship store of the largest independent bookstore chain in the world! The route covers approximately 2.4 miles, and lets you experience Portland’s famous street cars along the way. You can start when you want, and determine your own pace of play. Stop for lunch, take in the sights, or grab a bite at Voodoo Donuts - “the magic is in the hole!” Tours are set at a fixed price for a group versus per person pricing, so this is the perfect city adventure for groups who want to get the best bang for their buck.

Other Sightseeing Options in Powell's Books

Want to discover all there is to do in Powell's Books? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Powell's Books

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 54 reviews

Overall the excursion was OK. Because there were only 6 of us we picked picked up in a 7 passenger car rather than a sightseeing van. She took us to all the “must see” spots in Portland however it was sometimes difficult to see from the backseat of a car. I also had COVID concerns with all of us in an enclosed car for many hours. Fortunately we were all able to get out of the car many times and upon request the Windows were put down a few inches. Our driver was accommodating and since we only had a limited about of time it worked for us.

I am so glad I signed up to join this tour! It’s a great way to see and experience Portland, I have learned so much, and highly recommend this especially if you are traveling solo — great way to sightsee, have some company, and meet new people. Our tour guide, Damon, was the nicest and the best! 100% recommend.

Marcus was very good but couldn’t visit sites because of storm damage. He tried to substitute