S
Cultural Immersion
Guide made us feel like we were her personal friends, & she was showing us around her town. Great stories! Fascinating tidbits! The other side of history. !
1 people found this helpful
Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour
+6 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2h–2h 30min
- Price from
- $29 / person
- Location
- Portland, United States
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 329 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 30
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Around Portland Tours
- 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.
Description
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
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM, and 4:00 PM
- Next available
- Mon, Oct 5
- Adult (ages 13+)
- $29
- Child (ages 3–12)
- $27
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 41 of the next 98 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 4.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Director Park
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
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
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
We will walk by the exterior of the museum and talk about the history of art in Portland.
Pioneer Courthouse Square
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.
What's included
Included
Certified Guide
Not included
Gratuities (always appreciated)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
329 reviews
How it compares in Portland
- No. 20 by number of reviews among 283 tours in Portland
- Starting price $29 is 61% below the typical $75 for tours of similar length in Portland
Excurgo comparison of 283 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour take?
Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour lasts about 2h–2h 30min. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $29 per person for this Portland experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 1:30 PM, and 4:00 PM.
How much does Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour cost for children?
Children aged 3–12 pay from $27, adults from $29.
Does Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour sell out?
It can: 41 of the next 98 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is 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. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(329)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
K
Interesting tour
This is an interesting way ot learning about the history of Portland. The guide made the most of the opportunities to discuss the buildings, social and economic path of the city. If you are interested in the development of cities, this is a good tour.
M
Interesting way to lear about Portland.
This was a nice walking tour around Portland. It mostly focused on art and some history of the area. The guide took us into buildings and pointed out installations that we would have missed if we were just exploring on our own.
Q
Excellent guide!
Excellent experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and extremely welcoming.
1 people found this helpful
S
Nice walk about
Nice walk around Portland on a beautiful day. We covered a lot of sights without ever feeling like the walk was too long or tiring. Our guide, Kelly, was enthusiastic about Portland and its local art scene, which made the experience even more enjoyable. A great way to get to know the city a bit.
S
Best of Portland Downtown Walking Tour
Shannon was a very knowledgeable tour guide who gave us lots of interesting facts about the parks, public art and interesting architecture we viewed on the tour. The description varied from the one posted in Trip Advisor when compared to their tour website, and this 10am tour did focus more on the art and architects and their contributions. I was unaware this was the emphasis beforehand but still really enjoyed seeing all the landmarks through the eyes of a lifelong local tour guide. I especially appreciated Shannon's suggestion to ride the A or B loop train, streetcar or trolley loop around the city once just to see all the sights. It's $2 and you can hop on or off for the 2 hour transfer period. We did that the next day and it was a blast.
1 people found this helpful
A
First time Portland visitor
Nancy gave us a great tour! My 16-year-old grand enjoyed it as much as I did. We especially liked all the public art, including the Lewis and Clark mural.
D
Take this walking tour
Nancy was very knowledgeable and her presentation was interesting. We learned a lot about the history of Portland.
R
neighborhood knowledge
excellent guide!!! very knowledgeable & fun.
1 people found this helpful
K
Local tour
Tour was great, very supportive of the artist community, pointed out good places to eat. Took time to talk a bit to people on tour to find out what their intetrests were. Sarah and Kelly were very informative.
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from$29
4.8(329) Free cancellation