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Where to stay in Portland

Portland's main areas sit on both banks of the Willamette River. Stay Downtown for Pioneer Courthouse Square, the food carts and the riverfront park; in the Pearl District and Old Town for Powell's Books, galleries and restaurants; in the Lloyd District by the convention centre and the Moda Center; or on the Central Eastside for breweries, coffee and a local feel. The airport is about 40 minutes from downtown on the MAX Red Line, and Portland is one of the easiest US cities to explore without a car.

Find your area, then your hotel

Tap one of our picks, or any area, to see its hotels on the map, what it costs, where we'd book and how long it takes to get around.

In short: our pick for each kind of trip. Tap one to see why.

Should you stay in

Downtown?

Pioneer Square, food carts & the riverfront

What a night costs

Budget
$125
Mid-range
$155
Luxury
$200

The dearest of the 4 areas, about $20 a night more than Central Eastside.

Where we'd book

The verdict

Portland's compact centre, with Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Portland Art Museum, the South Park Blocks and Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

  • Stay here if
  • First-time visitors
  • Business travellers
  • Visitors without a car
  • Look elsewhere if
  • You want lively streets late at night
  • You're uneasy around homelessness on city streets
  • You want a neighbourhood feel

Minutes to the sights

  • Pioneer Courthouse Square1 minwalk
  • Portland Art Museum8 minwalk
  • Powell's City of Books10 minwalk
  • Tom McCall Waterfront Park10 minwalk
  • Moda Center13 min
  • NW 23rd Avenue14 min

Stations and airports

5 min to Pioneer Courthouse Square. The MAX light rail runs through Pioneer Square to the airport, the zoo and the east side, and the Portland Streetcar links downtown to the Pearl District and Portland State University.

  • From Portland International Airport (PDX)tram49 min
Read the full Downtown guide →

Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Minutes planned with the Transitous (MOTIS on published GTFS timetables and OpenStreetMap) for a weekday, including walking and waiting · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more

Portland questions

What is the best area to stay in Portland for first-timers?

Downtown puts the big sights within easy reach and is 5 minutes from Pioneer Courthouse Square. Pearl District & Old Town are good alternatives.

Which area of Portland has the cheapest hotels?

Central Eastside and Pearl District & Old Town, with budget hotels from around $125 and mid-range around $135–$145 a night.

Where should families stay in Portland?

Pearl District & Old Town has the best mix of parks, calm streets and sights for kids.

Where is the best nightlife in Portland?

Central Eastside has the most bars, restaurants and late nights. Pearl District & Old Town are good alternatives.