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The 5 Best Tours in Portland

The 5 Best Tours in Portland 

How We Picked the Best Tours in Portland

Customer Satisfaction

We included tours that guarantee customer satisfaction based on hundreds of sparkling reviews from satisfied travelers. 

Value For Money

Traveling can be expensive so we added tours to our list where you can get your money’s worth. 

Experience

We picked tours that show parts of Oregon in a fun and exciting, sometimes unique way. 

Expertise

Lastly, we included tours that are known for the expertise of the guides from the history of Portland to the local shops. 

1. Portland Brewery Bike Tour

Portland Brewery Bike Tour
WEBSITEhttps://pedalbiketours.com
ADDRESS133 SW 2ND AVENUE PORTLAND, OR, 97204
CONTACT DETAILS1 (503) 243-2453
Google reviews5/5
Tripadvisor reviews5/5
Viator5/5
Yelp5/5 
Total reviews5/5
Score consistency5/5
Customer satisfaction5/5
Value for money5/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Knowledge on Portland5/5

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Biking equipment provided

Cons

  • Tours are highly weather-dependent

We added this tour to the list of best tours in Portland because of how many satisfied travelers left recommendations for it in our inbox. Being that this is a city known for its local breweries and bike culture, we’re happy with how you can get the best out of Portland in one tour. 

First off, we think it’s a great way to experience the city like a local if you’re new to it. Portland is also a bike-friendly place for all cyclists, so you’d be able to enjoy this lovely tour even as a beginner. 

We also like how the bikes and other needed equipment are included, so there’s no need to worry about that. 

The tour starts by meeting your guide in downtown Portland. You’ll be led to some of the 40 microbreweries and brewpubs that the city is known for where you can get a refresher in the middle of this 5 mile (8 km) tour. 

As you bike through NW and SW Portland, your guide will also give you a tour of must go to bars, restaurants, and other popular places around downtown Portland, Nob Hill, the Pearl District and more. 

One of the best things about this tour is that you’ll return to the starting destination exactly when the nightlife starts to come alive. 

We think that this is a fun way to familiarize yourself with the layout of the city. It’s also still enjoyable whether you’re traveling alone or with a group.

The only disadvantage to it is that the weather is a deciding factor whether the tour would push through. If you ever catch yourself in Portland during its best months which are June to August, we don’t see why you shouldn’t give this tour a shot. 

2. Willamette Valley Wine Tour

Willamette Valley Wine Tour
WEBSITEhttps://www.willamettevalleytour.com
CONTACT DETAILS+1-503-558-4600
[email protected]
Google reviews5/5
Tripadvisor reviews5/5
Viator5/5
Get your guide4.8/5 
Total reviews5/5
Score consistency4.5/5
Customer satisfaction5/5
Value For money4/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Knowledge on Portland5/5

Pros

  • Knowledgeable guides
  • Scenic views
  • Delicious lunch included

Cons

  • Sells out quickly
  • Pricey if you want to do tasting

In this tour, you’ll be ushered to anywhere from three to five wineries out of the valley’s 250-plus vineyards with a private vehicle. A delicious lunch is provided and reviews from travelers proved it to be an exquisite one. 

We added this to our list because of its luxurious experience. The tour will give you a relaxing opportunity for you to sit back and enjoy the spectacular views of the valley. 

In our experience, the available tour guides all seemed quite knowledgeable and passionate, which we think is a great advantage in every tour. 

We think travelers would enjoy this a great deal if they want to find out more about the local wine scene or just want a unique experience to tell friends about when they get home. 

Since this is one of the most sought-after tours, however, it tends to sell out very early in the season. But if you’re planning months ahead, this shouldn’t be a problem. 

Another downside is that it’s quite costly for travelers who are looking for a budget-friendly experience since tasting fees are also not included. 

3. Portland’s Only Underground Donut Tour

Portland’s Only Underground Donut Tour
WEBSITEhttps://www.undergrounddonuttour.com
CONTACT DETAILS1-844-366-8848
Google reviews5/5
Tripadvisor reviews5/5
Viator5/5
Get your guide4.9/5 
Total reviews4.5/5
Score consistency4.8/5
Customer satisfaction4.5/5
Value for money5/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Knowledge on Portland5/5

Pros

  • Vegan-friendly food tour
  • Knowledgeable guides

Cons

  • Can be tiring
  • Requires a specific number of people
  • Weather-dependent

We think that one of the top things travelers do when they’re in a different place is to try out the local food stores. 

We added this to our list of best tours in Portland because this city is also well-known and loved for its donut shops – and this tour does a great job of showing those off. 

The guide will take you to a total of five donut shops. Out of those five shops, some are quite popular in the area, but some are less popular but just as good. 

The tour starts at Sesame Donuts at SW Park Ave. You’ll spend at least 20-30 minutes at each destination, giving you ample time to try out what other people have been raving about. 

As a bonus, the tour can also be adjusted to be vegan-friendly – just let your guide know and they’ll accommodate you. That’s always a plus. 

Since you’ll be going around on foot, it could get tiring, though. We were fine, but some other travelers who tried this tour told us they found themselves a little weary at the end. 

Basically, if you’d rather have something ultra-laid-back, this might not be something to opt for if you’re looking for a relaxing time.

Another downside is the tour requires good weather and a minimum number of travelers. If these conditions aren’t met, the tour will be canceled and you can either opt for a full refund or a reschedule.

4. Downtown Portland Helicopter Tour

Downtown Portland Helicopter Tour
WEBSITEhttps://oregonhelicopters.com
ADDRESS33 NW Davis St., Portland OR 97209 (Portland Heliport on SmartPark Garage)
CONTACT DETAILS(503) 987-0060
Google reviews5/5
Tripadvisor reviews5/5
Viator5/5
Yelp5/5 
Total reviews4.9/5
Score consistency5/5
Customer satisfaction5/5
Value for money4/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Knowledge on Portland5/5

Pros

  • Friendly pilots
  • Spectacular view of the city

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Requires a specific number of people
  • Weather-dependent

We added this to our list because this tour will make you appreciate the city of Portland from another perspective – thousands of feet up in the air. 

Aside from the fact that you’re able to see breathtaking views of the city, another factor we think is a plus is that the pilots are quite friendly. 

A lot of people who booked this tour said the pilots made their tour pleasant and memorable, and we had the same experience. They are also licensed professionals, although we’d obviously expect that. 

Another thing that we think travelers will like is that every passenger gets a window seat. You can capture a lot of gorgeous photos this way.

The pilot will take you on a 15-mile tour around the city. In just 15 minutes, you’ll be able to take in the beautiful sights of Willamette River, The West Hills, Forest Park, the Tualatin Valley, the downtown core area, St. Johns Bridge, and more. 

Since you’ll be riding the helicopter, it’s expected to be quite a splurge, but they do offer a discount if you’re a group of 3 or 4 people. 

Another possible disadvantage is that this tour requires a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 4. So, if you’re traveling solo or traveling with a large group, this might not be the tour for you. 

It’s also possible for the tour to be canceled due to weather constraints, but that’s understandable. 

Overall, what this tour has to offer left quite a remarkable impression on us. It’s a strong choice if you’re not tight on budget and want a lot of stunning photos or aerial views. 

5. Dinner Cruise Through Downtown Portland

Dinner Cruise Through Downtown Portland
WEBSITEhttps://portlandspirit.com
CONTACT DETAILS503-224-3900
[email protected]
Google reviews4.4/5
Tripadvisor reviews4/5
Viator4/5
Get your guide4.5/5 
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Customer satisfaction4.5/5
Value For money4/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Knowledge on Portland5/5

Pros

  • Great scenery 
  • Regularly sanitizes
  • Vegan-friendly food
  • Gluten-free dining options
  • Wheelchair-accessible 

Cons

  • Pricey

The pleasant dining experience while riding a cruise ship seemed well loved by those who booked this tour. It made it on our list of best tours in Portland because we like the idea of combining fine dining and traveling. 

Another thing we like about this tour is that there’s live piano music and narration of the sights, contributing another factor that makes up its charming ambience. 

What we like the most about this dinner cruise is that they will be serving you dishes made with local ingredients, so you’ll get a taste of what Portland has to offer. 

Other than that, this tour also comes with a three-course dinner with dessert, but you have to pay extra if you want appetizers or alcoholic drinks. 

If you have any dietary constraints, it’s best to let them know as they provide gluten-free and vegan-friendly options. Not all dinner tours do, so we were pleasantly surprised by their accommodation.

On the whole, we’re quite happy with what this tour has to offer. The only disadvantage we’ve noticed is it’s not the most easy on the pocket option to enjoy the sights of Portland. 

Nevertheless, if you like to splurge and dine while traveling, we see this as one of the perfect tours for you. 

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