Cheap Flights To Portland

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Cheap Flights To Portland

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
Why book flights to Portland? The majestic Pacific Northwest surroundings, outdoor recreation, micro-breweries and creative arts scene are just the beginning of what Portland has to offer, and why visitors book flights here. But a flight to Portland brings you to more than the mountains and a liberal, laid-back city; there are many hidden discoveries in Portland. Money magazine proclaimed it North America's "Best Big City," the arts and culture are exhilarating, and after your flight arrives it is easy to get around, as Portland boasts one of the best public transportation systems in the country.

After your flight lands in Portland, catch the light rail to begin in downtown, where the famous "Made in Portland" sign greets your arrival over the beautiful Willamette River into the heart of the city. The revitalized historic Pearl District offers incredible shopping, eating, pubs, art galleries and cultural centers such as the beautiful Classical Chinese Garden, an urban oasis that hosts many community events and performances. From downtown, explore outward to neighborhoods that each have their own personality and character, from the hippie Hawthorne Street to the Alberta Arts District. And of course, don't miss venturing outside the city center to explore the area's incredible hiking, biking and outdoors activities in this jewel of the Northwest, set amidst a landscape of evergreens, rivers, and wilderness trails with views of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens as a backdrop. With millions of travelers booking flights to Portland annually, the city has become one of America's hottest travel destinations.

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When to Go
High Season
Summer is by far peak time for booking flights to Portland. The peak travel season begins in June with the annual Portland Rose Festival, and continues through September. The mild climate makes it the perfect place to be in the summertime. The sunshine is plentiful and the days long, and most of the region's ample festivals and celebrations take place during the summer.

Low Season
Due to the abundance of rain and much cooler temperatures, winter is the low season in Portland. Spring and fall however, both bring about an explosion of breathtaking colors, giving precipitation that is most often just a fine drizzle. While you take a chance on more rain than you would in the summer, the shoulder months of May and late September through October provide better deals and are a good time to find cheap flights to Portland.

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Airport Information
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Distance: 12 miles northeast of Portland
Drive time: 30-40 minutes

The Portland International Airport has been voted Best Airport in the U.S. for three years running by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. While average airfares, before fees and taxes, from Miami run about $400, from New York City approximately $325, and from Chicago around $275, there are numerous cheap flights to Portland available.

The Ground Transportation Department of the Port of Portland provides information about taxis, town cars, long-haul shuttles, rental cars, trains, hotel vans and parking lot shuttle buses from the airport. You can also plan your trip for getting into Portland after your flight using the light-rail train system at the TriMet MAX website.

Alternative airports
Hillsboro Airport (HIO) - 28 miles from downtown Portland
Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA) - 134 miles

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Weather
High temperatures in the summer rarely climb out of the 80s, with nighttime lows in the mid 60s. The Pacific Northwest is known for its abundance of rain, and from October to April Portland gets its share. The Pacific breezes keep temperatures relatively high, so while winters are chilly they are rarely very cold. Highs tend to be in the 50s to low 60s, and nighttime lows rarely fall below the upper 30s.

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Things to Do
Visit the City of Roses' Rose Gardens
Portland is known as the City of Roses, and no trip is complete without visiting the spectacular Rose Gardens in Washington Park - especially during the Rose Festival held each June. Other beautiful gardens in this green city are the Japanese Gardens, also in Washington Park, and the Classical Chinese Gardens in the Pearl District.

Troll the Brewpubs
Portland has the largest craft brewing market in the US, and bills itself as "Beervana." The state has nearly 100 craft breweries, with 30 operating within Portland city limits - more than any other city in the world. The pub culture is an importance piece of the social fabric of Portland.

Take the Portland Aerial Tram
For a terrific view of the downtown skyline, as well as the surrounding beauty including Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens, take a ride on the Portland Aerial Tram, that climbs 500 feet from OHSU to a scenic viewpoint above the city - all for only $4 roundtrip.

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Local Attractions
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
After your flight to Portland, check out some of aviation's most amazing feats at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, home to Howard Hughes' infamous Spruce Goose. The museum has an IMAX theater and is located in McMinnville, about an hour southwest of the city.

Pittock Mansion
At the Pittock Mansion, you can get a taste of Portland's history - as well as one of the best views of the city from its hilltop perch above downtown. The gorgeously restored architectural wonder, and its exquisitely manicured grounds, is a century old symbol of Portland's transformation from small lumber town to bustling city.

The Oregon Zoo is an innovative zoo in a beautiful setting, only five minutes from downtown and on the MAX light-rail line.

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Must See Sights
Portland Museum of Art
The Portland Museum of Art is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, and houses a vast permanent collection, as well as innovative special exhibits.

The Saturday Market
Portland loves its markets. The Saturday Market is the most popular, where around 300 vendors, musicians and craftspeople display their creations each weekend - open Sundays as well, despite its name. Celebrate the arts and local food each First Thursday in the Pearl District, and each Last Thursday in the Alberta Arts District. For fresh, local, organic foods, don't miss the Farmers Market on weekends. The largest is downtown, but there are several other locations around the city as well.

Powell's City of Books
Powell's City of Books is well known among bibliophiles all over the country. Its two floors on an entire sprawling city block houses the largest used and new bookstore in the world, with more than one million books in nine color-coded rooms. Prepare to stay a while.

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Insider Tips

• Travel Portland is a great resource for visitors, offering all the information you need about attractions, arts & culture, dining & entertainment, shopping and day trips.

• Festivals of all kinds are a big part of life in Portland. Imbibers will love the Spring Beer & Wine Fest in March, and the Oregon Brewers Festival in July, the highlight of this town's love for craft breweries. For art lovers, the Portland Arts Festival in June is a big attraction, as are the Homowo Festival of African Arts in August and Time Based Art Festival held each September. Music aficionados flock to the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival in August and the Musicfest NW in September.

• Old Town Pizza is said to be haunted by ghosts who roam this award-winning, turn of the century pizzeria that was featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In the early 1900s, hundreds were kidnapped and thrown through trap doors to the Shanghai Tunnels below, where they were put on slave ships east. Whether you have a close encounter with one of these disgruntled spirits or not, the fabulous historic building and delicious pies are reason alone to visit.

• Portland has a thriving live music scene, from many of indie rock's darlings to multi-cultural genres. The city even has its own Fair Trade Music campaign for working musicians.

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Getting Around
Portland has an extensive public transportation system called Tri-Met, that combines buses, streetcars, and trains to provide comprehensive coverage all over the city. It is very easy to get almost anywhere, and there are many ticketing options from one-ride tickets that are good for two hours, to passes that are good for 7 days to one year. In downtown, take advantage of Fareless Square in which you can ride any Tri-Met transportation for free. Fareless Square extends from the Willamette River to the 405 Freeway, which are the boundaries of downtown; and from NW Irving Street down to the Marquam Bridge and PSU.

Portland is also an excellent city for walking and bicycling, and the entire city is friendly to both. Downtown is completely walkable, and commuting by bike is so popular with residents that most major streets have bike lanes. There are many bike rental locations, and Portland offers many terrific parks with miles of bike and walking trails.

If you leave Portland to explore the many surrounding attractions such as Mt. Hood, Columbia Gorge, the Oregon Coast or Wine Country, renting a car is a good idea. However, there are also Amtrak trains that go out to these areas at a very reasonable cost, departing from the landmark Union Station in Old Town Portland, downtown.

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