City in Oregon, United States
Portland for solo travelers
Is Portland good for solo travel?
Relaxed Pacific Northwest city for coffee, food carts, craft beer, bikes and fast trips to forests and coast. Rain from fall to spring, visible street homelessness and rising rents are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Generally fine in busy areas. Use rideshare late at night, avoid empty parks and transit platforms after dark. |
How to meet people in Portland
Coffee-shop work scenes, brewery and food-cart pods, run clubs, Meetups, bike tours and the Saturday Market.
Good things to do alone
- Eat at a downtown food-cart pod
- Browse Powell's City of Books
- Hike Forest Park's Wildwood Trail
- Day trip to Multnomah Falls and the Gorge
- Walk the Japanese Garden in Washington Park
Where to stay in Portland
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Pearl District and Old Town | Central: shops, Powell's Books and transit |
| Southeast Division and Hawthorne | Restaurants, bars, cafés and bikeable streets |
| Alberta Arts and Mississippi | Local shops, food carts and music venues |
| Northwest 23rd (Nob Hill) | Quiet, walkable streets near Forest Park |
Solo travel across United States
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nashville | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Austin | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Los Angeles | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Francisco | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Honolulu | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Washington, D.C. | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Chicago | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Boston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| New Orleans | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Diego | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Seattle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Key West | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Denver | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Philadelphia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Portland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Atlanta | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Charleston | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Savannah | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kauai | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Big Island | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Sedona | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Orlando | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Maui | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| San Antonio | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Scottsdale | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Portland good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Relaxed Pacific Northwest city for coffee, food carts, craft beer, bikes and fast trips to forests and coast.
How do you meet people in Portland?
Coffee-shop work scenes, brewery and food-cart pods, run clubs, Meetups, bike tours and the Saturday Market. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Portland?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Portland safe for solo female travelers?
Generally fine in busy areas. Use rideshare late at night, avoid empty parks and transit platforms after dark.
More about Portland
Going to Portland solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Portland meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.