11 best things to do in Portland in the winter (2025)
As fall fades here in the Pacific Northwest, a hype leads into the holidays, distracting us from the fact that we’ve entered into the depths of the rainy season. Where autumn showers were once a welcome relief from the summer heat, by January and February, the persistent drizzle and darkness feel endless.
And as much as an Oregonian may brag about the fact that they never use an umbrella, the constant rain can’t help but wear on you eventually. But when I find myself longing for spring once more, I pause and remind myself that all things come in their own season, and each season has its own purpose.
That’s part of what makes the seasons so beautiful. Let’s consider winter. The winter season is for rest and healing, a time to pause and reflect. It gives us an opportunity to prune away that which doesn’t serve us, and to prepare for a period of new growth.
Portland is full of cozy opportunities, offering the warmth and relaxation we seek. And there are still beautifully brilliant glimmers of light through out the city during these dark winter months in the PNW. You just have to know where to find them.
So throw on your comfy sweats and fuzzy socks, and grab a cup of tea. Cozy up next to the fireplace with me, and we’ll chat about all the best things to do in Portland in the winter.
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Portland Winter Weather
But first, let’s talk about the weather! Winter in Portland is typically fairly mild as far as winters go. Although it doesn’t get too cold temperature-wise, I will mention that it’s a damp cold that seeps into your bones.
You can also expect plenty of rain, of course, with December being the peak of the rainy season. On average, it’s likely to rain more days than not through each of the winter months. However, as long as you have the proper attire, you’ll be alright.
Snow on the other hand is hit and miss, with maybe a 50/50 chance each winter, typically in January or February. But when it does snow in Portland, be aware it may shut the whole town down.
Portland gets a heavy and wet snow, sometimes it’s even more of a slush. And if it sticks and lasts, it’s likely to alternately melt and freeze, turning the smaller side streets into thick layers of ice. Luckily, it seldom lasts for more than a couple days though.
| Month | Average Temperature | Average # of rainy days |
| December | 47°F/36°F | 20 days |
| January | 47°F/37°F | 18 days |
| February | 50°F/38°F | 17 days |
What to wear in Portland, Oregon in the winter
Even though it may not necessarily snow in Portland, you’ll still want all your basic winter staples. A heavy winter coat, some good winter boots or rain boots, and I personally like to have hat, gloves, and a scarf!
I like this women’s Columbia Sportswear coat with its cute faux fur-lined hood, it’s water repellent, and it comes in several colors to choose from!
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And this Ugg hat has the cutest pom-pom on top and comes in several colors as well!
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The best things to do in Portland in the winter
1. Holiday Lights
The sparkle and shine of holiday lights set the winter season off with such a sense of joy. Some of the most iconically Portland holiday light displays are found at the Pioneer Square Tree Lighting the day after Thanksgiving, on Peacock Lane in the Belmont District, and hidden somewhere in the city with the Santa Clones.
As you drive across the Burnside Bridge this time of year, you’ll see the nose on Portland’s White stag sign glow red, our very own Rudolph. Meanwhile, a well-known giant martini shines high in the west hills, signaling the season.
Several other classic and beloved light displays are scattered across the city. You can cruise through a Winter Wonderland at the Portland Speedway, or listen to Christmas Carols at the Grotto. And of course, ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo has become a family favorite for us.
You can typically enjoy most of Portland’s holiday light displays starting just after Thanksgiving through just after Christmas or the New Year. For full details on the holiday light displays in Portland and surrounding areas, check out my complete guide here.
2. Portland Winter Light Festival
The Portland Winter Light Festival is a celebration of performance, art, and technology, through the medium of light. This newer event began in 2016, with the driving intent to grow community and to brighten Portland’s darkest time of the year.
The festival draws artists from all over the Cascade region, from Alaska and British Columbia, down through Oregon, Washington, and Northern California, and even from Idaho to the east. Many of the artists are present and available during the festival to discuss their work. The only rule they must follow in their art: no white light!
This series of events takes place scattered across the city, with three main locations: Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Portland World Trade Center, and the Electric Blocks. Although the event lasts a little over a week, the majority of events take place during the weekends at the beginning and end of the festival.
One of the best things to do in Portland in the winter, the Portland Winter Light Festival is full of color, glimmer, and joy. Many of the art installations are interactive, and the entire event is family friendly. Plus it’s free! So bundle up warm, grab your friends or family, and enjoy the lights!
This season’s dates: February 6-14, 2026
3. Lunar New Year Celebrations
The Lunar New Year is another fun winter celebration full of light and vibrant color. Although this holiday is often referred to as the Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year is a more accurate term, as many Asian cultures celebrate this date.
The Lunar New Year falls on the second New Moon after Winter Solstice. This means the exact date of the Lunar New Year is going to vary from year to year, but it typically falls some time between January 21st and February 21st.
There are several great Lunar New Year celebrations in Portland each year. However, my personal favorite is the Lantern Festival at the Lan Su Chinese Garden, pictured above.
Bold red lanterns adorn the roof lines, symbolizing good luck, happiness, prosperity and vitality, inviting visitors to stroll through the winding garden pathways. And a dragon and phoenix lantern stand over the pond, casting their reflections on the water below.
The Chinese garden is open late for this special, ticketed event. When we visited, we stayed warm with tea and cocoa from Chinese Garden tea house, and it was an absolutely magical night.
Another notable Lunar New Year event in Portland is the Dragon Dance Parade. Hosted by the Portland Chinese Museum, the parade weaves through Portland’s Chinatown, Old Town, and Downtown areas.
The highlights of this procession include a 150-foot dragon, and the lion dancers. The parade is said to bring good luck and fortune to business in the coming year.
4. Relax in a Finnish Style Sauna
Winter is for resting, for healing, and for self-care. One of my favorite ways to practice a little self care is going to the sauna, and my personal sauna of choice is Loyly.
Loyly is a Finnish style sauna, with two locations in Portland—Northeast on MLKJ Blvd, and Southeast on 21st Ave. They offer sauna sessions, massages, facials, and foot treatments. But you should definitely try one of their special events, like Whisking or Aufguss.
Aufguss is their newest event, starting up just in time for this winter season. A social sauna night unlike anything you’ve experienced before, they had a DJ, guided sauna sessions, and deliciously spiced tea. Overall, it was a fun, unique, and lively event, and I can’t wait to go again! Stay tuned for my full review.
Whisking, on the other hand, is an entirely different experience. It’s far more quiet and individual. The best way I can describe Whisking is that it’s somewhat akin to a massage in the sauna, except they gently use bundles of small tree branches instead of their hands.
My husband and I have been to Loyly for a regular sauna session, Whisking, and their new social event, Aufguss. Each visit has been deeply relaxing, yet somehow energizing at the same time. And I will say, if you’re able to attend one of their special events, it truly heightens the experience!
Next Aufguss session: December 26th, 7-10pm Sign up here.
5. Chase Waterfalls up the Columbia River Gorge
Winter is for chasing waterfalls! And it’s for a very simple reason: waterfall season is rainy season, when the rivers run high. At the height of rainy season, the downward torrent of a waterfall is more powerful and impressive than ever.
Now if you find yourself in the Portland area during the winter, you’re in luck. Because Waterfall Alley lies just east of Portland, along I-84 down the Columbia River Gorge.
The most well-known waterfall in this corridor is Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon. However, the Gorge holds nearly 100 waterfalls in total, the majority of them on the Oregon side of the river.
Just beware that chasing waterfalls down the Gorge is a popular pastime for Portlanders. Parking can be difficult to impossible, and regulations, fees, and permits seem to be constantly changing. I’ve had to change plans for Multnomah Falls at least once due to lack of parking.
So if you’re wanting to visit some of Oregon’s breathtaking waterfalls, I highly recommend booking one of the waterfall shuttle services in the area. We did this several years ago and it was well worth it.
I’d recommend booking a tour with Waterfall Shuttle. They have multiple tour options up the Gorge that include Multnomah Falls, as well as Horsetail, Wahkeenah, and other major waterfalls.
Their tours include other great perks, like skipping the line at Multnomah. Plus, you can use my discount code to get an extra 10% off when you book!
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6. Ice Skating at the Lloyd Center
Winter is for ice skating. And when it comes to ice skating in Portland, the Lloyd Center is the place to go. Ok, so really you can go ice skating there any time of the year. But ice skating is simply meant for winter. So it makes this list.
I have fond memories of ice skating with friends at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink over the years. We typically visit during public skating hours, which is offered 7 days a week. Just be sure to check their website here for full details, as times vary depending on the day of the week.
Note that you’ll need to budget for admission and skate rental (if you don’t bring your own ice skates). Admission is a touch higher during the winter and holiday season. However, their “Cheap Skate” nights offer a reduced admission price on Tuesdays and Thursday, from 5:30-7:30 pm.
And if you don’t know how to skate, but always wanted to try, it’s worth checking out their “Skate School.” These intro ice skating lessons include some extra benefits, like free skate rental on your lesson day, and free admission to public skate hours for the duration of your 7-week class session.
Come the holiday season, the rink becomes a veritable winter wonderland, complete with a Christmas tree right in the middle, reaching to the mall’s ceiling above. And the magic on this rink makes ice skating at the Lloyd Center one of the best things to do in Portland in the winter.
7. Warm up over a bowl of Phố
Winter is for nourishing your soul with a hot bowl of soup. And Portland has a rich and diverse food scene, boasting a plethora of excellent restaurants. In fact, it was recently named the second best foodie city in the US.
If you’re not already familiar with pho, it’s a Vietnamese soup with a bone broth base, noodles, a protein, and typically garnished with bean sprouts and Thai basil. It’s got a delicious umami flavor that’ll leave you day dreaming about it a week later.
Just type “pho in Portland” into your search bar, and you’re sure to find countless options to choose from. But some of the highest recommended pho restaurants in Portland are Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen on 2nd Ave, Friendship Kitchen on Glisan, and Pho Hung, with two locations on Powell and 82nd.
A hot bowl of pho has become my favorite comfort food on rainy winter days in Portland. Two bites in, and I no longer care if it’s storming and windy outside. Three bites in, I’m warmed through to my bones. So here’s to soup season!
8. Take a day trip to the snow at Mt. Hood
Winter is for laughter and playing in the snow. Just because it’s cold and wet outside, doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire winter cooped up indoors.
And yes, it does snow in Oregon! Now, snow in Portland proper can be hit and miss. And sometimes it’s more slush and ice than snow. But just an hour east of Portland, Mt. Hood has some of the best snow in the state.
Head up the mountain for skiing and snowboarding at Timberline. Or stop at Skibowl in Government Camp for sledding and tubing. These are both great options if you don’t have your own equipment, but note that they both charge an admission fee.
If you’re looking to play in the snow on a budget, there are a couple of options for Sno-parks on Mt. Hood. One option is Snowbunny, and they do not require a day-use permit.
Another option is White River Snow-Park. We went sledding here last year, and had a great time. They have an amazing view of Mt. Hood, outhouses, and plenty of parking.
White River does require a Sno-park permit, however it still works out to be a very budget friendly option. An annual Sno-park permit costs $25, and a daily permit is just $4. The annual permit can be purchased online, whereas the daily permit must be purchased from a vendor. Purchase your annual permit or get info on vendor locations from ODOT here.
Where ever you go to play in the snow though, be safe. Check driving conditions before you leave, always bring your chains, and I like to bring plenty of water and some extra blankets and coats.
9. Portland Ghost Tour
Winter is for telling ghost stories. Many people think of Halloween when they think of ghost stories. But it was actually the tradition of telling Winter Solstice ghost stories that brought us the famous Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol.
Portland’s moody winter weather and dark nights certainly do set the atmosphere just right for a good ghost story. So if you prefer to lean into the darkness of the season, grab a friend and a warm coat, and go on a Portland Ghost Tour!
When we went on the tour, I was surprised at how interactive it was. We heard intriguing tales of Portland’s history, the Shanghai tunnels, tragic fires, mystery and the Portland music industry.
And naturally we went during one of Oregon’s darkest months! For tips to know before you go, and a deeper review of the Portland Ghost Tour, read about my experience here.
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10. Book Shopping at Powells
Rainy winter days in Portland are for curling up with a good book and a cup of tea (or coffee). But first, you’ve got to make sure your book shelves are full for the season. And let’s be honest, shopping at Powell’s is always a great idea!
Powell’s is one of Portland’s most popular attractions. Filling one entire city block with over one million books, it’s the world’s largest used book store, and a beloved Portland icon.
Stroll the endless aisles of publications, visit the Rare Books Room, and after you’ve sufficiently filled your book bag, stop in at the coffee shop for brunch and coffee. Their in-house coffee shop is appropriately themed, bearing the name Guilder Cafe, a nod to the classic tale The Princess Bride.
As they say, a book a day keeps reality away. And after a visit to Powell’s books, you’ll be fully prepared with all the reading material you’ll need to hibernate the winter away at home and keep reality at bay till spring!
11. Head to the coast to see the King Tides
Winter is for watching the tempestuous sea, because winter is when the King Tides return. And it’s the perfect time to plan a winter weekend getaway to the Oregon Coast.
If you haven’t heard of the King Tides, it’s a point in the year when high tide is higher than ever, making for extra dramatic waves. This phenomenon is caused by an exceptionally strong gravitational pull on our oceans, when the moon is at its closest to Earth, and Earth at its closest to the sun.
The Earth, moon, and sun all align just right to create this incredible effect once a month in November, December and January. And they typically fall over a span of three to four days, perfect for a mini vacation.
One of the most popular spots to watch the King Tides along the Oregon Coast is in Depot Bay. This time of year, in this little coastal town, some waves are so great they’ve been known to crash over Highway 101!
Just be smart and safe about watching the King Tides. Sneaker waves abound during this time. And sadly, they do occasionally sweep some unsuspecting soul out to sea. So here’s a few safety tips to keep in mind before you go.
Don’t ever go on the beach during King Tides. Stay alert, never turn your back on the ocean, and make sure you know your exit route. Remember, Mother Nature can be quite unpredictable.
Final thoughts on things to do in Portland in the Winter
Winter sometimes gets a bad rap here in the PNW. However, winter can be a season full of light, warmth, and joy in Portland, as long as you know where to look.
So instead of dreading the season this year, lean into it a little deeper. Go search for your glimmers, create your cozy moments, and fill your days with hygge.
I think you’ll find there are plenty of things to do in Portland in the winter that just might make you appreciate the season for what it is, and all it can be.
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