Portland Art & Culture Bike Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Portland's vibrant art scene
- Cycle across iconic city bridges
- Stroll through lush parks and gardens
- Savor Portland's renowned doughnuts
- Discover hidden cultural gems
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided bike tour of Portland's art and cultural landmarks
- Visit to iconic bridges and parks
- Tasting of local doughnuts
- Meals and beverages not specified in the itinerary
Itinerary
Pass by: We will get you fitted for a bike and helmet at Around Portland Tours' shop at 833 SE Main Street #121, and head out to the streets of Portland for a slow-paced ride through the inner Southeast Portland neighborhoods. We'll ride into the Hawthorne District, past one of the original food cart pods, and one of the newest.
After taking off from the shop, we'll ride into Ladd's Addition, a pretty neighborhood designed in a labyrinth style, and visit one of the many rose gardens there.
The Clinton Street greenway is part of our experience, and we stop to show off one of the original streetcar stops and our favorite spot (in times when the theater is open) to see funky, artsy, and cult movies.
We'll ride the bike path along the Orange line of the MAX light rail, which has a variety of beautiful art pieces, from word play along concrete barriers and in the sidewalks, to the gorgeous mural by Irish street artist Fin DAC -- a mural that must be seen to be fully appreciated!
Our favorite bridge to ride across is the Tilikum Crossing, one of the most unusual bridges in a city focused around its Willamette River crossings! We'll take the slow route onto the bridge, get counted by the device that monitors the number of cyclists to cross each day and each year, and stop for photos and some history on Portland's newest bridge, and the only one like it in the world.
From the Tilikum Crossing we'll head to the South Waterfront neighborhood, past the docking for the Aerial Tram, Portland's newest mode of transportation, and learn why we have this beautiful bullet-shaped transport -- and how much, exactly, it cost us.
Pass by: BLUE STAR CURRENTLY OPEN LIMITED DAYS/HOURS. We will stop at another doughnut shop, pastry shop or ice cream if they are closed.
One of our favorite hidden river spaces, the South Waterfront Greenway is one of the many links in the city's amazing river access.
We could wax eloquent about Poet's Beach forever! This little sandy beach was created by the Human Access Project, a program that seeks to connect us more tangibly to the river, so we take better care of it. What’s more, the poetry along the beach, written by local students, captures our hearts and minds.
We'll head down the Willamette River, passing one of the most interesting housing and retail developments from the 1980s, and learn how this project attempted to change the course of urban design.
We'll ride through the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and learn how what it *used* to be changed Portland in a big way; and how our reluctantly hippie governor in the early 1970s changed it back.
Pass by: We'll ride under the Hawthorne Bridge, and learn why this iconic structure might go up and down, with no big ship underneath it.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
- Confirm the tour's start time and location upon booking.
- Inform the tour operator of any dietary restrictions for the doughnut tasting.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing suitable for cycling and weather conditions.
- Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Ensure your bike is in good working condition before the ride.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Traveler reviews
Sunny ride through Portland
Had so much fun riding through various neighborhoods in Portland! Our guides Sarah and Kelly were so knowledgeable and took us to several hidden gems in the city. Definitely recommend going on this tour!
Great way to start your trip!
We had a fantastic time with Kelly on our tour. The staff took the time to make sure we were all set with helmets, properly adjusted bikes, and topped off air on our tires. The routes we took were easy to slightly moderate. With only 2 moments of slight climbs. The ride was a great way to get a sense of the city and orient us. We had a functionally private tour, just my sister and I. Kelly was informative and engaging and we really enjoyed speaking with her. At the end, Kelly let us know you can book custom tours which I would recommend if you know certain points you want to see in the city. This route was terrific for Portland newbies. Highly recommend. Tremendous value.
Amazing
Great biking tour. Amazing and knowledgeable guide. Had a blast.
Stimulating bike tour that caters to your interests.
My mom and I had a great time! Angela, our guide, was very kind, accommodating, knowledgeable and patient. My dad had to stay behind but my mom and I still enjoyed the tour. The tour lasted for about 3 hours and we rode about 7-8 miles. There were only a few inclines but they were not steep or long, mostly across the small bridges. Angela mentioned she never does the same route, it’s always different according to our needs and what we’d like to see/places we’d like to visit. She was so knowledgeable about everything and included funny facts, things you didn’t plan on knowing but intriguing nonetheless! It was an equal amount of riding and stopping. Definitely a must if you have a family and want to enjoy riding around and learning a little bit about the place you’re visiting. Also great if you just want to ride around but don’t want to go alone! There’s a couple pit stops (we went to get ice cream) and feel free to bring water, if not, they will provide a bottle of water if you don’t have it.
Highly Recommended!! ✨🎖️
We came from Maui and it was our last day in Portland. “Kelly” helped us a lot I really love her personality, shes kind and really friendly but also funny too!. She knows how to be patient for slow riders like me whose last time ride a bike was 18 yrs ago lol. Took me awhile to be back with the group but she was really nice to me. Im always behind when we went to the tour but she makes sure she waits for you to get to the place. We did a 8 miles round trip going thru all places in portland she especially showed us the art works of local people. I really recommend her we had a blast for our last day! She made our experience fun!!! 🫶🏻❤️