Never pay full price again in Portland!
Instead, check out our list of the cheapest days to visit many of Portland, Oregon’s most popular attractions.
Cheap Activities in Portland
Oregon Zoo is only $4 on the second Tuesday of each month. The Oregon Zoo, at 4001 SW Canyon Road, was started in 1887 by Richard Knight. He was a collector of animals from around the world while being a pharmacist during the day. He opened his grounds to the public so they could share his affection for the unusual animals, and the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi River was born. Now itís home to award-winning educational programs, free concerts and moments of discovery and fun.
Oregon Historical Society Museum is free for Multnomah County residents.
OMSI is only $2 per person on the first Monday of the month. OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., is an enormous tool for learning and education. Inside the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, extra time should be allowed for looking at amazing and interesting things before hitting the Omnimax Theater movie. A domed screen that’s five stories high covers 6,532 square feet of movie surface. It’s a 2D IMAX system that uses the largest frame in motion picture history with a custom-designed 15,000-watt digital surround sound system.
Portland Art Museum is free each 4th Friday of the month from 5-8 PM
World Forestry Center offers $3 admission on the 1st Wednesday of each month.
Playdate PDX offers free admission every last Wednesday of the month to anyone who brings two cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank.
Portland’s Aerial Tram travels 3300 linear feet between the terminal at the south waterfront and OHSUís Kohler Pavillion on the main campus. Traveling 22 miles per hour, it rises 500 feet in a three minute trip over Interstate 5, the Lair Hill neighborhood and SW Terwilliger Parkway. Entrance for children under six is free, while the standard fee is $4.
International Rose Test Garden – always free
Lewis & Clark College Hoffman Gallery Free – always.
Oregon College of Art & Craft Galleries always free.
Pacific Northwest College of Art Philip Feldman Gallery always free.
Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts always free.
Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center free on the first Thursday of every month from 4 – 7 PM.
Peculiarium if you wear a costume they let you in for free.
Portland Art Museum free on the first Thursday of every month 5-8pm, $5 Fridays 5-8pm, always free for ages 17 and under, and is free first full weekend of every month if you are a Bank of America Card Holders.
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art Resource Room always free.
Portland Community College Galleries always free.
Portland State University Galleries always free.
Reed College Cooley Gallery always free.
Safety Learning Center & Fire Museum always free.
University of Portland BC Gallery always free.
Vacuum Museum always free.
Washington County Library Cultural Pass always free. Plus, WCCLS library card holders reserve free admission passes to Portland area museums.
There you have it, some of the best affordable activities that Portland has to offer! If we missed anything, let us know in the comments. And remember, the best things in life are free (or at least cheap). So get out there and explore all that this great city has to offer on a budget. What’s the best affordable activity you’ve done in Portland?
