Portland is a bustling city, and when tourist season hits or when the Blazers have a big win, it can get even noisier than usual. Based on research conducted by Earth.FM, the City of Roses is ranked the No. 23 loudest city in the US — but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some peace and quiet.
The study also found places where locals can escape noise pollution by identifying the top quiet places. To do this, researchers assessed 3,000+ parks and nature spaces across 245 cities with populations over 250,000 and assigned them “Quiet Scores.” The methodology considered:
- Reviews of the attractions that include words like “quiet,” “peaceful,” or “tranquil”
- The average visitor rating at each location
- The attraction’s popularity and how that impacts its peacefulness
So, where can you go in Portland to find tranquility? Here are the five best spots to get some peace and quiet.
The Grotto | The historic, 62-acre campus is busiest during the Christmas Festival of Lights; the rest of the year, you can wander the lower level’s tree-lined walking path, tranquil gardens, and outdoor cathedral for free. Or pay a small fee to take a cliff-side elevator to the trails, chapels, and views of the upper level.
Lan Su Chinese Garden | Clamoring inner monologues are hushed while slowly strolling the meticulously maintained pathways that inspire reflection + meditation in this traditional Ming Dynasty-style garden. Pro tip: Polish off your soothing experience at Yun Shui Teahouse.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden | When you long to sit on a bench surrounded by flowers but the International Rose Test Garden is too packed for comfort, escape to this spot and while away the hours with a little waterfowl watching. Pro tip: There is an admission fee to visit.
Portland Japanese Garden | Admittedly, autumn is not the best time to seek peace and quiet at what’s considered one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Asia as leaf peepers arrive by the bus load. But tranquil moments can be found year-round while standing beside the koi pond, walking across the iconic Moon Bridge, gazing upon the groomed sand garden, or drinking in views of Mount Hood.
Hoyt Arboretum | Portland’s “living museum” is home to 2,300 tree species and shrubs from six continents. Spend a day identifying as many as you can along one of the arboretum’s many hiking trails. And taking long, deep breaths of the oxygen they produce.
