Alphabet District Tours

Inner Northwest Portland – specifically around NW 21st and NW 23rd – is one of the most popular in the city center for shopping, entertainment, and dining. It also has a memorable nickname: the Alphabet District.
You might not notice the reason for the name immediately, especially if you're taking your time meandering from one shop-lined block to another, but the streets in the quadrant that run east-west are in alphabetical order – from Burnside, Couch, Davis, Everett, and Flanders on up through Wilson. There's an A street further east (Alder), but it doesn't continue up far enough to be part of this district.
The Alphabet District is historically one of Portland's most desirable neighborhoods – there are beautiful Victorian-style houses in the residential blocks and sought-after condo buildings. One of the city's oldest independent movie theaters, Cinema 21, is on NW 21st Avenue. Nature lovers may enjoy staying in this part of the city because of its ready access to Portland's huge city park, Forest Park, which stretches into the hills west of the neighborhood.
Practical Info
In real estate circles, the area is often called Nob Hill. Portlanders typically just call in “Northwest Portland,” using that to refer to inner Northwest only. Note that “Couch” is pronounced “cooch.” “Flanders” served as the inspiration for Ned Flanders on “The Simpsons.” Practical Info Street parking is free in Northwest Portland, but it's also extremely hard to find. Luckily, the Portland Streetcar connects the Alphabet District with downtown up and down Lovejoy and Northrup Streets. The MAX light rail trains also stop nearby at SW 18th and Morrison, a few blocks' walk from the area.
Address: Portland, Oregon, USA
Hours: Daily
8 Tours and Activities to Experience Alphabet District
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Best of Portland Morning City Tour
Explore Portland on a 3.5-hour city sightseeing tour that travels from downtown Portland to the Pearl District to Nob Hill. Take a tour of the Pittock Mansion and see Lan Su Chinese Garden, a collaboration between Portland and sister-city Suzhou, China. Stroll through the International Rose Test Garden, located in Washington Park and boasting more than 7,000 rose plants with 550 varieties represented. Learn about the history and culture of Portland, which has been growing rapidly in recent years. Your tour includes pickup and drop-off from downtown Portland hotels.
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From
$65.00
Price varies by group size
From
$65.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

Portland Brewery Bike Tour
Explore beautiful central Portland and sample some of the city’s iconic brews on this afternoon bike tour. Accompany your expert guide on a leisurely bike ride to several classic Portland microbreweries, including Lucky Lab and Rogue, for some fun and informative beer tasting.
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From
$70.77
From
$70.77

Best of Portland Afternoon City Tour
See the best Stumptown has to offer on a small-group tour of the city's top sights and attractions. Learn about local history, culture and everyday life while exploring downtown and its surrounds. Peruse the revamped Pearl District and visit Pioneer Square. Experience what makes Portland unique with stops at the International Portland Rose Garden, Pittock Mansion and Lan Su Chinese Garden. Walk away with a better appreciation for and knowledge of Oregon's largest city.
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From
$65.00
Price varies by group size
From
$65.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff

60 Minute Vacation Photography Session with Local Photographer in Portland
Flytographer 60 Minute Vacation Photo shoot
Connect with a local professional photographer in Portland and capture your most memorable moments during this private photo shoot. Get insider tips on the best things to do in Portland, including where to eat and what to see from your vacation photographer. Return from your trip with beautiful, high-quality, vacation photos.
The best souvenir ever.
…More
From
$363.47
per group
From
$363.47
per group

90 Minute Vacation Photography Session with Local Photographer in Portland
Flytographer 90 Minute Vacation Photo shoot
Connect with a local professional photographer in Portland and capture your most memorable moments during this private photo shoot. Get insider tips on the best things to do in Portland, including where to eat and what to see from your vacation photographer. Return from your trip with beautiful, high-quality, vacation photos.
The best souvenir ever.
…More
From
$519.24
per group
From
$519.24
per group

120 Minute Vacation Photography Session with Local Photographer in Portland
Flytographer 120 Minute Vacation Photo shoot
Connect with a local professional photographer in Portland and capture your most memorable moments during this private photo shoot. Get insider tips on the best things to do in Portland, including where to eat and what to see from your vacation photographer. Return from your trip with beautiful, high-quality, vacation photos.
The best souvenir ever.
…More
From
$675.00
per group
From
$675.00
per group

Discover Portland Half-Day Small-Group City Tour
On this 3.5-hour tour, you'll get a broad overview of the Central City. We'll make stops at Pittock Mansion, the International Rose Test Gardens, and the Portland Aerial Tram. At Pittock Mansion, you'll get pictures of the best views of the city, and the five stratovolcanoes that are visible on a clear day. You'll have plenty of time to smell the roses at the Rose City's most famous garden. You'll get another great view of the city riding the Aerial Tram (*PORTLAND AERIAL TRAM CURRENTLY CLOSED TO PUBLIC DUE TO COVID-19*). Your expert guide will provide background on the sites and city history, while navigating through city traffic, so you don't have to. You'll meander through all of the major neighborhoods of inner Portland on both sides of the river while gaining views of 14 of Bridgetown's 22 notable bridges. Your guide will return you to your departure location at the end of the tour. Book our Explore Columbia River Gorge Half-Day Small-Group Tour as well, and receive $10 cash back.
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From
$70.00
From
$70.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers

Half-Day Private Tour in Bridge City with Hotel Pick Up
More than just a basic city tour, our half-day Bridge City Tour will reveal the laid-back small city feel of these fun and thriving downtowns. Not only will you experience the best Portland sites, including Pioneer Courthouse Square, the best shopping area in Portland, Tilikum Crossing, Willamette Falls, the Oregon City Municipal Elevator, and downtown Oregon City, but you will also find out what makes the citizens of this area so colorful, and learn the cultural history of these unique Pacific Northwest cities.
Today Portland is known as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious cities: a hub for farm-to-table eateries, alternative lifestyles, a large community of cyclists, and high walkability. Oregon City is the state’s first capital and the end of the Oregon Trail where you can still see the remnants of the 1800s, when it was the heart of the region’s lumber, flour, wool and paper mill industries.
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From
$170.00
Price varies by group size
From
$170.00
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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