A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Adelaide vs. Portland for Hiking, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Adelaide or Portland?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Adelaide and Portland can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Adelaide

Adelaide is a welcoming, friendly, and under-rated city. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Adelaide travel costs.

Portland

Portland is a laid-back, progressive, and quirky city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Portland is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include live music, hiking, and shopping. See Portland travel costs.

Adelaide and Portland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Adelaide or Portland?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Adelaide than Portland, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Adelaide is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, beaches, and shopping, while Portland is known for its music, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Portland is more touristy than Adelaide and is known for its independent and vintage shops, thriving art scene, lush parks and gardens, progressive and quirky personality, and easy access to amazing natural beauty. Adelaide is popular for its wine scene, vibrant festivals, green spaces, and local sporting events. It is also home to the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

How is Adelaide different from Portland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Portland and Adelaide. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Adelaide or Portland?

Adelaide is a city with good options for its museums and history. However, Portland is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Adelaide is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are some interesting buildings along North Terrace such as the Parliament House, the State Library of South Australia, and the South Australian Museum. At the Botanic Garden there's the Santos Museum of Economic Botany. Also make sure you check out the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Portland offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Visitors usually come for the city's outdoor recreation and eclectic personality more than the landmarks and museums. There are a few places to visit on a rainy day though including Pittock Mansion, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Is the Food Better in Adelaide or Portland? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Adelaide is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Portland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Adelaide. There's great wine, local restaurants, and charming cafes. You'll find local dishes as well as international flavors around town. The local produce is good and the restaurants offer fresh and delicious recipes.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Portland. The town is more famous for it's craft beer than it's food, but there are still a number of local restaurants that offer unique Oregon dishes. You'll find no shortage of vegetarian and vegan options on most menus. There is also a big farm-to-table scene with many farmers markets around town as well.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Nightlife?

The good nightlife scene is relatively similar in Adelaide and Portland.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Adelaide. The nightlife scene is filled with rooftop bars, live music venues, and boutique wine bars. Whether you're looking for trendy and luxury or casual and laid back, there are many places to spend a night out.

Portland has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Famously, this town's nightlife is all about the craft beer and local breweries. Make sure you check out Bailey's Taproom, The Big Legrowlski, and The Commons Brewery.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Music?

Portland is a city with good options for live music. However, Adelaide is not a live music destination.

You'll find some good live music in Portland. The town has a thriving live music and international folk dancing scene.

Adelaide is not a live music destination.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Beaches?

Adelaide is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Portland is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Adelaide attract visitors from all over. Part of what makes the city's beaches so great is how accessible they are. You don't have to go far to be at some of the area's best beaches. Glenelg is a family-friendly beach near town. It's also the most popular and most accessible. Brighton is relaxed with cafes and small restaurants nearby. And for seafood, head to Henley.

Portland is not a beach destination.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Hiking?

Portland is a very popular place for its hiking trails. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Portland. Just outside of town you'll find amazing hikes and stunning natural beauty. In town there are many urban hikes through parks and gardens, but in just a short drive you also have access to Mount Hood and many of the region's most beautiful hikes around the Columbia River Gorge.

Adelaide offers some nice hiking trails. Outside of town there are national parks and reserves with hiking trails. You don't have to go far to explore the coastline or bushland in the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Adelaide or Portland?

Adelaide is a very popular place for shopping. Also, Portland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Adelaide. Rundle Mall is the most well known shopping area in town. You'll find boutique shops as well as large department stores. Whether you're looking for international fashion brands or something more local, there are many places to explore.

Portland offers some nice shopping areas. To fully experience shopping in town, head to the local vendors and thrift shops. There are many vintage clothing shops, book stores, and independent sellers around town. The city is also full of farmers markets. For some of the most interesting shopping, check out the Pearl District, Pioneer Place, Union Way, and Downtown neighborhoods.

Is Adelaide or Portland More Beautiful?

Portland is a city with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Adelaide is not a destination known for its beauty.

Portland is a gorgeous place to visit. Surrounded by mountains and filled with parks and greenspace, many people find this town to be quite beautiful.

Adelaide is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Families?

Both Adelaide and Portland are good to visit with kids.

Adelaide is a family-friendly city. There are kids museums, water parks, playgrounds, and beaches that are fun to explore with children. The city has a family-friendly vibe with kid-friendly restaurants and a welcoming personality.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Portland. This is an outdoor city by nature, so families will appreciate the many parks and outdoor recreational activities around town. It's easy to fill a couple of days exploring and having fun with the kids. Kid-friendly activities include the zoo, the aerial tram, and several great museums.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Couples?

Both Adelaide and Portland are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Adelaide is a nice destination for couples. A great date activity is a night at the opera. There are also boat rides, hot air balloon rides, and nice restaurants that make for a fun evening out.

Portland makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The laid-back, alternative vibe is fun to explore as a couple. There are independent bookstores, nice parks, and plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. Couples who enjoy an eclectic city, breweries, and nature, will find a lot to do in town.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Portland is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Portland is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The town has drawn young explorers for years, and backpackers who like to step away from the mainstream will feel right at home here.

Plenty of backpackers visit Adelaide. It's not high on the list for many backpackers, but those who venture here will enjoy a great wine scene, beautiful beaches, and lively festivals.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Students?

Both Adelaide and Portland are good destinations for students.

Plenty of students visit Adelaide. It's a friendly and affordable city that has a nice student culture. It's very livable and accessible to other interesting places.

Portland is popular with students. It's a young and relaxed city that attracts independent thinkers. There are many bookstores and breweries around town. The cost of living can be a bit high though.

Is Adelaide or Portland Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Adelaide is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. Also, Portland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Visitors to Adelaide can move around easily with public transportation. There are bus, trains, and trams throughout the city center.

You'll find some public transit in Portland, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The town has a bus and light rail system as well the Aerial tram.

Is Adelaide or Portland a more walkable city?

Adelaide and Portland are great when it comes to walkability.

Adelaide is very walkable. The city is compact and laid out in a grid pattern, so it's easy to explore on foot.

Portland is a very walkable city. It is quite walkable, particularly in the tourist areas such as Downtown, Pearl, and Old Town Chinatown.

For even more information, also check out Is Adelaide Worth Visiting? and Is Portland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Portland or Adelaide?

How long in Adelaide or Portland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Adelaide and Portland. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Adelaide than in Portland. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Adelaide, and 2-3 days is enough time in Portland.

Families should spend more time in Adelaide than Portland. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Adelaide, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Adelaide than Portland. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Adelaide that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Portland than Adelaide if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Portland.

One day in Adelaide or Portland?

The city of Adelaide offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The city of Portland offers nightlife and live music. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Adelaide or Portland?

Adelaide is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Adelaide, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Portland is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Portland, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Adelaide or Portland?

Adelaide is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Portland is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Adelaide or Portland?

Adelaide is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Portland is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Sydney, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Adelaide and Portland, we can see that Portland is more expensive. And not only is Adelaide much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Adelaide is in Pacific and Portland is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Adelaide would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Adelaide and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Portland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portland than you might in Adelaide.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Adelaide Expensive? and Is Portland Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Adelaide or Portland?

Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Portland. When comparing the sizes of Adelaide and Portland, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Adelaide or Portland?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Adelaide is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Portland has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Adelaide or Portland in the Summer?

Both Portland and Adelaide are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Adelaide because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking, the small town charm, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Portland this time of year.

Adelaide is a little warmer than Portland in the summer. The daily temperature in Adelaide averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Portland fluctuates around 68°F (20°C)in July.

It's quite sunny in Portland. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Adelaide. Adelaide usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Portland during summer. Adelaide gets 330 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Adelaide usually receives around the same amount of rain as Portlandin July. Adelaide gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Portland receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Adelaide or Portland in the Autumn?

Both Portland and Adelaide during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Adelaide this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Portland for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Adelaide is a little warmer than Portland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Adelaide in April average around 18°C (64°F), and Portland averages at about 55°F (13°C)in October.

It's quite sunny in Adelaide. In the autumn, Adelaide often gets more sunshine than Portlandin October. Adelaide gets 215 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 155 hours of full sun.

Adelaide usually gets less rain in April than Portlandin October. Adelaide gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Adelaide or Portland in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Adelaide and Portland. Many travelers come to Adelaide for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Portland in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Portland can get quite cold in the winter. In July, Adelaide is generally much warmer than Portlandin January. Daily temperatures in Adelaide average around 11°C (52°F), and Portland fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Adelaide usually receives more sunshine than Portland during winter. Adelaide gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 86 hours of full sun in the winter.

Portland receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Adelaide usually receives less rain than Portlandin January. Adelaide gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Portland receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Adelaide or Portland in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Adelaide as well as Portland. Many visitors come to Adelaide in the spring for the beaches. Also, most visitors come to Portland for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

Adelaide is much warmer than Portland in the spring. The daily temperature in Adelaide averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Portland fluctuates around 51°F (11°C)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Portland. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Adelaide this time of the year. In the spring, Adelaide often gets more sunshine than Portlandin April. Adelaide gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 231 hours of full sun.

Adelaide usually gets less rain in October than Portlandin April. Adelaide gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Portland and Adelaide