Powell's City of Books
Powell's City of Books
5
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Pearl
How to get there
- Union Station • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,640 within 5 kms
Attractions
398 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
5,386 reviews
Excellent
4,571
Very good
694
Average
102
Poor
11
Terrible
9
Lea
Houston, TX62 contributions
Aug 2022
I love just walking into bookstores to see what type of selection they have, but walking in here was like stepping into another world. I was FLOORED by how how many rooms, rows, and stacks of books they have; it was amazing! It's crazy too cause I didn't even have this place listed on my to-do things in Portland, but I was so glad I made it in anyway!
It's located in the Pearl District, where street parking was easy to find. We came in around 7 pm, but you can definitely spend an eternity here. They close at 9 pm, so we had a little less than 2 hours to browse, which I still didn't think was enough time. I believe they also have about ten rooms that are color coordinated and range from so many genres including literature, graphic novels, sci-fi, etc. There WILL be something for you I can almost guarantee it!
It's located in the Pearl District, where street parking was easy to find. We came in around 7 pm, but you can definitely spend an eternity here. They close at 9 pm, so we had a little less than 2 hours to browse, which I still didn't think was enough time. I believe they also have about ten rooms that are color coordinated and range from so many genres including literature, graphic novels, sci-fi, etc. There WILL be something for you I can almost guarantee it!
Written 30 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jordan
Columbus, OH98 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
This was one of our favorite stops in Portland though we aren't big shoppers. This bookstore is absolutely MASSIVE with books on any subject you can think of. Comfortable seating throughout and air conditioned so you can take your time browsing.
Written 4 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
thistle-do-nicely
Kilmarnock, UK527 contributions
Apr 2022
We, my wife, 12yo son and myself, loved Powell's - we spent about three hours there and that was only because we had other stuff on the itinerary. Must visit for bookworms.
Written 31 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ctopolski831
Cambridge, MD58 contributions
Oct 2022 • Business
What a cool place. I should have allotted more than 20 minutes to explore (misjudged time on the transit system in the rain). Plan to return when next in Portland.
Written 28 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
VoixDuChocolat
Walla Walla, WA112 contributions
Oct 2022
Why, why do great bookstores let me in their doors? The inevitable result is too many purchases and a tedious wait for the unfortunates accompanying me as I try to decide between two cookbooks. Or science books. Or travelogues. Oh, I'm sorry; you wanted to read about Powell's, not my unfortunate obsession with printed material. Powell's is very large, and it's absolutely possible to spend many happy hours browsing their selections in far more categories than you knew existed. On this trip, I found a Kipling book I had never even heard of before, and I've been collecting Kipling's works for many years now. A great place to find gift books for kids as well as adults or just to seek out something new for yourself. I consider Powell's a must-visit in Portland. Bring a friend with similar reading interests!
Written 27 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
julijoyeux
Bordeaux, France149 contributions
Sep 2022
If you can't find or order a title from Powell's, it doesn't exist. Wonderful store and could have spent a day just browsing.
Written 7 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
aletamaria
California157 contributions
Sep 2022
A must see when visiting Portland. The most fabulous bookstore I've ever visited. You can spend an afternoon just browsing all the collections. The store is expertly organized and pretty easy to navigate but there's always someone nearby to guide and help you out.
You can also pick up some unique and cute souvenir items to take back home.
You can also pick up some unique and cute souvenir items to take back home.
Written 23 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JuliR624
Scottsdale, AZ102 contributions
Sep 2022
It's a bookstore. Yes, it's big. Yes, there are a lot of books. The two sections I was interested in were so small that I don't think I was there even an hour. It is kind of neat that they are so large, the rooms are named by colors. It was crowded, but they had adequate staff. There was no available parking close by. They have a small cafe. There is a Starbucks across the street. They will ship for a small fee. I bought 6 used books for about $70. (On a strange little side note, there are no outlets for customers to use).
Written 7 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lorne B
Toronto, Canada523 contributions
Jul 2022
Wow. I mean I’m all supporting the little guy, however, this was an experience. Friendly and engaging staff. Rare book room was pretty cool.
Written 31 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PAHWestfield
Westfield, IN324 contributions
Aug 2022
So refreshing to see a bookstore of this magnitude ... and so many people buying books!! You can browse for hours here. And it is so nice that they have such a large selection of used books - you can load up without breaking the bank.
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Pamelia S
Washington
Any tips for parking?
Lauren O
67 contributions
They have a parking lot! I also usually find parking on the street a couple blocks to the west. And, I often combine Powell's with a stop at Whole Foods, so I park at Whole Foods, go to Powell's, come back to WF and buy what I need - parking is free if you spend $10 (their 365 brand is affordable!) and you're not there more than two hours, last time I did this, anyway; things change so check ahead. Enjoy!
Powell's City of Books (Portland) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Powell's City of Books
- Powell's City of Books is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
- We recommend booking Powell's City of Books tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 8 Powell's City of Books tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Powell's City of Books:
- Discover Portland Half-Day Small-Group City Tour (From ₹ 6,099.54)
- Portland Hop-On Hop-Off Pink Trolley Tour with Gray Line - 1 or 2 Day Pass (From ₹ 3,090.44)
- Portland Scavenger Hunt Adventure (From ₹ 1,668.84)
- Downtown Portland Coffee & Donut Tour (From ₹ 4,798.31)
- Portland, Oregon City Tour: Parks, Plazas and Views (From ₹ 5,286.27)
- Hotels near Powell's City of Books:
- (0.04 km) Couch Street Apartments by Barsala
- (0.15 km) Mark Spencer Hotel
- (0.17 km) McMenamins Crystal Hotel
- (0.14 km) Ace Hotel Portland
- (0.25 km) Hampton Inn & Suites Portland-Pearl District
- Restaurants near Powell's City of Books:
- (0.02 km) World Cup Coffee and Tea House
- (0.13 km) Thai Peacock
- (0.13 km) Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House
- (0.17 km) Jake's Famous Crawfish
- (0.07 km) Sizzle Pie Central Eastside
- Attractions near Powell's City of Books:
- (0.03 km) Made Here PDX
- (0.12 km) Portland Walking Tours
- (0.09 km) Portland Center Stage at The Armory
- (0.11 km) Living Room Theater
- (0.16 km) Jimmy Mak's