Local knowledge

Taxis

When downtown you can often flag taxis down in the street, otherwise they’re available 24 hours a day by phone. Green Cab (+1 503 234 1414) is the eco-friendly option and is based on East Burnside.

Tipping culture

As in the rest of the US, 20 per cent is standard on more or less everything.

Packing tips

Despite the high chance of rain, leave your umbrella at home if you want to blend in with the locals. Portlanders pride themselves on weathering the storm and anoraks are common attire in most restaurants.

Recommended reads

Blue Moon Over Thurman Street by Ursula Le Guin is a beautiful mixture of photos, poetry, quotes and narratives following the road than runs through many different Portland neighbourhoods. Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love is fast becoming a cult classic, and tells the story of a family formed into ready-made freaks by the strange drugs the parents took when conceiving. Fugitives and Refugees offers an idiosyncratic look at Portland by Fight Club author, Chuck Palahniuk.

Cuisine

Portland is paradise for those who like their food farm-fresh and fuss-free. The rain that you may curse on the street, you’ll praise in the restaurants, as almost all get a daily delivery of just-dug produce from the surrounding farms. It is also renowned as the most vegetarian-friendly city in America, and there are plenty of meat-free options available. Portland loves to breakfast, and many locals enjoy going out to their local diner for a pile of pancakes and bottomless Stumptown coffee to fuel them for the day.

Currency

US dollar ($).

Time zone

GMT -8 hours.

Dialling codes

Country code for the US: + 1. Area codes 503 and 971 connect you to Portland.

Do go/don't go

The winter is unfortunately rainy, chilly and grey, but if you are prepared to wrap up then there is always a local café or bar on hand to take off the chill. The summer – dry, bright and glorious – is definitely the best time to visit.