Travelling to Portland? Here’s what’s new!

If a visit to Portland, Ore. is among your summer travel plans, a few things may have changed since your last visit.

Those flying into the vibrant Pacific Northwest destination may notice Portland International Airport (PDX) sporting a fresh new look.

Travel Portland notes that phase one of the $2-billion project unveiled the new main terminal in August 2024, with nature-infused interiors including a gorgeous wood ceiling built using timber harvested from sovereign lands of four Oregon and Washington First Nations.

“You’ll also see 72 mature trees – 5,000 live plants in total – planted throughout the terminal, and a biophilic design aimed at lowering traveller’s stress, blood pressure and heart rate,” the organization says.

Beyond the natural elements, the new terminal offers an urban feel reminiscent of Portland’s many neighbourhoods with 24 local shops and restaurants, including shout-outs to beloved Portland spots like independently owned book store Powell’s Books, leather artisan Orox Leather Co. and fast casual pasta spot Grassa.

The full project will be completed December 2025 or early 2026.

Work is also underway on a $111-million expansion and renovation project at the Portland Art Museum.

Opening to the public Nov. 20, 2025, the Connection Campaign will add nearly 100,000 square feet of new or upgraded public and gallery space, completely transforming the Museum and creating a vital “cultural commons” in the heart of downtown Portland, the museum notes.

Included will be increased access to exhibitions and programs, and new ways to experience the robust collection, with new amenities for diverse audiences.

“The Museum’s transformed campus is a result of a decades-long vision to better serve our community as the cornerstone of Portland’s downtown cultural district,” museum director Brian Ferriso says.

“As one of the oldest art museums in the country, and the only major art museum between Seattle and San Francisco, PAM is an essential cultural lifeline for our region. The new PAM will create a dynamic destination for the arts, reinvigorating our city and offering expanded opportunities to engage audiences with art from around Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and the world. We can’t wait for everyone to experience the new PAM this November.”

Looking for a unique place to stay and rejuvenate body and mind during your visit? CASCADA opened in late 2024 as Portland’s first underground thermal springs spa and hotel.

Located in the Alberta Arts District of Portland, the immersive wellness sanctuary is built to be both healthy for humans and sustainable for the earth – “designed as a true urban oasis with indulgences for all five senses,” the hotel website says.

In the spa are Vitality Pools of different temperatures, a sauna, steam room, ice fountain and more, alongside bespoke treatment spaces and wellness programs.

Continuing the spa theme, Portland’s first wine spa opened in November 2024. The Wine Spa offers eight treatment rooms and a variety of unique offerings, including vinotherapy baths, massages, facials and more.

“Inspired by our travels to the wine spas of Eastern Europe, The Wine Spa brings vinotherapy treatments of the old world into the modern era by combining our love of local Willamette Valley wines with modern science and wellness.”

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