Stop and Smell the Roses at The Top 3 Portland Rose Gardens

Portland, Oregon, is known as the City of Roses for a century of reasons—but you don’t need to know the town’s history with the beloved flower to stop and smell them today. Portland’s popular parks host special events to celebrate the rose all summer long, so it's an ideal time to book a hotel in Portland. On Memorial Day weekend, fireworks over the waterfront kick off the Portland Rose Festival and a three-weekend series of Rose Festival CityFair events at Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. In June, the Annual Spring Rose Show’s prize-winning blooms await your camera. Take it all in before heading downtown for the annual Grand Floral Parade, a four-mile route that features rose-decorated floats.

Even if you’re not in town for one of these special events, you can still get in on the action while visiting the city. It’s not hard to find a Portland rose garden, and year-round, they put on a show at these three special parks.

Visit Portland’s official rose at this historic landmark

With easy access from Interstate 5, Peninsula Park Rose Garden is a convenient destination located in Portland’s historic Piedmont neighborhood. More than 100 years old (it opened in 1912), this formal French garden was the original location for several Rose Festival activities. You’ll find Portland’s official rose (Madame Caroline Tesout) here, along with more than 5,000 stems. The lush gardens are a favorite among locals and a popular venue for weddings, family gatherings, live music performances and picnics. The free public park also features a central fountain and an octagonal bandstand designated as a Portland Historic Landmark.

Garden hop through Ladd’s Addition

The gardens in Ladd’s Addition feature more than 3,000 roses.

Take a casual stroll or a weekend bike ride to explore the diagonal street patterns of Ladd’s Addition, Portland’s oldest planned residential neighborhood. You’ll find four diamond-shaped rose gardens featuring more than 3,000 roses in 60 varieties surrounding a grassy circular park. The combined geometric patterns of the streets and gardens create a pattern like one in stained glass. If you’re lucky, your view will have a soundtrack—courtesy of the musicians performing in Ladd Circle Park. Need a pick-me-up after exploring the grounds? Head across the circle to Palio Espresso and Dessert House for a latte featuring Stumptown Coffee and an assortment of fresh, delightfully crumbly pastries.

Get a whiff of the International Rose Test Garden—the oldest rose test garden in the U.S.

Take a guided tour or lose yourself among the more than 10,000 roses in the International Rose Test Garden.

Imagine the fragrant aroma of 10,000 roses in a picturesque park. With more than 650 rose varieties, the International Rose Test Garden is one of Portland’s most popular attractions. Celebrating a centennial of operations in 2017, the garden is officially the oldest public rose test garden in the United States. Come on in every day, year-round, but keep in mind you’ll find the most bountiful blooms in the peak of summer. Free guided tours are available daily at 1 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with departure from the Portland Rose Garden Store. The garden overlooks downtown from its location in Washington Park, so keep your camera handy for scenic views and captivating moments. Much like Peninsula Park Rose Garden, this is a popular spot for couples looking to say “I do.”