Boasting about 7,000 rose plants in 550 different varieties, International Rose Test Garden helps Portland live up to its nickname "the city of roses." The city set up the rose test garden during World War I to protect hybrid roses grown in Europe, which rose lovers feared would be destroyed in the bombings. You can see roses from all over the world, as the public garden receives a steady stream to test. Explore its 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres) and discover the amphitheater, Shakespeare garden, and Gold Medal garden of award-winning plants. If it is a clear day, you can admire superb views of the Cascade Mountains. Bring along a picnic to enjoy in the spacious grassy area; the gardens do not have a restaurant. Make International Rose Test Garden a centerpiece of your Portland vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Portland road trip planning tool.
Create a full itinerary - for free!
International Rose Test Garden reviews
-
When you're in a big city, it is always nice to go somewhere within it that is close to nature and offers a relaxing environment. The International Rose Test Garden will give you that opportunity!
When you're in a big city, it is always nice to go somewhere within it that is close to nature and offers a relaxing environment. The International Rose Test Garden will give you that opportunity! more »
-
A nice way to get out of the city and smell the roses (ha!). Quite peaceful and really pretty to see.
A nice way to get out of the city and smell the roses (ha!). Quite peaceful and really pretty to see. more »
-
Nice and cool during pandemic, not many people, light breeze
-
Absolutely a must do / must see place to visit in the area. We honestly added this based on recommendations from fellow travelers and we weren't expecting much as it's just flowers, right? Wrong. It's a gorgeously laid out garden, flower showcase, sitting area, photo op...and so much more! We expected to spend a short time here and just enjoy the scene. But we ended up spending a couple hours here and took a ton of photos and just sat and enjoyed the space. It's well curated and easy to navigate. There are various sections to walk through and see different varieties of roses. I honestly had no clue that roses came in so many variations.... Overall: A++ A MUST DO and you won't regret it! Bring a full phone battery for pics!!
Plan your trip to Portland
best routes and schedules
Popular things to do in Portland
Side trips from Portland
Hidden gems in Portland
Parks in Portland
Shopping in Portland
Nearby attractions in Portland
Trips in International Rose Test Garden by other users
7 days in Pacific Northwest
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Seattle
Cannon Beach
Portland
1 day in Oregon
BY A USER FROM UGANDA
Pittock Mansion
International Rose Test Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
12 days in United States
BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA
Portland
New York City
Panama City Beach
14 days in Oregon
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Bend
Crater Lake National Park
Ashland
5 days in Portland
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Clear Creek Distillery
International Rose Test Garden
Portland Japanese Garden
4 days in Portland & Philadelphia
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Portland
Philadelphia