Portland's Downtown Foot Traffic Surges in 2025

Festivals, events, and holiday celebrations drive increased activity, but office worker recovery remains a challenge.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:05pm by

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph of people walking on a downtown street, with soft, warm pools of light and color creating a hazy, atmospheric mood.The vibrant energy of Portland's downtown festivals and events has helped revive foot traffic, though the recovery of office worker activity remains a challenge.Portland Today

According to a recent study, Portland's downtown area experienced a significant increase in foot traffic in 2025, with 11 out of 12 months showing year-over-year growth. This trend is largely attributed to the city's vibrant festivals, cultural events, and holiday celebrations, which attracted both visitors and residents. While the recovery of office worker activity remains a challenge, the data indicates a positive trajectory, with foot traffic increasing in 18 out of the last 20 months.

Why it matters

The revival of downtown foot traffic is crucial for the recovery of Portland's hospitality and retail businesses, which were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's findings suggest that the city's efforts to improve cleanliness and safety, through public-private partnerships, have been effective in drawing people back to the downtown area.

The details

The study revealed that last summer was the busiest for downtown visitors since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday foot traffic has rebounded to nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels, with several Saturdays surpassing 2019 activity. However, the recovery of office worker activity remains a significant challenge, as it is a major barrier to the full recovery of downtown foot traffic.

  • The study analyzed foot traffic data for Portland's downtown area in 2025.
  • The data showed an increase in foot traffic in 11 out of 12 months in 2025, compared to the previous year.

The players

Keith Wilson

The mayor of Portland, who emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships and initiatives in driving positive outcomes for the city's downtown area.

Megan Conway

The CEO of Travel Portland, who highlights the role of downtown foot traffic in building a healthy landscape for hospitality businesses.

Portland Business Alliance

The organization that attributes the success of downtown foot traffic to public-private partnerships focused on improving cleanliness and safety.

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What they’re saying

“The data indicates a positive trajectory, with year-over-year foot traffic increasing in 18 out of the last 20 months.”

— Megan Conway, CEO, Travel Portland

“We've seen significant results from our public-private partnerships focused on improving cleanliness and safety.”

— Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland

What’s next

The city of Portland and its partners will continue to monitor the recovery of downtown foot traffic, with a focus on addressing the challenge of office worker activity.

The takeaway

Portland's downtown revival, driven by vibrant festivals, cultural events, and holiday celebrations, demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of the city's urban core. While challenges remain, the data suggests a positive trajectory for the recovery of Portland's hospitality and retail businesses.