Heart

Best airport terminal in the country? Maybe. I am on planes quite a bit and the new terminal at PDX is outstanding. Amazing architecture. Open spaces. Lots of natural light. Also a huge plus for business travelers the car rental center is on site - no annoying bus rides!!! The Delta Sky Club is my home but there are plenty of cool food vendors for coffee, breakfast or lunch spots. Even a brewery. You'll enjoy it especially if your flights are on time LOL.

PDX is has been nicely remodeled. There is new equipment sensors, as well as the billion dollar wood decor. It looks pretty, but it’s definitely not worth what I spent to remodel it. The many new kiosk and self-service stations are great Getting through security was efficient. I was hoping to find more shops before the Security area, but I was disappointed if it would’ve been nice to have more options for visitors versus just passengers. The gates are as they were untouched and old. The seating at the gates is hard and firm. It’s a good efficient airport, but nothing extra special, even after the remodel. You can’t read subtitles

Typically I’m more fond of small airports where you can get through security and to your gate quickly, but those airports tend to lack the amenities and architectural features of larger airports. PDX manages to balance both nicely. My favorite part was the design, with the enormous open rooms, high ceilings with the wooden beams, and plants everywhere. It also seemed like security ran particularly efficiently, and the lack of chain shops and restaurants in favor of local businesses was nice. The Powell’s here is probably the best airport bookstore I’ve come across. Lots of cool artwork around as well. While there is a decent amount of walking required, especially for the far gates, I typically like to get my steps in before a flight anyway and the pleasant environment to do it in makes it much more enjoyable.

Most of the renovation work at PDX has now been completed. Not so big airport, that would be great, too. The drop off area looks stylish, and the departure level features high ceilings with a wood inspired design, which felt a bit Japanese to me. The indoor placement of real tree adds to the overall softness and warmth of the space. I also like that people seeing travellers off can go up to the upper level and watch the security line and screening area, it allowed for more thoughtful and meaningful goodbye for those staying behind.

Portland International Airport is more than a gateway, it’s a beautifully crafted portrait of Oregon’s identity. The new main terminal pairs high design with deep local roots: a sweeping, undulating mass timber roof forms a lattice canopy that feels like walking beneath the Northwest forest. Knowing that the wood was responsibly sourced from within a day’s drive adds real authenticity to the experience. Everywhere you look, PDX breathes Portland and Oregon. The lineup of shops and restaurants is overwhelmingly local, from beloved coffee roasters to indie fashion and bookstores. Even better, pricing is fair, what you pay in the terminal matches what you’d pay in town. That commitment keeps the airport aligned with the community it represents and makes layovers feel like a mini city visit rather than a captive-audience splurge. Nature is not just a theme here, it’s present. Mature live trees and lush plantings rise through sunlit spaces, softening travel stress and making circulation intuitive. The airy, light-filled lobby and mezzanines invite you to linger, watch the fountain, and actually enjoy the time between flights. I didn’t get to explore the city on this trip, yet wandering PDX’s art, craft, and food made me feel like I had a taste of Portland anyway and made me want to return just because of the airport. What impressed me most is how intentionally PDX knits design, craft, and culture together. The central lobby’s wood latticework hints at regional weaving traditions; the art program and partnerships foreground local makers and tribal communities; signage, wayfinding, and generous public areas keep the terminal accessible, legible, and welcoming. It’s spacious, easy to navigate, and packed with distinctly Oregon details in every corner. PDX is that rare airport that turns transit into place: warm, modern, community-minded, and unmistakably of the Pacific Northwest. If only every hub felt this considered.