International Rose Test Garden
International Rose Test Garden
4.5
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 10:00 PM
About
The oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States boasts more than 8,000 roses.
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Neighborhood: Northwest District
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See what travelers are saying
- Laura WDenver, Colorado50 contributionsLoved itMy favorite thing I did in Portland. I went in early October. I was a little worried when I first got there because some roses were dead, but plenty were alive. I took hundreds of pictures. The gift shop was less expensive than most places. It’s free so if for some reason you don’t like it then no harm no foul. I LOVED it though!Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 6, 2023
- Abigail WOregon22 contributionsSuperbly awesome and inspiringAs far as really neat places in Portland, Oregon go (and it’s not called the City of Roses for nothing), this one really takes the cake (proverbially speaking). Basically, the International Rose Test Garden is what I’d call a highly awesome place to go — especially for those who want to stop and smell the roses from time to time, and for those who are photographers and have a liking for nature photography and capturing nature on film. Plus, the really neat thing about the International Rose Test Garden is that it's free (which makes it different from the Japanese Gardens, although the Japanese Gardens are quite nice in their own way as well). Located in Washington Park, this place really helps when it comes to inspiring people and showing them the beauty in nature. There are so many roses of every color and size that it can be hard to take them in all at once. So, it is best to take it in one step at a time. Also, those who are photographers will really take a liking to this place, as they will find plenty of photo opportunities when it comes to the roses. 😇😎 In conclusion, I highly recommend the International Rose Test Garden for anyone who loves nature, photography or both. Also, I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better). 😎Visited February 2023Traveled with friendsWritten January 27, 2024
- CarolinaTravelers2Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida346 contributionsMany roses in early JunePlenty of roses are blooming at the beginning of June, so visitors can see (and smell) buds and flowers in every stage of blossom. While rose aficionados will enjoy learning details and exploring the entire garden, the casual visitor will enjoy roses near the entrance. We did have to go down some steps from the street to the garden; handrails are present.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 4, 2024
- JenBellingham, Washington113 contributions100% Worth it! Pictures don’t do it justice!This is FREE to visit, and is absolutely breathtaking. Pictures don’t even come close to capturing how pretty it is! Even if you have to park far (we did) there are beautiful maintained trails up through forest that make the walk short and enjoyable. Visit the Japanese Garden while you’re here too!Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 19, 2024
- TennisStar602New Jersey713 contributionsMy friends who live within this area took me to this botanical garden.Some of my friends live just outside of Portland, and they recommended this garden to me. This garden was large, but it did not go on indefinitely. It was free to access this garden, and this park contained metered parking spots, but I parked just outside of this park in the daytime for free. There was a gift shop, a food truck, and a restroom. I saw every color of flowers with regard to the large rose bushes. It was very scenic.Visited July 2024Traveled with friendsWritten June 30, 2024
- Mandi GKingston, Rhode Island63 contributionsBeautiful garden to enjoy for free for all!We had planned to go to the Japanese Garden but looked at the Rose garden while we waiting for it to open. We ended up enjoying the Rose Test garden so much that we passed on the Japanese Garden to explore the roses more! Beautiful atmosphere and a sensory delight! There was a musician playing, which added nice soundtrack to our visit. We enjoyed reading the names of the roses, and the “fragrant” markers on the most fragrant roses. The award winning roses were marked and easy to find. There were public restrooms, paved paths and the ramps had the angles written out, along with directions to a less steep ramp if needed. We didn’t do a guided tour, but I’m sure that would be great too. It’s worth the visit!Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 12, 2024
- RevathiSan Ramon, California345 contributionsThe International Rose Test Garden is a true gem!The International Rose Test Garden is a true gem! The vibrant colors and delightful scents are amazing, and it’s a fantastic spot for snapping some memorable photos. It’s easy to get to with plenty of parking, making it a relaxing and enjoyable place to visit.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 13, 2024
- SteveK28762Worcestershire, United Kingdom132 contributionsA lovely oasis in the city, very peacefulWhat a lovely place to wander around, either briefly just to appreciate the gardens, or you could spend ages finding out about all of the different roses being grown. There are hundreds of different roses in every colour imaginable, laid out and maintained beautifully. A really nice place to spend some relaxing time. Personally I could have done without the buskers though. Note: There are various car parks within Washington Park. The one closest to the Rose Garden is very small but a parking ticket covers all of them, so you can move around.Visited September 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
5,689 reviews
Excellent
4,051
Very good
1,307
Average
296
Poor
29
Terrible
6
Don'tWaitForRetirement
California5,667 contributions
Aug 2019
While visiting Portland, we took the MAX to Washington Park and then the free park shuttle to the Int'l Rose Test Garden. We enjoyed wandering around, taking photos, smelling the roses, reading the amusing rose names and taking in the spectacular views over Portland. We also visited the quality gift shop where we purchased a Christmas ornament.
Perhaps we weren't there at the best time (Late August) as some were slightly over and while we found the collection to be good, the experience was slightly underwhelming and no better than the Balboa Park rose garden in our own city of San Diego -- perhaps we were expecting a bit more 'wow'.
After the Rose Garden, we spent time in the adjacent Japanese Garden (Entrance fee required) and rounded out our day's visit at the Hoyt Arboretum.
Note: The rose garden is free.
If you found this review useful, please click the thank button.
Perhaps we weren't there at the best time (Late August) as some were slightly over and while we found the collection to be good, the experience was slightly underwhelming and no better than the Balboa Park rose garden in our own city of San Diego -- perhaps we were expecting a bit more 'wow'.
After the Rose Garden, we spent time in the adjacent Japanese Garden (Entrance fee required) and rounded out our day's visit at the Hoyt Arboretum.
Note: The rose garden is free.
If you found this review useful, please click the thank button.
Written April 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colleen S
Portland, OR19 contributions
Nov 2021
Acres of roses with a breathtaking view over the city of Portland, this oasis of color and fragrance is the pinnacle of must-visit sites in the city. From April to October roses bloom in profusion, but even in off-months the paths, occasional blooms, proximiity to downtown and wilds of Forest Park trails makes the Rose Test Garden the true heart of Portland, the Rose City. It's free. There's good bus access, train and free shuttle, and you can even walk (uphill) to here from downtown in 30 minutes.
Written November 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KYLE W
Argyle, TX34 contributions
Aug 2022
We really enjoyed our time at the International Rose Tes Garden. The area is well kept, and the roses are abundant. We walked around for about 40 minutes and took lots of pictures. They have restroom facilities, a small food stand and a small gift shop. There is no charge for admission - but you can make a donation if you choose. Parking is all around the area and it may take a few minutes to find a spot.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim W.
Atlanta, GA1,301 contributions
Jul 2022
It is hard to imagine a dedicated rose garden that would be more impressive than this one, so I'm giving it a '5'.
The garden is located in Washington Park, not far from downtown Portland. The only real challenge here is parking. The adjacent lot is quite small, so be prepared to drive past the garden and down the twisty hillside road. There are spaces along here with varying degrees of difficulty in parallel parking (not all spaces require that). You will pay to park, but the garden itself is free.
Once you hike back up to the garden, you are rewarded with an explosion of colors. There are about 3 distinct tiers of large flower beds. You begin at the top tier and can descend to the lower ones via several sets of stairs. The different types of roses are labeled.
Based on my limited experience with Portland weather, you are more likely to get sunshine after noon or 1 p.m., at least when we visited in July. Bright sunshine will help with any photography you do here (and you'll probably want to take a number of photos of the roses).
This is a really beautiful spot and is well worth a stop.
The garden is located in Washington Park, not far from downtown Portland. The only real challenge here is parking. The adjacent lot is quite small, so be prepared to drive past the garden and down the twisty hillside road. There are spaces along here with varying degrees of difficulty in parallel parking (not all spaces require that). You will pay to park, but the garden itself is free.
Once you hike back up to the garden, you are rewarded with an explosion of colors. There are about 3 distinct tiers of large flower beds. You begin at the top tier and can descend to the lower ones via several sets of stairs. The different types of roses are labeled.
Based on my limited experience with Portland weather, you are more likely to get sunshine after noon or 1 p.m., at least when we visited in July. Bright sunshine will help with any photography you do here (and you'll probably want to take a number of photos of the roses).
This is a really beautiful spot and is well worth a stop.
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
coolinaz
9 contributions
Jun 2020
The Rose Garden is a must visit for me every time I visit Portland. It is well maintained garden of serenity. There is no better place to immerse yourself in natures beauty. A place you can feel relaxed. There is a right way and a wrong way to see it. Do not make a fast brisk walk through the garden just to say you were there. Take it slow and easy. Enjoy the variety of Roses. It is a place where you can meditate and/or thrill in the display.
Written July 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bac26
Charlotte, NC1,047 contributions
Jul 2021
After morning coffee I walked from the river to the rose garden. It was a good hike and uphill. The garden is located at a very high point of the city offering a view of Mt. Hood on a clear day. The garden was lovely and they have a nice gift shop with beverages including a rose lemonade that was delicious! No entrance fee too,
Written July 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abigail W
Oregon22 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
As far as really neat places in Portland, Oregon go (and it’s not called the City of Roses for nothing), this one really takes the cake (proverbially speaking). Basically, the International Rose Test Garden is what I’d call a highly awesome place to go — especially for those who want to stop and smell the roses from time to time, and for those who are photographers and have a liking for nature photography and capturing nature on film.
Plus, the really neat thing about the International Rose Test Garden is that it's free (which makes it different from the Japanese Gardens, although the Japanese Gardens are quite nice in their own way as well).
Located in Washington Park, this place really helps when it comes to inspiring people and showing them the beauty in nature. There are so many roses of every color and size that it can be hard to take them in all at once. So, it is best to take it in one step at a time.
Also, those who are photographers will really take a liking to this place, as they will find plenty of photo opportunities when it comes to the roses. 😇😎
In conclusion, I highly recommend the International Rose Test Garden for anyone who loves nature, photography or both. Also, I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better). 😎
Plus, the really neat thing about the International Rose Test Garden is that it's free (which makes it different from the Japanese Gardens, although the Japanese Gardens are quite nice in their own way as well).
Located in Washington Park, this place really helps when it comes to inspiring people and showing them the beauty in nature. There are so many roses of every color and size that it can be hard to take them in all at once. So, it is best to take it in one step at a time.
Also, those who are photographers will really take a liking to this place, as they will find plenty of photo opportunities when it comes to the roses. 😇😎
In conclusion, I highly recommend the International Rose Test Garden for anyone who loves nature, photography or both. Also, I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better). 😎
Written January 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndreaUbok
Florida4,126 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
We got off the free shuttle at the Rose garden and were blown away, it was just spectacular! We walked through 4.5 acres with over 10,000 plantings and 600 different varieties. Each Rose was marked with a name, date & code where we could get more information. We took so many photos here, my iPhone didn’t give all the colors justice. It was so fragrant yet they were no peas or insects visible. I’m glad I took an allergy pill this morning before we left.
There were clean bathrooms, lots of shady places to sit, a food truck, and a gift shop.
There were clean bathrooms, lots of shady places to sit, a food truck, and a gift shop.
Written June 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fitness enthusiast and chemist
Des Moines78 contributions
Jun 2022
We had an awkward amount of time when leaving Oregon before going to the airport. The International Rose Test Garden was just the place to fill that extra 1.5 hours! It was so gorgeous, the fragrance was abundant, it was very well kept, and people were great about letting each family stay together and view particular spots together. Just to let you know how beautiful and unique the roses were, I took 71 photos and turned 3 of them into canvases for art for our home.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
Written August 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica K
Hillsboro, OR4 contributions
Sep 2022
A beautiful selection of roses (my favorites this year are "Twilight Zone" and "Sugar Plum"), and a large spacious area to walk around and admire them at your own speed. There's also the charming "Grande Duchesse Charlotte" rose that was planted in 1943 that can be found if you look hard enough. This park is also dog friendly, if you've got a dog who also likes to stop and smell the roses!
It's an outdoor garden and there isn't much cover, so check the weather before you head out -- and prepare sunblock or an umbrella as needed. Parking is easy (it is pay to park, however), and it's across the street from the Japanese Garden, which can make for a longer trip if you do both at the same time.
It's an outdoor garden and there isn't much cover, so check the weather before you head out -- and prepare sunblock or an umbrella as needed. Parking is easy (it is pay to park, however), and it's across the street from the Japanese Garden, which can make for a longer trip if you do both at the same time.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
High sixties during the day and high forties at night. A good resource for day by day weather forecasts is Accuweather dot c o m. Enter any city and then month.
Written August 12, 2021
Can you bring food into the park? Could we pack a lunch and eat it somewhere in the park, perhaps a picnic table?
Written September 8, 2020
Oops - yes, the Rise garden and the beautiful park are excellent for a picnic.
Written October 13, 2020
I know they use Garden compost but I am not certain of the exact nature of the mulch. Your answer might be found through an inquiry to the Friends of the Rose Test Garden website.
Written July 24, 2020
Hiya
Is around the 3rd week in May a good time to visit and could I expect to see any Roses in bloom then?
Thanks 🙏🏻
Written February 29, 2020
It is the perfect time to see the gardens. Te roses and almost everything will blooming
Written February 29, 2020
You need to contact the international rose test garden for that question. The Chinese garden only has a gift shop.
Written August 3, 2019
We are traveling with our small dog. Are dogs allowed on leash?
Written June 23, 2019
Will there be anything still blooming when I visit in early October? Will it be worth the time to visit at that time.
Written August 3, 2018
There should still be roses blooming, unless there is an early frost.
Written August 3, 2018
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