This was a surprise recommendation from a travel bog & I am glad that I checked it out. The Grotto is a quiet, green and peaceful space! There are two levels - lower & upper. To get to the upper levels, there is an admission fee of ~10$ per adult. You can purchase them at the visitor center or the gift shop. They give you coins for a turnstile which allows access to an elevator that takes you to the upper level. I did not like that the only way to/from the upper level was via that 1 elevator, for the public that is.The upper level is essentially the space at the top of the hill. Mind you, the place is not too big. Expect to spend ~20-40 minutes here. I liked the meditation building which is perched on a cliff, facing the valley in the north, yielding views of blue skies & St Helens on a clear day. But, it wasn't much for meditation though. Apart from that, there were many panels, sculptures and marble art pieces placed along the garden path that told stories of Jesus and Joseph's sorrows & joys.I found these very interesting! There was also a very cute little chapel in the upper level. The lower level has a bigger chapel with many pews. And, it looks like they've regular mass there. I'd recommend this place as a one time visit, at least for the view from the meditation center as well as the quiet, green space even if, like me, you're not interested in the religious services that this place offers.

The Grotto in Portland, Oregon is a Catholic shrine dedicated to Mary, Our Sorrowful Mother. I have been here several times, and always enjoyed my visit. The Grotto is filled with many religious statuary in a natural, forest setting. When you visit The Grotto you have several options: you can visit at no cost and just walk the lower grounds, visit the gift shop, and attend mass, 12pm on weekdays. I attended the mass, and it was quite beautiful. It was wonderful to see so many nuns. In addition, you can pay $6.00 and visit the upper level, via an elevator. This contains beautiful gardens, walking trails, and much beautiful art to reflect upon. Also, there is a lovely observation room with a sweeping view of the area. I would allow at least 1 hour for the upper level. There is free parking, restrooms, and a gift shop. At Christmas time they have a beautiful Festival of Lights, which I highly recommend. My recommendation would be to visit during the week, as it is less crowded.

There is absolutely no place like this anywhere else. In half a second, you drive out of the city and next you know, you’re surrounded by trees and serenity. I love this place to get away, have some quiet spiritual time and get a blessing or two. I’m not what you would refer to as a practicing Catholic, but I am spiritual in my own sense. There is a church on property where they conduct masses. The parking lot is not immense so I don’t know where one would park if attending a Sunday mass amongst travelers such as myself. There is also a gift shop and a room where you can get blessed or an object blessed. My daughter got her necklace blessed. I did not take the huge elevator up to the top of the mountain as I didn’t want to pay $10 honestly. There is enough on the grounds itself to view and many areas to pray or take in the statues. This is a place of tranquility that I try to visit each time I’m in Oregon.

One hundred years ago a grotto was created into this incredible rock face where soon later was installed a beautiful reproduction of Michaelangelo’s Pieta. This beautiful work of man’s craftsmanship stands today amidst an inner-city secluded area inspiring meditation and solemnity inspiring self-contemplation and thoughtful introspection in nature’s beauty within a 62-acre ecological enclave. One can leisurely, yet wondrously meander the walk paths of this remarkable garden/park to quietly ponder, picnic or serenely contemplate the open seclusion of nature’s marvelous wonder. When visiting Portland, this is a must visit – enjoy a couple of hours of tranquility. It is truly a gem and isolated treasure within the bustle of the city.

Christmas lights review. Bought tickets online for $14 per adult and $8 per child with a service charge of $10. So family of five was about $75 total. Got there a little before 5pm and was able to park in the lot there versus the packed out roads that neighbor the place. There was a line at the time but went quickly. Noticed the line was gone as we left after about an hour. The lights and grounds are beautiful. The facilities are easy to navigate. Was able to enjoy a children's choir and some carolers. Saw folks enjoying hot cocoa that can be purchased there. Overall just gorgeous and easy to navigate. Was a smaller light show than some others around and a little on the spendy side for what took less than an hour. Would recommend.

My wife and I came here during our visit to Portland and we absolutely loved it. It served as a very peaceful visit here. It's aimed as a catholic sanctuary however you don't have to be religious to visit. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for somewhere to escape from society for a while. Plenty of parking and a cool little gift shop at the entrance. There are tons of little sections throughout the grotto. Plenty of places to sit and mediate, pray, or just simply hanging out. It was raining when we went by so we had to hide in the church for a little while. Our favorite part was the quiet room overlooking the airport and river. It was breathtaking. I won't forget this place. I loved it.

Absolutely gorgeous sanctuary! Right close to the airport, you have to come on your way in or way out :-) feel the peace of God in this place. They have mass on weekdays at 12 PM. You can see the gorgeous lower gardens for free. Children are five dollars and adults are $10 to go into the upper gardens. We only saw the Lord gardens and love them. we came very early, at 8:45 AM. We spent about half an hour here and it was well worth the visit. Everything is so peaceful here. You will love it. Peace, Joshua
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

Ever since my relationship with my partner, we decided to make it an annual activity to visit a place that has fun and unique seasonal and festive lighting. This year it was The Grotto and I personally have never been here before. Expect the place to be religious and holy with a lot of unique and beautiful things to look at from natural art to hand made art. During our visit, we were able to catch a choir singing which was very pleasant to listen to and indulge in. There is an entry fee which costs $18 per person. Plenty of parking spaces but also plenty of people. Definitely something to experience at least once.

Unfortunately it was cold and raining, but still worth the experience. It's a beautiful place to visit whether you are religious or not. The woman we purchased our tokens from was humorous and informative. The grounds are lovingly maintained and I can only imagine how beautiful it is in the spring. You are given a map with a few walking options, it took about an hour? Unfortunately my hands were too wet and cold to unlock my phone, so I wasn't able to take more pictures of the actual grounds. It's very peaceful and the glass overlook is enclosed, heated and has comfortable chairs if you want to reflect on things.

Very good place to spend an hour or two on a hot afternoon (because it stays pretty cool in the gardens). Although the tickets for admission to the upper level gardens cost $8 (for an adult), it's well worth it's price - there are very good statues & sculptures in the upper gardens that depict stories of Jesus Christ & Christianity, the gardens are very well maintained and the atmosphere due to the tree cover is very cool, calm & peaceful. I would recommend visiting this place when you're on your way to the airport after finishing your trip as it is very close to the airport.

So the lower part is free. You have a pretty path that had religious imagery and teachings as well as the sanctuary that holds a daily mass. The upper part of the gardens were much more like a garden area. It cost us $10 each to go to the upper gardens which you take an elevator to get to. It was so beautiful and whether you pay or not it was hard not to be moved by the nature and artistry at this place.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$6–10

An amazing spot even if your not catholic. The garden are beautiful. The grotto is awe inspiring. The main chapel will calm your soul. The meditation rooms have phenomenal views of mt. saint helens. It doesn’t take to long to explore the whole thing. Really great for a quick afternoon jaunt. It’s with the $9 to ride up to the gardens. There are so many statues to enjoy and the air is filled with a sweet aroma. Highly recommend. Will be visiting again.

Well maintained sacred spaces, gardens, and buildings. The place was peaceful with the exception of very very loud military and passenger jet planes making a turn before landing at PDX airport and the highway nearby. Highly recommend doing a meditative prayer walk here. It was also sad to see as we were leaving the Grotto the many homeless tents right outside, I hope the Church and the Grotto are doing something to help house their neighbors.

I was in Portland about 10 years ago and the Grotto was on my list of places to visit. Unfortunately my job assignment ended early and I was unable to visit. Saturday 9/16/23) was my last day in Portland and I spent half a day at the Grotto. Words are not enough to express my thoughts and feelings I felt here. I'm thinking about coming back for the festival of lights because it looks like it will be a spectacular experience.

Buy a $10 ticket and take the elevator to the top. Walk through a beautiful garden and see Catholic statues and displays, as well as a nice view looking north to Vancouver. It's really a unique place and all Catholics will love it. Even if you're not Catholic, it's still very enjoyable and interesting.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

I love going to The Grotto. I recommend it to people who are looking for a nice walk and quiet time in nature. The bottom part is busier with people walking, taking pictures, praying or shopping. The upper gardens are great for a more quiet and peaceful time or just walking around. It's not too much of a walk, maybe 20 minutes. The meditation chapel is beautiful but it was very warm in their due to all the glass.

Garden is so nice. The Grotto is something I ve never seen before so that was interesting for me. Even if you are not christian it worth to spend some times there n enjoy all flowers n trees. Its 10$ to take elevator to go to upper dock. Although its little bit expensive for elevator but garden is nice n peaceful to make it worth. They are good plenty of parking there as well. All people are super nice n helpful

Very nice. The ambiance inside is serene. The surrounding area does not reflect what you will find here. The garden itself is well maintained with a duck and squirrels but also some of the loveliest flowers and bushes. There were bench's and two ponds. My family enjoyed it. We make everything funny, so we had inside joke fun. Might be nice to take a friend. You definitely want to pray if you're into it.

The Grotto has easily become one of my favorite venues to photograph in Oregon. This venue is absolutely beautiful! It has incredible details inside the buildings and also in the garden. For any couple who is wanting to get married in a church, this is the best spot in Portland. Thankful for the staff is who friendly, kind and professional to work with. I look forward to working with them again!

Very beautiful place beware it’s very smoky in the church. Really hard to breathe too much incense. You can walk the ground for $10 upstairs or just walk the free place downstairs it’s beautiful views when you go up the elevator it’s a $10 elevator ride I don’t recommend the winter going in the winter it’s dead flowers everywhere: it’s spring, go when it’s spring, when the flowers are blooming

Beautiful place. Went on a Sunday during service and caught a bit of it. Beautiful grounds and laid out very nicely. Not as large as I was expecting. This place is fairly busy, at least when I came, so don't expect to have a particular quietude or space to literally meditate without interruption. It's beautiful, perhaps on slower days it would be better for a quiet solo stroll. Must see.

The Grotto is a wedding photographer's dream. Its breathtaking gardens, elegant chapel, and accommodating staff create a photography paradise. The natural beauty, intricate architecture, and unforgettable sunset views make every shot extraordinary. This venue is where love and artistry converge, and I highly recommend it for couples seeking to capture their special day in all its glory.

I am stunned!! Absolutely, a beautiful place to visit. The grounds is a easy walk for all ages. Mass is held daily and outside if the weather is cooperating. There is also a garden on the upper level that is worth the $9 (lower level is free). Very peaceful place.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

This is a peaceful place to walk or meditate. The lower gardens are free to the public but the upper level does have a cost to it. If you are interested in the upper gardens make sure to stop by the gift show to pay for your entry to save yourself a second trip.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$11–15

Even though I'm not religious, I had a fun time walking the grounds. The flowering plants, trees, and birds were fun to see. I liked seeing the displays/replicas of how other cultures celebrate the religion. The statues were also cool to see. The grounds are beautiful and wish I could be here at sunrise with my camera, but I don't think they are open yet.

First timer, I'm not Catholic, but this place is in a beautiful setting. The sculptures are amazingly beautiful. The walk is gorgeous and calming. There is so much history to look and learn from. I would definitely recommend it's beautiful now. I can only imagine what it looks like in the summer when the flowers are blossoming or have blossomed.

Amazing place. The down below where I arrived was nice. I paid for a token to ride the super tall elevator up above and wow! The upper level is amazing. And a spectacular view over part of Portland.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
Free

This place gave us a lot of surprise. We didn't expect it to be a big place. Here is the sightseeing place as well. It's also a good place for hiking. You can spend at least 3 hours over here.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

We were so excited by the descriptions... worried we wouldn't have enough time to enjoy it all... it was tiny. People weren't friendly or helpful. For the price it was not worth it. You could walk through the whole ground twice in five minutes. The lights were beautiful. Still highly overrated and overpriced.

This is one of my favorite places. It is incredibly beautiful. On a clear day it is beautiful to go up to the observatory and walk the grounds. At Christmas time it is truly enchanting and an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate the season. I highly encourage a visit. The gift shop is wonderful as well.

Incredible display of hundreds of lights set in the beautiful backdrop of the grotto. An easy walk to the chapel and welcome center. I went at night so I did not go up the elevator to the building on the bluff.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Just lovely! We went for the lights and were pleasantly surprised. The COVID restrictions are in place for good reason, and we had no problem with complying to see such a beautiful place. Would love to come back in the day time or summer as the botanical garden is on my next Portland trip list!

A nice quiet place to reflect inwards. you need to pay to go to the upper section. it should take a few hours to stop and take photos as well as visiting the gift store.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

One of the most peaceful places I have ever experienced within a metropolitan area. Though I'm not a particularly religious person, the calm you feel while visiting the Grotto is undeniable. Highly recommend visiting this beautiful "sanctuary of peace for all peoples of the earth).

The Grotto was a perfect halfway place for my son and I to meet and spend Mothers Day. He came from Eugene and I from Olympia. This could be a tradition as we both love God and His creation.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

Overall a good experience for Christmas. They do require proof of vaccination upon entry. At the time of the visit the ticket scanner for online tickets was not working correctly, so people had to stop by the kiosk to receive paper printouts. Enjoyable with family and friends.

We stumbled upon this looking for some time to waste before our flight. The Grotto is 8 minutes from the airport, so perfect! I had no idea what an amazing experience awaited us. Do not pass up the upper garden…it’s the best part of the sanctuary and an absolute must see!

I came here with my boyfriend and it was so beautiful. We went to a service then walked around there is a elevator to get to the top which has a cross.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

It's a beautiful place to go and relax from the noise. My four children enjoyed our time, even in the rain. They want to go back as soon as possible.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Quite a magical place with an interesting history. Lots to experience on lower level, donation to take you to upper level with more garden and views.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

Beautiful and serene. Very spiritual environment, a beautiful gift shop, and enchanting views. I went to a performance, and the place where they sing has amazing acoustics!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Yes

Beautiful place it's free to see anything in the plaza but if you want to see the upper gardens and anything on the upper level it's only $10
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Gorgeous and deeply peaceful grounds. Completely worth paying the extra to visit the upper gardens, too. Also helpful to know they have light snacks (chips, water, etc) available to purchase at the gift shop and the visitor center, if you need something.

A solemn place. Not crowded when we went there on a Saturday around 11am. The Grotto is ver beautiful and the nuns are very nice.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$11–15

Beautiful place to go, especially when flowers are blooming. There's a lovely lookout and lots of walking space among nature.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

I'm not Catholic or religious at all but this place was so Serene and beautiful and ethereal. Upper garden is only $12 for two people (6 bucks each) . And the view from the meditation room is spectacular. Well worth it . Will definitely be back

This place was so Serene and beautiful. I like the naturistic walk through a forest with caves and religious statues. I'm not very religious, but walking through here definitely made me feel like I was walking on clouds. The upper level of

I was an alter boy at St Rita's so I did older boy duties here as well I cannot tell you enough how wonderful this place is anyone who wants to get closer to the creator of this world can go there and you will get closer it's beautiful the

Beautiful grounds and a serene setting. I spent a sunny day walking around and had a great time enjoying the fall foliage. Definitely a quiet place meant for reflection, and was very much worth the experience to go to the upstairs garden.

Pretty cool to check out (even since I’m not that religious). $9 gets you the elevator ride to the top.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Very pleasant experience walking around, very friendly staff & the grounds were very well kept
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Very peaceful. Good place to walk in hot days with all the tree cover. Nice grotto, chapel, and cross station stops walking path from the parking lot. Visitor center, store, and bathroom on the ground floor.

Amazing experience. It is ran by a Catholic Church but I think this even is suited for any religion! The price is amazing for the experience, it was BEAUTIFUL, especially the singers. Would recommend it 100%

Cool, quiet place in Summer. Very nice if kids need a little exercise to see the church and stations and some awesome art. (free). The paid tour up to the top, we did not do. Also nice gift shop.

The best pray garden ever! So peaceful and brings such comfort being there.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

Such a solemn place to visit. A priest is available at the Visitor Centre from 3pm-5pm for confessions and blessing of religious articles. If you have time, the garden on top is worth a visit.

Every year I go to the Grotto for their Festival of the Lights during the holiday season. I especially enjoy the variety of choirs performing each night and the outdoor lights are beautiful!

Such a beautiful and peaceful place to visit while in Portland. The lower gardens are free but the upper gardens are worth the visit. Will definitely come back when I am in town again. More

Beautiful place. Probably best to visit in the spring, but was still lovely in the winter. Took the lift up to explore and the meditation room is warm and inviting with a fantastic view.

Beautiful gardens and views. Peaceful.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Very pretty. Will return in the day time and warmer weather to see the rest.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Didn't go up the the botanical garden as it was not free, but just needed a few hours to kill time so took a walk around the trail/path.
Wait time
No wait

Solemn place. Attended the 12 noon mass. Peaceful feeling during my visit.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
Free

Beautiful gardens and statues, very peaceful. I felt the presence of God there. Rain that day made the forest look even more compelling and mysterious.

A must see for anyone who is interested in reflection/self-reflection, meditation, contemplation or has a sense of/for the spiritual.

I went to the Grotto to lite a candle for my mother passing 2 years ago! It is a very peaceful and beautiful place to visit! More

Beautiful and peaceful place to connect to your spiritual side in a serene and inviting natural atmosphere.

Good place for family time. They sing beautifully. Very impressed. Beautiful lanterns. Thank you.

Absolutely had a great time with family at the Grotto. It is a must visit if coming to Portland.

It's a peaceful place and surrounded by nature and large fir trees.