Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Portsmouth travel guide

Portsmouth Tourism | Portsmouth Guide

You're Going to Love Portsmouth

With a population of 20,779, Portsmouth is a must-see destination in New Hampshire, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Portsmouth deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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Where to Eat in Portsmouth

If you’re looking for affordable options, Cure Restaurant (189 State St) and Toscana Chop House (3 Pleasant St.) are great picks.

When to visit Portsmouth

Portsmouth in January
Estimated hotel price
$124
1 night at 3-star hotel
Portsmouth in January
Estimated hotel price
$124
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Portsmouth in July, when the average temperature is 69.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 78.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 15.8 °F, with an average temperature of 24.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 5.1″. In contrast, August is usually the driest month of the year in Portsmouth, with an average rainfall of 2.2″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Portsmouth

Plane

When flying to Portsmouth, you’ll arrive at Portsmouth Pease Intl (PSM), which is located 5 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Portsmouth departs from Atlanta and takes around 2h 30m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to Wells takes 1h 51m and costs around $25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New Haven, expect to pay about $17 for a 2h 33m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Portsmouth is to pick up a car rental from Boston, which is about 83 km from Portsmouth. You’ll find branches of Turo and Movly, among others, in Boston.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Portsmouth, including OurBus, FlixBus and CoachRun. The most popular bus station is Portsmouth Bus Station, located 4 km from downtown Portsmouth. Portsmouth Hanover Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Portsmouth, you’ll arrive at Portsmouth Pease Intl (PSM), which is located 5 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Portsmouth departs from Atlanta and takes around 2h 30m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to Wells takes 1h 51m and costs around $25 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New Haven, expect to pay about $17 for a 2h 33m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Portsmouth is to pick up a car rental from Boston, which is about 83 km from Portsmouth. You’ll find branches of Turo and Movly, among others, in Boston.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Portsmouth, including OurBus, FlixBus and CoachRun. The most popular bus station is Portsmouth Bus Station, located 4 km from downtown Portsmouth. Portsmouth Hanover Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 km from the city center.

Airports near Portsmouth

BOSBoston Logan Intl
PWMPortland
MHTManchester

Airlines serving Portsmouth

Lufthansa
Good (7,979 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,510 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,952 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,456 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,355 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,937 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,212 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,585 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (915 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,693 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,572 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,771 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,003 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,193 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (406 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,245 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,434 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,319 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Portsmouth

Where to stay in Portsmouth

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Howard Johnson by Wyndham Portsmouth and Anchorage Inn and Suites. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Portsmouth, with prices from $85 to $514 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Portsmouth are about 176% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Portsmouth

Most booked hotels in Portsmouth

See all
Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth/Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (9, 1189 reviews)
$136+
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The Water Street Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9, 177 reviews)
$149+
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Hampton Inn & Suites Kittery-Portsmouth
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 481 reviews)
$115+
View
Kittery Inn and Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1075 reviews)
$100+
View
Fairfield Inn by Marriott Portsmouth Seacoast
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 338 reviews)
$128+
View
Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 607 reviews)
$115+
View

Renting a car in Portsmouth

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $66 per day, on average, or $132 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 11% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Portsmouth (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Honda CR-Z or similar) are, on average, 57% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $66 per day, on average, or $132 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 11% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Portsmouth (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Standard (Toyota Tacoma or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Honda CR-Z or similar) are, on average, 57% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Portsmouth

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$44/day

Intermediate SUV

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$52/day

Economy
Find car rentals in Portsmouth