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 3 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Portsmouth departs from Raleigh and takes around 1h 55m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to New Haven takes 2h 49m and costs around $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $22 for a 3h 58m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Portsmouth is to pick up a car rental from Boston, which is about 51 miles 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, CoachRun and Concord Coach Lines. The most popular bus station is Portsmouth Bus Station, located 2 miles from downtown Portsmouth. Portsmouth Hanover Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Portsmouth, you’ll arrive at Portsmouth Pease Intl (PSM), which is located 3 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Portsmouth departs from Raleigh and takes around 1h 55m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to New Haven takes 2h 49m and costs around $17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $22 for a 3h 58m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Portsmouth is to pick up a car rental from Boston, which is about 51 miles 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, CoachRun and Concord Coach Lines. The most popular bus station is Portsmouth Bus Station, located 2 miles from downtown Portsmouth. Portsmouth Hanover Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Portsmouth

BOSBoston Logan Intl
PWMPortland
MHTManchester

Airlines serving Portsmouth

KLM
Good (1,467 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,828 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,778 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,258 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,244 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,889 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,133 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,403 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,542 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,746 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,539 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,703 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,780 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,183 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,370 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,424 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,193 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (389 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,992 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 $58 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 232% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Portsmouth

Most booked hotels in Portsmouth

See all
The Water Street Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9, 176 reviews)
$108+
View
Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth/Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1182 reviews)
$110+
View
Kittery Inn and Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1065 reviews)
$67+
View
Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 603 reviews)
$107+
View
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Portsmouth
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1372 reviews)
$61+
View
Hilton Garden Inn Portsmouth Downtown
3 stars
Good (7.7, 734 reviews)
$107+
View

Renting a car in Portsmouth

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $58 per day, on average, or $116 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 2% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $3.29 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 $39.52 and $52.69. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Kia Sportage or similar) are, on average, 60% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $58 per day, on average, or $116 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 2% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $3.29 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 $39.52 and $52.69. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Kia Sportage or similar) are, on average, 60% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Portsmouth

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$40/day

Intermediate

Compact SUV

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$41/day

Compact SUV
Find car rentals in Portsmouth