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. Consider staying at least one whole day in Portsmouth to see all of its attractions.

Article

Where to Eat in Portsmouth

If you’re looking for affordable options, Jumpin Jays Fish Cafe (150 Congress Street) and Black Trumpet (29 Ceres St Portsmouth NH) are great picks.

When to visit Portsmouth

Portsmouth in December
Estimated hotel price
$146
1 night at 3-star hotel
Portsmouth in December
Estimated hotel price
$146
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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 3h 13m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to Providence takes 0h 45m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $22 for a 4h 09m 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 Peter Pan Bus Lines, OurBus and CoachRun. From New York, the bus ride to Portsmouth takes 235 miles and will cost you around $41. From Rensselaer, the ticket costs about $32 for a journey of 305 miles. 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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 3h 13m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to Providence takes 0h 45m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New York, expect to pay about $22 for a 4h 09m 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 Peter Pan Bus Lines, OurBus and CoachRun. From New York, the bus ride to Portsmouth takes 235 miles and will cost you around $41. From Rensselaer, the ticket costs about $32 for a journey of 305 miles. 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

Airlines serving Portsmouth

Lufthansa
Good (7,409 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,386 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,367 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,961 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,737 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,966 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,925 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,925 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,339 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,622 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (850 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,156 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,486 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,117 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,251 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,896 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,324 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (998 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (359 reviews)
Show more

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.

Where to stay in popular areas of Portsmouth

Most booked hotels in Portsmouth

The Inn at Rye Place
2 stars
Excellent (9.5, 577 reviews)
$151+
Rye Motor Inn
0 stars
Excellent (9.5, 83 reviews)
$295+
Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth/Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 1160 reviews)
$165+
Hampton Inn & Suites Kittery-Portsmouth
2 stars
Excellent (8.5, 443 reviews)
$174+
Kittery Inn and Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.4, 982 reviews)
$80+
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Portsmouth
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1357 reviews)
$101+

Renting a car in Portsmouth

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $66 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Premium (Class Premium SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard rental cars (Ford Mustang Mach-E or similar) are, on average, 52% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $66 per day, on average.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Premium (Class Premium SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard rental cars (Ford Mustang Mach-E or similar) are, on average, 52% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Portsmouth Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Portsmouth city guide for the best Portsmouth travel tips. To help you organize your Portsmouth trip ideas, this Portsmouth visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.