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 Raleigh and takes around 1h 54m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to Providence takes 0h 51m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bridgeport, expect to pay about $22 for a 3h 02m 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. From New York, the bus ride to Portsmouth takes 378 km and will cost you around $68. From Philadelphia, the ticket costs about $20 for a journey of 740 km. 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 Raleigh and takes around 1h 54m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Acela. The train journey from Portsmouth to Providence takes 0h 51m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bridgeport, expect to pay about $22 for a 3h 02m 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. From New York, the bus ride to Portsmouth takes 378 km and will cost you around $68. From Philadelphia, the ticket costs about $20 for a journey of 740 km. 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

Airlines serving Portsmouth

Lufthansa
Good (7,956 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,508 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,929 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,466 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,343 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,924 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,202 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,580 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (911 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,672 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,568 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,762 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,726 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,975 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,192 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (404 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,223 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,434 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,304 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. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Portsmouth, with prices from $69 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 214% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Portsmouth

Most booked hotels in Portsmouth

Hampton Inn & Suites Portsmouth/Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (9, 1190 reviews)
$132+
The Water Street Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9, 177 reviews)
$126+
Kittery Inn and Suites
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 1074 reviews)
$77+
Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 607 reviews)
$109+
Fairfield Inn by Marriott Portsmouth Seacoast
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 337 reviews)
$123+
Port Inn and Suites Portsmouth, an Ascend Collection Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.8, 1215 reviews)
$81+

Renting a car in Portsmouth

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $66 per day, on average, or $133 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 7% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $4.39 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 $52.69 and $70.26. 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 Economy rental cars (Honda CR-Z or similar) are, on average, 53% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Portsmouth costs $66 per day, on average, or $133 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 7% cheaper than airport locations in Portsmouth.

Expect to pay $4.39 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 $52.69 and $70.26. 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 Economy rental cars (Honda CR-Z or similar) are, on average, 53% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.