Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a compact river town in New Hampshire, with Colonial streets, harbor walks and a short drive to the Maine coast.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Portsmouth is a small river town in southeastern New Hampshire, a few miles from the Atlantic. It was settled in 1623. Its downtown has Colonial, Georgian and Federal-era houses, and the Piscataqua River separates it from Kittery, Maine.
Most travelers come for the historic core. Market Square, the Strawbery Banke museum neighborhood and the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion cover the town's colonial and early republic history. Strawbery Banke, an outdoor museum of restored houses, is the easiest way to see how people lived here. Restaurants line Market Street near the square, and Prescott Park and the harbor walks suit a slow afternoon by the water. Plan one full day in town and a second for the coast, since Kittery and Hampton Beach are both within a short drive. Walking the streets is most comfortable from late spring to early fall.
Portsmouth in five
- Get an ESTA before you fly inMost visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before boarding, and they must apply on the official CBP site. Visitors from other countries need a visa.Visas and entry
- Price your bill without sales taxNew Hampshire has no general sales tax, so the menu price is close to what you pay before the tip. Tipping is expected at restaurants, usually 15 to 20 percent.
- Rent a car for the beachesDowntown Portsmouth is walkable, but Hampton Beach and the wider coast are spread out. A car makes a beach day much easier.Getting around
- Check Strawbery Banke hours before you goStrawbery Banke is an outdoor history museum of restored houses in a historic neighborhood. Opening days and hours can differ, so check the museum site before you plan the day.
- Cross into Maine for a second statePortsmouth sits across the Piscataqua River from Kittery, Maine, so one trip can cover two states. A bridge links the two towns.
Need to know
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for Visa Waiver visitors; many other passports need a visa Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- 15 to 20% at restaurants and bars is customary
- Time
- UTC-5 Eastern, UTC-4 with daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchThaw, quiet
- AprilSpring, mild
- MaySpring, mild
- JuneLong days
- JulyWarm, busy
- AugustWarm, busy
- SeptemberWarm, quieter
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCool, quiet
- DecemberCold, short days
Right now in Portsmouth
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 25%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Portsmouth
03:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today22°6°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue21°9°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Wed22°11°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu20°12°42%Thursday: Rain. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 42%.
- Fri16°14°59%Friday: Rain. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Sat14°11°62%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 62%.
- Sun14°8°37%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 37%.
Updated 03:04 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Hampton Beachby car, south of townA long sandy beach with arcades and a boardwalk, a short drive south.
- Kittery, Maineacross the river, by bridgeMaine's southern town across the river, with outlet shops and a walk back over the bridge.
- Bostonabout 1 hour by car, longer in trafficA city of museums and harbor walks for a longer day.
Before you go to Portsmouth
Rules for Portsmouth, checked
- Most visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before boarding; apply only on the official CBP site.Source
- Declare all food, plants and animal products on your customs form, and check the current list with CBP before you travel.Source
- The legal drinking age is 21, and bars and shops ask for photo ID.
Plan around Portsmouth
US entry, money and transport for a wider trip
Read the guideNew HampshireThe state, its seacoast and the White Mountains inland
Read the guideGetting aroundCar rental and transport for the seacoast
Read the guideVisas and entryVisa Waiver, ESTA and what to declare
Read the guideWhere to stayInns and guesthouses in and near Portsmouth
Read the guideMoney and costsPrices, tipping and cards for a Portsmouth trip
Read the guidePortsmouth FAQ
Is Portsmouth worth visiting?
Yes, if you like a walkable harbor town with old streets, restaurants and a historic museum. The center is small, so one or two days cover it, plus a beach or Maine side trip.
How do you get to Portsmouth?
Fly into Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, which is small, or into Boston Logan and drive north. The drive from Boston is about an hour without traffic.
Can you visit Portsmouth on a day trip from Boston?
Yes, but it is about an hour each way by car without traffic. Give the center and one beach or Kittery a full day, and expect the drive to take a good part of it.
How many days do you need in Portsmouth?
One day covers the downtown streets, Market Square and Strawbery Banke. Two days let you add the coast beaches or a visit across the river to Kittery, Maine.
Do you need a car in Portsmouth?
Not for the downtown, which is walkable. You need a car for Hampton Beach and the wider coast, since those places are spread out.
When is the best time to visit Portsmouth?
Summer and early autumn are the best months, with warm weather from July to September and fall color in October. Winter is cold and quiet.