A historic seaport city in New Hampshire with colonial-era buildings and working waterfront. Home to USS Albacore submarine museum and 17th-century Strawbery Banke.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire sits along the Piscataqua River, where 19th-century Federal-style buildings line the streets of its compact downtown. You can tour the USS Albacore submarine, climb the 1878 Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, or step into colonial homes at the Strawbery Banke Museum. The city's 400+ restaurants serve everything from fresh-caught seafood to craft beer, making it a go-to spot for New England dining.
Walking Through Downtown Portsmouth
Market Square forms the heart of downtown, surrounded by red-brick Federal-style buildings from the early 1800s. Small boutiques, art galleries, and cafes occupy the historic townhouses, built after fires destroyed much of the original downtown. During Market Square Day each June, 70,000 visitors gather here for local food vendors, artists' displays, and live music.
Portsmouth's Food Scene
With more than 400 restaurants serving 22,000 residents, you'll find dining options on almost every corner. Local kitchens prepare seafood caught daily at the port, while nearby breweries like Earth Eagle and Smuttynose produce small-batch beers. In November, Restaurant Week brings special menus to establishments across the city.
Maritime Attractions
At the USS Albacore Museum, you can walk through a real submarine that served as a Navy research vessel until 1972. From May through September, climb the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse for views across the Piscataqua River. Watch Moran tugboats guide cargo ships through the river channel, where five million tons of goods move through the port each year.
Historical Buildings and Museums
At the 10-acre Strawbery Banke Museum, you can explore restored homes spanning from 1695 to the 1950s. Each building represents a different architectural period - Colonial, Georgian, and Federal. The 1758 John Paul Jones House and the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, with its yellow clapboard exterior and period furnishings, tell stories of Portsmouth's early American days.
Getting to Portsmouth
The city lies 55 miles north of Boston and 53 miles southwest of Portland, Maine. C&J Bus Lines runs regular service from Boston's Logan International Airport to downtown Portsmouth. If you're driving from Boston, take I-95 North to US-1 BYP N (Exit 5). Once here, you can park your car and walk to most downtown destinations.
