Location: Portsmouth
Top Things to do in Portsmouth
Countries
Top 10 Free Things to do in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (NH)
Don your walking shoes, breathe in the ocean air and set out to discover this picturesque maritime town. You can join one of several organized walking tours or explore on your own. Portsmouth is filled with old homes and museums, and you'll have your pick of fascinating historic sites. Climb aboard the USS Albacore, a retired U.S. Navy submarine offering tours and exhibits. View an 18th-century garden, striking stairway and period furniture at the Moffatt Ladd House, the home of William Whipple, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, or follow a costumed guide through the John Paul Jones House, home of the Revolutionary War naval hero. For a broader look at the city's history, visit Strawbery Banke Museum, where over 40 buildings have been assembled to depict Portsmouth life from 1695 to 1950, complete with costumed actors. If you know architecture, Portsmouth's array of Colonial, Federalist and Neo-classical styles will dazzle you. Weary of walking? Sit down for a meal at one of Portsmouth's fine eateries or relax on a narrated harbor or whale-watching cruise.
Restaurants in Portsmouth
1. Diversions Puzzles & Games
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Diversions Puzzles & Games strives to bring the local community together through quality product, excellent service, and engaging game events, encouraging us all to unplug and play a little more! Our flagship location can be found in Portsmouth, New Hampshire - a charming, historical, and creative city on the seacoast! Stop by and check out our famed array of game nights which play host to users from the beginner level on up through the pros. Whether you’re just in an exploratory phase, or you’re looking to connect with your peers that are seasoned players, these game nights will bring the Portsmouth community together in a real, live social setting.
2. G. Willikers Toy Shop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Maurene_K - Dover, United States
In Portsmouth for an afternoon, I got a parking space near G. Willikers! Books & Toys. I decided to go in. The store had lots of games, puzzles, regular and creative toys, coloring books, and children's books as well as onesies for babies, footed pajamas for toddlers, and some costumes. In books, I liked the catchy title “Dragons Like Tacos 2 – The Sequel.” The illustration on the cover showed two dragons, with an arm hooked around the other’s, tossing down tacos. There were many more books for youngsters of all ages. I guessed that there were at least 250 books there. The store carried the Name Train Wooden Railway System which was letters on wheels to make a train. With the former activity area closed for so long, the owners are making plans for a pop-up specialty shop in that space in the back. The owners were very nice and also very helpful. I rate G. Willikers! Books & Toys at 5.0. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.
3. The Salt Cellar
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
The Salt Cellar Store is the only store totally focused and dedicated to salt for people, located at 7 Commercial Alley in Portsmouth, NH. Carrying a full line of gourmet flavored and infused sea salts to enhance recipes, bath and spa products including bath soaks, body butters, salt scrubs, shave creams, aftershaves, and soaps made from materials derived from the Dead Sea, Himalayan Salt Lamps, blocks, home products, and gift sets.
Reviewed By MonicaH1464 - Covington, United States
Love salt, so this was a must see for me. I was pleasantly surprised. There is a wonderful selection por flavored salts, plus gifts and salt related products. They also have a spa where one can schedule time (for a fee) to get a special "salt massage."
4. Portsmouth Historical Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 28 reviews
Founded in 1917, the Portsmouth Historical Society is a nonprofit devoted to the history, arts, and culture of the Portsmouth region, through acquisitions, preservation, museum exhibitions, programs, and publications. It operates the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center and the 1758 John Paul Jones Historic House Museum and Garden, a national historic landmark. The Society also serves as the home of the Portsmouth Advocates for Historic Preservation, and the Portsmouth Marine Society Press.
Reviewed By Maurene_K - Dover, United States
After visiting the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center, I went into the attached Portsmouth Historical Society building to see the 2021 art exhibits. The one on the first floor was titled: Twilight of American Impressionism. The featured artists were Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. Alice Ruggles Sohier was born in Massachusetts. She had an extensive education in art. Among her instructors for advanced studies at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston were Edmund C. Tarbell and Frank Weston Benson. I liked most of her work shown in the exhibit. The oil painting titled Dahlias was my favorite. The yellow dahlias looked so delicate. I also liked the painting titled Yellow Day Lilies. Frederick A. Bosley was from Lebanon, New Hampshire. He also studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts with Edmund C. Tarbell and Frank Weston Benson. Works in this exhibit included portraits and landscapes. Most of his palette was in subdued darker shades, except for the portrait of a woman in a red kimono titled “Elizabeth in Red” which I liked. Bosley's palette was on display in a case. The exhibit upstairs was titled: Don Gorvett: Working Waterfronts. He is a contemporary artist. He does woodcuts and then makes colorized prints from them. The waterfronts were mostly Portsmouth and Ogunquit. There was also a video in which Don Gorvett demonstrated how he does the woodcuts and made his prints. He combines the traditional process with a few procedures he created. I found both exhibits worthwhile. I really liked the Impressionist exhibit. I always find every exhibit that the Portsmouth Historical Society displays to be first-rate. I rate the Portsmouth Historical Society, its John Paul Jones House, its tours, its publications, and these exhibits at 5.0. I highly recommend anything the Society does. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.
5. Portsmouth Harbor Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
A scenic walking route that includes important historic landmarks in the Portsmouth area.
6. St. John's Episcopal Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
An historic stop on the Portsmouth Harbor Trail that contains America's oldest working Brattle organ and a rare copy of the Vinegar Bible.
7. Market Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 728 reviews
The heart of downtown, where several walking tours begin, Market Square is a center of activity with art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, ethnic restaurants and many original 17th-century buildings.
Reviewed By ajayrrs
This is a great place to visit for a quick bite, or take as long as you want with a cup of coffee or drink. The ambiance is great and the location is fantastic.
8. Prescott Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 687 reviews
Reviewed By 721gretchenw
Last night we went for an evening stroll around Portsmouth NH. This town is lovely in the summer. It is full of restaraunts, breweries, clothing boutiques, art galleries, a book store, funky gift shops, etc. On one side of Portsmouth there is a historical village called Strawberry Banke, which has many restored period houses from Portsmouth's fishing village days. Prescott Park has an outdoor performance event in the evenings where families can bring their children(check for the days of the performances). One of our favorite things to do is to walk through the two big flower gardens. One garden is a sunken brick-paved area complete with three fountains and fabulous old curving trees. The other location is a large flat lawn near the harbor and bridge. The flowers are arranged in creative combinations to highlight their colors and shapes. They are also labelled, in case you want to get some of your own! Portsmouth is a haven in summer! So much to experience in a large but walk-able area, with ample parking.
9. Portsmouth Athenaeum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
This library was established in 1817 and has a noteworthy collection of rare and old publications.
Reviewed By thefitchboi - Kittery, United States
All things Portsmouth Historically kept.here! Wikipedia Portsmouth Athenaeum .located in Market Sq operating limited hours it is THE Library of local history a must see!
