Portsmouth, NH Vacation House Rentals

Portsmouth offers standout family attractions including the USS Albacore submarine, Strawberry Banke Museum, and free outdoor performances at Prescott Park. The USS Albacore at Albacore Park is a self-guided tour through a real decommissioned Navy submarine where kids can explore the control room, look through the periscope, and hear recordings from crew members who served aboard. Strawbery Banke Museum offers costumed guides, hands-on craft demonstrations, and live animals across its 9.5-acre outdoor campus, and each ticket is valid for two consecutive days. Prescott Park Arts Festival runs free outdoor performances all summer, including kid-friendly shows and family nights on the waterfront stage. For a short drive, the Seacoast Science Center in Rye offers touch tanks and interactive marine exhibits at Odiorne Point State Park, and the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is worth the 20-minute trip for younger children.

The best outdoor activities in Portsmouth include harbor cruises, coastal bike tours, and waterfront walking along the Piscataqua River. The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company offers narrated tours ranging from a scenic harbor loop to a full-day excursion to Star Island, while Portsmouth Harbor Cruises covers the river's maritime history and local lighthouses. For those who prefer land, guided and self-guided bike tours trace the coastline from Portsmouth to New Castle with stops at scenic overlooks and historic landmarks. Prescott Park's waterfront paths offer easy strolling with great views, and Odiorne Point State Park in nearby Rye provides rocky coastal trails, tidal pools, and open water vistas just ten minutes from downtown.

Portsmouth is widely regarded as one of New England's best dining cities, with top picks including Black Trumpet, The Library Restaurant, Moxy, Ristorante Massimo, and Mamma Luca. Black Trumpet on Ceres Street is a harbor-view bistro known for its seasonal New American menu and acclaimed wine list. The Library Restaurant on State Street is the go-to for upscale dining, set inside a beautifully preserved historic building with a reputation for prime steaks and live jazz. Moxy and Cava Tapas and Wine Bar are both strong choices for a more casual but inventive evening, with creative small-plate menus and vibrant atmospheres. Ristorante Massimo in a candlelit brick cellar off Penhallow Street delivers a refined Italian experience that locals consistently recommend for date nights. Mamma Luca on State Street is a newer addition to the Portsmouth dining scene, an Italian pizzeria, cucina, and bar from acclaimed Chef Mario LaPosta, earning strong early reviews for its wood-fired pizza, housemade pasta, and warm atmosphere. Reservations are encouraged at most spots, especially on weekends.

Guided historical walking tours in Portsmouth are offered by the Portsmouth Historical Society, the Portsmouth Harbour Trail, and the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. The Portsmouth Historical Society runs narrated tours from May through October, departing from 10 Middle Street and covering colonial architecture, merchant history, and Revolutionary War connections, with advance booking encouraged. Portsmouth Harbour Trail tours depart from the Market Square information kiosk from Memorial Day through mid-September, following a waterfront route through four centuries of local history. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire offers guided tours focused on the stories of African Americans in Portsmouth, from enslaved residents to freedom petitioners whose history runs throughout the downtown streets. For something more atmospheric, New England Curiosities runs a popular haunted history walking tour through Portsmouth's South End and historic district.

Portsmouth's top confirmed-open breweries include Earth Eagle Tavern, Liars Bench Beer Co., and Loaded Question Brewing, all operating in or near downtown. Earth Eagle Tavern on High Street, just a short walk from Market Square, is one of the city's oldest operating breweries with an outdoor beer garden and a rotating lineup of creative drafts. Liars Bench Beer Co. on Islington Street is an independently owned brewery, restaurant, and beer garden housed in a converted warehouse in Portsmouth's West End, open seven days a week with a full food menu and ever-rotating tap list. Loaded Question Brewing, also on Islington Street, rounds out the neighborhood with a welcoming taproom and an ever-changing draft selection rooted in both traditional styles and creative twists. For a unique experience slightly outside the city, Throwback Brewery in North Hampton operates out of a working 1860s farm, pairing locally sourced beers with farm-fresh food in a genuinely scenic setting.