Prescott Park
Waterfront gardens across from Strawbery Banke that host a summer arts festival.
Portsmouth community guide
Things to do in Portsmouth
Much of what people love about living in Portsmouth is close to home: the waterfront, historic places, performances and a downtown you can explore on foot.
Waterfront and outdoors
Parks, islands and the coast
The harbor is part of daily life in Portsmouth. These public places are easy to reach from downtown or a short drive away.
Peirce Island and Four Tree Island
City-owned islands with walking paths, picnic areas and harbor views, reached by bridge from the South End.
Odiorne Point State Park
Just over the line in Rye, with rocky shoreline, trails and the Seacoast Science Center.
Urban Forestry Center
Woodland trails and gardens on the south side of the city.
Arts and history
Museums, stages and historic houses
Portsmouth's history is visible downtown, and the city supports a busy performing-arts calendar. Check each organization directly for current schedules.
Strawbery Banke Museum
An outdoor history museum of preserved houses and gardens in the South End.
The Music Hall
A historic downtown theater presenting concerts, films and talks.
Seacoast Repertory Theatre
A downtown theater staging plays and musicals.
Portsmouth Athenaeum
A historic library and museum on Market Square.
Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail
A self-guided trail marking sites of Black history in the city.
Dining and shopping
A walkable downtown
Downtown's restaurants, cafés and independent shops are concentrated around Market Square, Congress Street, Ceres Street and the waterfront. The West End along Islington Street adds more local businesses a short walk from the center. We don't list individual businesses because openings and hours change often.
Visiting first
Planning a scouting trip
If you're considering a move, a weekend visit is a good way to test daily life. Stay near downtown to walk the waterfront, then drive the residential areas with an agent. Summer weekends are the busiest, so shoulder seasons can give a truer picture of year-round life.
More of the Portsmouth guide