Things To Do
Market Square
The heart of downtown, where several walking tours begin, Market Square is a center of activity with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops, and many original 17th-century buildings. *Pro tip: head over to Bow Street to see the tugboats guiding large ships in and out of the working harbor. There are lots of dockside bars and restaurants on the water.
Prescott Park & PP Arts Festival
The 10-acre park contains a variety of individual garden spaces, from the formal plantings around the sculptural elements of the massive waterfront anchor and Cabot Lyford’s “Whale,” to the bed of hostas along the shaded Mechanic Street edge of the garden. In between are the Liberty Gardens, blooming beds of annuals designed and installed by City staff. The Prescott Park Arts Festival is celebrating 51 seasons of presenting music, art, theater, and dance on the banks of the Piscataqua. Click 'VIEW' on the link below for the event schedule on their website.
Strawbery Banke Museum
Step into the past as this property is unique amongst outdoor history museums in preserving a complete neighborhood’s evolution of over 350+ years. The museum is a real community telling the stories where people lived and worked for hundreds of years.
Buoy Shack
Enjoy Maine's freshest lobster roll, packed full with locally caught Maine lobster. Make yourself comfortable, and take in one of Maine's most scenic waterfront views for the ultimate Seacoast New England experience.
Portsmouth Farmers' Market: Saturdays 8:00- 12:00 pm
The Portsmouth Farmers’ Market takes place in the City Hall parking lot overlooking the South Mill Pond. There is also a great playground for kids right across the street! This is the largest of Portsmouth's four summer markets and has an expansive variety of farms, prepared foods, and craft vendors.
Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club
Inspirational jazz and blues paired with fine cuisine, libations, and a lively scene... all in a spectacularly restored local landmark.
The Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH
In 1878, The Music Hall opened its doors as a Vaudeville theater, bringing a fresh cultural vibrancy to the city of Portsmouth. Fast forward 140 years and The Music Hall—now with a second theater—has been pivotal in a revitalization of downtown into one of the most robust arts destinations in New England.
Wallis Sands Beach
Wallis Sands State Beach is a public recreation area located on the Atlantic Ocean, in the town of Rye, NH. The State Park offers a sandy beach with bathhouse, picnicking, and a 500 car pay parking lot. (Note: the seagulls love sandwiches, so hold onto them closely... the sandwiches that is.)
Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park
Located on the rocky coast in historic Odiorne Point State Park, the Seacoast Science Center is a marine education, recreation, and science resource dedicated to inspiring active conservation. SSC features aquariums, indoor touch tanks, interactive exhibits, and naturalist-led programs and events that teach people about the importance of the marine environment so that they are empowered to build a healthier ocean and a better planet.
Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
The narrated cruises are casual, sometimes amusing and always informative. Whether discussing the birdlife of the inland waterways, the folklore of the Isles of Shoals, the ship building history of Portsmouth Harbor, or just musing on the ever-changing tides of the Piscataqua, their captains always have something of interest to offer.
Portsmouth Athenaeum
This library was established in 1817 and has a noteworthy collection of rare and old publications.
Kittery Premium Outlets
Located in Maine's famed outlet shopping district of 120 outlet stores.