Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
You are likely to spend some time in the ports where your voyage begins or ends. These are not just points of arrival and departure. They are places worth exploring in their own right. Allowing an extra day ashore often adds depth to the whole sailing experience, as well as acting as a time buffer, should your travel plans or voyage encounter a slight delay.
Portsmouth sits at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, one of the fastest flowing navigable rivers in North America. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited ports in the United States, with a working harbour that has supported fishing, trade, and naval shipbuilding for more than three centuries. The town remains compact and walkable, with historic streets running directly down to the water, making it an easy and rewarding place to explore before or after a voyage.
Keeping in Touch
The exact berth of your vessel may not be confirmed until closer to your joining date. You will be informed by email once the location is finalised. It is sensible to keep the ship’s mobile or cell phone number with you in case of travel delays or last minute changes.
What to Do in Portsmouth
Historic Waterfront and Market Square
Portsmouth’s historic centre revolves around Market Square and the surrounding waterfront streets. Brick warehouses, former chandlers and merchants’ houses now contain bookshops, galleries, cafés and small independent shops. The area is lively without being overwhelming, and everything is within easy walking distance.
Strawbery Banke Museum
Just south of the waterfront lies Strawbery Banke, an open air museum preserving Portsmouth’s earliest neighbourhood. Restored houses and gardens trace everyday life from the 1600s through to the 20th century. It is one of the most informative ways to understand the town’s maritime and social history. The museum is seasonal, so opening dates should be checked in advance.
Piscataqua River and Harbour Walks
Walking along the river reveals how closely Portsmouth is tied to the water. The Harbour Trail links key historic sites and viewpoints along the Piscataqua, offering insight into shipbuilding, trade and naval activity. Even a short stroll along the waterfront gives a clear sense of the strong tidal flow and working nature of the river.
Prescott Park and the Riverfront
Prescott Park sits directly on the river’s edge and provides a quiet green space with views across to Maine. In warmer months it hosts outdoor performances through the Prescott Park Arts Festival. At any time of year it is a good place to pause and watch traffic moving through the harbour.
Naval and Maritime History
Portsmouth’s naval heritage remains visible. Albacore Park, home to the preserved USS Albacore submarine, is open to visitors and offers a self guided tour that gives a clear picture of Cold War era naval technology. Closer to the centre, memorials and historic churches reflect the town’s long relationship with the sea and the navy.
Food, Drink and Everyday Portsmouth
Seafood features strongly, as expected, but Portsmouth also has a broad mix of small restaurants, bakeries and cafés. New Hampshire has no general sales tax, which makes browsing local shops and galleries slightly easier on the wallet. The town feels lived in rather than staged, which suits sailors looking for somewhere straightforward and characterful.
What Makes Portsmouth Stand Out
Portsmouth combines the feel of a historic seaport with the ease of a small, walkable town. It remains a working harbour, shaped by strong tides and long maritime traditions. For sailors, it offers context rather than spectacle, a place where the relationship between town and sea is still visible and relevant.
