Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Portsmouth travel guide

Portsmouth Tourism | Portsmouth Guide

You're Going to Love Portsmouth

With a population of 194.150, Portsmouth is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Portsmouth deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Portsmouth

If you’re looking for affordable options, Carluccio's - Portsmouth (Unit R20 Blake House) and Compass Rose Chinese Restaurant & Bar (Anchorage RdSywell Cres) are great picks.

When to visit Portsmouth

Portsmouth in March
Estimated hotel price
£65
1 night at 3-star hotel
Portsmouth in March
Estimated hotel price
£65
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Portsmouth

Plane

When flying to Portsmouth, you’ll arrive at Southampton Airport (SOU), which is located 24 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Portsmouth departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Portsmouth to Southampton takes 1h 50m and costs around £37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about £46 for a 2h 19m trip. Located 2.9 km from the city centre, Portsmouth Fratton, Hants is the busiest station in Portsmouth. Another popular train station is Portsmouth Harbour, located 2.6 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Portsmouth is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 101 km from Portsmouth. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Portsmouth using FlixBus or National Express. From Southampton, the bus ride to Portsmouth takes 193 km and will cost you around £7. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £13 for a journey of 233 km. The most popular bus station is Portsmouth Widley, located 5 km from the city centre of Portsmouth. Portsmouth Rudmore Roundabout is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Portsmouth, you’ll arrive at Southampton Airport (SOU), which is located 24 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Portsmouth departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Portsmouth, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Portsmouth to Southampton takes 1h 50m and costs around £37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about £46 for a 2h 19m trip. Located 2.9 km from the city centre, Portsmouth Fratton, Hants is the busiest station in Portsmouth. Another popular train station is Portsmouth Harbour, located 2.6 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Portsmouth is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 101 km from Portsmouth. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Portsmouth using FlixBus or National Express. From Southampton, the bus ride to Portsmouth takes 193 km and will cost you around £7. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £13 for a journey of 233 km. The most popular bus station is Portsmouth Widley, located 5 km from the city centre of Portsmouth. Portsmouth Rudmore Roundabout is also a commonly used station, and is 0.9 km from the city centre.

Airports near Portsmouth

SOUSouthampton Eastleigh
BOHBournemouth

Airlines serving Portsmouth

KLM
Good (1,468 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,840 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,781 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,276 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,247 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,892 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,133 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,744 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,409 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,543 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,540 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,708 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,800 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,424 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,183 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,202 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,471 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (389 reviews)
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Find flights to Portsmouth

Where to stay in Portsmouth

Average rates range from around £80 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £293 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Portsmouth, with prices from £19 to £552 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Portsmouth are about 50% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Portsmouth

Most booked hotels in Portsmouth

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Moxy Southampton
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£56+
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Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£72+
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Portsmouth Marriott Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£64+
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Leonardo Hotel Southampton
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£56+
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Holiday Inn Express Portsmouth - North By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£52+
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Southsea Rocks Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£34+
View

Hiring a car in Portsmouth

Hiring a car in Portsmouth costs £38 per day, on average, or £76 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.33 per litre in Portsmouth (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.90 and £21.20. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Luxury (Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Nissan Juke or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Portsmouth costs £38 per day, on average, or £76 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.33 per litre in Portsmouth (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.90 and £21.20. The most frequently booked car type in Portsmouth is Luxury (Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Nissan Juke or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Portsmouth

Intermediate SUV

5 adults, 3 Bags

£26/day

Intermediate SUV

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

£65/day

Intermediate
Find car hire in Portsmouth