New Hampshire · best-of list
15 Top Things to Do in New Hampshire
All 15 things to do our route editors picked in New Hampshire, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect sights and experiences, with New Hampshire contributing the most (6).
Our curated picks
15 things to do in New Hampshire, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
New Hampshire 6 picks
Artist's Bluff
New Hampshire · On our New England Fall Foliage route
Short, steep hike to a ledge over Echo Lake and the notch, a classic foliage photo spot.
Tip: 1.5-mile loop; the lot fills fast, arrive early.
Photo: Atul Nautiyal · Google
Flume Gorge
New Hampshire · On our New England Fall Foliage route
Two-mile loop on boardwalks through a granite gorge with waterfalls and covered bridges.
Tip: Buy timed tickets online in fall; go at opening to beat crowds.
Photo: MyCatIsAChonk · CC BY-SA 4.0
Kancamagus Highway
New Hampshire · On our New England Fall Foliage route
34.5-mile scenic road between Lincoln and Conway with no services and wide overlooks.
Tip: Fill up gas before starting; pull off at Pemigewasset and Sugar Hill overlooks.
Photo: Jon Campbell · Google
Loon Mountain Scenic Gondola
New Hampshire · On our New England Fall Foliage route
12-minute gondola up Loon Peak with an observation tower over 24 of NH's 4,000-footers.
Tip: Runs late May to mid-October; check loonmtn.com/hours.
Photo: R H · Google
Mount Washington Cog Railway
New Hampshire · On our New England Fall Foliage route
Coal and biodiesel trains climbing the steep west face of the Northeast's highest peak since 1869.
Tip: Book ahead and bring layers; summit weather changes fast.
Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sabbaday Falls
New Hampshire · On our New England Fall Foliage route
Easy 0.7-mile walk to a tiered waterfall in a narrow flume off the Kancamagus.
Tip: Recreation pass required for parking along the Kanc.
Photo: Zohar Stup · Google
White Mountains 5 picks
Bretton Woods
White Mountains · On our Stowe, Woodstock & the White Mountains route
New Hampshire's largest ski area, with long cruising runs facing Mount Washington and a big Nordic center.
Tip: The Bethlehem Express summit has the best view of the Presidentials on a clear morning.
Honeymoon Bridge
White Mountains · On our Stowe, Woodstock & the White Mountains route
Red 1876 covered bridge over the Ellis River that serves as the entrance to Jackson village.
Photo: Tony Hisgett · CC BY 2.0Jackson XC
White Mountains · On our Stowe, Woodstock & the White Mountains route
Nonprofit cross-country ski center with a large groomed trail network running right through Jackson village.
Tip: Rent skis at the center on Main Street and ski the river trails; the village inns sit along the network.
Santa's Village
White Mountains · On our Stowe, Woodstock & the White Mountains route
Christmas-themed park in Jefferson, open since 1953, with reindeer, rides and a holiday season of lights.
Tip: Holiday dates are limited to select days from late November to December; check the calendar and buy tickets ahead.
Wildcat Mountain
White Mountains · On our Stowe, Woodstock & the White Mountains route
Ski area in Pinkham Notch with direct views across to Mount Washington and Tuckerman Ravine.
Tip: On the Epic Pass, like Stowe.
Portsmouth 4 picks
Market Square
Portsmouth · On our Boston to Portland route
Brick-lined center of town with shops, cafés and the North Church spire.
Photo: Don Gargano · Google
Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
Portsmouth · On our Boston to Portland route
Narrated harbor and Isles of Shoals cruises from Ceres Street dock.
Photo: Portsmouth Harbor Cruises · Google
Strawbery Banke Museum
Portsmouth · On our Boston to Portland route
Ten acres of restored houses spanning 300 years of a waterfront neighborhood.
Tip: Most houses open May–Oct.
Photo: Rae West · Google
USS Albacore Museum
Portsmouth · On our Boston to Portland route
Walk through a 1953 experimental submarine on dry land.
Photo: Randy Hillebrand · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in New Hampshire?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 15 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of New Hampshire has the most things to do on this list?
New Hampshire has the most (6 of 15), followed by White Mountains (5) and Portsmouth (4).
Are any of these free?
5 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Artist's Bluff, Kancamagus Highway, Sabbaday Falls, Honeymoon Bridge and Market Square. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for New Hampshire
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- New Hampshire 6 on this list
- White Mountains 5 on this list
- Portsmouth 4 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.