White Mountains
Franconia Ridge Loop
The state's signature hike: 8.6 miles over three summits with a long above-treeline traverse. Serious exposure — only in good weather.
Attractions & activities
Things to do in New Hampshire
Organised by what you actually want from the day — outdoor effort, family logistics, history, food, a good drive, or snow.
Filter by what you want
Pick a category to narrow the list. Every entry names the region it sits in so you can see what clusters together.
Franconia Notch
Flume Gorge
A 90-foot granite chasm with a two-mile boardwalk loop. Timed tickets essential in summer and foliage season.
Details
Mount Washington
Cog Railway
The world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, running since 1869, up the steepest grade of its kind anywhere.
Details
Route 112
Kancamagus Highway
34 miles between Lincoln and Conway with no services and no billboards. Allow three to four hours with stops.
Foliage guide
Lakes Region
Lake Winnipesaukee cruise
The MS Mount Washington runs scenic, brunch and sunset cruises from Weirs Beach on a 72-square-mile lake.
Lakes guide
Squam Lake
Paddle Squam
Nine miles of underdeveloped shoreline, much of it protected. Canoe and kayak hire from several points on the shore.
Portsmouth
Strawbery Banke
Ten acres and thirty-odd buildings covering four centuries of one waterfront neighbourhood. Allow two to three hours.
Details
Portsmouth
Harbour and Market Square
Walk the waterfront, Prescott Park and the 18th-century North End streets. Free, and best in the late afternoon.
Seacoast guide
Hampton
Hampton Beach
Sand, boardwalk, arcades and the bandstand. Busy and cheerful in July, windswept and empty in October.
Seacoast guide
Jefferson
Santa's Village
A long-running Christmas-themed park in the Great North Woods aimed squarely at younger children. Seasonal, generally summer through December.
North Conway
Conway Scenic Railroad
Heritage trains into Crawford Notch and along the Saco valley. The Notch Train is the long, scenic option.
Holderness
Squam Lakes Science Center
A small natural history centre with live otters, raptors and a trail network. Genuinely good for children.
Statewide
Covered bridges
New Hampshire has dozens. The Cornish–Windsor span over the Connecticut is the longest; the Albany and Swift River bridges are easiest to combine with a mountain drive.
Manchester
The Millyard
A mile of textile mills that once formed the largest such complex in the world, now refilled with breweries, offices and a science centre.
Region guide
Concord
New Hampshire State House
A working legislature in a granite building with a 24-karat gold dome. Open to visitors on weekdays.
Hanover
Hood Museum of Art
Dartmouth's teaching museum, free to enter, strong in Indigenous American art and works on paper.
Details
Seacoast
Lobster rolls & steamers
Cold with mayonnaise or warm with butter — both are correct, and locals will argue. Order whole-belly fried clams, not strips.
Statewide
Craft breweries
New Hampshire's brewery scene is concentrated in the Millyard and around North Conway, often in converted industrial or agricultural buildings.
Monadnock
Apple picking & cider
Late August through October, peaking in September. Cider doughnuts are the actual reason people go.
Region guide
Statewide
Maple sugaring
Late February into April, small operations open their doors. Many serve syrup on snow or in a sugar-on-snow party.
Spring guide
Route 302
Crawford Notch
The most underrated notch: a long valley with the grand Mount Washington Hotel at its head and Arethusa Falls nearby.
Upper Valley
Connecticut River valley
Follow the river roads for covered bridges, the Saint-Gaudens site and some of the quietest foliage driving in the state.
Route 3
Route 3 north
Colebrook to the Canadian border, along the Connecticut Lakes. Fill the tank first and download offline maps.
Region guide
Bretton Woods
Skiing & riding
Bretton Woods, Loon, Cannon and Attitash are all within an hour. Sunapee and Pat's Peak serve day-trippers from Boston.
Winter guide
Statewide
Nordic skiing
Groomed centres at Great Glen, Jackson, Bretton Woods and Waterville, plus extensive backcountry routes.
Crawford Notch
Ice climbing
Frankenstein Cliff and the flume areas are established ice routes. Guides are strongly recommended for anyone new to it.
Mount Washington
Snow train
The Cog Railway runs winter trips partway up the mountain, which is the only mechanised access to the alpine zone in winter.
Lakes
Swimming & lake beaches
Ellacoya State Park, Weirs Beach and Newfound Lake's Wellington beach are the reliable public options.
Lakes guide
Monadnock
Mount Monadnock
One of the most-climbed mountains in the world: 3,165 feet, a bare rocky summit, and 100-mile views.
Trails
Statewide
Waterfalls
Arethusa Falls is the tallest single drop; Sabbaday, Glen Ellis and Diana's Baths are the easiest to reach.
Field notes
Campus
College town wandering
Dartmouth's green in Hanover and UNH's campus in Durham both anchor walkable towns worth a few hours.
Colleges guide
Lakes
The mailboat
The M/V Sophie C has delivered post to Winnipesaukee's islands since 1916. Two and a half hours, and the least touristy way to see the lake.
Statewide
Village main streets
Peterborough, New London, Wolfeboro and Meredith all reward an unhurried hour of browsing.
Route 1A
Coastal Route 1A
Hampton to Portsmouth along the rocks, past Odiorne Point and the harbour lights. Best at sunset.
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FAQ
Quick questions
What is the single best thing to do in New Hampshire?
Driving the Kancamagus Highway, or taking the Cog Railway up Mount Washington. Both give you the state's signature landscape with minimal effort, and both are at their best from late September to early October.
What can I do for free?
Hiking, scenic drives and town walks are mostly free. The Hood Museum in Hanover and Prescott Park in Portsmouth cost nothing, and many state forests have no parking fee.
How many days do I need?
Three days for one region properly, five for two. See the itineraries for worked examples.
Put it in an order
Once you know what you want to do, the itineraries page shows how to sequence it.