Welcome to Portsmouth, Virginia, a historic, maritime city first settled in 1636. A bustling seaport, Portsmouth is known for its diversity of attractions, shops, and restaurants along with a vibrant visual and musical arts scene. It’s a great place to unwind in the heart of Hampton Roads.
Location
Portsmouth is a laid-back, peaceful, historic city in the heart of metropolitan Hampton Roads. The ocean is only 30 minutes away, downtown Norfolk is a 5-minute ferry ride across the Elizabeth River, and Colonial Williamsburg is a quick 45-minutes just up the road.
Dive into Portsmouth History
Portsmouth history is American history. With over three centuries of contributions to this nation, Portsmouth is a testament of what a community can do to insure freedom and democracy. The city is home to Revolutionary War heroes, engineers of the underground railroad, technological visionaries, and captains of industry. Learn more about who we are as a people by learning more about Portsmouth history.
Explore Portsmouth’s Neighborhoods
Portsmouth’s first and oldest neighborhood is Olde Towne. Our off-beat and friendly city center, is easily walkable and accessible by car or by boat. When you’re done exploring all that Olde Towne has to offer, take a ride and shop in Midtown, explore Churchland’s Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, visit Victory Crossing’s bustling businesses, walk around the historic homes in Port Norfolk or any of our other authentic neighborhoods new and old to see what other local places you can discover.
