Home › The Guild Travel Library › United States › New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated August 2026
The Granite State · Capital: Concord · The Northeast
The White Mountains, no sales tax and the classic New England fall.
Why go
What makes New Hampshire worth the trip.
White Mountains
Mount Washington and dramatic notch drives.
Fall foliage
Some of the most vivid autumn colour in the country.
Tax-free
No sales tax makes shopping a bargain.
New Hampshire on the map
The capital and the places worth building a trip around. Click a marker for a quick note and hotels.
New Hampshire — State Facts
A short history
The Abenaki and Pennacook peoples lived across present-day New Hampshire long before English settlers established fishing and trading posts at Portsmouth in the 1620s, making it one of the earliest colonized areas in North America. Timber, fishing, and shipbuilding built early prosperity along the coast, while inland towns grew around textile mills powered by the state's rivers.
New Hampshire was the first colony to declare independence from British rule in January 1776 and became the ninth state to ratify the US Constitution in 1788, the deciding vote that put it into effect. The White Mountains later drew some of America's earliest tourists, and the state's grand hotels and rail lines catered to Gilded Age vacationers escaping summer heat.
Today New Hampshire is known for its lack of a sales or income tax, its first-in-the-nation presidential primary, and spectacular autumn foliage across the White Mountains. Portsmouth's colonial seaport has become a lively dining destination, while Lake Winnipesaukee and the ski resorts sustain a strong year-round tourism economy.
New Hampshire held the very first primary in every presidential election cycle since 1920, a tradition locals guard fiercely, and the Old Man of the Mountain rock formation was such a beloved symbol it appeared on the state quarter — right up until it collapsed in 2003.
Where to go
The signature places to build a trip around.
Concord
New Hampshire's capital, a compact city on the Merrimack River with a gold-domed statehouse.
Selected hotels
White Mountains
The Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch.
Selected hotels
Mount Washington
The Northeast's highest peak, by cog railway or auto road.
Selected hotels
Lake Winnipesaukee
A big, island-dotted summer lake.
Selected hotels
Portsmouth
A handsome colonial seaport with a great food scene.
Selected hotels
Drive the Kancamagus Highway on a weekday morning in early October, before the leaf-peeper buses show up, and pull off at Sabbaday Falls — it's a ten-minute walk from the road and half the tour groups don't even know it's there.
When to go
September–October for foliage; winter for skiing.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and snowy, excellent for skiing at resorts throughout the White Mountains.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mud season gives way to mild green landscapes; a quieter time for visitors.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm and pleasant, ideal for Lake Winnipesaukee and hiking Mount Washington.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Peak foliage season brings vivid colour and busy roads through the notches, especially the Kancamagus Highway.
New Hampshire FAQ
What is the capital of New Hampshire?
Concord is the capital of New Hampshire.
What is the largest city in New Hampshire?
Manchester is the largest city in New Hampshire.
When did New Hampshire become a state?
New Hampshire became the 9th U.S. state on June 21, 1788.
What is New Hampshire known for?
New Hampshire is known for the White Mountains, no sales tax and the classic New England fall.
When is the best time to visit New Hampshire?
September–October for foliage; winter for skiing.
Plan your New Hampshire trip
Browse hotels and flights through the Guild's travel partner, and explore more of the United States.
All of the USA The Travel Library