The town was established in 1752, and it was named for Portsmouth, England. Portsmouth's Olde Towne Historic District has one of the largest collections of historically significant homes in the United States. The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth near the historic district was built in 1827, and it's the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system. Portsmouth is a great place to learn about history and enjoy the outdoors. You can choose a luxury resort, an inexpensive place to stay, or a mid-range hotel with plenty of amenities. Once you find the right hotel, you can focus on having fun in Portsmouth.
When to Visit Portsmouth, VA
The best time to visit Portsmouth is in summer, when you can enjoy hiking, bird watching, golfing, kayaking, and lots of fun annual events. Summer is also the hardest time to get a good deal on a hotel room, so you should make your reservations as soon as possible to get the best price.
The Gosport Arts Festival in early May features 80 juried artists, art demonstrations, live music, food, a children's area, and a silent auction. You can also see the Seawall Art Show near the end of August. It's a juried arts and fine crafts show with 80 to 90 artists, oil paintings, wood carving, art glass, fine jewelry, and pottery. There's also a student art show and entertainment.
The Umoja Festival in late May celebrates African culture. Umoja means unity, and visitors can enjoy traditional art, live music, entertainment, and food. Just a few days later, there's a Memorial Day Parade with floats, marching bands, and more. The Seawall Music Festival in June offers free waterfront concerts, family festivities, and fireworks.
The BioBlitz is also in June. You can join area scientists to identify and count all the wildlife in Paradise Creek Nature Park, including birds, trees, wildflowers, insects, and fish. Kids are welcome at this free event. The weather is still nice in Portsmouth in spring and fall, and if you're not planning on going to a summer event, you can find a better deal on a hotel room then.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Portsmouth, VA:
Portsmouth, VA: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. rate trends by star rating class in Portsmouth, VA. Browse these charts to evaluate the cheapest dates to stay in Portsmouth for any future trips.
Luxury Hotel Options in Portsmouth, VA
4 Star Average Prices: £96.06
Portsmouth also has several luxury hotels with lots of convenient amenities. The Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel in Norfolk is right across the river from Portsmouth. It's close to the Waterside Festival Marketplace and Town Point Park. Many of the rooms have separate living areas, and they all have flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, free toiletries, and hair dryers.
You can also enjoy a fitness center, an outdoor pool, dry cleaning and laundry service, complimentary newspapers, a gift shop, a restaurant, a bar, a 24-hour front desk, a 24-hour business center, and 35,000 square feet of conference space and meeting rooms. Pets are welcome and breakfast and valet parking are available for extra fees. Kids 12 and younger can stay with their parents free.
Hyatt Place Chesapeake is only about 5 miles from the center of Portsmouth, near Greenbrier Mall and Oak Grove Lake Park. The rooms offer separate living areas, refrigerators, flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, free toiletries, and hair dryers. Other amenities include complimentary newspapers and breakfasts, an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry service, a coffee shop, a bar, a business center, a free roundtrip airport shuttle, and over 1100 square feet of conference space and meeting rooms. Pets are welcome for an extra fee.
Affordable Hotel Options in Portsmouth, VA
3 Star Average Prices: £96.35
There are plenty of affordable hotels near Portsmouth. Rodeway Inn Near Naval Hospital is close to the Children's Museum of Virginia and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The rooms feature refrigerators, microwaves, complimentary wireless internet access, and cable TVs. You can also enjoy a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a complimentary breakfast buffet, free coffee and newspapers in the lobby, dry cleaning, and laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff. Pets are welcome for an extra fee, and kids 18 and younger can stay with their parents free.
Days Inn Chesapeake Portsmouth is a few miles away from the center of Portsmouth near Frank D. Lawrence Stadium and the Commodore Theatre. The rooms have refrigerators, microwaves, complimentary wireless internet access, cable TVs, desks, and coffee makers. There's also a complimentary continental breakfast, free newspapers in the lobby, and a 24-hour front desk. Up to two children, 12 and younger can stay with their parents free, and cribs or rollaway beds are available for an extra fee.
2 Star Average Prices: £57.33
Best Discounts in Portsmouth, VA
If you pick the right place to stay, you can save money by taking advantage of the discounts available. Comfort Inn Olde Town is just a few minutes from the Commodore Theatre and the Children's Museum of Virginia. AAA members, seniors 60 and over, and AARP members can save up to 10 percent. Military veterans, active members of the military, government employees, and their families can also get a special discount, along with many business travelers. Children 18 and younger can share a room with their parents or grandparents free.
The rooms in Comfort Inn Olde Town feature refrigerators, microwaves, Tempur-Pedic beds, sofa beds, complimentary wired and wireless internet access, flat-screen cable TVs, safes, and desks. There's also an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a complimentary breakfast buffet, free newspapers and coffee in the lobby, a 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities.
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Norfolk Airport is about 5 miles from the middle of Portsmouth, close to the Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center. AAA members get 5 percent off and AARP members can save up to 5 percent as well. Seniors 65 and over also save at least 5 percent, and groups that use 10 rooms or more can save up to 25 percent.
The rooms offer large flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wireless internet access, desks, pillowtop beds comes with down comforters, game consoles, designer toiletries, and hair dryers. Other features include an outdoor pool, an indoor pool, landscaped gardens, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour front desk with multilingual staff, a hair salon, dry cleaning and laundry service, a restaurant, a bar, a gift shop, a complimentary area shuttle that operates within 3 miles, 10000 square feet of conference space with 11 meeting rooms, and wedding services. You even get a free chocolate chip cookie when you check in.
Best Value Options in Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth has several mid-range hotels where you can get a great value for your money and enjoy lots of amenities. Residence Inn Norfolk Downtown is about 5 miles away from the middle of Portsmouth, a few minutes from the Hunter House Victorian Museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art. The rooms have separate sitting areas and full-sized kitchens with refrigerators, freezers, and stove tops.
You can also enjoy complimentary wireless internet access, cable TVs, free newspapers in the lobby, free breakfasts, free grocery deliveries, an indoor pool, a fitness center, a snack bar and deli, a business center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry services. Pets are welcome for an extra fee, and free socials for guests with food and drinks are held every evening.
Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown is only about a mile from the center of Portsmouth, close to the Harrison Opera House and the Moses Myers House. The rooms feature Select Comfort beds, complimentary wireless internet access, cable TVs, free toiletries, and hair dryers. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour business center, a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning and laundry services, a gift shop, a picnic area, a restaurant, a bar, and 15,000 square feet of conference space and meeting rooms. Pets are allowed and full breakfasts are available for extra fees. Up to two kids, 17 and younger can stay with their parents free.
Top Attractions in Portsmouth, VA
Wherever you decide to stay in Portsmouth, you'll be near many of the city's top attractions. Visit Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, Virginia's only urban wildlife preserve, for bird watching, canoeing, kayaking, and more. The Children's Museum of Virginia has a variety of interactive, educational exhibits. There's also a gift shop, and it's a great place for birthday parties. At the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, you can drive a NASCAR simulator, practice pitching, or see what it's like to be a sports broadcaster.
Portsmouth has great food, fun entertainment, and beautiful scenery. Whether you're looking for a relaxing luxury resort, an inexpensive place to stay, or a great deal on a mid-range room, you can find a hotel that meets your needs and your budget in Portsmouth.
FAQs about hotels in Portsmouth