Free Hillsborough County Travel Guide & Mobile App

Explore Hillsborough County with free travel guides. Discover regional history, expert tips, proposed trips, and audio guides on web or mobile app.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play Download the Free PDF guide
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County photo 2
Hillsborough County photo 3
All photos

Hillsborough County pairs Manchester and Nashua's mill heritage with New Hampshire countryside, village centres, farms and wooded upland trails.

Hillsborough County occupies southern New Hampshire between the Merrimack River and the Massachusetts border, combining New England cities with wooded hills, old farms and small village centres. It is the state's most populous county and includes Manchester and Nashua, as well as communities such as Amherst, Bedford, Derry, Hollis, Milford, Peterborough and the county seat, Hillsborough. The landscape changes noticeably from the broad river corridor and dense urban districts in the east to rolling countryside and upland forests in the west.
Read more about Hillsborough County
Manchester is the county's industrial and cultural centre. Its Amoskeag Millyard, built around the immense textile complex beside the Merrimack, preserves the scale of the nineteenth-century manufacturing city while now accommodating museums, arts venues, restaurants and offices. The Currier Museum of Art, the Millyard Museum and the SEE Science Center add distinctive cultural depth. Nashua, farther south on the Merrimack, developed around textile manufacturing too, but its downtown has a different character, with a compact historic core, canals, independent businesses and access to Mine Falls Park.
Beyond the cities, Hillsborough County offers a quieter southern New Hampshire landscape of stone walls, apple orchards, ponds and forest roads. The Monadnock foothills rise in the western districts, where Pack Monadnock in Peterborough provides a particularly accessible viewpoint and walking destination. The Wapack Trail crosses the high ground near Temple and Greenfield, while Greenfield State Park provides swimming, boating and camping amid woodland and ponds. These areas are best explored with more time and, in many cases, a car.
The county's historic communities reveal different strands of New England life. Amherst's village green and meetinghouse express a carefully preserved Federal-era townscape; Milford grew around the Souhegan River and granite industry; Derry is associated with poet Robert Frost and a long agricultural tradition; and Hillsborough retains connections with Franklin Pierce, the New Hampshire-born US president. Museums, historic houses and local arts organisations give the smaller towns cultural interest without turning them into replicas of the larger cities.
Food and drink range from urban restaurants and New England diners to farm stands, orchard produce, breweries and seasonal agricultural markets. Autumn brings colour to the county's uplands, while summer suits river walks, cycling, lake recreation and outdoor concerts. Visitors who divide their time between Manchester or Nashua and the western countryside will gain a more accurate sense of Hillsborough County: it is both a working urban region shaped by industry and a rural landscape of forests, farms and granite hills.

Getting to and around Hillsborough County

How to get there

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is in Hillsborough County and provides the most convenient air gateway, although its international choices are more limited than those of Boston Logan International Airport, which is outside the county and commonly used by overseas visitors. Interstate 93 serves Manchester and the northern part of the county, while Interstate 293 and Interstate 3 connect the main urban corridor; Interstate Nashua is reached by Interstate 3 and the Everett Turnpike. Amtrak does not currently operate a passenger station in Hillsborough County, so rail travellers generally use stations outside the county, such as Lowell or Boston, and continue by road or bus.

Transportation

Manchester and Nashua have local bus networks, and intercity buses link the principal urban corridor with Boston and other New England destinations, but public transport becomes much less practical in the western and rural parts of the county. A car is the easiest way to combine Milford, Peterborough, Hillsborough, Derry, Greenfield and countryside attractions. Cycling is suitable on selected quieter roads, though traffic and hills require care. Walkers should expect trailheads and rural sites to be separated by roads rather than joined into one continuous visitor network.

Top city travel guides in Hillsborough County

The cities of Hillsborough County, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Destinations in Hillsborough County

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County's attractions reflect its varied geography and history. Manchester's Amoskeag Millyard is the essential starting point for understanding the county's textile past, with the Millyard Museum, SEE Science Center and Currier Museum of Art providing different perspectives on industry, science and visual culture; the nearby Zimmerman House adds an important example of modern residential architecture. Nashua offers canal-side industrial history, the Nashua Historical Society's museum at the Hunt Memorial Building and Mine Falls Park, where former mill infrastructure meets woodland and river trails. In the countryside, the Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough interprets the life of New Hampshire's fourteenth president, while the Robert Frost Farm in Derry connects literature with a working rural landscape. Pack Monadnock and the Wapack Trail provide accessible upland walking, and Greenfield State Park offers swimming, boating, camping and woodland recreation. Historic village centres in Amherst, Milford and Peterborough, together with orchards, farm stands and seasonal events, add a slower agricultural dimension to the county's urban museums and outdoor sites.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Hillsborough County

The most recognisable landmark in Hillsborough County is Manchester's Amoskeag Millyard, whose long red-brick buildings, water channels and industrial scale express the city that grew beside the Merrimack River. Nashua's canals and former mill structures provide a related but more intimate reminder of the city's textile history. The New Hampshire State House is outside the county in Concord and should not be confused with Manchester's civic buildings; within the county, the Hillsborough townscape is especially associated with the Franklin Pierce Homestead, a preserved nineteenth-century house connected with the US presidency. Amherst's village green and historic meetinghouse represent the county's Federal-era settlement pattern, while Milford's granite-built civic architecture reflects its quarrying past. In the western landscape, Pack Monadnock is a geographical landmark rather than a monumental structure, with broad views over southern New Hampshire from Peterborough. The Robert Frost Farm in Derry is significant for its literary association and rural setting, and the stone walls, old farmsteads and village greens scattered across the county form a quieter, collective record of its agricultural past.

Show more landmarks

Explore Hillsborough County on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Hillsborough County

Dining in Hillsborough County ranges from Manchester and Nashua restaurants in converted mill buildings and downtown storefronts to diners, cafés, brewpubs and family-run establishments in the smaller towns. The region's food identity is rooted in wider New England traditions: expect seafood, clam chowder, roast dishes, pancakes with local maple syrup, apple desserts and substantial breakfasts, alongside Italian-American influences that are particularly visible in the older mill cities. Farm stands and orchards around Amherst, Hollis, Derry and the western towns bring apples, pumpkins, berries, vegetables and maple products into the seasonal calendar. Peterborough, Milford and Manchester provide varied contemporary dining, while rural roads lead to farm shops, ice-cream stops and occasional country inns. Farmers' markets are useful places to find local produce and prepared foods, but schedules vary by season. New Hampshire's craft-beverage scene is also represented by breweries and cider producers across the county, although visitors should plan a sober driver when travelling between dispersed venues.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Hillsborough County

Evening life is concentrated in Manchester and Nashua, where former mill buildings and compact downtown streets contain pubs, restaurants, breweries, cocktail bars, cafés and venues for live music or comedy. Manchester generally offers the broader programme of theatre, concerts and late-evening entertainment, while Nashua's centre has a smaller-scale bar and restaurant scene around its historic commercial streets. In Milford and Peterborough, evenings are more likely to centre on independent restaurants, traditional pubs, arts events and occasional live performances than on nightclubs. Outside the towns, rural nightlife is quiet and often built around local inns, breweries, seasonal music and community events. Opening arrangements and entertainment programmes change, so checking directly before travelling is sensible. Alcohol is not necessary to experience the county's evening culture, and designated driving is important where public transport is limited.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Hillsborough County

Evening life is concentrated in Manchester and Nashua, where former mill buildings and compact downtown streets contain pubs, restaurants, breweries, cocktail bars, cafés and venues for live music or comedy. Manchester generally offers the broader programme of theatre, concerts and late-evening entertainment, while Nashua's centre has a smaller-scale bar and restaurant scene around its historic commercial streets. In Milford and Peterborough, evenings are more likely to centre on independent restaurants, traditional pubs, arts events and occasional live performances than on nightclubs. Outside the towns, rural nightlife is quiet and often built around local inns, breweries, seasonal music and community events. Opening arrangements and entertainment programmes change, so checking directly before travelling is sensible. Alcohol is not necessary to experience the county's evening culture, and designated driving is important where public transport is limited.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Hillsborough County

Shopping is most varied in Manchester and Nashua, where established downtown streets, neighbourhood businesses and larger commercial areas offer clothing, books, gifts, antiques, galleries and everyday goods. Nashua's historic centre is suited to browsing independent shops alongside cafés and restaurants, while Manchester combines urban retail with arts-related and locally made products. Smaller market towns such as Milford, Peterborough and Amherst have a more personal scale, with galleries, bookshops, craft retailers, antique shops and seasonal events rather than extensive shopping complexes. Farm stands and orchards are valuable for regional purchases, including apples, pumpkins, maple syrup, honey, preserves, baked goods and locally produced cider. Farmers' markets vary by season and location, so visitors should check current arrangements before setting out. Practical souvenirs include New Hampshire-made crafts, pottery, artwork, books by local authors and food products from the county's agricultural communities.

Show more shops

Get your free copy of our complete guide to Hillsborough County, delivered straight to you.

Everything on this page, from attractions and restaurants to essentials and local phrases, in one PDF you can read offline, print or share.

Already have an account? Sign in

By clicking Create account, you accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Hillsborough County essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the US dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards, including contactless payment, are widely accepted in Manchester, Nashua and larger commercial areas, while cash remains useful at farm stands, some small food outlets, rural events and occasional self-service facilities. New Hampshire has no general state sales tax on ordinary retail goods, but a meals and rooms tax applies to many restaurant, accommodation and prepared-food purchases. Banks and cash machines are easier to find in the urban corridor than in the western countryside.
Safety
Hillsborough County is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary precautions remain sensible in busy urban areas, car parks and at trailheads. Lock vehicles and avoid leaving luggage visible. Rural roads can be narrow, poorly lit and icy in winter, while mountain and woodland trails may have uneven ground, limited mobile reception and changing weather. In summer, follow posted swimming and boating guidance at lakes and parks; in autumn and winter, allow for early darkness. Black bears occur in New Hampshire, so never approach wildlife or leave food unsecured at campsites.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 throughout Hillsborough County for police, fire or ambulance assistance. Give the precise address, road name, trail description or landmark, particularly in rural areas where several roads may have similar names. For outdoor incidents, contact 911 and follow the instructions of dispatchers; New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officers and other rescue services may assist where appropriate. For non-emergency health or policing questions, use the relevant local service rather than tying up 911. Travel insurance and a supply of essential medicines are sensible for longer stays.
Do's and Don'ts
Do follow posted rules in state parks, conservation areas and historic properties, stay on marked trails where requested, and close gates when walking through farmland. Do give pedestrians, cyclists and emergency vehicles space on rural roads. Do ask before photographing private homes, farms or people, and remember that tipping is customary in American table-service restaurants and for many personal services. Do not trespass on apparently open woodland, disturb wildlife, take plants or stones from protected places, or assume that a quiet country road is free of fast-moving traffic.
Local Tips
The county is easiest to understand as two connected travel areas: the Merrimack urban corridor, centred on Manchester and Nashua, and the more wooded western districts around Peterborough, Greenfield and Hillsborough. Plan outdoor visits around daylight and weather rather than relying on late public transport. Autumn colours can make roads and popular trailheads busy, while spring may bring muddy paths. Sunday trading and rural opening arrangements can be limited, so check individual museums, farms and historic sites before making a special journey.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[How-dee]
GoodbyeSee ya[See yah]
YesYup[Yup]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomeSure thing[Shur thing]
Thank youThanks[Thangs]
Excuse me/SorrySorry 'bout that[Sor-ee 'bout that]
How are you?How's it going?[How's it goin'?]
Fine. And you?Doing good, and you?[Doin' good, and you?]
Do you speak English?You speak English?[You speak English?]
I don't understandI don’t get it[I don’t get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please?[Can I see the menu, please?]
I don't eat meatI’m a vegetarian[I’m a ve-ge-tar-i-an]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check, please?[Can I get the check, please?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Leave me alone![Leave me alone!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![Get a doctor!]
I'm lostI’m lost[I’m lost]
I'm illI’m not feeling well[I’m not feelin' well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I want to buy...[I want to buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[Just browsin']
How much is it?What’s the price?[What’s the price?]
That's too expensiveThat’s a bit pricey[That’s a bit pricey]
Can you lower the price?Can you give me a better deal?[Can you give me a better deal?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time is it?[What time is it?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[It's one]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMorning[Morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvening[Evening]
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the ...?[Where's the ...?]
What's the address?What’s the address?[What’s the address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you point it out on the map?[Can you point it out on the map?]
When's the next (bus)?When’s the next bus?[When’s the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to ...[A ticket to ...]

History of Hillsborough County

Pennacook Country and Indigenous Landscapes

Before European settlement, the Merrimack Valley and the surrounding uplands were inhabited and used by Indigenous peoples, including the Pennacook, whose communities relied on river travel, fishing, cultivation and hunting. The Merrimack was a major corridor linking settlements across what is now southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. Place names and surviving archaeological evidence offer only a partial record of this history, while colonial expansion, disease and conflict caused severe disruption. Understanding this earlier landscape is essential to interpreting the county's later towns and industries.

Colonial Settlement and the Town Meeting Tradition

English settlement expanded through southern New Hampshire during the eighteenth century, establishing farming communities around meetinghouses, mills and roads. Amherst, Derry, Hollis, Peterborough and other present-day towns developed from this period of dispersed agriculture and local civic organisation. The town meeting became a durable feature of political life, while gristmills and sawmills used the region's rivers and streams. Stone walls, old cellar holes, village greens and surviving meetinghouses still reveal the agricultural society that preceded industrial urbanisation.

The Merrimack River and Textile Industrialisation

The Merrimack River transformed the county during the nineteenth century. Manchester's Amoskeag Manufacturing Company developed one of the world's largest textile complexes, drawing workers, investment and transport links to the riverbank. Nashua also became a major textile centre, with mills powered by canals and water diverted from the Nashua River. Industrial growth brought immigration, densely settled neighbourhoods and new civic institutions, while the mills tied local fortunes to national and international markets. The surviving brick buildings and canals remain the most visible physical legacy of this era.

Railways, Granite and Expanding Towns

Railways connected the county's mills and market towns with Boston, Vermont and the wider New England economy during the nineteenth century. Smaller communities benefited from easier movement of timber, agricultural produce and manufactured goods, while Milford became associated with granite quarrying and skilled stonework. Rail access also encouraged tourism and summer settlement in the western hills. As Manchester and Nashua expanded, surrounding townships retained farms and village centres, creating the urban-rural pattern that still distinguishes Hillsborough County.

Reform, Literature and Political Life

Hillsborough County has been linked to several nationally significant figures and movements. Franklin Pierce, born in Hillsborough, became the fourteenth president of the United States, and his former home is preserved as a state historic site. Derry's agricultural landscape was later closely associated with poet Robert Frost, who lived at the Robert Frost Farm and drew on rural New England experience in his work. Churches, schools, reform organisations and newspapers in the county also reflected the broader nineteenth- and early twentieth-century development of civic and cultural life in New Hampshire.

Post-Industrial Change and the Modern County

Textile manufacturing declined during the twentieth century as production moved elsewhere, leaving large mill buildings and industrial communities to adapt. In Manchester and Nashua, former mills have been reused for museums, offices, housing, education and creative activity. Improved roads and proximity to Boston encouraged suburban growth in towns such as Bedford, Merrimack and Nashua, while western communities retained more agricultural and recreational character. Today the county's identity rests on this layered inheritance: river-based industry, established civic centres, regional commerce and access to wooded southern New Hampshire.

Hillsborough County in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Neighbouring regions of Hillsborough County

The closest regions to Hillsborough County, if you have time for more than one.

Explore more

New Hampshire
More of the region

Explore more of New Hampshire

Discover New Hampshire: Explore the majestic White Mountains, serene lakes, and historic towns in the heart of New England's enchanting landscapes.

Explore New Hampshire
The Evendo app on two phones

Evendo - Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Hillsborough County

Discover Hillsborough County with Evendo, your 100% free travel guide app covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more for an unforgettable journey.

  • Comprehensive information on attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, and experiences
  • In-depth history and travel essentials for Hillsborough County
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Experience Hillsborough County like never before with Evendo - your comprehensive, free travel guide app. Discover landmarks, plan activities, and explore local gems effortlessly.

  • Local tips for an authentic experience
  • User-friendly navigation with a 'Near Me' feature
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases

Explore the picturesque landscapes and vibrant culture of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with Evendo, your indispensable travel companion. From the historic landmarks of the Amoskeag Fishways and the fascinating Millyard Museum to the natural beauty of Mine Falls Park, Evendo provides you with all the information you need to dive deep into the heart of Hillsborough County.

Savor gastronomic delights at the region's top restaurants, such as The Copper Door and Republic Cafe, or indulge in retail therapy at unique local shops. With Evendo, you can effortlessly plan your itinerary, book tours, and find nearby attractions using the app's intuitive features.

Evendo offers detailed descriptions, vibrant images, local tips, and maps for each location, ensuring that you don't miss a thing. Whether you're exploring vibrant Manchester or the charming town of Nashua, you'll have everything you need right at your fingertips. Plus, with global coverage of over 7,000 destinations, Evendo transforms your smartphone into a worldwide travel guide.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.