First Bus runs most of the buses in Portsmouth, so if you are getting around the city without a car, this is the network you will be using. Its routes reach right across Portsea Island and out to Fareham, Gosport, Havant and Waterlooville, and almost all of them pass through the city centre and The Hard Interchange next to Portsmouth Harbour station.
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This guide pulls together the main routes, what the fares are, how to pay and how to find your bus. First Bus trades locally under its Solent name and runs a modern fleet, including electric buses from its Hoeford depot.
First Bus in Portsmouth at a glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | First Bus, trading locally as Solent, part of First Hampshire and Dorset |
| Where it runs | Across Portsmouth and out to Fareham, Gosport, Havant and Waterlooville |
| Main hub | The Hard Interchange, beside Portsmouth Harbour station |
| Single fare | £3 for the first journey of the day |
| Daily cap (Portsmouth zone) | £5.40 with Tap On Tap Off |
| Weekly cap (Portsmouth zone) | £21 |
| Ways to pay | Contactless Tap On Tap Off, the First Bus App, cash |
| Fleet | Modern buses, including electric buses from the Hoeford depot |
| Updated | November 2026 |
The main bus routes
A handful of high-frequency routes do most of the work across the city, nearly all of them running through the centre and down to The Hard. These are the ones you are most likely to need.
| Route | Runs between | Key places on the way |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southsea (South Parade Pier) and The Hard | Eastney, Goldsmith Avenue, Fratton, the city centre |
| 2 | Paulsgrove and The Hard | QA Hospital, Cosham, Hilsea, Copnor, St Mary’s Hospital, Eastney, Albert Road |
| 3 | Fareham and Southsea (South Parade Pier) | Portchester, Paulsgrove, QA Hospital, Cosham, North End, the city centre, The Hard |
| 7 | Wecock Farm and the city centre | Waterlooville, Crookhorn, Cosham, North End |
| 8 | Clanfield and Southsea (Clarence Pier) | Horndean, Cowplain, Waterlooville, Purbrook, Cosham, Hilsea, the city centre, Old Portsmouth |
There are many more local and cross-city services beyond these, and the numbers can change, so check the current route for your journey on the First Bus App or at the stop. For a wider look at getting around the city by bus, see our guide to buses in Portsmouth.
Fares and how much it costs
First Bus in Portsmouth has moved to Tap On Tap Off, so the simplest way to pay is to tap a contactless card or phone when you board and again when you get off, and the system works out the cheapest fare for you. The fares below are the Portsmouth zone prices Portsmouth And took from First Bus’s own fare information.
| Ticket | Price (Portsmouth zone) |
|---|---|
| Single, first journey of the day | £3 |
| Daily cap | £5.40 |
| Weekly cap | £21 |
| 28-day cap | £72 |
A single journey costs £3, but once your taps reach the daily cap you pay no more that day, and the weekly cap does the same across a rolling week. You must tap off with the same card you tapped on with to get the capped price, and if you forget to tap off you are charged the full single fare to the end of the route.
How to pay and buy tickets
There are a few ways to pay:
- contactless Tap On Tap Off, tapping the same card or phone on and off each journey, which is the best value for pay-as-you-go;
- the First Bus App, which sells mobile tickets and shows live bus times;
- cash on board, though contactless is quicker and caps what you spend.
Tap On Tap Off covers adult fares only, so child, student and group tickets are bought in the First Bus App or as a paper ticket instead. An older person’s or disabled person’s concessionary bus pass is accepted as usual.
Finding your bus and times
On the busiest routes buses come about every ten to fifteen minutes through the day, and a few, such as the number 2, run almost around the clock on weekdays. Services generally start around 04:25 in the morning and the last buses run after midnight, thinning out in the late evening and on Sundays. Rather than a single timetable to memorise, the easiest way to catch one is the live times in the First Bus App or on the First Bus website, which show the next departures from your stop as they happen.
The Hard Interchange, the main bus station
Most routes meet at The Hard Interchange, the city’s main bus station, right beside Portsmouth Harbour train station and the Gosport ferry. It is the easiest place to change between buses, trains and the water, and the map below shows where it is.
Quick answers
How much is a bus in Portsmouth?
A single journey is £3. With Tap On Tap Off your spending is capped at £5.40 a day and £21 a week in the Portsmouth zone, so any journeys after the cap are free.
Can I pay by contactless on Portsmouth buses?
Yes. Tap your card or phone when you board and again when you get off, using the same one each time, and you are charged the cheapest fare up to the daily cap.
Where is the main bus station?
The Hard Interchange, next to Portsmouth Harbour railway station and the ferries. For the trains from there, see our guide to Portsmouth’s train stations.
How do I find bus times?
Use the First Bus App or the First Bus website for live departures from your stop. The app sells tickets too, so you can buy and board in one go.
Do children pay the same fare?
No. Tap On Tap Off is for adult fares only, so child, student and group tickets are bought through the First Bus App or as a paper ticket.
Fares and routes are from First Bus and Portsmouth City Council travel information. Last updated: November 2026. Check live times and fares in the First Bus App before you travel.
