Our most recommended things to do in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport: Newport Mansions Ticket - 1, 2 or 3 Mansions

1. Newport: Newport Mansions Ticket - 1, 2 or 3 Mansions

Visit the Newport Mansions and discover the “summer cottages” that provided the ultimate backdrop for "The Gilded Age" - a society centered on sport, fashion, and parties set in spectacular natural surroundings. Learn the history of each mansion and its owners. Start your visit by picking up your mansion tickets at the Welcome Center at The Breakers. For combo tickets, save 23% on two properties or 32% on three and select which properties you would like to visit. Download the free multilingual audioguide app before you arrive to make the most of your self-guided tour or get a paper guide if you do not have a smartphone. Start by visiting The Breakers, the grandest mansion and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial preeminence in turn-of-the-century America. Explore the 70 rooms of this Italian Renaissance-style palazzo. Then visit the 13-acres of grounds, along with a Stable and Carriage House (open daily). With 2 or 3 Mansion Tickets, besides The Breakers, you can also choose to visit either: - Marble House, inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, with over 500,000 cubic feet of marble and a Chinese Tea House in the gardens. (Open Daily except June 21 & 22 2023, and October 30 – November 17, 2023) - The Elms, modeled after the mid-18th century French Chateau d'Asnieres outside Paris. (Open Daily except October 30th – November 17th, 2023) - Rosecliff, modelled after the Grand Trianon at Versailles (Open Daily September 1st – December 31st 2023; except September 21st – 25th 2023,) - Kingscote (1834), a landmark Gothic Revival style mansion, and the first of the “Cottages” (Open May 30th – July 30th 2023 only)

Newport: Scenic Trolley Tour

2. Newport: Scenic Trolley Tour

Hop aboard an old-fashioned trolley and explore Newport, Rhode Island during this 90 minutes scenic tour. Begin your day meeting at the Visitor Center of Newport where you will be greeted by your tour guide. Begin your adventure as you set off into Newport to enjoy the charm of the historic downtown area and restored homes to glorious mansions on the water. Take in the rugged beauty of Ten-Mile Ocean Drive and the fabulous mansions along tree-lined Bellevue Avenue. Enjoy viewing homes and architecture from the Modern Age to the Gilded Age. During this narrated tour you will view over 150 points of interest including Historic Thames Street, The Newport Waterfront, The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff.  Upgrade your ticket and visit the historic Breakers Mansion located on the elaborate estate of Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Take in the lavish decor and waterfront views as you tour the property grounds. The additional mansion tour will last about 3 hours.

Newport, RI: Autumn Lighthouse Cruise of Narragansett Bay

3. Newport, RI: Autumn Lighthouse Cruise of Narragansett Bay

Enjoy Daffodil Days with a sightseeing lighthouse cruise from Newport or Jamestown. Jump aboard for a uniquely narrated tour in a spacious, warm, and cozy environment. Take a seat at the beautiful teak wood bar and have a refreshment as you sail through Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. Board the Coastal Queen and welcome the blossoms and fresh air. Celebrate the coming of spring while listening to an interesting commentary and enjoying a drink at the bar. The boat is spacious, warm, and cozy, with each seat guaranteeing a panoramic view of the surrounding harbor and bay. Stand up and move around the spacious vessel, look out over the Atlantic Ocean, and try to catch sight of a seal or two in the water. Sit in the covered salon for some comfort, or get out on the upper deck and soar with the wind.

Newport: Cliff Walk Self-Guided Walking Tour

4. Newport: Cliff Walk Self-Guided Walking Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Note: This 1+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Cliff Walk in 1-2 hours. Embark on a scenic cliff walk along a 3.5-mile trail along the eastern shore of Newport Rhode Island. Use your audio guide which has been created by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists. Begin the tour at Easton’s Beach. As you walk down the path, see Gilded Age mansions representing an era of lavish wealth and unbridled excess. Hear the stories of the Vanderbilts, Astors, and other American millionaires behind mansions like The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff, and others. After the walk at 40 Steps, continue to the Ochre Court. Discover the second-largest of Newport’s famous mansions, built for banker and real estate mogul Ogden Goelet. Finally, end the tour with scenic views at Bailey’s Beach.

Newport: Historic District Ghosts Guided Walking Tour

5. Newport: Historic District Ghosts Guided Walking Tour

Expereince the macabre side of the Newport Historic District on this guided walking tour. Listen to ghoulish stories that were complied from over 20 years of research and from first hand accounts. Uncover the city's ominous past as you see haunted locations like the White Horse Tavern. Meet your guide at the Newport Marriott and get in an eerie mood with a costumed guide that is carrying a lantern. Hit the streets in search of things that go bump in the night. Keep your camera at the ready, as past participants have caught pictures of ghostly images. Follow the lantern through shadowy lanes and church burying grounds to discover the local haunted history. Stop outside haunted places along the way like the White Horse Tavern which was originally opened in 1673 and is hiding dark tales behind its colonial charm. Finish your paranormal wanderings outside the historic 17th century Trinity Church which is just 3 blocks away from your starting location.

Newport, Rhode Island: Scenic Self-Driving Audio Tour

6. Newport, Rhode Island: Scenic Self-Driving Audio Tour

Discover the city known for its picturesque Gilded Age mansions on a self-driven audio tour. Found out how the rich in America made and spent their money at the turn of the twentieth century. This 12 mile-long tour covers the essentials of scenic Newport, Rhode Island, in 1-2 hours. Start from the Visitor Center on America’s Cup Avenue. Here, listen to the story of Gilded Age America and how it shaped the future. While driving, you will first see the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Next up is the Audrain Auto Museum before you start exploring the Gilded Age mansions. Marvel at the first among them, Edward King House, followed by Kingscote and Bellevue House. Continuing on the avenue, come across The Elms, Chepstow, Ochre Court, and then The Breakers. From there, proceed to Chateau-Sur-Mer, Rosecliff, Beechwood, Marble House, and Belcourt Castle before ending this part of the tour at Rough Point. From there, continue on Ocean Avenue and drive toward Crossways while enjoying the Ocean Drive and hearing its story. Next, listen to the story about Brenton Point State Park and Hammersmith Farm, the summer home of Jackie Kennedy, wife of John. F. Kennedy. On the last leg of the tour, drive and hear stories of Fort Adam, Beacon Rock, Bonniecrest, Ida Lewis Rock, and Rochambeau Monument. The tour concludes in the Irish District.

Newport Ghosts: Seaside Hauntings and Hags Tour

7. Newport Ghosts: Seaside Hauntings and Hags Tour

Uncover the sinister secrets hiding behind the charming exterior of Newport on this macabre walking tour. Meet your guide at Eisenhower Park, where the restless spirits of executed criminals float through the air. From there, visit seven other eerie spots, unearthing a new dark story at each location, Mingle with the spirits of Revolutionary, Civil, and World War soldiers who linger at the Artillery Co. of Newport. Hear the devilish history of Pirate Captain Edward Low and the largest public mass execution in American history, and try to capture evidence of the ghostly Vanderbilt Family as you explore.

Newport Cliff Walk & Ocean Drive Self-Guided Tours Bundle

8. Newport Cliff Walk & Ocean Drive Self-Guided Tours Bundle

Explore Newport on a self-guided driving tour via an app that functions as your own personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. See everything this seaside town has to offer at your own pace. Learn about local history, take a scenic walk, and admire elegant mansions as you drive. Download the app, then start the tour at the visitor center. As you drive down Bellevue Avenue, known as the "most beautiful avenue in the world." See and learn about the gorgeous Gilded Age Mansions along the way, including The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Château-Sur-Mer, and more. Continue along Ocean Drive, featuring breathtaking vistas. Learn about Newport's historic past, and iconic American millionaires like the Vanderbilts and Astors. Then, park up and stroll along the famous Cliff Walk which features the raw, untamed, crashing waves of the Atlantic to one side and lavish Gilded Age mansions to the other. This juxtaposition creates one of the most beautiful scenic walks in the world.

From Boston: Newport Mansions Full-Day Trip

9. From Boston: Newport Mansions Full-Day Trip

Enjoy Newport on this van tour from Boston. See how the wealthiest families lived during the gilded age with a visit to the Vanderbilt summer home and the Elms Mansion. Along the way, enjoy some complimentary snacks and bottled water while reading over a provided Newport guide book. Begin with hotel pickup in a luxury minibus, where the approximately 2-hour journey to Newport starts. The first stop is the Breakers, the Vanderbilt family's summer home. Take a self-guided audio-tour and explore the 70-room summer cottage. Here, you can also spend some time exploring the cliffs on a scenic cliff walk. Next, it's back to the mini-coach for a bus tour of Newport, which passes St Mary's Parish, where John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier were married in 1953. After the bus tour, visit America's oldest existing synagogue, the Touro Synagogue. With your free time, you can do some shopping or have lunch on the waterfront. If you're a sports fan, you can enjoy discount admission to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Finally, visit the Elms Mansion, where you can take a 90-minute self-guided audio tour. After the tour, return to the minibus, sit back, and relax as you enjoy the ride back to Boston.

Newport: Ocean Drive Historic District Self-Guided Tour

10. Newport: Ocean Drive Historic District Self-Guided Tour

Take in the awe-inspiring views and cool breeze that have attracted visitors to Newport for centuries. Learn about the colonialists who first settled along the harbor and the stunning summer cottages wealthy industrialists built on a self-guided driving journey. Download the tour app and head out on a trip through architectural gems like Rosecliff, where scenes from The Great Gatsby and 27 Dresses were filmed. See Newport’s largest house, The Breakers, as well as Rough Point, which was owned by heiress Doris Duke. While cruising through the Ocean Drive Historic District, gain a deeper appreciation for the history of the area. Drive past a 19th-century fortification at Fort Adams State Park, President Eisenhower’s old summer residence, and the Monument to Portuguese Discovery in Brenton Point State Park. Take in the impressive architecture of The Elms, Marble House, Ochre Court, and the Belcourt of Newport, and hear about Newport’s colonial and Gilded Age history from the audio guide. Enjoy the flexibility of stopping whenever you feel inspired or need a break.

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What people are saying about Newport, Rhode Island

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 573 reviews

The crew members were so sweet and this was such a fun experience. We booked this event for my friend’s 27th birthday celebration and they made it so special. It was so informative, interesting, and a great time spent in Newport. I HIGHLY suggest booking this event for a fun afternoon on the water with great drinks to enjoy.

The tour guide Dominic was awesome. Funny, pleasant and knowledgeable. Enjoyable from start to finish. We saw every inch of Newport. Rhode Island. We highly recommend taking this tour when in Newport.

This tour made it an efficient way to see all the beauty of Newport. We learned all about it’s rich history which would have been challenging to learn during our short stay.

If coming off cruise ship better to schedule afternoon. Ran to catch 10 o’clock and if he wasn’t waiting on someone who was coming back from rest room we would have missed.

Be considerate of your fellow passengers WEAR YOUR MASK in congregate situations