Nestled on Aquidneck Island off Rhode Island’s southern shore, Newport maintains its roots as a holiday escape for railroad barons and other well-heeled East Coasters. Opulent mansions such as The Breakers are preserved to give visitors a taste of the Gilded Age lifestyle, while a plethora of food and wine options means anyone can dine like a Vanderbilt here. Another top thing to do in Newport is enjoy the Atlantic Coast itself, with its miles of sandy beaches and picturesque harbor where luxury yachts and fishing boats dock side-by-side against a backdrop of colonial homes.
A pair of world-class festivals—Newport Folk Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival—fill Newport’s summer with music. Usually hosted in late July or early August, they’re timed for sunny weather that’s also ideal for hitting nearby beaches for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. Spring and fall bring milder weather, and June’s Newport Flower Show is a June highpoint.
Both the compact town of Newport and many of its Gilded Age mansions are reachable by foot or by bicycle. But for the Ocean Drive and the rest of the Ten Mile Drive, you’ll need access to a vehicle. Your options are using ridesharing apps, taking a private car or rental, or joining a group tour—for example, one of the town’s narrated trolley tours.
The Breakers might be Newport’s most iconic Gilded Age attraction, but you can beat the crowds by seeking out some of the coastal town’s lesser-known mansions. At Rough Point Museum, you can not only enjoy panoramic oceanfront views outside the English Manor-style estate, but also peruse East Asian art and craft objects from the private collection of the family of one-time owner and tobacco heiress Doris Duke.
Local Currency US Dollar ($) | Time Zone EST (UTC -5) | Country Code +1 | Language(s) English | Attractions 18 | Tours 52 | Reviews 9,286 |
A prominent getaway for the New York wealthy in the Gilded Age, Newport is absolutely worth visiting. Fabulous 19th-century mansions still line the gorgeous Bellevue Avenue—and many are open for tours. Visitors will also find great food, museums, seaside views along the mostly paved Cliff Walk, and more.
...MoreNewport in Rhode Island is known for the 19th-century mansions lining Bellevue Avenue—the ornate structures were summer homes for the wealthy in America’s extravagant Gilded Age, and many are now public museums. The seaside town is also known as the home to America’s Cup, a popular annual sailing regatta.
...MoreMost travelers visiting Newport come to get a taste of America’s extravagant Gilded Age in Rhode Island. The 19th-century mansions—summer getaways for wealthy families like the Rockefellers—line Bellevue Avenue, and many are now public museums. Strolling the mostly paved Cliff Walk, overlooking the Atlantic, is a popular activity as well.
...MoreHow you spend a day in Newport, Rhode Island, depends on your interests. But most visitors will book a tour through one of the popular Gilded Age mansions-turned-museums—like The Breakers—grab fresh seafood at one of the bistros on the water, and stroll the spectacular Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile, mostly paved stretch of spectacular ocean views.
...MoreThere’s lots to do in Newport at night. You could take a walk on the beach, grab dinner on the waterfront, head downtown for drinks at a local bar (like at the circa-1673 White Horse Tavern), take a sunset cruise, and catch a show at one of many theaters.
...MoreNewport’s claim to fame was as a Gilded Age summer getaway in Rhode Island for the wealthy. Exquisite 19th-century mansions line scenic Bellevue Avenue, and many are now popular public museums like The Breakers. The seaside town is also well-known for hosting America’s Cup, an annual sailing regatta.
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