6 Best Things to Do in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport’s lavish houses once served as summer residences for wealthy industrialists and their families. Today, visitors can admire the architecture and ornate interiors that define the city’s Gilded Age legacy.

The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff are among the best-known mansions open to visitors. The Breakers contains 70 rooms and an impressive white marble staircase, while Marble House is known for its opulent interiors and grounds.

Rosecliff, designed by Stanford White, is famous for its grand ballroom and has appeared in several films, including The Great Gatsby.

Newport’s 3.5-mile Cliff Walk brings together Gilded Age architecture, ocean air, and the sound of waves along one of Rhode Island’s most memorable coastal routes.

The path can become busy during peak season. Visit in the early morning or later afternoon for a quieter walk and softer coastal light.

Newport’s coast offers many ways to spend time outside. Explore hiking paths, take a harbor cruise, ride the Rail Explorers, or follow a bike route around the bay.

Each activity offers a different view of the shoreline and makes it easy to combine Newport’s scenery with an active day outdoors.

Art lovers should add the Newport Art Museum to their itinerary. Its collection includes more than 2,000 works, ranging from paintings and sculptures to photography.

The museum hosts exhibitions throughout the year featuring regional, national, and international artists.

Its historic buildings grew from the former Art Association of Newport and offer an atmospheric setting for exploring the collection.

More than 400 years of history have left Newport with a great deal to explore. A transit or trolley-style tour can connect major sights while introducing the city’s architecture, historic streets, and ocean views.

This is a practical option for visitors who want an overview before returning to individual landmarks at their own pace.

Rough Point is the oceanfront Bellevue Avenue mansion associated with art collector, heiress, and philanthropist Doris Duke. Its interiors preserve French furniture, artwork, Chinese porcelain, and Flemish tapestries from her lifetime.

Guided tours introduce the estate, including rooms and galleries connected with Duke’s life and collection.

Originally built in 1887 for Frederick W. Vanderbilt, Rough Point was once the largest house in Newport’s summer colony and was designed in an English manor style.