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Newport

Established by religious moderates, ‘new port’ flourished in the independent colony of Rhode Island, which declared itself a state here in 1776. Downtown, shutterbugs snap excitedly at immaculately preserved Colonial-era architecture and landmarks at seemingly every turn.

Fascinating as Newport’s early history is, the real intrigue began in the late 1850s, when wealthy industrialists began building opulent summer residences along cliff-top Bellevue Ave. Impeccably styled on Italianate palazzi, French châteaux and Elizabethan manor houses, these gloriously restored mansions filled with priceless antiques and their breathtaking location must be seen to be believed. The curiosity, variety and extravagance of this spectacle is unrivaled.

Honoring its maritime roots, Newport remains a global center for yachting. Put simply, summers here sparkle: locals have excellent taste and know how to throw a shindig. There's always something going on, including a series of cross-genre festivals that are among the best in the USA.

Explore Newport

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Newport.

  • Historic Building

    Rough Point

    While the peerless position and splendor of the grounds alone are worth the price of admission, this faux-English manor house also contains heiress and…

  • Historic Building

    The Breakers

    A 70-room Italian Renaissance megapalace inspired by 16th-century Genoese palazzi, the Breakers is the most magnificent of Newport's grandiose mansions…

  • Historic Building

    The Elms

    Designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1901, the Elms is a replica of Château d'Asnières, built near Paris in 1750. Here you can take a 'behind-the-scenes' tour…

  • State Park

    Fort Adams State Park

    Fort Adams is America's largest coastal fortification and the centerpiece of this gorgeous state park, which juts out into Narragansett Bay. It's the…

  • Museum

    National Museum of American Illustration

    This acclaimed museum features an impressive collection of 'the most American of American Art' including Maxfield Parrish's impossibly luminous works in…

  • Museum

    Newport Car Museum

    Located in Portsmouth, 6 miles north of Newport, on the site of a former missile manufacturing plant, this fantastic, new-in-2017 museum showcases more…

  • Library

    Redwood Athenaeum

    Founded by Abraham Redwood in 1747 as an important archive of American history and architecture, this beautiful neoclassical library was designed and…

  • Historic Building

    Rosecliff

    Built for Mrs Hermann Oelrichs, an heiress of the Comstock Lode silver treasure, Rosecliff was designed by Stanford White to look like the Grand Trianon…

  • Historic Building

    Preservation Society of Newport County

    Ten historic properties, including six of Newport's grandest mansions, are managed by this society. Each mansion takes about 90 minutes to tour. From…

  • Historic Building

    Kingscote

    An Elizabethan fantasy complete with Tiffany glass, Kingscote was Newport's first 'cottage' strictly for summer use, designed by Richard Upjohn in 1841…

  • Museum

    International Tennis Hall of Fame

    To experience something of the American aristocracy's approach to 19th-century leisure, visit this museum. It lies inside the historic Newport Casino…

  • Synagogue

    Touro Synagogue National Historic Site

    Designed by Peter Harrison (architect of the Athenaeum and King's Chapel, Boston), this synagogue is the finest example of 18th-century Georgian…

  • Historic Building

    Ochre Court

    Designed by Richard Morris Hunt and built in 1892, Ochre Court offers a grand view of the sea from its soaring three-story hallway. Elsewhere you can find…

  • Historic Building

    Marble House

    Designed by Richard Morris Hunt and built in 1892 for William K Vanderbilt, the younger brother of Cornelius II, the gaudy Marble House – built of many…

  • Beach

    Easton's Beach

    Easton's has a pseudo-Victorian pavilion containing bathhouses and showers, a snack bar and a large carousel. It's within walking distance of Newport's…

  • Museum

    Whitehorne House Museum

    A few decades ago, Colonial Newport was decaying and undervalued. Enter Doris Duke, who used her fortune to preserve many of the buildings that now…

  • Church

    Trinity Church

    On Queen Anne Sq, Trinity follows the design canon of Sir Christopher Wren's Palladian churches in London. Built between 1725 and 1726, it has a fine…

  • Museum

    Audrain Automobile Museum

    Little kids and big kids alike ooh and ahh at Newport's original musuem of flashy cars, which from the outside looks like a luxury car dealership. A…

  • Fort

    Fort Adams

    Built between 1824 and 1857, Fort Adams crowns a rise at the end of the peninsula that juts northward into Newport Harbor. Like many American coastal…

  • Museum

    The Breakers' Stable & Carriage House

    Designed by Richard Morris Hunt of The Breakers' fame, this carriage house and former stables, which belong to their eponymous mansion, now house a museum…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Newport.

  • Activities