Newport’s signature tours let you dive deep into the city’s layered story— from the engineering wizardry that kept Gilded Age mansions humming to underground military tunnels, modern-art galleries and epicurean strolls. Below you’ll find updated, fact-checked descriptions of the most popular experiences, plus the key details (and official links) you need to reserve a spot any time of year.
1.) Gilded Age Mansion Tours
The Breakers — Standard Audio Tour
Commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II and completed in 1895, The Breakers is a 70-room Italian Renaissance Revival “cottage” designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt. The self-guided audio tour moves room-by-room through marble-clad grand halls, the ocean-view loggia and gilded drawing room, weaving family stories with architecture facts. Timed tickets are required; book directly with the Preservation Society.
Marble House
Built between 1888 and 1892 as a 39th-birthday gift from William K. Vanderbilt to his wife Alva, Marble House contains some 500,000 cubic feet of marble and cost an estimated $11 million—about $387 million today. Highlights include the gold-leaf ballroom, Alva’s intimate Gothic Room, and the cliff-top Chinese Tea House café. General-admission tickets are sold on the mansion website.
The Elms
Coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind’s summer residence, completed in 1901, was modeled on the 18th-century Château d’Asnières near Paris. The standard tour showcases French silk-damask wallcoverings, a lavish conservatory and the restored sunken gardens.
Rosecliff
Silver-heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs hired architect Stanford White to emulate Versailles’ Grand Trianon; the mansion opened in 1902 with the largest private ballroom in Newport. Film buffs will recognize rooms used in movies such as The Great Gatsby and 27 Dresses.
2.) Specialty Mansion Experiences
Beneath The Breakers
This 60-minute guided tour descends into boilers, original Otis elevator machinery and a 400-foot service tunnel to reveal the electrical, plumbing and refrigeration tech that powered the 138,300-sq-ft house. Group size is capped at 12 and sturdy shoes are required.
Breakers Third-Floor “Preservation-in-Progress” Tour
Recently opened for the first time in over 120 years, the third floor lets visitors watch conservators restoring family bedrooms and servant quarters while learning how the space evolved from the 1890s through the mid-20th century. Be prepared for 180 stairs; there is no public elevator.
The Elms “Servant Life” Tour
Added here for context, this behind-the-scenes option climbs to the rooftop and staff bedrooms, tracing the daily routines of butlers, cooks and laundresses who kept the Berwind household running.
Longing for a trip to Newport? Check out hotel availability here!
3.) Fort Adams State Park Tours
Guided Fortress Tour
Fort Adams, the largest coastal fortification in the United States, offers 75-minute walks that cover the parade field, panoramic bastions and the engineering feats of an 1824 star-fort design.
Underground Tunnel Tour
For an extra dose of adventure, choose the “Behind the Walls” option to explore narrow brick-and-stone listening tunnels that once helped soldiers detect sappers beneath the fort’s glacis.
4.) Newport by Trolley
Gilded Age Mansions Narrated Trolley Tour
Operating year-round, this 90-minute narrated loop along Bellevue Avenue, Ocean Drive and Cliff Walk pairs stories of robber-baron excess with unobstructed mansion views; many packages include admission to one mansion of your choice.
Check out tickets for a trolley tour here!
5.) Cultural Institution Tours
Newport Art Museum
Housed partly in architect Richard Morris Hunt’s 1864 stick-style Griswold House, the museum rotates regional and international exhibitions, offers docent-led highlights tours and runs studio classes for all ages.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Set in the 1880 Newport Casino complex, this self-guided visit blends interactive kiosks, historic trophies and a chance to step onto the only remaining public grass courts used by early U.S. Championships players.
6.) Culinary Experiences
Newport Foodie Stroll
Local guides escort small groups along Thames Street and Broadway, pairing architectural nuggets with chef-selected tastings—think artisanal clam chowder, hand-rolled gnocchi and craft-beer pairings. Tours run in every season, with evening “Winter Strolls” featuring a three-course progressive dinner.
7.) Belcourt of Newport
Built in 1894 for Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, Belcourt was originally a lavish Gilded Age stable and bachelor’s retreat, but was significantly transformed into an opulent social hub after he married the formidable Alva Vanderbilt, who made it her home and a center for entertaining. Unlike many other historic homes on Bellevue Avenue, Belcourt remains privately owned and its restoration is managed independently, as it is not part of the portfolio of properties run by the Preservation Society of Newport County.
The Belcourt Guided Tour (History)
This 50-60 minute tour delves into the Gilded Age mansion’s history, focusing on original owners Oliver and Alva Belmont and the ongoing restoration by Carolyn Rafaelian. Visitors explore its unique architecture, originally built as a grand stable-villa, and see treasures like its 13th-century stained glass.
Candlelight Walk with Ghosts Tour
This nighttime tour explores why Belcourt is considered one of Newport’s most haunted houses, sharing chilling tales from its paranormal history. The 50-60 minute walk covers legends of haunted artifacts and former owners, with a special focus on the supernatural activity reported in the famed Ballroom.
How to Book
- Mansions: Preservation Society of Newport County ticket portal offers timed, combo and specialty passes.
- Fort Adams: Reserve guided or tunnel tours online at FortAdams.org.
- Museums & Food Tours: Purchase directly through each institution’s site for up-to-date hours and seasonal offerings.
- Belcourt of Newport: Check their site here!
With these refined overviews and verified details, you can confidently mix and match experiences to craft the perfect Newport itinerary—whether you’re fascinated by marble-clad ballrooms, military earthworks or the latest chef-driven bites.
