Things to do in Newport, Rhode Island
- Newport served as one of the two capitals of Rhode Island until 1900, with legislative sessions rotating between the city and Providence.
- The city is home to Touro Synagogue, which is the oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States, dating back to 1763.
- Newport was the site of the first-ever U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships, held at the Newport Casino in 1881.
- The city hosted the America's Cup sailing competition for over 50 years, cementing its reputation as a premier maritime destination.
- During the American Revolution, Newport was occupied by British forces for three years, a period that caused significant economic decline and population loss.
About Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island, is globally renowned for its Gilded Age mansions and its deep-rooted legacy as the sailing capital of the world. Visitors can tour architectural wonders like The Breakers and The Elms, which showcase the opulent lifestyle of 19th-century American industrialists. The city’s geography is dominated by the Atlantic coastline, offering rugged vistas at Brenton Point State Park and pristine sandy stretches at Second Beach. Beyond the estates, the International Tennis Hall of Fame highlights the city's role in early American sports history.
Highlights of Newport, Rhode Island
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
Tour the 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II.
Parks
Observe the dramatic crashing waves and rocky coastline from the southernmost tip of Aquidneck Island.
Museums
View the lavish gold-leaf interior of this mansion modeled after the Petit Trianon at Versailles.
Parks
Explore a massive granite star-shaped fortress that once guarded the entrance to Narragansett Bay.
Historical places
Walk through the meticulously preserved gardens and formal rooms of this mid-18th-century estate.
Beaches and ponds
Enjoy a quieter, more expansive beach experience located further along the Newport coastline.
Museums
Visit the site of the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships featuring an expansive grass court collection.
Museums
Experience the preserved home of Doris Duke, filled with a vast collection of fine and decorative arts.
Top things to do in Newport, Rhode Island
The 42 highest-rated places in Newport, Rhode Island, ranked by travellers.
1
Museums
The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer 'cottages,' commissioned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II and completed in 18...
2
Parks
Brenton Point State Park is situated at the confluence of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, marking the southern...
3
Museums
Marble House is a Gilded Age mansion commissioned by William K. Vanderbilt and completed in 1892. Designed by architect...
4
Parks
Fort Adams State Park occupies the northern tip of Newport Neck, providing panoramic views of Narragansett Bay and the E...
5
Museums
The Newport Car Museum is located in a former missile manufacturing building in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, housing a priv...
6
Historical places
The Elms is a 1901 Gilded Age summer residence modeled after the mid-18th-century French Château d'Asnieres. Commissione...
7
Beaches and ponds
Easton's Beach, locally known as First Beach, is the primary public oceanfront in Newport, Rhode Island. It sits at the...
8
Zoos
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is a 242-acre coastal peninsula located at the confluence of the Sakonnet River...
9
Museums
Rosecliff is a Gilded Age mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, designed by architect Stanford White for silver heiress Ther...
10
Beaches and ponds
Second Beach, officially known as Sachuest Beach, features over a mile of sandy coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The...
11
Parks
Fort Wetherill State Park is a 61-acre former coastal defense fort located on the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Ja...
12
Museums
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is housed within the Newport Casino, a National Historic Landmark complex designed...
13
Museums
Rough Point is the former Gilded Age estate of tobacco heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke, situated on the Atlantic c...
14
Parks
The Norman Bird Sanctuary is a 325-acre wildlife refuge located on the Atlantic coast of Middletown, Rhode Island. It fe...
15
Historical places
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Temples
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Temples
18
Beaches and ponds
19
Places of interest
20
Parks
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Beaches and ponds
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Museums
23
Historical places
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Museums
25
Beaches and ponds
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Parks
27
Beaches and ponds
28
Historical places
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Historical places
30
Museums
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Newport, Rhode Island on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Newport, Rhode Island
Late June through August offers the best weather for sailing and coastal activities, though September provides a quieter experience with lingering warm temperatures.
3 days, which allows sufficient time to tour the major Gilded Age mansions, explore the coastal parks, and walk the historic downtown area.
The downtown area is highly walkable, but a car or bike is necessary to reach the outlying coastal parks and more distant mansions.
Stay in the downtown harbor area for proximity to shops and restaurants, or look for boutique inns in the Historic Hill neighborhood.
Newport is an expensive destination, particularly during the summer peak season when demand for lodging is high.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 42 curated attractions in and around Newport, Rhode Island, ranked by traveller ratings.
The Breakers is the highest-rated place to visit in Newport, Rhode Island right now.
The largest category is museums, with 15 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Bayonne, New Jersey, Downtown Los Angeles, Washington, D.C..
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