The Breakers
Cornelius Vanderbilt II's 70-room oceanfront palace, the grandest of them all.
Newport
Gilded Age summer palaces of the Vanderbilts and Astors, a clifftop walk and a historic harbor full of yachts.
Newport was America's playground in the 1890s, when the country's richest families built 'cottages' like The Breakers. Its colonial waterfront holds Touro Synagogue, America's oldest, and it's the home of the Newport Jazz and Folk festivals.
- Best Time
- May to October
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About 90 minutes from Boston, and 40 minutes from Providence.
What to See
3 of 4 are freeCliff Walk
A 3.5-mile path between the mansions and the Atlantic.
Ocean Drive
A scenic 10-mile loop along the coast.
Bowen's Wharf
Lobster rolls and sailboats on the harbor.
Know Before You Go
- Combination mansion tickets save money.
- Summer weekends are busy, so book ahead.
Where to Stay
Stay in Newport.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
If You're NearbyProvidence
Rhode Island
A compact college city with a strong food scene and summer WaterFire bonfires on its rivers, near Newport's mansions.
Full Guide
Must-SeeBoston
Massachusetts
Walkable, historic and full of firsts, from the Freedom Trail to Harvard.
Full Guide
If You're NearbyTouro Synagogue
Rhode Island
The oldest synagogue building in the United States, dedicated in 1763 in Newport, and the congregation to which George Washington wrote his famous letter on religious freedom.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Northeast list.