Newport, RI Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, See & Eat

Newport, Rhode Island is the Northeast's best kept secret. Easily one of the most preppy and elegant towns in New England, Newport, is easy to love. Newport is home to a stunning coastline, amazing restaurants, adorable boutiques, stunning mansions, and more. This complete travel guide to Newport, Rhode Island is full of everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip.

About Newport

Safety - Newport is one of the safest places in the United States. The ritzy town is home to some of the wealthiest people in the US so you could imagine that the security is top notch in Newport.

History - Founded in 1639, Newport is one of the oldest places in the United States. Newport was one of the biggest and most important port cities in the new world. Slaves and manufactured goods were sold in Newport all though the 17th and 18th century. By the middle of the 1800s, after the Revolutionary War, Newport started to gain it reputation as a vacation spot. During the 19th century wealthy men from New York built magnificent mansions in Newport - the famous Newport Mansions.

Where To Stay In Newport, Rhode Island

Luxury Newport Hotels

The Vanderbilt Hotel - The Vanderbilt Hotel is a hotel is an incredible hotel that looks like a mansion from the outside. At The stylish Vanderbilt Hotel you will find a spa, two restaurants, charming rooms, a gym, a bar, and more. The Vanderbilt is a lovely hotel to spend a Perfect Weekend in Newport, RI.

The Chanler At Cliff Walk - The Chanler Hotel At Cliff Walk is a once in a lifetime hotel. At The Chanler Cliff Walk Hotel you will find two restaurants, views of the water, beach access, a bar, room service, and more. This incredible victorian style mansion hotel looks like it could be in the Great Gatsby.

Middle Range Newport Hotels

Gardiner House - The Gardiner House Hotel is an exceptional house hotel located in downtown Newport. At The Gardiner House you will find a bar, breakfast served daily, views of the water, stylish and unique decor, and more. The small boutique hotel in Newport only has 6 rooms so book ahead!

Forty 1 North Hotel - The Forty 1 North Hotel is a cute boutique hotel in downtown Newport. At the Forty 1 North Hotel you will find two restaurants, spacious rooms, a bar, and more.

Budget Newport Hotels

Newport Harbor Island Resort - Located on the stunning Goat Island, enjoy your own private island for an affordable price. At the Newport Harbor Island Resort you will find four restaurants, two swimming pools, a gym, a bar, and more!

Hotel Viking - Located in downtown Newport you will find the cute and affordable Hotel Viking. Enjoy a pool, a spa, a gym, a restaurant, and more at Hotel Viking. Hotel Viking is great for budget travelers looking for where to stay in Newport RI.

What To Do In Newport, Rhode Island

The 11 Mansions

Newport, Rhode Island is home to some of the most beautiful mansions in the world. These 11 mansions in Newport are a true testament to american architecture. The 11 Newport mansions include The Breakers, The Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chepstow, Green Animals Topiary Gardens, Hunter House, Château-dur-Mar, Kingscote, and Isaac Bell House. The 11 mansions are easily one of the best places to visit in Newport.

The best one to visit out of the 11 Newport Mansions is The Breakers. For more information on the Newport mansions visit this website.

Tennis Hall of Fame

Believe it or not the Tennis Hall of Fame is located right in downtown Newport. At the Tennis Hall of Fame you will be able to learn all about the history of tennis and the current top players. The Tennis Hall of Fame must be put on your Newport RI itinerary! For more information on the Tennis Hall of Fame checkout there website here.

The Cliff Walk

Newport is home to a stunning rocky coastline that makes for incredible walks and hikes. Newport's Cliff Walk offers views of the coastline and all of the beautiful mansions. The walk itself is three and a half miles and is perfectly paved. It is definitely one of the most Picture-perfect spots in Newport RI.

For more information on Newport's Cliff Walk check out their website here.

The Beach

Through and through Newport is a beach destination (definitely one of the most beautiful coastal towns in New England). The best beaches in Newport include Easton's Beach, Gooseberry Beach, and Kings Beach.

My favorite beach is Easton's beach because it is easy to access and the surfing conditions are great. Gooseberry beach is very popular and accessible from downtown. Kings Beach is the most secluded and best for beach walks of the Newport beaches.

Visit The Museums

Newport is home to some lovely museums. The best museums in Newport to visit include The US Naval War Museum, The Herreshoff Marine Museum, The Newport Car Museum, The Newport History Museum, The Newport Art Museum, The Audrain Auto Museum, and the sailing museum.

Although I am not a huge fan of cars, my favorite museum in Newport is the Newport Car Museum because of the cool vintage cars from all sorts of different car companies.

Best Tours To Take In Newport

🚗Mansions Trolly Tour - This Mansions Trolly Tour is the best and least expensive way to see the 11 Newport Mansions, especially if you don't plan on renting a car. This ticket includes admission to the Breakers Mansion.

🚗Evening Cruise - This evening cruise through the Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay is a lovely way to see more of Newport and learn more about it with the local guide. A drink is included in this sunset voyage.

🚗Newport Walking Food And History Tour - Food tours are my favorite way to see any city. Enjoy local eats with a knowledgeable guide and like minded travelers on this Newport walking food and history tour!

🚗Scenic Tour of Newport, RI By Helicopter - See the stunning coastline, magnificent mansions, and more from above on this tour of Newport by helicopter!

Where To Dine In Newport

Breakfast & Coffee in Newport

☕The Nitro Bar - Located in downtown Newport you will find the Nitro Bar. The Nitro Bar is a cute little cafe that serves delectable coffee in breakfast items.

☕Kaffeology - Located in downtown Newport you will find the adorable Kaffeology Coffee Shop. Kaffeology serves coffee, breakfast, and lunch food!

☕Corner Cafe - The Corner Cafe, located in Newports downtown area, is the best place to go if you are looking for a diner style breakfast. Be sure to try the pancakes!

Lunch & Dinner in Newport

🍴The Mooring Seafood - The Northeast has some of the best seafood in the country. At the Mooring Seafood restaurant located on Newport's Historic Waterfront you will find some of the best and freshest seafood in Rhode Island.

🍴Giusto - Located in downtown Newport you will find the best Italian restaurant in the city. Giusto serves up delectable homemade pasta, pizza, and more.

🍴The Red Parrot - The Red Parrot the best budget option in Newport. Serving american food you can find everything you need for a lovely dinner at The Red Parrot.

How To Get To Newport

Newport does have a tiny airport (Newport State Airport - UUU) but it is used for private airfare.

You could fly into the Providence, Rhode Island Airport (PVD), but you may have trouble finding direct flights as it is a small airport. The airlines that flight into and out of PVD include Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Skyhigh Dominicana, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United.

For the best flight options fly into Boston Logan International Airport. From Boston Newport is a short 2 hour drive south. Renting a car at Boston Logan would be the easiest option.

If you don't want to rent a car you can take an amtrak train from south station to North Kingstown which is right outside Newport. The train is usually pretty cheap (around $3).

When To Visit Newport

Newport is a summer destination, visit in the summer if you want more of a beach vacation. Winters are cold and harsh in New England, but Newport is super cute during the holidays. There isn't much of a spring in New England, it starts getting warm in late May. Fall is also a great time to visit because of the fall foliage, cheaper prices, and lighter crowds.

Newport FAQs

Is Newport a city? Yes. Newport Rhode Island is considered a city. With a population of around 25,000 people, Newport is a small city on the east coast.

Is Newport Rhode Island an Island? Yes. Newport is located on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay. While Newport is located on an island, when you visit it doesn't feel like you are on an island - you can drive into Newport.

Why is Newport so famous? Newport is so famous because it is one of the oldest cities in the United States and because of the incredible Newport Mansions.

How long is the Cliff Walk in Newport, RI? 3.5 miles. The stunning coastal Cliff Walk in Newport, RI is 3.5 miles.

Is Newport a wealthy area? Yes. Some of the most wealth people in the United States have summer homes in Newport.

What state is Newport in? Newport is located in Rhode Island on the United States east coast.

Is Newport safe? Newport, Rhode Island is extremely safe. It is one of the wealthiest areas in the United States so the security is very good in Newport, Rhode Island.

Is Newport expensive? Yes. Everything in Newport, Rhode Island is super expensive compared to the rest of the United States. (hotels, food, transportation, coffee, ect.)

Is Newport worth visiting? Absolutely! Newport is one of the most beautiful cities is the entirety of the United States and it holds so much interesting history.

A Complete Travel Guide To Newport, Rhode Island Wrap Up

Newport is home to incredible beaches, mansions, restaurants, cafes, and more. This charming coastal town will not disappoint. I hope that this complete travel guide to Newport Rhode Island helps you plan the perfect trip. If you liked this post I think you will love my locals guide to Boston and my guide to Cape Cod.

Happy Travels,

Daisy