Home to incredible sweeping views of the eastern coast, Newport is a quaint destination for a getaway. A mixture of nature, more mansions than you can imagine, and delicious food – it’s a great place to indulge in whatever your heart desires (or all of the above? it’s your vacation – why not?). There are plenty of things to do in Newport, Rhode Island.
Since covid-19 railroaded our travel plans (again), we escaped for a quick fall weekend getaway to Newport. So here’s your guide to how to spend two days in Newport for first-timers!
If you’ve got more time to spend in the state, check out these 50+ things to do in Rhode Island.
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How to get to Newport, Rhode Island?
While Rhode Island isn’t technically an island, Newport is located on Aquidneck Island. That’s not confusing at all. It’s a famous New England summer destination due to the location on the seaside and the rich history (both literally and figuratively). Most people drive to Newport either from their homes or from the airport in Warwick. Warwick is about 8 minutes outside of Providence and a 25-mile drive to Newport. There is a smaller regional airport also located closer to Newport. Newport is a great weekend destination – but there are plenty of romantic places in Rhode Island to explore!
History of Newport
The town of Newport was colonized in the 1600s by Boston settlers. People came to America for religious freedom, just to be welcomed by the Puritans. Many settlers left Boston, most notably Quakers and Jews, in the pursuit of fewer religious constraints. In the next century, the British moved in and kicked out many of the city’s residents. The town eventually became a summer home for many of the U.S.’s richest families. The US Navy has been present in Newport since the 1860s. The Naval War College is located here. You’ll see plenty of Navy members walking around town as well.
Best Things to do in Newport
Cliff Walk
This is what I was most excited about – walking along the coastline breathing in the sea air sounds like a great treatment for quarantine. The Cliff Walk is a trail that runs 3.5 miles (a little over 5km) along the coast. It’s a straight shot down from the top of the cliff to the water and only some of it is fenced off so be careful. You can get down to the water at 40 Steps. In the 1800s, David Priestly Hall crafted them for his children so they could reach the beach from the property. In 1840, he donated them to the city as a tourist. Now this beautiful walk is one of the best things to do in Newport!
Historical Mansions
Whether you walk by them on the Cliff Walk, take a Trolley tour as we did, or take a tour of the insides – the mansions of Newport shouldn’t be missed. Currently, many of the mansions are closed for visitors. The Breakers and The Elms are open for tours.
The Bells is a crumbling stone stable and carriage house. Carey Mansion was a stand-in for the series “Dark Shadows”. Belcourt Castle was constructed by Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont (yes of the Belmont Cup) and is currently a museum of antiquities and architectural history. If you’re a history or architecture lover, then a tour of Newport’s historical mansions is one of the best things to do in Newport!
Ocean Drive
If you are short on time or prefer driving to walking, you can do a scenic Newport tour by car. The Ocean Drive has wonderful views of the shoreline and the lavish mansions. It’s a HIstoric Landmark District with many stops along the way. You’ll see Fort Adams State Park, King Park with a statue of General Rochambeau, Newport Harbor, Rhode Island Sound, Hammersmith Farm (where President Kennedy had his wedding reception) and of course- miles of the Atlantic Ocean.
If you’re traveling to the area, why not check off some of these awesome New England Bucket List ideas!
Go Mural Spotting
One of the best things to do in Newport is just walking around. While Newport isn’t known for its street art scene, we did find some cool murals throughout the town.
Fun fact: While spotting murals, keep an eye out for the location of the first gas street lamp! While Maryland had the first publicly funded street lamp, it was in Newport that the first gas lamp flickered to life. It’s located at 270 Thames St.
Newport Art Museum
This permanent collection has over 2,000 works of American art. It was founded in 1912 as the Art Association of Newport. It was one of the oldest art associations in the country. The art focuses on the late 19th century to this day and features both established and emerging artists from Newport and all over New England. Be sure to check their calendar for special exhibitions!
Museum of Newport History
For a deep look into the history of Newport, head to the Old Brick Market building downtown. The Museum of Newport History is a National Historic Landmark and is home to over 10,000 objects. You can even see the Ida Lewis Rock Light!
Tauro Synagogue & Cemetery
Newport has been a home for religious freedom for hundreds of years. It is home to a variety of religions – some dating back to America’s creation. The Touro Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in the United States.
Grave of Ida Lewis
Ida Lewis was a famous Rhode Island lighthouse. In a time when women were expected to marry, have children, or pursue a womanly career like a lady’s maid (and didn’t have the right to vote!)- Ida was swimming and rowing boats! She is credited with saving at least 18 lives during her time as a lighthouse keeper. When you look out into the harbor, remember that she did all of these rescues in a rowboat typically during storms.
Fun Fact: You can also visit Ann Franklin’s grave in Newport. The widow of Benjamin Franklin’s brother was the first female newspaper editor in the United States.
Naval War College Museum
Originally built to house Newport’s less fortunate, the Naval War College Museum was established in 1952 to be a home for historical artifacts. There are three major themes to the exhibits – history and science of naval warfare, the history of all naval activities in the Narragansett Bay area since the colonies, and of course, the history of the Naval War College since it’s founding in 1884.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
A trip to Newport isn’t complete without visiting the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Located on Bellevue Ave, near the Audobain Museum, it’s easy to get to. You can walk through the history of the sport and see important memorabilia. One of the most famous items is Arthur Ashe’s Tennis Racket. Arthur was the first Black player to play on the U.S. Davis Cup team, win the singles title at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, and the US Open.
Audobain Automobile Musuem
Located in the same area as the International Tennis Hall of Fame – the Audobain Automobile Museum is home to some vintage cars. Any car enthusiast would love to see all these restored cars in their glory!
Claiborne Pell Bridge
Our first glimpse of Newport was through the elegantly-lighted Clairborn Pell Bridge. Construction began in April 1966 and finished in June 1969. It crosses the Narragansett Bay and is one of the most photographed landmarks in Rhode Island. While driving over this bridge is an experience, I do suggest viewing the bridge from the land as well!
Rose Island Lighthouse
Near the Claiborne Pell Bridge is the Rose Island Lighthouse. While it’s not a towering lighthouse, it is very cute. Closed when we visited, you can even spend the night as an honorary lighthouse keeper here.
Fort Adams State Park
This fort was functional from the Civil War through World War II and is one of the most fascinating things to do in Newport. Surrounded on three sides by water, the views are also fantastic. In the warmer months, you can watch a sailing race or catch a concert (pending covid allows).
Thames Street
This street is only a mile and a half long – but size doesn’t mean everything. Thames Street is the center of action in Newport! Thames Street is lined with bars, restaurants, shops, and historic homes. There are also a lot of bed and breakfasts that have access to the marinas and Newport Harport. One of the best things to do in Newport is to sit at an outdoor cafe and people watch! (or shop – whatever fits your style!)
Where to stay in Newport, Rhode Island
There are a LOT of places to stay in Newport. It’s honestly a bit overwhelming when you sit down to try to pick a hotel. If you want to be in the heart of the town, then the Marriot Newport is your place. It’s within walking distance of the numerous wharves and the Visitor Center – where many tours leave from. For great views of the water, check out Newport Beach Hotel & Suites or The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina.
We stayed in neighboring Middletown as we found better hotel deals. It’s about a 7-minute drive away and you’ll find many well-known hotels, so if you’re in a loyalty program don’t worry about the distance. There’s a Holiday Inn Express, Days Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Hampton Inn!
Read Before You Go!
Pin “Best Things to do in Newport, Rhode Island” for Later
wow! such a fascinating place to be!! I wish I’ll get the chance to visit one day, thanks for this great article! 🙂
Mural spotting itself makes this place so interesting! I have heard a lot about Rhode Island. Glad to find there are so many things to do here on a weekend getaway. The Cliff walk, historical mansions, automobile museum – Rhode Island seems to have something for everyone. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Never been to RI before and would love to stop by Newport after reading this! Would love to visit the Belcourt Castle and check out some mural art here!
I have never been to Rhode Island, but it looks like a great place to visit! Thanks for sharing.
Cliff walking and spotting murals are my absolute favourite activities! And given that there’s lot more interesting things to do in Rhode Island, it does make me want to visit this place. My US bucket list is getting bigger everyday – ha ha!
How about food in Newport? Some special places try? Any restaurants we should eat at?
It’s not really a foodie town – but an upcoming post will have all the places we ate. We absolutely LOVED The Fifth Element – great food, unique decor, and great covid policies!
I was just in Rhode Island a few months ago – but in Providence – Newport seems like a cool place to explore too!
We loved our visit to Newport and did the Cliff Walk. The downtown area had so many cute shops and delicious-looking restaurants. We need to return.
I would definitely be checking out the historical mansion first on my trip here! Great list of things to do that you’ve put together.
The sea has magical properties, literally😃 Enjoyed the read👍
What a charming destination! I can’t imagine how beautiful the town must look in the fall. Looks like an amazing place to visit domestically.
Great blog post! It’s nice to see people share more than just the mansions of Newport! Such a beautiful area!
Rhode island definitely looks like an interesting place. I would like to check the mansions, have heard about them before too. But one thing which caught my interest was Rose Island Lighthouse. I would love to be an honorary lightkeeper and guide the ships safely to the harbor. It will be a memorable experience.
I’d love to check out some of these historic sites! I’ve never been to Newport but would love to at some point.
Newport looks like a very lovely location and the perfect spot to escape for a weekend! I love the architecture! Also, I would love to take a Trolley tour! This is a great guide to planning your visit there, thanks for sharing!