Newport mansion guide · Reviewed November 2026
Newport Gilded Age mansions are the grand summer “cottages” on and around Bellevue Avenue, and for most visitors the best plan is The Breakers plus one more house chosen by what you love most: marble and gold, ballrooms, gardens or architecture. Most are run by the Preservation Society of Newport County (Newport Mansions), sit within a few minutes’ drive of one another, and can be toured on a self-paced audio tour. This guide helps you pick the right one or two for your trip.
Newport Gilded Age mansions: the quick answer
- First visit, one house only: The Breakers.
- Two houses: The Breakers + Marble House, the classic Vanderbilt pairing.
- Love ballrooms and movie history: Rosecliff (seasonal).
- Want something new: The Elms, which reopens in November 2026 with a new multi-sensory experience.
- Architecture fans: Isaac Bell House, Kingscote or Chateau-sur-Mer for the houses that came before the marble palaces.
- Beyond the Preservation Society: Doris Duke’s Rough Point, run by the Newport Restoration Foundation.
The big Bellevue Avenue mansions
The Breakers
Built from 1893 to 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II and designed by Richard Morris Hunt, The Breakers is Newport’s showpiece and the house most first-timers want to see. It is a National Historic Landmark faced in Indiana limestone, and the Preservation Society also offers specialty tours, including one of the family’s private third floor. General admission uses a timed ticket, so book ahead in busy months. The back and south terraces have been closed for restoration through November 2026, though the gardens and back lawn stay open.
Marble House
William K. Vanderbilt gave Marble House to his wife, Alva, for her 39th birthday. Completed in 1892, it is smaller than The Breakers but dazzling, with about 500,000 cubic feet of marble and a Chinese Tea House on the seaward lawn. Tickets are untimed, which makes it the easiest second house of the day. Read our full Marble House guide for tickets, tea house dates and tips.
The Elms
Coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind and his wife hired Philadelphia architect Horace Trumbauer in 1898 to design The Elms, modeled on the 18th-century Château d’Asnières outside Paris. The house reopens on November 16, 2026 with a new multi-sensory experience that requires a timed ticket ($35 adults, $20 ages 2 to 12 at the time of writing). The Preservation Society also lists a separately ticketed Servant Life tour here.
Rosecliff
Built from 1899 to 1902 for Theresa Fair Oelrichs, Rosecliff is known for its heart-shaped grand staircase and Newport’s largest ballroom. It has appeared in more than a dozen films, including The Great Gatsby (1974) and True Lies. Rosecliff is seasonal: it closed for the 2026 season on November 1 and is listed to reopen January 29. For more on the show, see whether The Gilded Age is filmed in Newport.
Older and architect-favorite houses
The marble palaces make more sense once you see what came before them. These smaller houses are quieter and especially rewarding for repeat visitors.
- Chateau-sur-Mer (1852): Built for China trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore, it is considered Newport’s first true mansion and a showcase of High Victorian design. It reopens November 21, 2026 and is open weekends through January 3, 2027 for the holidays. It is not wheelchair accessible.
- Kingscote (1841): A Gothic Revival landmark whose arrival kicked off Newport’s 19th-century “cottage boom.” Seasonal; closed for the 2026 season.
- Isaac Bell House (1883): A McKim, Mead & White design and one of the finest Shingle-style houses in the country, sparsely furnished so the architecture takes center stage. Seasonal; closed for the 2026 season.
Rough Point is the other big name. Doris Duke’s oceanfront home is run by the Newport Restoration Foundation, which she founded, and is ticketed separately from Newport Mansions. Its 2026 regular season ran March 28 to November 8, with holiday admission Fridays to Sundays from November 27 to December 27, 2026. See the Rough Point ticket page for current details.
Compare the main mansions
| Mansion | Built | Best for | Adult ticket* |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Breakers | 1895 | First-timers, sheer scale | $32 (timed) |
| Marble House | 1892 | Marble, gilding, the Tea House | $25 One Property |
| The Elms | Designed 1898 | The new multi-sensory experience | $35 (timed) |
| Rosecliff | 1902 | Ballroom, staircase, film history | $25 One Property |
| Chateau-sur-Mer | 1852 | Victorian design, quieter visit | $25 One Property |
*Prices from the Preservation Society’s ticket packages page at the time of writing. The Breakers + 1 ($45 adults, $16 ages 6 to 12) pairs The Breakers with one other open house and is usually the best value if you plan to see two.
How to choose: a simple plan
- Check what is open on your dates. In summer most houses are open; from November through spring the list shrinks. Our best time to visit Newport guide covers the seasons.
- Book any timed entry first. Lock in The Breakers or The Elms, then fit untimed houses around it.
- Pick a second house by interest, not by fame: Marble House for opulence, Rosecliff for glamour, Chateau-sur-Mer or Isaac Bell for architecture.
- Bring your phone and earbuds. Tours run on the free Newport Mansions app and headphones are not provided.
- Leave time for the coast. The Newport Cliff Walk runs behind several of these houses and is the best free way to see them from the ocean side.
Visiting between late November and early January? Several houses are decorated for the season; see our Holidays at the Newport Mansions 2026 guide. Prefer someone else to drive? Browse tours and sightseeing in Newport.
Where to stay near the mansions
Staying near Bellevue Avenue means you can tour in the morning, walk the Cliff Walk in the afternoon and skip the parking hunt.
Walking distance to the mansions
Start with our picks for hotels near the Newport mansions, or compare hotels near the Cliff Walk for ocean views and early walks.
Couples, families and budgets
For a getaway for two, see our romantic hotels in Newport. Traveling with kids or watching costs? Try family-friendly hotels and budget-friendly hotels, or browse the best hotels in Newport.
Frequently asked questions
Which Newport mansion is the best to visit?
For a first visit, The Breakers is the one to see: it is the largest and most famous of the Gilded Age mansions. If you have time for two, add Marble House for its marble and gilded rooms, or Rosecliff in season for its ballroom and heart-shaped staircase.
How many Newport mansions can you see in one day?
Two is comfortable and three is possible if you start at opening time. Most houses use a self-paced audio tour, so plan on roughly an hour or more per house, plus driving and parking time between them on Bellevue Avenue.
How much does it cost to tour the Newport mansions?
At the time of writing, a One Property ticket is $25 for adults and $10 for ages 6 to 12, The Breakers alone is $32 for adults, and The Breakers + 1 is $45 for adults. Children under 6 are free at general admission houses. Confirm current prices with the Preservation Society.
Do you need reservations for the Newport mansions?
The Breakers and the new experience at The Elms use timed tickets, so book those ahead, especially in summer and during the holidays. One Property tickets for houses such as Marble House have no set entry time and are valid for one year.
Are the Newport mansions open in winter?
Some are. In late fall and winter several houses close for the season, while The Breakers and Marble House have stayed open, and selected houses are decorated for Holidays at the Newport Mansions from late November into early January. Check the official calendar before you go.
Is there parking at the Newport mansions?
The Preservation Society lists free onsite parking at its properties except Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, which rely on street parking.
More Newport guides
- Marble House Newport RI guide
- Holidays at the Newport Mansions 2026
- Newport Cliff Walk: complete guide
- Hotels Near the Newport Mansions
- All Newport Blog posts