Newport mansion guide · Reviewed November 2026
Of all the mansions in Newport RI, The Breakers is the one to see first: Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s 70-room summer “cottage” at 44 Ochre Point Avenue, open for self-guided audio tours with a timed ticket. Below you’ll find what tickets cost, how timed entry works, how long to allow, which specialty tours are worth adding, and where to stay nearby.
The Breakers at a glance
- Address: 44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI
- Built: 1893 to 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II
- Architect: Richard Morris Hunt
- Size: 70 rooms on five floors
- Tickets: $32 adults, $14 ages 6 to 12, under 6 free (at the time of writing); timed entry
- Typical hours: On our November 2026 check, open 9am to 5pm with last admission at 4pm
- Tour style: Self-guided audio tour on the free Newport Mansions app; bring your own phone and earbuds
- Parking: Free onsite
- Accessibility: Partially accessible, with an elevator in service
Why The Breakers is Newport’s must-see mansion
The Breakers replaced an earlier wooden house on the site that burned in 1892. Vanderbilt wanted the new house to be as fireproof as possible, so Hunt built it of masonry and steel, faced in Indiana limestone, in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo. Interiors were finished by Jules Allard and Sons and Ogden Codman Jr.
The Preservation Society leased the house for $1 a year starting in 1948 and opened it to tours that July, then bought it in 1972. It is a National Historic Landmark, and in 2017 it drew about 450,000 visitors a year, making it the most visited attraction in Rhode Island.
What you’ll see on the tour
- The Great Hall: a 50-foot cube, with carved stone figure groups over its doors representing the arts, sciences and commerce.
- The Dining Room: twelve rose alabaster columns and seating for up to 34 guests.
- The Library and Music Room: the library has coffered ceilings and a 16th-century French fireplace, and the music room was made for the family’s entertaining.
- The Billiard Room: walls of Cipollino marble with mosaics of semi-precious stones.
- The grounds: wide lawns facing the Atlantic. The back and south terraces have been closed for restoration through November 2026, though the gardens and back lawn stayed open.
Breakers tickets and timed entry
The Breakers switched to timed tickets in February 2025 to ease crowding. You pick a date and a half-hour entry time, slots are limited, and you need to arrive at your booked time. Members can visit without a reservation. Other Newport mansions, such as Marble House, do not use timed entry.
| Ticket | Adult | Ages 6–12 | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Breakers | $32 | $14 | A single-house visit |
| The Breakers + 1 | $45 | $16 | The Breakers plus one other open house within one year |
| Beneath The Breakers or Third Floor tour | $25 | $20 (ages 2–12) | Add-on specialty tour; does not include general admission |
| Sparkling Lights (select holiday dates) | $45 | $18 | Evening light display plus the house interior |
Prices are from the Preservation Society’s ticket packages page at the time of writing. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you’re seeing two houses, The Breakers + 1 is the better value; Marble House is the classic second stop (see our Marble House guide).
Specialty tours worth adding
Beneath The Breakers
A guide-led, roughly 60-minute tour underground through the heating, electrical, plumbing, refrigeration and elevator systems that kept the house running. Groups are capped at 12, it starts near the main gates, and it isn’t recommended for children under 10. Wear sturdy shoes.
The Breakers Third Floor
A roughly 60-minute guided look at the private family and staff rooms on the third floor, where conservation work is ongoing. Groups are capped at 10, and the tour involves 85 steps up and 95 down with no public elevator.
Both specialty tours require a set date and time and do not include general admission, so buy a regular Breakers ticket too.
Holidays at The Breakers
The Breakers is the centerpiece of Holidays at the Newport Mansions, which runs November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027. In recent years the Great Hall has featured a towering poinsettia tree. On select evenings from November 21 to December 27, 2026, Sparkling Lights fills the grounds with a lit-up garden path, with timed entries every half hour from 4pm to 6pm and the grounds closing at 8pm. Regular Breakers tickets aren’t accepted after 3pm on Sparkling Lights days. For the full season, read our Holidays at the Newport Mansions 2026 guide.
Mansions in Newport RI: The Breakers vs. the others
If you only have time for one house, choose The Breakers for sheer scale. With time for two, pair it with Marble House for Vanderbilt opulence, or with Rosecliff in season for its ballroom and heart-shaped staircase. Our guide to Newport’s Gilded Age mansions compares every major house.
Tips for visiting The Breakers
- Book an early slot in summer and on holiday weekends; the rooms are usually calmer.
- Charge your phone and bring earbuds. Headphones aren’t provided, though printed scripts are available.
- Eat on site. The Breakers Café serves sandwiches, salads, pastries and drinks daily from 9am to 4pm for ticket holders and members.
- Walk the Cliff Walk afterward. The path passes the ocean side of The Breakers. See our Newport Cliff Walk guide, the nearby Forty Steps, and Cliff Walk parking tips.
Where to stay near The Breakers
Staying near Ochre Point and Bellevue Avenue lets you take an early timed slot, then walk to the Cliff Walk without moving the car.
Near the mansions and the Cliff Walk
Compare hotels near the Newport mansions and hotels near the Cliff Walk.
Couples, families and budgets
For two, see our romantic hotels in Newport. Traveling with kids or watching costs? Try family-friendly hotels and budget-friendly hotels.
Frequently asked questions
How much are tickets to The Breakers?
At the time of writing, a Breakers ticket is $32 for adults and $14 for ages 6 to 12, and children under 6 are free. The Breakers + 1 ticket ($45 adults, $16 ages 6 to 12) adds one other open Newport mansion. Confirm current prices with the Preservation Society.
Do you need a reservation for The Breakers?
Yes, in most cases. General admission uses timed tickets with half-hour entry slots, and slots can sell out. Preservation Society members can visit without a reservation.
How long does it take to tour The Breakers?
The audio tour is self-paced. Plan on about an hour and a half to two hours for the house and grounds, and add an hour for a specialty tour such as Beneath The Breakers or the Third Floor tour.
Is there parking at The Breakers?
Yes. The Preservation Society lists free onsite parking at The Breakers. The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, a separate property, relies on street parking.
Is The Breakers open in winter?
The Breakers has been open daily through the fall and holiday season, with Sparkling Lights evenings on select dates from late November through December. In past years the houses closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so check the official calendar.
Can you see The Breakers from the Cliff Walk?
Yes. The Cliff Walk passes the ocean side of The Breakers, and it is one of the most photographed views on the path.
More Newport guides
- Newport Gilded Age Mansions: Which to Visit
- Marble House Newport RI guide
- Holidays at the Newport Mansions 2026
- Hotels Near the Newport Mansions
- All Newport Blog posts