“Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy a mansion with an ocean view.”’
Breezy. Glamorous. Majestic. Contrasting.
Newport’s Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile seaside path where the Atlantic pounds the rocks on one side while gilded mansions glitter on the other. It’s nature and opulence in a single stride—a walk where you’ll breathe salt air and peek into America’s age of unimaginable wealth.
This is Newport at its finest: wild waves, windblown cliffs, and the grand excess of the Gilded Age. Here’s where millionaires like the Vanderbilts and Astors built palaces to outshine one another while pretending it was all just summer fun. You don’t just see the mansions—you sense the competition, the parties, and the old-world grandeur clinging to every stone.
With our self-guided audio tour, the stories unfold exactly where they happened. GPS triggers narration as you walk, letting you enjoy the ocean breeze while the history of high society and the sea speaks for itself.
Glide past The Breakers, a Vanderbilt masterpiece that redefined luxury. Stroll by Marble House, dripping with gold leaf and ambition. Admire Rosecliff, once host to the grandest parties on the East Coast. Pause at the 40 Steps, where the ocean view was a rare escape for those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Look up at Ochre Court, an architectural masterpiece built by a banking empire. And finish with the sweep of Bailey’s Beach, where private sand meets public horizon.
Disclaimer: Side effects may include envy of old-money mansions, salty hair selfies, and sudden daydreams of throwing a Gatsby-style party by the sea.
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Know Before You Go
Note:
Many of the mansions featured on this tour — including The Elms, The Breakers, Rosecliff, Marble House, and Chateau-sur-Mer — are managed by the Preservation Society of Newport County. Access to the properties, including parking lots and gardens, requires a valid ticket or membership. You can purchase tickets online at newportmansions.org or in person at any of the mansion entrances.
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Newport Cliff Walk Map
Starting Point
You can join the route at any point or start from the suggested starting location listed below.
The tour begins at the north entrance of the Cliff Walk on Memorial Boulevard. A low stone wall lines your left side, and a tall Cliff Walk sign marks the spot, confirming you’re in the right place. From here, the path curves along the shoreline, setting the scene for ocean views, Gilded Age mansions, and one of Newport’s most iconic coastal walks.
How Does It Work?
- Access your tour: Download the Action Tour Guide app and sign in with the same email used for your website purchase. Your tour will appear under My Tours.
- Download your tour: Download it before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.
- Start your tour: Open My Tours, select your tour, and tap Start Touring when you reach a starting point.
- Listen your way: Use your phone’s speaker or headphones, or connect to your car’s audio system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not currently supported, compatibility is in development.
- GPS-triggered audio: Stories play automatically as you reach each location along the route.
- Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day. Tours are valid forever (one year for Action+).
Newport Cliff Walk Audio Tour
Things to do on the Tour Include:
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Welcome
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Forty Steps
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Ochre Court
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Vinland Estate
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The Breakers
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Rosecliff
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Beechwood
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Marble House
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Rough Point
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Land's End
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Bailey's Beach
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
The Newport Cliff Walk is a free, scenic stroll alongside Newport’s oceanside bluffs. It features gorgeous ocean views on one side and the famous Newport Mansions on the other.
The Newport Cliff Walk is open from sunrise to sunset. This is for the safety of visitors, as it’s not a good idea to walk along the cliffs after dark.
There really isn’t a bad time to visit the Cliff Walk, but late spring and early fall tend to be less crowded than summer and are still pleasantly warm. If you don’t mind running into a few other travelers, summer is the most popular season to visit.
The city of Newport itself is packed with things to do. From shops to restaurants and bars to whale watches departing from the harbor, you could spend a whole day there and still not run out of things to do!
The Newport Cliff Walk is a very easy walk. The first two-thirds of a mile are also paved, making them accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Newport, Rhode Island rose to prominence during the Gilded Age as one of the most sought-after getaways for New York’s well-to-do. Families like the Vanderbilts and the Astors built lavish mansions here which still stand tall today!
Marble House was home to William and Alva Vanderbilt. William actually gave the extravagant mansion to Alva as a birthday gift!
Beechwood was home to Caroline Astor (who insisted she be called “The Mrs. Astor”), a wealthy Gilded Age socialite. Caroline became famous for the parties she threw in Beechwood’s ballroom, which had a capacity of 400. This led to the creation of the highly controversial “400 List” dictating who was and was not invited to these exclusive balls.
Many of Newport’s beaches are open to the public, but almost all charge a fee for parking. Be prepared to pay between $10-25 for beach parking.
The main attractions along the Cliff Walk are undoubtedly the Gilded Age mansions which line the path. These extravagant estates are every bit as beautiful as the ocean they overlook.
Most people park on Memorial Boulevard at Easton’s Beach or at the end of Narragansett Avenue. If you’re willing to walk a little farther, however, you can also find parking within the adjacent neighborhoods.
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Inclusions and Exclusions
Action Tour Guide app: Download the app to access your purchased tour.
GPS-triggered audio: Stories and directions play automatically as you reach each location.
Tour anytime: Your tour is available for unlimited use, anytime and any day.Tours are valid forever (one year for Action+).
Narrated stories: Hear local history, culture, and stories from experienced narrators.
Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day.
Offline access: Download your tour before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.
Stories, stops, and directions:Follow the route to key attractions with automatic directions and stories at each location.
Transportation: Transportation, parking fees, and tolls are not included.
Admission:Entry tickets and reservations are not included.
Food and drinks: Meals and drinks are not included.
Rental car: A rental car is not included and may be required for driving tours.
