The Breakers OPEN DAILY
10 a.m.- 4 p.m. House & grounds close one hour after last tour admission.
* No reservations required
* No other properties are open at this time
Due to Rhode Island's high transmission risk level, indoor face coverings are mandatory at all Preservation Society properties.
When you purchase tickets, you agree to these measures
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you have vaccination requirements for visitors?
A: Yes. Effective January 3, 2022, all visitors ages five and older to the Newport Mansions must be fully vaccinated. Beginning January 15, 2022, the Newport Mansions will require proof of a COVID booster shot for all those eligible to receive it. Visitors must also wear masks at all times inside the Newport Mansions. Full Vaccination Policy
Q: What do I need to know about visiting during the pandemic?
A: No reservations are necessary. You may purchase tickets when you arrive. Tours are self-guided and there is no specific start time.
As of Tuesday, August 10, 2021, we are again requiring face coverings indoors for all visitors and staff.
Download our free Newport Mansions mobile audio tour app before you arrive and bring your earbuds. You will follow a tour route described in the mobile app or on the “one-use" paper script you may pick up at the entrance. Regrettably, during the reopening period the houses are only partially accessible for mobility-challenged guests. Only certified service animals are allowed on the properties. Strollers are not allowed inside the houses.
Q: Do you give guided tours?
A: Highly engaging audio tours are available to download on your personal smart device before you arrive. Languages include French, Spanish, German, Chinese, and both an adult and family tour in English for The Breakers. When visiting The Breakers and Marble House, you can also download The Children's Tours, which are geared to those under 13. Additional house information, floor plans, historic photos and other information is also available on the app. Printed house narratives are also available for pickup at the front door.
Q: Are the houses safe?
A: The Preservation Society employs all of the protective measures recommended by state and federal health agencies. Surfaces that might be touched are cleaned and sanitized regularly. The Preservation Society provides hand sanitizer in multiple locations in each house museum and facilitates appropriate social distancing. As with all museums, we encourage visitors not to touch surfaces except handrails and doorknobs as necessary.
Q: Do I need advance reservations?
A: No. You can purchase tickets through our website or in person at the mansion(s). Either way, admissions are not timed; the tickets can be used any day and time the mansions are open, and they do not expire.
Q: How do I buy tickets?
A: You can purchase tickets through our website by clicking on the green TICKETS button at the top right of every webpage, or in person when you visit.
Q: How does a member make a reservation?
A: No reservations are required. Please present your membership card upon arrival. Admission is free and unlimited for current Preservation Society members.
Q: When are the houses open?
A: The Breakers is open daily, 10 .m.-4 p.m. House & grounds close one hour after last tour admission.
Our other properties are currently closed.
Q: If I purchase a multi-house ticket, do I have to see everything in one day?
A: No, our tickets never expire. You may visit the different houses and properties on different days if you wish. The tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Q: Is there still free admission for Newport and Newport County residents?
A: We have suspended our resident free admission programs during the pandemic recovery period.
Q: Are the houses accessible?
A: The Breakers and Marble House are partially accessible for mobility devices. The first floor of each house can be directly accessed by visitors who use a wheelchair; the second floor is accessible via the elevator, which must be operated by a staff member. None of our other houses are currently accessible.
Q: Can I take pictures in the mansions?
A: Yes. We understand that no vacation is complete without photos, a way to remember your trip and to share it with family and friends, especially on social media. The Preservation Society permits interior photography during tours in all of its houses except Hunter House, for personal, non-commercial use only. Selfie sticks, flash and tripods are not permitted. Read the detailed photography policy.
Q: How long does it take to tour each house?
A: It takes the average visitor 45 minutes to follow the tour route in each house. We generally advise allowing between one and one-and-a-half hours for each property, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the tour, explore the grounds, and visit the Newport Mansions Stores. The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House and Rosecliff are all self-guided audio tours presented on our mobile app played on your personal smart device. Bring your earbuds for best enjoyment. These allow you to experience each house at your own pace. If visitors prefer, there are printed “one-use” tour scripts available for free pickup at the front door.
Q: Is parking available?
A: Free off-street parking is available at all Preservation Society properties with the exception of Hunter House, where parking is generally available on the street or for a fee at the nearby Newport Visitors Center.
Q: Is there transportation between the houses?
A: The houses are within walking distance of one another in the Bellevue Avenue-Ochre Point neighborhood. Public transportation is provided by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority on Route 67, which operates natural-gas powered trolleys from the Newport Visitors Center at 23 America's Cup Avenue.
Q: Do children and teenagers need to be accompanied by an adult?
A: Parents/caregivers are responsible for child supervision at all times inside the museum and on the museum grounds. All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult parent/caregiver (age 18 or older) when visiting the properties.
Q: Are strollers allowed in the mansions?
A: While young children are always welcome at the Newport Mansions, we cannot allow strollers or carriages inside any of the houses. This policy has been adopted because of the significant damage that such vehicles have caused to historic surfaces and furnishings. We encourage the use of baby slings or baby backpacks as an alternative to strollers.
Q: Can I bring my dog with me to tour the mansions?
A: Only certified service animals are permitted on any of the Preservation Society properties. No other pets are permitted in the houses or on the grounds. Please do not leave pets in your vehicle while you take your tour, as temperatures inside a locked car will quickly become unsafe and even deadly.
Q: Can I check my bag or suitcase while I tour the mansions?
A: During the coronavirus pandemic reopening period, there are no lockers or storage facilities at any of the Newport Mansions. Personal items may not be left at the front desk. Visitors are welcome to carry personal items such as purses, camera bags and knapsacks with them during their tour. But suitcases, carry-on luggage, duffel bags, or oversized bags of any kind that could cause potential damage to historic surfaces and furnishings are not permitted. Please leave such items in your car prior to entering the property. Please plan your visit with this in mind.
Q: What type of shoes should I wear?
A: Many of the Preservation Society's houses are quite large, requiring a great deal of walking and climbing of stairs. They also include more than 80 acres of gardens and grounds. For your comfort and safety, we recommend that you wear sturdy walking shoes or sneakers. Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times on the Preservation Society’s properties.
Q: Does the Newport Mansions have dress code for visitors?
A: Yes. In keeping with our family-friendly atmosphere, and for health and safety reasons, The Preservation Society of Newport County strictly enforces a dress code. Proper attire must be worn on the properties at all times, including shirts and appropriate footwear. Swimwear and clothing with rude, vulgar or offensive language or graphics are not permitted at any time. Unless covered up, admission may be denied if clothing is deemed by staff to be inappropriate.
Q: Are tours available in languages other than English?
A: International visitors are always welcome. On our mobile app, audio tours of The Breakers and The Elms are available in English, French, Spanish, German and Chinese. The audio tour of Marble House is available in English, French, Spanish and German. Printed tour scripts of The Breakers, Marble House and The Elms are available in several other languages. These may be requested as you enter the house.
Q: What else do I need to know about taking tours of the mansions?
A: By purchasing a ticket, you agree to the following:
1) Visitors must follow direction of Preservation Society staff including but not limited to coronavirus safety procedures.
2) Security systems are in use; you may be photographed. No personal items may be stored or left unattended at any property.
3) Strollers and carriages are not allowed inside any of the houses.
4) For your safety, please refrain from touching objects in the houses.
5) Interior and exterior photography at most houses is permitted for non-commercial and social media use only. No interior photography is permitted at Hunter House.
6) An authorized photographer or videographer may record your image for Preservation Society purposes.
7) Sale or commercial use of any images taken on or from the grounds of any Preservation Society property is prohibited. Exceptions can only be made by prior written agreement.
8) Tickets may not be resold; they are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Q: Can you recommend a place to stay while my family is in Newport?
A: Newport has hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts of every type and price range. You can find a partial listing on our Lodgings page, with links to their individual websites. Additional information about places to stay and other activities is available from the Newport Visitors Bureau, www.discovernewport.org.
Q: What are the addresses of the mansions?
A: Except for Green Animals Topiary Garden (located in Portsmouth) and Hunter House (downtown), most of the Newport Mansions are located within a short distance of one another on or near Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Here are the addresses:
The Breakers
44 Ochre Point Avenue
Newport
Chateau-sur-Mer
474 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Chepstow
120 Narragansett Avenue
Newport
The Elms
367 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Green Animals Topiary Garden
380 Corys Lane
Portsmouth
Hunter House
54 Washington Street
Newport
Isaac Bell House
70 Perry Street
Newport
Kingscote
253 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Marble House
596 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
Rosecliff
548 Bellevue Avenue
Newport
For directions to Green Animals and to Bellevue Avenue, click here.