Newport, Rhode Island is definitely one of the most adorable places I’ve been to! Its perfect for my East Coast friends right now, too, since it’s within driving distance from a lot of major cities. We took a road trip there and actually stopped in CT at the Inn at Graybarns on the way (highly recommend).

Known for it’s food, mansions, and waterfront views, Newport is really like no other place. The New England towns are full of charm, and I’m dying to get back to a few others. I highly recommend heading to Newport right after Labor Day for a less-crowded “summer” feel, or go during the fall for peak foliage. Keep reading below for the full travel guide, and check out some of my others if you’re planning a trip!

What to Do:

Newport is such a walkable town, which is great for exploring and stopping along the way. I will say that most of our trip was planning around amazing meals (see below), but there plenty of things to do during your trip.

• Cliff Walk, a 3.5 mile walk along the water where you get to see some of the most grand “summer cottages” aka mansions
• Harbor tour, we took a 1 hour boat ride around the Harbor and it was such a fun way to see the area
• Mansion tours, there are several in the area, but The Breakers and Marble House are two of the most famous ones
• Newport Vineyard, a great way to spend an afternoon drinking wine and eating cheese
• Shopping, all around Thames street you’ll find adorable shops with everything from coastal decor to preppy outfits

What to Eat:

We definitely ate our way through Newport..but it was SO worth it. I had the best Lobster Bisque ever, scallops with a sunset view, and soo many more tasty things. Check out my top recommendations below.

Cocktails:

• Castle Hill, amazing sunset views and great drinks. I recommend the “Tiki, do you love me” cocktail
• Gurney’s Newport, gorgeous firepit lounge and views of the sunset
• The Landing, a casual bar in Bowen’s Wharf
• Top of Newport Bar, at Hotel Viking
• Tiki Bar at Salvation Cafe

Dining:

• The Black Pearl
• Castle Hill Inn Lawn
• Clarke Cooke House
• Coffee Grinder (a Newport staple)
• The Cafe at the Chanler
• CRU Cafe
• Diego’s
• Flo’s Clam Shack
• 41 North Pavilion
• One Bellevue at Hotel Viking
• The Mooring
• Portside at 22 Bowen’s
• Scarpetta Newport
• Stoneacre Brasserie and Garden
• White Horse Tavern

Where to Stay:

We stayed at The Brenton Hotel, which just opened! It was gorgeous. The decor is beautiful, it’s in the perfect location, and they even have a freezer with free ice cream on each floor. Newport has a ton of hotel options, but here are a few favorites.

• The Brenton Hotel, from $400/night
• Castle Hill Inn, from $900/night
• The Chanler, from $900/night
• Cliffside inn, from $320/night
• Gurney’s, from $446/night
• Hammets Hotel, from $450/night
• Hotel Viking, from $275/night
• The Vanderbilt, from $600/night

Have you been to Newport before? I’d love to hear your favorites! Save this post for your next trip and let me know if you check out any of these spots.