Newport Cliff Walk Self-Guided Audio Tour: Gilded Age Mansions

The Cliff Walk reveals the stories behind the walls, not just the facades of the mansions.

A self-guided walking audio tour of Newport's Cliff Walk with GPS navigation and over 35 audio stories about Gilded Age families and their iconic mansions. Download the app, start at Easton's Beach or anywhere along the route, and listen to the history of The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff, and other estates as you walk. Lifetime access means you can revisit the tour anytime. It works offline once downloaded and requires only your phone and headphones.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Easton's Beach10m
2. The Breakerspassing by
3. Rosecliffpassing by
4. Marble Housepassing by
5. Rough Pointpassing by

Self-guided Newport Cliff Walk tour

• Start at Easton's Beach Cliff Walk entrance
• Learn about Easton's Beach and Chanler
• Discover Newport's Gilded Age history
• Visit Forty Steps and view ocean waves
• See Ochre Court mansion exterior
• Pass Vinland Estate and learn its story
• View The Breakers Vanderbilt mansion facade
• Stop at Rosecliff mansion with exhibition
• Pass Astors' Beechwood summer cottage
• See Marble House and learn its history
• View Rough Point mansion and owner story
• Visit Land's End, Edith Wharton's home
• End tour near Bailey's Beach public area

The experience

The Cliff Walk stretches over 4 miles along Newport's rocky coastline, and this audio tour unpacks the stories the mansions themselves don't tell. You'll learn how the Vanderbilts, Astors, and other millionaires shaped the Gilded Age, why residents tore down walls built to keep them out, and what made Mrs. Astor's "300 List" so powerful. It was literally the capacity of her ballroom at Beechwood. The app triggers audio automatically as you walk, so you don't have to fumble with your phone. You just move forward and listen.

Start whenever you want at the Cliff Walk entrance by Easton's Beach, or join the route anywhere along the path shown in the app. You'll pass Forty Steps, where you can walk down to the crashing waves and stand where the Gilded Age elites tried to keep the public out. The tour takes you past Ochre Court (which cost $4.5 million in 1892), the Vikings-inspired Vinland Estate, The Breakers with its technological marvels, the pink-and-white Rosecliff, and Marble House with its Chinese Tea House. You'll also glimpse Rough Point, home to the eccentric Doris Duke, and learn about Land's End, where author Edith Wharton lived while resisting her own elite status.

Download the tour guide app by Action before you go, enter your password, and the GPS route and audio stories load onto your phone. Once downloaded, it works without Wi-Fi or cellular service, so you won't lose the audio if you're in a dead zone. The same password works on multiple devices if you're traveling with others, and you can pause, restart, or skip ahead whenever you want: stop for photos, a picnic, or just to catch your breath. Lifetime access means you keep the tour forever and can revisit it on future trips to Newport.

What’s included

• GPS-guided audio tour with over 35 stories about Gilded Age families and their mansions.
• lifetime access so you can use the tour anytime on future trips.
• offline playback once downloaded, so the audio works without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
• flexible pacing: start, stop, and pause anytime for photos, rest, or scenic stops.
• multi-device access with one password per traveler.
• planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews in the app.
• support available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (5 to 90 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Guide With Action

Is this one for you?The tour is a walking experience over 4 miles, so you'll need comfortable shoes and time to move at your own pace. It suits anyone who wants the stories without a live guide or group, and works for families or couples who can share a tour by using separate earbuds.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long does it take to walk the full Cliff Walk tour?

The tour is over 4 miles long with more than 35 audio stories and takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete, though you can walk it faster or slower depending on how long you pause at each stop.

What are the main mansions I'll learn about on the Cliff Walk?

The tour covers The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff, Rough Point, Beechwood, Ochre Court, Vinland Estate, and Land's End, plus stories about the Forty Steps and the history of public access to the walk itself.

Do I need to buy tickets to see the mansions from the Cliff Walk?

No entrance fees are required for the Cliff Walk itself or to view the mansions from the path. The audio tour is separate from any paid mansion tours, and you can see the exteriors and grounds from the public walkway.

Can I download the tour ahead of time so it works without cell service?

Yes, download the tour guide app by Action while connected to Wi-Fi or strong cellular signal, and once the tour is on your phone, it uses GPS and plays audio automatically without needing Wi-Fi or data.

Where do I park and how do I get to the Cliff Walk starting point?

You can park your car at Easton's Beach, where the tour begins. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer not to drive.