Newport Historic Tour with The Elms Mansion: 2.5 Hours

Colonial streets, Gilded Age mansions, and the stories behind them

A 2.5-hour guided tour of Newport on a spacious shuttle bus with a live English-speaking guide, visiting The Elms Mansion (or an alternate mansion when The Elms is closed) and touring Bellevue Avenue's historic landmarks and coastal views. The tour covers Newport's colonial past, its Gilded Age wealth, pirate history, and local lore. Children ages 13 and up are welcome. Service animals are permitted.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bellevue Avenuepassing by
2. The Elms1h 15m · entry included

Historic scenic tour and mansion visit

• View Colonial buildings and modern living
• See impressive Gilded Age mansions
• View historic landmarks and coastal views
• Explore The Elms mansion and film locations

The experience

The tour runs 2.5 hours on a shuttle bus with oversized windows designed for photography as you move through the city. You'll start by viewing Colonial buildings still standing among modern restaurants, bars and shops, then move to Bellevue Avenue to see some of the most impressive Gilded Age mansions in America. The guide walks you through each era: how Newport changed across centuries and what each period left behind.

The centerpiece is The Elms, the mansion where HBO's The Gilded Age is filmed. You'll explore rooms inside the home of coal baron Edward Julius Berwind and learn the stories of the people who built these houses and the city itself. (If The Elms is closed (including November 3–21, 2025), you'll visit The Marble House instead, depending on availability.) Along the way, the guide covers Newport's stranger history too: how pirates came to the city and what happened to them, and the ghosts said to still inhabit the neighborhoods you're passing through. The oversized windows let you frame shots without leaving your seat.

All fees and taxes are included in the price. The tour suits all fitness levels since you're seated on the bus for most of it. Children must be at least 13 to join. If you don't have a car or are staying elsewhere in Newport, the shuttle handles the route and the stops. You just show up at the departure point.

What’s included

• Shuttle bus tour with a live English-speaking guide.
• entry to The Elms Mansion or The Marble House (depending on availability).
• views of Colonial buildings, Bellevue Avenue mansions, and coastal landmarks.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday to SundayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:30Last departure this season: 1 Nov

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (16 to 17 years) · Child (13 to 15 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tours of Newport

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Newport without a car. The shuttle picks up and moves you through the city's most significant sites in one morning or afternoon, so you don't need to arrange transport or plan which mansions to visit. The guide handles the route and the stories, leaving you free to photograph and listen.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 17 years); Child (13 to 15 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is The Elms and why does it matter for this tour?

The Elms is the mansion where HBO's The Gilded Age is filmed, and it's the main stop on the tour. You'll walk inside the home of coal baron Edward Julius Berwind and see the rooms used for filming. When The Elms is closed (including November 3–21, 2025), you'll visit The Marble House instead.

How long is the tour and what neighborhoods do we see?

The tour runs 2.5 hours and covers Colonial buildings in downtown Newport, Bellevue Avenue with its Gilded Age mansions, and historic landmarks along the coast. You'll stay on the shuttle bus most of the time, viewing the city through oversized windows.

Does the guide talk about Newport's history beyond the mansions?

Yes. The guide covers the city's colonial past, how it changed through each century, the history of pirates who came to Newport and their fate, and local ghost stories tied to the neighborhoods you pass through.

What's included in the price?

All fees and taxes are included: entry to The Elms (or the alternate mansion), the shuttle bus ride, and the guided tour. Gratuities are not included.