Explore Newport Cliff Walk Self Guided Walking Tour
Drives & Detours
Step into a world of sweeping ocean views, architectural ambition, and high-society drama on this immersive self-guided audio tour along Newport’s legendary Cliff Walk. You’ll uncover the stories of a city where old money met new ambition—and where elegance masked scandal, rebellion, and reinvention. Journey through the heart of America’s Gilded Age. Discover how self-made tycoons and society queens used architecture to vie for dominance, and how the lives of servants, socialites, and outsiders influenced the creation of these incredible estates. This tour peels back the curtain on a world that is dazzling and deeply human, from behind-the-scenes secrets to forgotten voices. Move at your own pace as you take in breathtaking views while listening to richly narrated stories grounded in historical research and local insight. See Newport as you’ve never seen it before, whether you're a history lover, an architecture fan, or a curious wanderer.
Departure Point
- The Forty Steps entrance to the Cliff Walk is located at the end of Narragansett Avenue, where it meets the ocean. The steps are close to the junction with Ochre Point Avenue.
Return Details
- The Preservation Society can be found at the junction of Bellevue Avenue and Narragansett Avenue. This is half a mile from the start point at Forty Steps.
Duration
3 hours - 3 hours and 30 minutes
Languages Available
- Audio guide - English
- Printed guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Belcourt of Newport
657 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
A bold blend of Gothic romance and eccentric ambition, Belcourt is unlike any other Newport mansion. It’s a dramatic expression of wealth, whimsy, and personal vision designed as a medieval-style fortress for a rebellious heir.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Chateau-sur-Mer
474 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
One of the first truly grand summer cottages, Chateau-sur-Mer showcases pre-Gilded Age opulence with its Victorian interiors and sweeping grounds. It tells the story of a city on the brink of transformation—from merchant port to millionaire playground.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Chepstow
120 Narragansett Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Chepstow offers a more personal look at the intimate and refined Newport life, with preserved furnishings and family heirlooms from generations of New York elite. It's a quieter gem where history feels lived-in and close to the surface.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Kingscote
253 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
The Chinese Tea House is a whimsical pavilion that was a playground for East-meets-West luxury perched dramatically on the cliffs near Marble House. It embodies the theatrical flair of Newport’s social scene with its striking architecture and sweeping views.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Marble House
596 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
The Isaac Bell House blends modern innovation with artistic restraint and is a masterpiece of Shingle Style architecture. Its clean lines and natural materials reveal a different side of Newport—where design, not just wealth, shaped the future.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Ochre Court
One of Newport’s earliest summer cottages, Kingscote blends Gothic Revival charm with Gilded Age ambition. Its unique architecture and exotic interiors reflect the tastes of a rising American elite eager to impress.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Rosecliff
548 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Built as a temple to wealth, Marble House dazzles with more than 500,000 cubic feet of imported stone and Versailles-worthy splendor. Created by Alva Vanderbilt, it's not just a mansion—it's a bold statement of power, taste, and defiance.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Rough Point Museum
680 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Grand, romantic, and richly detailed, Ochre Court evokes the drama of a French château perched above the sea. Once a summer palace, it now anchors Salve Regina University—proof that old-world glamour can still serve a modern purpose.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: The Breakers
44 Ochre Point Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Rosecliff was inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles and is Newport at its most theatrical. Designed for lavish parties and glittering society events, it’s a place where imagination and extravagance still echo off marble floors.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: The Elms
367 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
The oceanfront estate of heiress Doris Duke, Rough Point blends European treasures with a surprisingly lived-in warmth. With its art-filled rooms and quirky personal touches, it offers an intimate view into the life of one of America’s most enigmatic millionaires.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Bailey’s Beach
Cliff Walk, Newport, RI 02840
Set among Newport’s most iconic mansions, Salve Regina’s campus is a stunning fusion of academia and architectural heritage. Ivy-covered halls and ocean breezes create a truly one-of-a-kind backdrop for higher learning.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bellevue Avenue
Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island
The crown jewel of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions, The Breakers was built by the Vanderbilts to dazzle—and it still does. With its Italian palazzo design and commanding ocean views, it’s luxury on a scale few could ever imagine.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: The Preservation Society of Newport County
424 Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island
Modeled after a French château, The Elms is elegance with an edge—where formal gardens, lavish interiors, and the cutting-edge technology of the time reveal a world of wealth, ambition, and meticulous design.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Isaac Bell House
Bellevue Avenue, , Newport, Rhode Island
A quieter stretch of coastline between the mansions and the sea, Sheep Point offers sweeping views and a touch of pastoral calm. Once used for grazing, it's now a scenic pause along Newport’s dramatic shoreline.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Salve Regina University
100 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, Rhode Island
At the southern tip of the Cliff Walk, Land’s End once hosted novelist Edith Wharton, while exclusive Bailey’s Beach remains a summer retreat for Newport’s elite. This windswept stretch blends literary history with high-society lore.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Sheep Point
RI 02840
Miramar feels more private than palatial with its understated French classicism and sprawling lawn cascading to the sea. Yet it’s a stunning reminder that Newport’s most powerful families often preferred quiet grandeur to showy excess.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Miramar
646 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
Known as The Avenue of the Mansions, Bellevue is Newport’s historic showcase of wealth, architecture, and ambition. Lined with palatial estates and grand entrances, it's a journey through America’s most opulent era.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Chinese Tea House at Marble House
Cliff Walk, Newport, RI 02840
The Preservation Society is the steward of Newport’s historic legacy—they have saved, restored, and opened to the public many of the city’s most iconic estates. Their work ensures that the Gilded Age and the stories behind it live on.
Duration: Not Available
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Works entirely offline once downloaded—no cell service required
- GPS-triggered audio plays automatically based on your location
- Flexible — Buy once, use any day/time—access never expires
- Get the Drives & Detours app download the tour ahead of time
- Flexible Usage (unlimited access)
- Audio Guide
- App and Tour Download
Exclusions
- Smartphone (bring your own)
Redemption Instructions
IMPORTANT – YOUR ACCESS CODE IS: RNH370 - PLEASE READ STEPS BELOW To access your tour, you’ll need the Drives & Detours App. We recommend downloading the tour in advance in case cell service is unreliable.
DOWNLOAD THE APP:
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drives-detours/id6443681888
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mytoursapp.android.app6506
UNLOCK YOUR TOUR:
1. Open app, tap "Walking Tours", then "Newport Cliffs"
2. Enter Your Access Code (on iPhone tap "Login to Download" then "Login")
3. Tap "Download Tour" and wait until complete (1-2 minutes)
STARTING THE TOUR:
1. Open app, select your tour
2. Go to start location shown
3. Tap “Start Tour”
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Tour is valid for 180 days, no need to reschedule
Questions? TEXT us at 619.324.9920
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Drives & Detours in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Step into a world of sweeping ocean views, architectural ambition, and high-society drama on this immersive self-guided audio tour along Newport’s legendary Cliff Walk. You’ll uncover the stories of a city where old money met new ambition—and where elegance masked scandal, rebellion, and reinvention. Journey through the heart of America’s Gilded Age. Discover how self-made tycoons and society queens used architecture to vie for dominance, and how the lives of servants, socialites, and outsiders influenced the creation of these incredible estates. This tour peels back the curtain on a world that is dazzling and deeply human, from behind-the-scenes secrets to forgotten voices. Move at your own pace as you take in breathtaking views while listening to richly narrated stories grounded in historical research and local insight. See Newport as you’ve never seen it before, whether you're a history lover, an architecture fan, or a curious wanderer.
Departure Point
- The Forty Steps entrance to the Cliff Walk is located at the end of Narragansett Avenue, where it meets the ocean. The steps are close to the junction with Ochre Point Avenue.
Return Details
- The Preservation Society can be found at the junction of Bellevue Avenue and Narragansett Avenue. This is half a mile from the start point at Forty Steps.
Duration
3 hours - 3 hours and 30 minutes
Languages Available
- Audio guide - English
- Printed guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Belcourt of Newport
657 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
A bold blend of Gothic romance and eccentric ambition, Belcourt is unlike any other Newport mansion. It’s a dramatic expression of wealth, whimsy, and personal vision designed as a medieval-style fortress for a rebellious heir.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Chateau-sur-Mer
474 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
One of the first truly grand summer cottages, Chateau-sur-Mer showcases pre-Gilded Age opulence with its Victorian interiors and sweeping grounds. It tells the story of a city on the brink of transformation—from merchant port to millionaire playground.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Chepstow
120 Narragansett Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Chepstow offers a more personal look at the intimate and refined Newport life, with preserved furnishings and family heirlooms from generations of New York elite. It's a quieter gem where history feels lived-in and close to the surface.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Kingscote
253 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
The Chinese Tea House is a whimsical pavilion that was a playground for East-meets-West luxury perched dramatically on the cliffs near Marble House. It embodies the theatrical flair of Newport’s social scene with its striking architecture and sweeping views.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Marble House
596 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
The Isaac Bell House blends modern innovation with artistic restraint and is a masterpiece of Shingle Style architecture. Its clean lines and natural materials reveal a different side of Newport—where design, not just wealth, shaped the future.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Ochre Court
One of Newport’s earliest summer cottages, Kingscote blends Gothic Revival charm with Gilded Age ambition. Its unique architecture and exotic interiors reflect the tastes of a rising American elite eager to impress.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Rosecliff
548 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Built as a temple to wealth, Marble House dazzles with more than 500,000 cubic feet of imported stone and Versailles-worthy splendor. Created by Alva Vanderbilt, it's not just a mansion—it's a bold statement of power, taste, and defiance.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Rough Point Museum
680 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Grand, romantic, and richly detailed, Ochre Court evokes the drama of a French château perched above the sea. Once a summer palace, it now anchors Salve Regina University—proof that old-world glamour can still serve a modern purpose.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: The Breakers
44 Ochre Point Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
Rosecliff was inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles and is Newport at its most theatrical. Designed for lavish parties and glittering society events, it’s a place where imagination and extravagance still echo off marble floors.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: The Elms
367 Bellevue Ave, , Newport, Rhode Island
The oceanfront estate of heiress Doris Duke, Rough Point blends European treasures with a surprisingly lived-in warmth. With its art-filled rooms and quirky personal touches, it offers an intimate view into the life of one of America’s most enigmatic millionaires.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Bailey’s Beach
Cliff Walk, Newport, RI 02840
Set among Newport’s most iconic mansions, Salve Regina’s campus is a stunning fusion of academia and architectural heritage. Ivy-covered halls and ocean breezes create a truly one-of-a-kind backdrop for higher learning.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bellevue Avenue
Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island
The crown jewel of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions, The Breakers was built by the Vanderbilts to dazzle—and it still does. With its Italian palazzo design and commanding ocean views, it’s luxury on a scale few could ever imagine.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: The Preservation Society of Newport County
424 Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island
Modeled after a French château, The Elms is elegance with an edge—where formal gardens, lavish interiors, and the cutting-edge technology of the time reveal a world of wealth, ambition, and meticulous design.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Isaac Bell House
Bellevue Avenue, , Newport, Rhode Island
A quieter stretch of coastline between the mansions and the sea, Sheep Point offers sweeping views and a touch of pastoral calm. Once used for grazing, it's now a scenic pause along Newport’s dramatic shoreline.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Salve Regina University
100 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, Rhode Island
At the southern tip of the Cliff Walk, Land’s End once hosted novelist Edith Wharton, while exclusive Bailey’s Beach remains a summer retreat for Newport’s elite. This windswept stretch blends literary history with high-society lore.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Sheep Point
RI 02840
Miramar feels more private than palatial with its understated French classicism and sprawling lawn cascading to the sea. Yet it’s a stunning reminder that Newport’s most powerful families often preferred quiet grandeur to showy excess.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Miramar
646 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840
Known as The Avenue of the Mansions, Bellevue is Newport’s historic showcase of wealth, architecture, and ambition. Lined with palatial estates and grand entrances, it's a journey through America’s most opulent era.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Chinese Tea House at Marble House
Cliff Walk, Newport, RI 02840
The Preservation Society is the steward of Newport’s historic legacy—they have saved, restored, and opened to the public many of the city’s most iconic estates. Their work ensures that the Gilded Age and the stories behind it live on.
Duration: Not Available
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Works entirely offline once downloaded—no cell service required
- GPS-triggered audio plays automatically based on your location
- Flexible — Buy once, use any day/time—access never expires
- Get the Drives & Detours app download the tour ahead of time
- Flexible Usage (unlimited access)
- Audio Guide
- App and Tour Download
Exclusions
- Smartphone (bring your own)
Redemption Instructions
IMPORTANT – YOUR ACCESS CODE IS: RNH370 - PLEASE READ STEPS BELOW To access your tour, you’ll need the Drives & Detours App. We recommend downloading the tour in advance in case cell service is unreliable.
DOWNLOAD THE APP:
iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drives-detours/id6443681888
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mytoursapp.android.app6506
UNLOCK YOUR TOUR:
1. Open app, tap "Walking Tours", then "Newport Cliffs"
2. Enter Your Access Code (on iPhone tap "Login to Download" then "Login")
3. Tap "Download Tour" and wait until complete (1-2 minutes)
STARTING THE TOUR:
1. Open app, select your tour
2. Go to start location shown
3. Tap “Start Tour”
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Tour is valid for 180 days, no need to reschedule
Questions? TEXT us at 619.324.9920
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Drives & Detours in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings