breakers mansion audio tour

The Breakers Audio Tour

Based on personal diaries, letters, records and oral histories, The Breakers audio tour offers first-person accounts of life in the house from members of the family, servants and their children. You’ll also learn fascinating facts about The Breakers and how it was built, and see details of the rooms that you might otherwise not notice.

Download the Newport Mansions audio tour app in advance and bring your earphones or earbuds!

What you need to know

More tours, events & exhibitions, beneath the breakers tour, daily 10:30 am.

Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.

Servant Life Tour

Daily starting april 1, 10:30 am and 2:30 pm*.

See and hear how the other half lived. This tour will highlight the stories of some of the men and women who worked to service the social whirl of Newport during the Gilded Age. * May 11-May 31, tour will be offered daily at 10:30 am & 3:30 pm. June 1-Aug. 31, 10:30 am, 2 pm & 3:30 pm. Sept. 1-Oct. 14, 10:30 & 3:30. Oct. 15-Jan. 1, 2025, 10:30 & 2:30.

Gilded Age Newport in Color

March 15 – june 30, 2024 10:00am – 3:00pm.

This exhibition explores a largely unknown but important chapter in American history: the experience of a thriving African heritage community in Newport.

*Registration Closed* Young Patron Event: Kentucky Derby Party

May 4, 2024 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

Our Young Patron event this year is a Kentucky Derby party! Join us as we celebrate and enjoy this historic race that dates back to the Gilded Age.

Annual Plant Sale at Green Animals Topiary Garden

May 10 – 12, 2024 8 am -10 am.

Get your garden going or find nice springtime and Mother's Day gifts for friends and family! A variety of flowers, vegetables and specialty plants are available while supplies last.

Am I Not a Man and a Woman: The Rise of African Heritage Political Identity in Gilded Age Rhode Island

May 16, 2024 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

Rhode Island Black Heritage Society scholars will interpret the evolution of Black Civil Rights from the early beginnings of the 18th century Free African Societies to the formation of Colored Women Clubs of the Gilded Age.

Inside “The Gilded Age” Tour

May 17 – june 28, 2024.

Fans of HBO’s "The Gilded Age" will love this guide-led tour of locations in four of the Newport Mansions where the show was filmed. Tuesdays and Fridays only, May 17 through June 28. Tickets now available.

The Newport Flower Show: “At Home”

June 21 – 23, 2024.

The 28th annual edition of New England’s premier flower show explores the theme "At Home," celebrating the beauty and inspiration that flowers and plants bring to the spaces in which we live. Tickets now available.

Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival

September 20 – 22, 2024.

Save the dates for the 19th annual festival, featuring the Vintner Dinner, Sunday Brunch and tasty yet educational seminar experiences.

Get the Newport Mansions app

Download our tour app before your visit and bring your earbuds.

Additional Visitor Info

Map & parking info.

Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.

Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Mansions & Gardens

Explore the 11 properties under the stewardship of the Preservation Society and open as historic house museums.

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6 top-rated newport mansion tours + tips from a local.

Newport's famed mansions are a must-see in the City by the Sea.

Top-Rated Newport Mansion Tours

Gavin Ashworth | Courtesy of Newport Mansions

Experience peak luxury and elegance at these stunning properties.

More than a century ago, America's wealthiest families commissioned their "summer cottages" to be built in the coastal enclave of Newport, Rhode Island , along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The era's most renowned architects outdid one another in size and scale as well as opulence and grandeur. Today, Newport is synonymous with its exquisite Gilded Age mansions, and experiencing them in person is an absolute must.

The majority of the Gilded Age mansions in Newport – but not all – are owned and operated by the Preservation Society of Newport County, and many of the most popular are open to the public year-round. Get ready to explore the Bellevue Avenue Historic District as you tour Newport's best mansions.

The Breakers

Courtesy of Andrea McHugh

Price: From $29 for adults; $10 for youths 6 to 12

Standout perk: The Breakers offers an audio Family Tour that engages young visitors with stories about the lives of the children who summered there, the staff who ran the home and interesting things to see in the mansion, such as the playful dolphin sculpture beneath the grand staircase.

Considered the grande dame of all the Newport mansions, The Breakers was no doubt built to impress. The summertime escape of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family was designed by the Gilded Age's preeminent architect, Richard Morris Hunt, and boasts a classic Italian palazzo design with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitors can explore the mansion at their own pace via the self-guided audio tour available in nearly a dozen languages on the Newport Mansions free app, which will come in especially handy if you plan to explore more than one mansion. Take some time to explore the beauty of the 13-acre grounds as well, and be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes .

Those with a curiosity of how a mansion of this magnitude worked – after all, The Breakers was considered a modern marvel when completed in 1895 – will enjoy the Beneath The Breakers Tour. This guide-led tour takes you through the boiler room, tunnel and basement. Guests will learn how the home was outfitted with electricity, still considered a novelty during the Gilded Age. This tour requires a separate ticket from The Breakers' audio tour and is best suited for visitors 13 years and older. Advance reservations are recommended.

Local tip: As The Breakers is the most visited mansion in Newport, a good time to visit is either when it opens or toward the end of the day, especially in the busiest summer months. The early evening light can be ideal for photos, but plan accordingly as the house and grounds close one hour after the last tour admission. Before you visit, save time by downloading the free Newport Mansions tour app.

View & Book Tickets: The Breakers | Viator | GetYourGuide

Marble House

Price: From $25 for adults; $10 for youths 6 to 12

Standout perk: While it's hard to rival the splendor of Marble House, the Chinese Tea House on the end of the mansion's lawn parallel to Cliff Walk is an unexpected visual delight. For $35 extra, tour ticket holders to Marble House can enjoy sandwiches and refreshments at the cafe at the Chinese Tea House or make a reservation for brunch and afternoon tea service, offered on weekends May through December. The service is operated by Stoneacre Restaurants, which owns two popular restaurants in downtown Newport.

From the moment visitors walk under the four towering Corinthian columns fronting this mansion, they know they are in for a treat. Like other Newport Mansions audio tours, Marble House has a self-guided tour available via the organization's free app, allowing visitors to peruse the property at their own pace.

Inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles , Marble House is an architectural masterpiece. Made from 500,000 cubic square feet of marble, the mansion was a 39th birthday present from businessman and philanthropist William K. Vanderbilt to his wife Alva. He spared no expense for their summer escape. Later in life, Alva Vanderbilt Belmont became a suffragist and hosted events at Marble House in support of women's right to vote. Viewers of the popular HBO series "The Gilded Age" may recognize rooms in the mansion as it was used for filming on location and also inspired sets.

Local tip: Don't miss the ballroom on the first floor – while it's not the largest in Newport, it's widely considered the most ornate, with gilt details from floor to ceiling.

View & Book Tickets: Marble House | Viator | GetYourGuide

Standout perk: While The Elms is spectacular, its formal gardens – 10 acres' worth – are extraordinary, complete with nearly 40 species of trees plus terraces, gazebos, fountains and colorful blooms, depending on the time of year.

Fashioned after an 18th-century French chateau, The Elms is a must-visit mansion, from the sun-soaked conservatory and the drawing room to the handsome library and the breakfast room bearing Chinese-style lacquered wall panels. A self-guided audio tour is available in nearly a dozen languages, but any fan of "Downton Abbey" or those curious about life behind the scenes of Newport's mansions will appreciate the Servant Life Tour at The Elms.

On this newly updated, guide-led tour, visitors start in the basement, where you'll see the operations of the house such as the kitchen and butler's pantry, all the way up to the domestic staff's living quarters on the third floor. Along the way, travelers will learn more about the personal lives of staff, and see rare photographs of servants at work and in their free time. You'll even get to learn about topics like immigration and labor disputes on this tour.

Local tip: The Servant Life Tour is not only fascinating, but you'll get the rare opportunity to go on The Elms' rooftop and be rewarded with an amazing and unexpected view of Newport Harbor.

View & Book Tickets: The Elms | GetYourGuide

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Rough Point

Price: From $20; free for children 12 and younger

Standout perk: Rough Point sits at the southern end of Bellevue Avenue, so getting here allows you to enjoy views of both private mansions and those open to the public along the way. The mansion's oceanfront perch offers an uninterrupted view of the beautiful Cliff Walk Bridge, a stone arch bridge across the rocky inlet where Doris Duke would swim regularly.

Though a Gilded Age mansion through and through, Rough Point is perhaps best loved not for its grandeur but for its most famous resident: Doris Duke. The late heiress, collector and philanthropist – dubbed the "richest little girl in the world" when she was born – spent considerable time at Rough Point until her death in 1993. A self-guided audio tour leads visitors here through the art-filled home room by room, highlighting eclectic sculpture, family portraits, centuries-old tapestries, renowned furnishings and many pieces Duke collected as an avid world traveler.

While the formal rooms such as the Yellow Room and jaw-dropping Music Room are a sight, the ocean-facing Solarium affords the best views. Whether before or after your tour, visit the house tour on the website for footage of Doris Duke at the home as well as behind-the-scenes videos. Note that Rough Point is typically open seasonally from spring through mid-November.

Local tip: On Rough Point's grounds, you'll find a pair of life-size topiary camels inspired by Doris' pet Bactrian camels, Princess and Baby. Both enjoyed the summer months with the tobacco heiress at Rough Point and have become the unofficial mascots of the mansion. The Newport Restoration Foundation encourages taking a #camelgram photo with the Princess and Baby topiary to share on social media.

View & Book Tickets: Rough Point | GetYourGuide

Dave Hansen | Courtesy of Newport Mansions

Standout perk: Rosecliff's signature feature – despite being home to Newport's largest ballroom, which hosted lavish society events throughout the Gilded Age – is its celebrated heart-shaped grand staircase.

Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, Rosecliff resumed tours in September 2023, much to the delight of Newport's visitors. Architect Stanford White, who was the mastermind behind Newport's historic Casino Theatre and myriad other important buildings, modeled the mansion after the Grand Trianon at Versailles for silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs. Its European influence is felt throughout.

Explore the mansion at your own pace via the self-guided audio tour on the free Newport Mansions app. Don't forget to look up in the ballroom, where the trompe l'oeil ceiling creates an air of whimsy and romance, making it the ideal setting for the filming parts of "The Great Gatsby" with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, as well as the more recent "27 Dresses."

Local tip: Rosecliff hosts many amazing events, including the annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, which features dinners, events and seminars with wines and other libations from around the world.

View & Book Tickets: Rosecliff | Viator

Chateau-sur-Mer

Standout perk: A new audio tour is your guide to this National Historic Landmark, considered Newport's first true mansion. Learn about the lives of the Wetmore family members who lived there for more than a century.

Until the arrival of the Vanderbilt houses in Newport in the 1890s, Chateau-sur-Mer was considered the seaside city's most palatial residence. Today, visitors can explore the home, an Italianate-style villa built for wealthy China trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore, who did quite a bit of entertaining at this summer cottage.

Local tip: While Chateau-sur-Mer is essentially a Victorian Era time capsule, the mansion's grounds are home to amazing tree specimens, shrubs and more, including a striking weeping beech tree. If you explore deeper into the grounds, you'll find a cool circular maze made from mounds of grass; this earthwork by artist Richard Fleischner is known as the "Sod Maze" and makes for a relaxing place to meditate.

View & Book Tickets: Chateau-sur-Mer | GetYourGuide

What to do nearby

In addition to the historic mansions, Newport offers a variety of historic attractions, walking trails and museums. To help you fully explore the area, here are some recommendations for things to see and where to eat.

Things to do:

• Wander along the Cliff Walk
• Visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Explore the historic Fort Adams
• Discover automotive history at Audrain Automobile Museum
• Explore The Sailing Museum
• Visit the Redwood Library and Athenæum
• Discover the oldest synagogue in the U.S.
• Browse the private collection at the Newport Car Museum

Nearby restaurant recommendations: 

• Breakfast: Annie's, Lucy's Cafe & Bakery or Corner Cafe
• Lunch: Cru Cafe, Belle's Café or The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
• Dinner: White Horse Tavern, Clarke Cooke House or Castle Hill Inn
• Drinks: Midtown Oyster Bar, The Roofdeck at the Vanderbilt or The Lounge at The Chanler

Why Trust U.S. News Travel 

Andrea McHugh is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Newport, Rhode Island, where the famed mansions of the Gilded Age are common sights along her daily run in the City by the Sea. Though she regularly visits the mansions as they play host to local business and social events, such as the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, Newport Classical Music Festival and Newport Film, she spent a recent "staycation" touring these turn-of-the-century behemoths to write this article.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Things to Do in Rhode Island
• The Top Things to Do in New Hampshire
• The Top Things to Do in Maine
• The Top Things to Do in Vermont

Tags: Travel , Tours

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Travel back in time at The Breakers, one of Newport's Gilded Age mansions

As a Vanderbilt student, the Breakers in Newport are a natural favorite of mine. Businessman and “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt built the mansion as a summer home for him and his family in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Vanderbilt was one of the richest men in America at the time, as is clearly reflected by the house’s elaborate nature.

Much of the mansion was designed with Italian and Renaissance styles in mind. It features many classic arches and wide columns on the outside, with open halls on the inside meant to mimic Italian courtyards and European mosaic art. Its chandeliers and other electrical appliances show off the family’s wealth, as electricity was a new and expensive commodity at the time. 

TV show: How Newport's mansions, and more, have been reimagined for 'The Gilded Age' Season 2

The interior of the mansion is intricately designed with fine detail wall and ceiling carvings as well as elegant furniture. Each room seems to be specially designed for its purpose, with distinct color combinations, drapes, and layouts. At Christmas time, the house is magnificently decorated with deep red poinsettias, pastel-colored trees, and garland gracing the marble walls, highlighting the stunning paintings and designs of the interior. Overall, the mansion includes 70 rooms and occupies one acre of the 13-acre property. 

The Breakers and its sprawling porch and lawn overlook the Atlantic and the Cliff Walk. It also features an upstairs balcony with a magnificent view of the ocean. 

You can tour the Breakers yourself or pick up an audio tour at its entrance. Or, you can buy a special tour package that includes access to the underground basement, boiler room, quarters, and tunnel of the mansion. 

Whenever touring the Breakers, I’m struck at its timeless nature. You are easily transported to a long-ago lifestyle and gain an insider’s view into the daily activities and customs of the Vanderbilts. Make sure to check out the gift shop at the end of your visit for some more insight on Vanderbilt women’s contributions to the women’s suffrage movement.

"What's Great Off 138" features the places, foods, celebrations and more that make the Newport area unique. Send us your favorite things at  [email protected] .

An Insider Guide to the Newport Mansions with Kids

Posted on Published: 11/21/2023

When I was a college student on summer break at home in Rhode Island , I went to work every day in a beautiful Newport mansion. Working in the gift shop of a major tourist attraction certainly had its benefits, and I enjoyed that job.

I was always astounded by the hundreds of guests who traveled, sometimes very long distances, to see the Breakers mansion. There was never a slow moment in the middle of the summer, not even midweek. Seeing these famous mansions for the first time is so impressive.

Disclosure: I received complimentary admission to two of the Newport Mansions. I also worked at the Newport Rhode Island mansions for several years in college, so I spent lots of time in them throughout the years.

All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are included. When a purchase is made and/or a link is clicked, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The Newport Mansions Tours With Kids

When I traveled to Newport, Rhode Island with my family, I was eager to take my kids to see the Newport mansions. I figured that they would see the Breakers, the largest and most impressive of the mansions, and then want to do something else. But they both begged to see another mansion.

I’d definitely recommend taking your kids to the Newport Mansions when visiting the area. If you are looking for the best mansions for kids in Newport  – the Breakers would definitely be the one I would choose. It’s definitely the most popular of the historic sites in Newport.

These Newport RI mansions, from the Gilded Age time period, were once the summer homes of the richest families in the United States. Now, the Newport Mansions are managed, maintained, and opened to the public by the Preservation Society of Newport County – a non-profit organization. The majority of the mansions of Newport are located on Bellevue Avenue, while the rest are all nearby.

These are Gilded Age mansions and are huge and so impressive to see. Many are on the Newport Cliff Walk, so definitely venture to the lawns outside to see the gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s easy to drive from location to location, and the mansions all offer free parking. There is one Preservation Society property that is a bit different and not located in Newport RI – Green Animals. This property features fun animal-themed topiaries and is located a few towns away in Portsmouth, RI . It’s worth the trip if it’s a nice day, but it is a bit of a drive.

Families should note that strollers and carriages are not permitted in the houses due to their historical nature. I probably wouldn’t take very young kids, since they can’t really appreciate the homes, and will have to walk or be carried.

The Breakers – Newport Rhode Island

I remember that the mansions do get crowded as the day goes on (especially in the summer), so we went first thing in the morning. During my days working there, the crowds for the most popular mansion would line up around the corner, especially on weekends. Go midweek, in the morning, for the best experience.

The Breakers is the largest and most popular of the Newport Mansions. This beautiful “summer cottage” is the former summer home of the Vanderbilt family.

It was built during the Gilded Age and is spectacular. If you are wondering what the best Newport Mansion is to visit, I’d definitely recommend the Breakers. Guests who only plan on seeing one mansion should go to the Breakers. 

The Breakers now offers audio tours, and there is a special one just for families. My husband and I had the choice of listening to the adult tour or the children’s tour, but chose the children’s. I was so impressed with how captivating it is for kids.

The tour is given from the perspective of the house, and offers narration about the various motifs seen throughout the house, as well as information about the children of the home and what their daily life was like. It’s very engaging, for both kids and adults.

My kids really enjoyed controlling their own headsets, as well as the overall tour. It takes about 40 minutes, and when we were done, we walked around the grounds, checking out the children’s cottage as well (it was closed for the season, but we could still see the exterior).

Note that if you are visiting during peak season, you should definitely plan to wait in line. We walked right in, but lines usually do form in season. 

The Breakers now offers a new “ Beneath the Breakers Tour ” that focuses on the underground tunnel, basement, and boiler room. These guided tours have to be booked in person on the day that you want to visit, and are based on availability.

I’d probably skip a specialty tour like that if I were traveling with younger kids, however. They’ll probably just enjoy the audio tour. 

After we finished touring the Breakers, my kids asked to visit another mansion. I decided to take them down the road to Marble House, also owned by the Vanderbilt family.

Marble House

Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for the William K. Vanderbilt family. It offers a new audio tour, but doesn’t have a children’s tour.

Despite that, my kids enjoyed Marble House as well. It’s a 40-minute self-guided tour, but you could easily spend more time if you’d like. It’s a gorgeous, opulent mansion. Because it doesn’t have a children’s tour, it’s probably best for older kids who can appreciate and understand the adult tour.

After visiting the interior of the home, we checked out the grounds, including the Chinese tea house that’s right on the property. The kids really enjoyed seeing that. Like the Breakers, the Marble House is on the Cliff Walk so the view from the property is beautiful.

Other Newport RI Mansion Tours

The Elms was originally the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind. It was built in 1901 and includes a beautiful, recently restored garden as well as the home. It’s another popular summer tourist destination. 

You may be familiar with Rosecliff already, if you’ve seen the movies the Great Gatsby, Amistad, 27 Dresses and/or True Lies. Scenes from those movies were filmed at the house. When I was working at the Breakers, I often had guests asking specifically which house was the site for those scenes. Like the other homes, it was originally a summer home and is absolutely stunning. 

While these are the most popular homes, there are other Newport Mansions maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County. Unless you have specific interests, I think the Breakers and Marble House are probably the best two options. The others are great to see if you want to explore a specific architectural style.

The other mansions in the portfolio of the Preservation Society of Newport County include:

• Château-Sur-Mer – also located on Bellevue Avenue, this home was built before the Breakers and Marble House
• Hunter House – built between 1748 and 1754 and located on Washington Street
• Kingscote – this is a smaller home, but is one of my favorites. It’s located on Bellevue Avenue.
• Isaac Bell House – this home on Perry Street is built in a shingle style. 
• Chepstow – an Italian-style home that is located on Narragansett Avenue. It’s one of the newer properties operated by the  Preservation Society. 

If you have extra time in the Newport RI area , I’d recommend driving down to Portsmouth, RI to Green Animals Topiary Garden. It’s always been one of my favorite places in the area, and it’s so unique, but it is a short drive away.

If you choose the visit the Newport Mansions, I’d recommend the following tips:

• Start with the Breakers, and see if your kids like the children’s audio tour first before seeing other mansions. You don’t want to start with the regular audio tours, because they may not enjoy them.
• Go early – lines do form as the day goes on. If your kids are like mine, they’ll probably be awake early anyway.
• Eat in advance or after touring. There are no restaurants on any of the mansion properties, and you’ll have to drive to any nearby restaurants.
• Download the mobile app in advance. The app includes the audio tours of the Breakers (including the family tour), Marble House, The Elms, and Rosecliff.

Newport Mansions Tickets

Various ticket packages are available, including single mansion tickets, 2-house tickets, and 5-house tickets. Tickets can be purchased online, which is a good way to save time in line. If you are visiting with kids, I’d probably stick with a single mansion or a 2-house ticket. Kids probably wouldn’t want to see more than two.

If you are one of the preservation society members, you will receive unlimited complimentary admissions to the Newport Mansions. This can be a great deal if you think you’ll visit often.

Check the opening hours before heading out. On occasion, there are special events held that may change operating hours.

Newport Mansions Christmas Decorations

Wondering which Newport Mansions are decorated for Christmas? You can visit three of these beautiful national historic landmarks – The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House – from mid-November through January 1st. During the holiday season, you can enjoy seeing these historic properties completely decorated.

The other mansions owned by the Preservation Society are only open seasonally, so it’s worth looking at the schedules before purchasing tickets or making plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Newport Mansions

While it’s definitely subjective, I think of the Breakers as the best Newport Mansion. It’s gorgeous and offers both an adult tour and a kids’ tour. 

Again, the answer is the Breakers, which is the largest of the impressive Newport Mansions. 

The Breakers was the summer home to Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family. Their regular residence was in New York. It’s so hard to believe that these beautiful homes were actually considered summer cottages.

In all of my years working at the Breakers, this is the number one question that people asked me. The Newport mansion in The Great Gatsby is Rosecliff, which was also used in the filming of other movies. 

For season one, scenes were filmed at The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, and Hunter House, and for season two, scenes were filmed at Marble House, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer and Kingscote. ( source and more info here )

Looking to find restaurants in the Newport area while you visit the mansions? There are no restaurants right in the mansions, so you’ll have to travel elsewhere. There are loads of delicious restaurants in the area, and I’d recommend the following:

• Diego’s (Mexican food on Bowen’s Wharf)
• Brick Alley Pub (pub food in Brick Market Place on Thames Street)
• Wharf Pub (pub featuring a menu full of tater tots)

These restaurants are all located in the downtown Newport area, so combine your lunch or dinner with some shopping or sightseeing. You’ll have to drive to get there, however. There really isn’t anything within walking distance.

Keep in mind that these restaurants get very busy in peak season, so you’ll want to make reservations where possible or arrive early/late in the day.

If you are looking for places to stay in Newport, see reviews here .

To learn more, visit the Preservation Society website .

Related:  Places to Go in New England With Kids

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Sunday 21st of July 2019

Why would they have a virtual tour if they want you to see the mansion?

I would not recommend children under 12 unless well behaved. It is very annoying for others to have kids screaming & running around.

Jodi Grundig

Many museums offer virtual tours as a way to share the experience for those who can't necessarily travel to the location. It's also a good preview of what you'll see. This doesn't replace actually visiting the location because you won't see even a fraction of what there is to see in person.

This website promotes travel with children, so we definitely recommend the family/kids tour for families. My kids visited before the age of 12 and enjoyed it (and they were well behaved). It's now a self-guided tour.

Patricia J. Brinegar

Saturday 23rd of July 2016

Could not find "A Passport to the Newport Mansions" with a virtual tour of the Breakers, with free apps for downloading - as recommended by Rhode Island Magazine. HELP!!

The Breakers Family Tour

The Family Tour is narrated by The Breakers itself! You’ll also hear from family members and staff, as well as fanciful creatures like the friendly dolphin hiding under the grand staircase and the dragons in the Dining Room. Experience a summer day in the life of one of the Vanderbilt children and learn about Monsieur Le Chef and his colleague, The Butler. This tour brings the house, its furnishings and even its sculpture to life!

What you need to know

More tours, events & exhibitions, beneath the breakers tour, daily 10:30 am.

Explore the underground systems that made this great house a marvel of technology for its time.

Servant Life Tour

Daily starting april 1, 10:30 am and 2:30 pm*.

See and hear how the other half lived. This tour will highlight the stories of some of the men and women who worked to service the social whirl of Newport during the Gilded Age. * May 11-May 31, tour will be offered daily at 10:30 am & 3:30 pm. June 1-Aug. 31, 10:30 am, 2 pm & 3:30 pm. Sept. 1-Oct. 14, 10:30 & 3:30. Oct. 15-Jan. 1, 2025, 10:30 & 2:30.

Gilded Age Newport in Color

March 15 – june 30, 2024 10:00am – 3:00pm.

This exhibition explores a largely unknown but important chapter in American history: the experience of a thriving African heritage community in Newport.

*Registration Closed* Young Patron Event: Kentucky Derby Party

May 4, 2024 5:00pm – 8:00pm.

Our Young Patron event this year is a Kentucky Derby party! Join us as we celebrate and enjoy this historic race that dates back to the Gilded Age.

Annual Plant Sale at Green Animals Topiary Garden

May 10 – 12, 2024 8 am -10 am.

Get your garden going or find nice springtime and Mother's Day gifts for friends and family! A variety of flowers, vegetables and specialty plants are available while supplies last.

Am I Not a Man and a Woman: The Rise of African Heritage Political Identity in Gilded Age Rhode Island

May 16, 2024 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

Rhode Island Black Heritage Society scholars will interpret the evolution of Black Civil Rights from the early beginnings of the 18th century Free African Societies to the formation of Colored Women Clubs of the Gilded Age.

Inside “The Gilded Age” Tour

May 17 – june 28, 2024.

Fans of HBO’s "The Gilded Age" will love this guide-led tour of locations in four of the Newport Mansions where the show was filmed. Tuesdays and Fridays only, May 17 through June 28. Tickets now available.

The Newport Flower Show: “At Home”

June 21 – 23, 2024.

The 28th annual edition of New England’s premier flower show explores the theme "At Home," celebrating the beauty and inspiration that flowers and plants bring to the spaces in which we live. Tickets now available.

Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival

September 20 – 22, 2024.

Save the dates for the 19th annual festival, featuring the Vintner Dinner, Sunday Brunch and tasty yet educational seminar experiences.

Get the Newport Mansions app

Download our tour app before your visit and bring your earbuds.

Additional Visitor Info

Map & parking info.

Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.

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Profitable House of A.M. Mikhailov

• Okhotny Ryad • 2 min walk
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Profitable House of A.M. Mikhailov - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.03 mi) Moscow Point - Loft Red Square
• (0.14 mi) Hotel Metropol Moscow
• (0.15 mi) Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
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• (0.00 mi) Krispy Kreme
• (0.00 mi) Nadin
• (0.00 mi) Heineken Bar Moscow
• (0.00 mi) Iss+Mag
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Boris Pasternak's museum house

Pasternak’s “important achievement both in contemporary lyrical poetry and in the field of the great Russian epic tradition" was honored with a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958. For many readers outside Russia, Pasternak is known mainly as the author of the touching historical novel Doctor Zhivago written in 1957. The novel as a whole communicates the haphazard, uncertain and chaotic quality of life caused by the Russian Revolution and the heroic case of quiet humanism demonstrated by a single person.

Pasternak’s translations of Georgian poets favored by Joseph Stalin probably saved his life during the purges of the 1930’s. However, the individualistic Pasternak was not suited to the Soviet artistic climate when art was required to have a clear socialism-inspired agenda and so Russian publishers were unwilling to print Pasternak’s novel. In fact, Doctor Zhivago first appeared in Italy in 1957.

Pasternak won his Nobel Prize the following year. Despite Pasternak politely declining his Nobel Prize quoting: “because of the significance given to this award in the society to which I belong”, the award nevertheless spread his fame well beyond Russia. He ended his life in virtual exile in an artist's community in Peredelkino village. His last poems are devoted to love, to freedom and to reconciliation with God.

Pasternak was rehabilitated posthumously in 1987. In 1988, after being banned for three decades, "Doctor Zhivago" was published in the USSR. In 1989 Pasternak's son accepted his father's Nobel medal in Stockholm.

Pastenak loved his house in Peredelkino, the house and surrounding nature featuring in his poetry. The poet considered the cycle of poems "Peredelkino", which he completed in the spring of 1941, to be his best work. The poet spent the first difficult months of the war in Peredelkino; he completed the novel "Doctor Zhivago" here, wrote the Lara poems and translated Shakespeare and Goethe. It was in this house that he learned he was to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature on October 23rd 1958. He died here on May 30 1960.

The house in Peredelkino only acquired the status of a museum in 1990, thirty years after the poet's death and a century after his birth. The museum has fully preserved the environment and atmosphere of the house where Boris Pasternak lived and worked. The director of the museum is Elena Pasternak, grandaughter of Boris Pasternak.

Pasternak’s grave can be found in Peredelkino cemetery which is situated 20 minutes walk from the poet’s house.

Tour duration: 6-7 hours

Tour cost: English -  150 USD, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese - 180 USD

Additional expenses: car - 150 USD, or train - 10 USD

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Day trip to Yasnaya Polyana from Moscow: transport, sights, tips, advices

Main Sights

Of course the main sight here is the Yasnaya Polyana estate itself. Located within the estate are the house where Tolstoy lived plus the auxiliary buildings of the estate which now contain exhibits dedicated to the work of peasants in running the estate.

The natural surroundings of the estate are also a highlight and don't forget to visit Tolstoy's simple grave on the territory of the estate.

During the low season from November until April, it is possible to visit the main house by yourself and take an audio guide (Russian, English, French or German). However from April until November you can only join a Russian group excursion.

Excursions around Yasnaya Polyana are held about every hour - tickets are bought at the ticket office next to the main gates. Excursions start there as well.

During the excursion, you will visit the central part of the estate, the Tolstoy House, and the exhibition in the Kuzminsky House.

Some exciting activities are offered by the museum including horse riding, carriage rides or sleigh rides, and tea drinking at the Coachmen's house with an interactive tour of a traditional Russian peasant's hut. In summer, excursions on bikes around places connected with Tolstoy are also organised. Activities should be booked in advance by email.

There is a little cafe called Prishpekt located just opposite the main gates where you can buy tea, pies and some hot dishes. Two kilometres from the Yasnaya Polyana estate, there is a restaurant and cafe and places where you can spend the night.

Visiting Tula

Three to five hours is enough to see all the sights and museums of the estate. So you should have time to go back to Tula and have a quick look around before heading back to Moscow. You could also make the trip into a weekend trip by spending the night and next day in Tula, which is worth a day-trip in itself as the city has a nice Kremlin and is associated in Russia with samovars, weapons and the Russian equivalent of gingerbread known as a 'pryanik'. To find out more about Tula visit our Tula pages.

Suggested Timetable

Here is our suggested timetable for making the most of a day-trip to Yasnaya Polyana. All train and bus times are approximate as the exact time may change.

There are a few souvenirs shops near the car park for the estate where you can buy standard Russian souvenirs such as Russian dolls and some local ones dedicated to the estate, Tolstoy and his work.

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