Rhode Island, the smallest US state, packs extraordinary variety into 1,545 square miles: the Gilded Age mansions of Newport, the creative dining scene of Providence, sweeping barrier beaches in South County, and Block Island's untouched bluffs. Despite its size, the Ocean State offers world-class sailing, colonial history dating to 1636, and some of New England's finest seafood.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Rhode Island.
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1
The Breakers
This is the largest and most opulent of the Newport mansions, built in the early 1890s as the summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt in the style of a 16th-century Italian palazzo. Inside, the 70-room house is anchored by a soaring Great Hall finished in platinum and gold leaf, meant to signal the Vanderbilt family's dominance of the era's railroad wealth. Touring it gives a direct sense of how far Gilded Age industrialists pushed 'cottage' architecture on Bellevue Avenue.
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2
Cliff Walk
This is a public shoreline trail running along the eastern edge of Newport, tracing the property line between the ocean and the backyards of the Bellevue Avenue mansions, including The Breakers and Marble House. It began as a fishermen's right-of-way and is now a designated National Recreation Trail, giving walkers views of both the Atlantic and the mansions' seaward facades that aren't visible from the street side. The northern half near Easton's Beach is a paved, easy walk; the southern stretch toward Rough Point turns to rock scrambling.
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3
WaterFire Providence
This is a recurring public art installation created by artist Barnaby Evans, in which dozens of bonfires are lit on braziers along the rivers running through downtown Providence, centered on Waterplace Park. The fires are tended by black-clad volunteers who pass by boat, accompanied by an ambient music score piped in along the riverwalk, and the event draws crowds who stroll the banks and gather on the pedestrian bridges. It's held on select evenings through the warmer months rather than nightly.
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4
Rhode Island School of Design Museum (RISD Museum)
This museum belongs to the Rhode Island School of Design and holds an encyclopedic collection that runs from ancient Egyptian and Greek objects through European painting to contemporary art and design, reflecting its role as a teaching collection for working artists. It's known for depth in textiles and costume, a strength that comes directly from RISD's design programs, alongside the Pendleton House wing of American furniture and decorative arts. The galleries are compact enough to see thoroughly in an afternoon rather than requiring a full day.
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5
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Opened in 1872, this is one of the oldest zoos in the United States, set inside the larger Roger Williams Park in Providence. It's organized around a mix of indoor exhibit buildings and outdoor habitats rather than one continuous safari-style layout, so plan for some walking between sections. Beyond the animals, it also runs seasonal lighted events that turn the grounds into a nighttime attraction in fall and winter.
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6
The Elms
Built in 1901 for coal magnate Edward Berwind, this Bellevue Avenue mansion was modeled on the 18th-century Château d'Asnières near Paris, making it more restrained and classically French in feel than the Vanderbilt houses nearby. Its signature tour is the below-stairs route through the servants' quarters, kitchens, and mechanical spaces, which shows the working infrastructure that kept a Gilded Age household running rather than just the show rooms. The grounds include a sunken garden and terraces that were considered advanced for their formal landscaping at the time.
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7
Marble House
Completed in 1892 for William K. and Alva Vanderbilt, this mansion was designed by Richard Morris Hunt in imitation of the Petit Trianon at Versailles, and its use of marble throughout the interior gives the house its name and its cold, formal grandeur compared to other Newport cottages. Alva Vanderbilt later added a Chinese Tea House on the seaward lawn, reflecting her particular design interests after her divorce from Vanderbilt. It's a smaller footprint than The Breakers but denser in ornamentation.
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8
Block Island
This is a small island roughly a dozen miles off the Rhode Island coast, reached by ferry, with a slower, more rural character than Newport's mansion district. Its best-known feature is Mohegan Bluffs, a line of clay cliffs on the island's south side near the Southeast Lighthouse, and much of the island is easiest to see by rented bike rather than car given its size and quiet roads. It functions as a day trip or overnight destination in its own right rather than a quick add-on to a Newport itinerary.
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9
Benefit Street (Mile of History)
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10
Touro Synagogue
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Items
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- Newport Mansions tickets: newportmansions.org or at any Preservation Society property, Block Island ferry: blockislandferry.com | Phone: +1 401-783-4613, RIPTA bus passes: ripta.com | Day pass $6 USD, Narragansett Beach parking: pay at lot entrances; no advance booking required
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
How many Newport mansions can I visit in one day?
Comfortably 2–3, spending 1–1.5 hours at each. The Breakers and The Elms are closest together on Bellevue Ave.
Is Block Island accessible without a car?
Yes — the island is best explored by bike or on foot. Bike rentals are available at Old Harbor for about $30 USD/day.