The coastal city of Newport, Rhode Island, known as the sailing capital of the world, offers sailing, restaurants, shopping, museums, Gilded Age mansions, and plenty of history.

Earlier this year, Newport was named among the most welcoming places in the U.S. by Booking.com and among the 10 best small coastal towns in America by USA Today.

Visiting Newport on a budget? Ahead, discover three low-cost ways of having fun in the seaside city.

Visit the Museum of Newport History

The Newport Historical Society’s Museum of Newport History is where visitors can learn about the city’s rich maritime history and architecture.

While visiting the museum, guests can see photographs, paintings, furniture, colonial silver, and more from the collections of the Newport Historical Society. It is open daily and there is a $5 suggested donation for admission. Check out the museum’s current exhibitions.

The society also hosts various walking tours of the city, which meet outside of the museum. Tours include a Colonial Newport Lantern Tour, George Washington’s Footsteps Tour, Point Neighborhood Tour, and more. The latter features the largest collection of colonial homes in the U.S.

Tickets for tours must be purchased online in advance and cost $20 for adults ($15 for society members and active duty and retired military members) and $10 for kids age 5 to 12.

Walk the iconic Cliff Walk

Enjoy sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and gorgeous century-old Gilded Age mansions while strolling the iconic and historic Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile free scenic walk along the coast.

The path was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1975, the first in New England. It is open from sunrise to sunset and visitors can scan 16 QR code trail markers that provide information about the mansions as well as geographic and geological features of the path. There are benches for resting and seasonal public restrooms are available.

Visitors should note that detours are in place on the Cliff Walk between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street “for the foreseeable future” due to structural damage to a section of the path, according to the city. Parking costs $2 per hour and more information is available here.

Explore Fort Adams State Park

Fort Adams, named after President John Adams, was active in five major wars — the Mexican American War, American Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II — but never saw combat.

The site became Fort Adams State Park in 1965 and was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1976. There is free parking and visitors can enjoy the grounds, Fort Adams Beach, and Fort Adams Bay Walk, a 2.25-mile walk around the park. Guests can bring their own food for a picnic or purchase sandwiches, drinks, and snacks from the on-site 1824 Coffee Post. 

The park offers live music during the summer. The 2025 Music at the Fort concert series is a family-friendly community event hosted by the Fort Adams Trust, and this year’s concerts are on Aug. 20 & 27 and Sept. 3. Attendance is free and a $25 suggested donation is encouraged.

Visitors can go on self-guided or guided tours of the fort.

For the self-guided tours, guests can download the app and experience the fort’s scenic overlook with spectacular views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, restored casemates, and the 6.5-acre parade field. The cost is $16 for adults ($12 for seniors, college students, and military) and $8 for kids age 5-16. Children age 4 and under are free. A special family rate of $50 includes two adults and up to four kids. The guided tours are more expensive and include the quarters where officers and their families lived as well as the underground tunnels.

Kristi Palma

Culture writer

 

Kristi Palma is a culture writer for Boston.com, focusing on New England travel. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.