Travel Tips for Newport, Rhode Island, United States

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

When I lived in America, I decided to visit a friend who was studying at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. I spent a long weekend there, and was left in awe of this glamorous city.

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in the New England state of Rhode Island. It’s well known for the Gilded Age mansions along Bellevue Avenue, with the most famous being The Breakers from 1895.

It’s a seaside town full of shops and restaurants, and carries the history of the upper class, including the Kennedys.

I would recommend visiting the city for 2-3 days, and I believe it’s a great spot for solo female travellers.

How to get there

Getting to Newport isn’t as straightforward as most places.

As I was already living in New York City, I travelled via Amtrak train from Penn Station to Kingston Station in Rhode Island (near the university – the journey took just over 3 hours). I then got the RIPTA 64 bus to Newport Visitor Centre (this took about an hour).

It is possible to fly from Dublin to Providence (PVD) via Aer Lingus, American Airlines or United, however there will be stop-overs and the flight length will vary because of this.

Language, Currency & Weather

English is the most commonly spoken language in Newport, Rhode Island and the currency is the US Dollar.

Temperatures in summer are quite nice, ranging between 17 and 27 degrees Celsius. Winter temperatures can drop between 2 and -6 degrees Celsius.

In my opinion, the best time of year to visit Newport is spring or autumn, as the weather is perfect for exploring and visiting the mansions.

Public Transport

The public transport system in Newport is called the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) and it runs convenient bus services. You can get around on RIPTA’s classic green and gold hybrid trolley buses with a day pass (unlimited travel for 6 dollars) or you can pay 2 dollars for a single ticket. These tickets can be purchased on board the bus.

There are bus services that bring you between the airport and the city, and the journey will take just over 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where To Stay

The accommodation in Newport is expensive, but it is of very good quality. I stayed along Shepard Avenue, which was very close to a lot of the main sight-seeing spots.

There were a few other places I would recommend staying in, including America’s Cup Inn, Serenity Inn or Club Wyndham Inn on the Harbor.

I must warn you, it can be a difficult to find affordable accommodation in Newport – this is something I really struggled with.

Where To Go & What To Do

Firstly, I would recommend booking a trolley tour which will bring you lots of places, including downtown and to the Bellevue Avenue Mansion Area. This will give you a feel for the city and will help you pick out the places you want to explore further.

The highlight of my trip was definitely my visit to the mansions. My favourites were The Breakers, the Marble House (this has over 500,000 cubic feet of marble) and The Elms (modelled after the mid-18th century French Chateau d’Asnieres outside Paris).

It’s also possible to take a stroll along the beautiful Cliff Walk, which goes past The Breakers and the Marble House.

During my trip, I paid a visit to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, where Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married.

In the evening, I would advise you to book a cruise around Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay – this place has some of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen!

What & Where To Eat

It’s not surprising to say that Newport has amazing seafood, so it’s a must to try the local produce while you’re in the city.

I would recommend the Boat House for lunch, as it’s a beautiful place with delicious food and even better views. The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar is also a great spot for dinner.

For breakfast, I visited 12 Metre Cafe on Bowen’s Wharf and it has really good bagels, pancakes, omelettes and coffee.

Newport Vineyards is only a few minutes from the city, and is definitely worth a visit to enjoy the wine and craft beer.

Enjoy Newport!