Top Rhode Island Art & Culture

Get an in-depth look at Providence from a boat cruise that travels along the waterways of Rhode Island’s capital city. Your guide shares live commentary about historical landmarks and modern destinations as you take in sites including the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, Providence Industrial Harbor, Providence River, Waterplace Park and the pedestrian paths of Riverwalk. Choose a daytime or evening cruise, and feel free to bring your own refreshments on board.

Enjoy a historic scenic tour on a spacious shuttle bus boasting views of this iconic ocean city and her charming neighborhoods. Visit The Elms Mansion, which is used to film the popular HBO series, The Gilded Age. (When The Elms is closed guests will visit a different mansion depending on availability.) Throughout this tour not only will you learn the history of Newport, but you’ll also learn about some of her ghosts who still call Newport home today. We’ll also discuss the history of how pirates came to Newport only to meet their demise. This tour will take you throughout time where each century made its impact and stamped its mark, making Newport one of the most fascinating cities to visit! Capture clear and beautiful photos through our oversized windows. *No infants allowed*

Lift the veil on Providence’s dark history with this spooky walking tour through the storied College Hill neighborhood. Join your guide and small group for an eerie stroll past some of the city’s top landmarks as you learn about local legends and lore, unexplained mysteries, and the spirits that are said to roam the city still.

Combine the history of a walking tour with the culture of a food tour on this Newport walking tour. As you make your way to five restaurants featuring top Newport culinary delights, your guide tells you about the city’s from before the American Revolution, through the Gilded Age, and up to the present.

Join us for this elegant stroll through time! Allow our historically costumed, local guides to lead you down the most beautifully preserved street in all of Providence, RI- Benefit Street! Guests will learn the history of some of Providence's most prominent residents and families, including the Dorr family, Roger Williams, and the Hoppin family. See architectural icons including the John Brown House, the First Baptist Church, the Fleur de Lys Building, and the original State House. Learn about the events that shaped our state and nation, including the suffrage movements (yes, there were two!) and the Civil War. This tour will leave you feeling more connected to the city's past and with a greater appreciation for Providence. Benefit Street is a mostly flat street and is suitable for people of most levels of health and fitness.

Take a boat tour along the Providence waterways to discover 300 years of architectural history. Led by the Providence Preservation Society, uncover the city's stories, sight lines, and subtle details. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, witness historic Providence from the best vantage point in town. Passengers must be at least 10 years old to join this tour.

WaterFire—an annual installation by artist Barnaby Evans, which sees lighted braziers and flickering flames reflected along the Providence River—is a much-loved Providence event, and this boat tour offers unparalleled access to the exhibition. Meet your captain at the basin of Waterplace Park, hop aboard your vessel, and set off along the full length of the installation after dark, to enjoy the best views of the fires.

Gansett Cruises offers a comfortable, entertaining and informative tour of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. Our vessel, Gansett, is a wooden 1969 classic lobster fishing boat that has been beautifully restored and maintained. A complimentary Mimosa is included. We also offer cash bar options and local favorites such as Del's frozen soft Lemonade and Yacht Club Soda available onboard. Sit back and relax while your Captain, Crew and Tour Guide take you through Newport's rich coastal history.

Discover many of Providence’s top landmarks—and learn all about the city’s centuries of history—on this immersive walking tour. Pick between morning and afternoon departure times, and explore Rhode Island’s capital in the company of a local. You’ll see highlights like the Rhode Island State House, the first Baptist church in America, Providence City Hall, and much more—and will hear the stories behind the sights as you go.

Get your bearings of Newport on a guided trolley tour of the city, which fills you in on Newport's history and contemporary culture as you travel among city sights. From restored homes on Ten Mile Ocean Drive to the legendary mansions of Bellevue Avenue, this tour introduces you to Newport with class and charm suitable of this historic city.

Start your day right with this fun and informative cruise of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. You’ll sip a complimentary mimosa as you sail the sea with the help of an entertaining crew who’ll tell you all about the coastal history of the city. If you feel like having another drink, there’s also a cash bar and local favorites to try, like Del's Frozen Soft Lemonade and Yacht Club Soda.

Taste your way around the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence with a guide to show you around and tell you about a unique side of the city’s history at the same time. Learn about mob bosses, corruption, and illegal gambling that ended in violence. Walk away from the tour with a delicious souvenir to take home with.

Enjoy a scenic sunset cruise aboard a classic yacht, Rum Runner II. See views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay from the water. Relax on a comfortable, classic boat and enjoy an evening on the water with friends or family. Please note this is not a narrated cruise. Check with the ticket booth staff to purchase beverages before getting underway.

Explore the stunning Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile scenic path that showcases some of Newport's most magnificent mansions and breathtaking views. This two-hour guided tour includes fascinating insights into the history of iconic estates like The Breakers and Rosecliff, while providing plenty of opportunities for photos and reflections. Perfect for groups looking for an enriching outdoor experience, this tour runs from May to October, ensuring you get the best of Newport's beauty. - Two-hour guided tour along Newport’s famous Cliff Walk - Highlights include historic mansions such as Marble House and Ochre Court - Available Monday to Saturday at 1PM

Learn about the history of Newport through the lore of its resident ghosts and ghouls with this tour of the town’s most haunted locations. Stroll past sites of gruesome crimes and other dark deeds and take in landmarks like White Horse Tavern, the Artillery Company of Newport, Trinity Church, and more. Listen to stories just scary enough to keep both adults and kids entertained as you explore Newport by night.

While many Newport visitors cram onto slow-moving tour buses, you won’t join them with this self-guided audio tour. Driving the mansion-packed Ocean Drive Historic District at your pace, you’ll explore from Cornelius Vanderbilt to Jay Leno, from the Cliff Walk to America’s Cup. Stop and start as you like, or even take the tour at home—there’s no wrong way to step back into Newport's Gilded Age.

Get an insider’s introduction to the historic, coastal Newport during this attraction-packed trolley tour. Listen to entertaining and informative live narration on the Rhode Island city while you get a front-row peek at sights along the Ten-Mile Ocean Drive. Tours include admission tickets to one Newport mansion, including the Breakers, the Marble House, or Rosecliff.

Hear the true stories that inspired the HBO show The Gilded Age on a self-guided walking tour down Bellevue Avenue, from Rough Point Mansion to The Breakers on Ochre Point Avenue. Along the way, I’ll share the juicy details behind Newport’s palatial ”summer cottages” as you gaze at their impressive designs. You’ll find out about the owners of these homes, many of them New York’s most elite families including the Vanderbilts and Astors. I’ll also introduce you to the architects who designed them and the staff that kept these homes running despite harsh working conditions and low pay. You’ll hear about the impact that the sinking of Titanic had on the owners of the Miramar Mansion, and how it took 36 staff members to look after Mable House, a holiday home used for only eight weeks of the year. This hour-long stroll takes you behind the scenes to discover the personalities that built today’s Newport.

Newport, Rhode Island, is an absolute hotspot of history, and on this tour, you’ll get to experience the city’s wild past from the water. Sit back with a mimosa as your guide tells you the story of the region’s classic lighthouses, relays the tales behind the harbor mansions and churches, and dives behind the scenes of Fort Adams, Jamestown Village, Hammersmith Farm, and beyond.

Experience Newport in style and comfort with our one-of-a-kind LSV tour. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility of exploring the city in a luxurious open-air electric vehicle while learning about its rich history from a knowledgeable local guide. Our personalized itineraries and intimate group size create a truly unforgettable experience.

Discover the smallest state in the US in just one day aboard this exciting excursion that begins in Providence. Join a small group and venture through the 'Ocean State,' stopping at several points of interest along the way. Visit villages, see memorials, walk through parks, and stroll along beaches all while listening to commentary from your guide.

Enjoy a relaxing evening cruise along Providence’s waterways while being entertained by the magical WaterFire show. Starting from Providence Marina, you’ll get a great view of this seasonal attraction, which lights up the city. Travelers with all kinds of interests will be amazed by the WaterFire show, which includes movement, participation, and, of course, fire and water.

See the historic and picturesque sights of Newport, Rhode Island, on a trolley tour that takes you past more than 150 points of interest along Ocean Drive, Bellevue Avenue, Cliff Walk, and more. Get an overview of the area in less than two hours and give yourself a break from walking around. Learn about the local architecture as you admire mansions from the United States' Gilded Age.