Top Rhode Island Cultural Tours

Discover the beauty of Newport, Rhode Island, and its historical mansions on a trolley tour that takes you past more than 150 points of interest along Ocean Drive, Bellevue Avenue, Cliff Walk, and more. Also included is admission to The Breakers, a Vanderbilt mansion and U.S. National Historic Landmark.

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.

Step into a world of sweeping ocean views, architectural ambition, and high-society drama on this immersive self-guided audio tour along Newport’s legendary Cliff Walk. You’ll uncover the stories of a city where old money met new ambition—and where elegance masked scandal, rebellion, and reinvention. Journey through the heart of America’s Gilded Age. Discover how self-made tycoons and society queens used architecture to vie for dominance, and how the lives of servants, socialites, and outsiders influenced the creation of these incredible estates. This tour peels back the curtain on a world that is dazzling and deeply human, from behind-the-scenes secrets to forgotten voices. Move at your own pace as you take in breathtaking views while listening to richly narrated stories grounded in historical research and local insight. See Newport as you’ve never seen it before, whether you're a history lover, an architecture fan, or a curious wanderer.

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.

Enjoy a historic scenic tour on a spacious shuttle bus boasting views of this iconic ocean city and her charming neighborhoods. 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*

A tour for those that don't want touristy tours. your walking tour begins at the grand Providence City Hall, a building that has witnessed the city’s evolution for more than a century, winding your way through downtown before looping back to the nearby Burnside Park as your last stop. Welcome to Providence, the “Creative Capital” of Rhode Island! Providence is a riverside city nestled at the head of Narragansett Bay, famous for its rich history, vibrant arts scene, and a spirit of independence that dates back to its founding in 1636 by Roger Williams-a man who believed in freedom of thought and built a community where everyone could belong. Go at your own pace, anytime. The tour is hands free, location aware and plays as you walk. Go anytime, at your own pace.

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*

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

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.

Explore the capital of Rhode Island, Providence, on a sightseeing bus tour that departs right from downtown. See the city's top sights including Brown University, Benefit Street, and Roger Williams Park, and enjoy the opportunity to walk around the historic Federal Hill neighborhood. While you drive around, your guide regales you with stories about Providence and its importance in American history. This tour lasts approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

Hear about Newport’s haunted history and lore during this ghost walking tour of the city, led by a guide who helps you easily and safely navigate Newport in the dark of night. From Washington Square to the neighborhood ferry, learn about a side of the city most tourists never see, while listening to some of the city’s best ghost stories.

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.

Walk the historic cobblestone streets of Newport's historic downtown, past quaint shops, wharfs, restaurants, and historic landmarks and discover their revolutionary history. Why choose us? Tour at your own pace and schedule Professionally produced, narrated and musically edited immersive experience Ditch the tour group and explore on your own. The technology makes it feel like the guide is next to you every step of the way. This historic adventure is smart phone guided. You go to the first stop, open the tour, enter your experience code from Viator and press play. From there you are guided turn by turn through Dallas step by step. You'll learn about the city's colonial history, its role in the American Revolution, how it became a home of freedom of religion, its historic eating spots, and its transformation into a fashionable summer resort in the 19th century. Grab your camera and your walking shoes, I’ll meet you just outside the white horse tavern.

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.

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.

Walk through Providence's dark side! The eerie writings H.P. Lovecraft- one of the most significant supernatural horror fiction authors of the 20th century- are inexplicably bound to his hometown of Providence. This tour walks in the tortured author's footsteps through his traumatic upbringing and favorite haunts; guests also meet some of the fictional characters that Lovecraft wrote into the city's fabric through dramatic retellings of his creepiest tales. But Lovecraft isn't the only author that ambled the city's centuries-old sidewalks: Sarah Helen Whitman was an eccentric local spiritualist and poet who was briefly engaged to master of the macabre Edgar Allan Poe. This tour also explores her life and relives the couple's whirlwind- and doomed- romance. A minimum of four guests is required for all tours to run. If less than four are booked, we’ll contact you the morning of to offer a full refund or rescheduling options

Discover Newport's evolution from a thriving colonial city to a 19th-century industrialist retreat on this private walking tour. Begin at the historic harbor, Newport's lifeline, and weave through off-the-beaten paths to uncover tales of its transformation into the picturesque haven it is today. Explore the impact of Newport's Quaker, get a sneak peek of bustling Thames Street, delve into Rhode Island's history of religious freedom, and more.

Explore Newport's rich history on a one-hour horse-drawn wagonette tour through Island Cemetery. Enjoy captivating tales of famous and infamous residents who shaped Newport's past. Suitable for history buffs and casual visitors alike, this tour offers a comfortable ride for up to 10 passengers. Ride along while you hear intriguing stories behind the gravestones and monuments of this beautiful cemetery. - One-hour tour through Newport's historic Island Cemetery - Stories of famous and infamous residents brought to life - Comfortable ride in a 10-passenger wagonette - Perfect for history enthusiasts and casual visitors alike

Explore scenic Newport, Rhode Island at your own pace with this private self-guided driving tour. Listen to enriching background on iconic historic mansions like Bellevue House, the Elms, and the Vanderbilt estate The Breakers. Visit public beaches and parks while following an offline GPS map with customer support. Enjoy lifetime access to the tour for use anytime on any trip.

Experience Newport’s little-known Black history on a tour of Colonial-era Historic Hill. This unique opportunity brings you to historic locations designated with Rhode Island Slave History Medallion (RISHM) markers and other local landmarks. Your RISHM tour guide will introduce you to early Black Americans, their contributions, acts of resistance, and struggles for freedom that shaped not only Newport but the nation.

From pivotal social justice movements to the personal narratives of unsung heroes, Voices of Resilience offers a deeper understanding of Providence’s identity and legacy of courage, resistance, and triumph. Explore how Rhode Island’s involvement in the international slave trade fueled the Industrial Revolution, how suffragists challenged the political establishment, and how activists fought for LGBTQ+ visibility during Providence’s first Pride celebrations. Meet remarkable figures like Edward Bannister, a Black barber who rose to national acclaim as a painter, Princess Red Wing, a Narragansett and Pokanoket activist, and the workers behind the massive 1902 labor strike that brought Rhode Island’s urban core to a standstill. A minimum of four guests is required for tours to run. If fewer than four guests are booked, we’ll contact you the morning of the tour with refund or rescheduling options.

Step aboard for a one-of-a-kind river tour as we welcome Roger Williams back to Providence! Portrayed by historian and Roger Williams expert John McNiff, our founding father will guide you through his remarkable life, travels, and the legacy he built right here in Rhode Island. This exclusive 75-minute cruise blends scenic views, immersive storytelling, and a touch of theatrical flair. From tales of exile and religious freedom to the founding of Providence itself, Roger brings history to life in a way that’s both entertaining and enlightening. Don’t miss your chance to meet Roger…on the river! It’s history with heart, humor, and a front-row seat to our capital city. We welcome passengers ages 12+ on this tour.

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.