The Breakers is an architectural marvel, encapsulating the extraordinary opulence of the Gilded Age. Exploring this grand Vanderbilt mansion with its stunning interiors and meticulously maintained grounds is an awe-inspiring experience. The self-guided audio tour allows visitors to immerse themselves in the rich history at their own pace. For anyone interested in history, architecture, or simply grandeur, The Breakers is an absolute must-visit in Newport.

From the time the docent welcomed us in, this tour was top notch. His wealth of information and historical tidbits made the tour! The technology that supported (and still supports) such a huge home and the intricacies of managing heat, electricity, water - everything it takes to make a home comfortable - was remarkable for its time. They thought of everything, including a wine cellar. What an amazing look back!

Crazy! The conspicuous consumption was ridiculous in this place. The downloaded self guided tour was great and informative. It also offered additional stories if you wanted. Room after room of every single square inch decorated.

Breath taking House which gives a superb sense of how the other half lived at that time. The lavish workmanship and no expense spared build is very obvious. Heating system throughout, together with intercom and hot/cold running water ( both fresh/sea water) were way before their time. Ostentatious is perhaps the best description I can think of.

The sheer size and attention to detail speaks volumes about the craftsmanship and demands of a wealthy elite class never seen before of since! The exorbitant styling and magnificent structures are beyond imagination. If you haven't been here, you should make the trip!

We had the audio tour which we downloaded to our phone. We thought it was excellent. It has breaks between rooms to allow you time to look around at your own pace and you can opt for further information about a room at any time. The house is amazing and the tour gives some good in sight into the family and what life was like at this time in a mansion like this.

We toured this home along with the Elms and Marble House. Breakers was by far the most opulent. It’s not my taste in a hole to live in, but wow the people who built it and made the designs have to commended on their artistic talent. The staircase and that area are incredible! Anyone going to Newport has to see this place.

I throughly enjoyed my visit to the Breakers. I probably should've downloaded the audio tour which you can do if you download an app. There's a QR code at the entrance you can scan to do so. I think I would've enjoyed it more had I done so but I did read the pamphlet that they provide in various languages just inside the entrance. It give you a glimpse of the life of the very wealthy during the gilded age and as a history buff, it was fun.

We drove into Newport, Rhode Island and saw the sign, "Welcome to beautiful Rhode Island" and it truly was. Gorgeous sailboats were in the beautiful blue water, their white sails gleaming in the sunlight, and the sky a majestic cerulean blue. We soon took the wonderful trolley tour which featured a look inside the Breakers. Stepping inside the "Gilded Age" mansion was like stepping into the pages of "The Great Gatsby," with beauty so majestic it was almost indescribable. In those days of enormous wealth, money flowed like dewdrops, and The Breakers reflects the golden beauty of gorgeous paintings and furnishings. One chandelier in particular was incredibly huge and gorgeous, and the kitchen had plates and glassware to the very top of the ceiling. The Breakers is a glimpse into a world of glorious loveliness. It is a trip to a dream world, and one I would heartily recommend to anyone.

There is a reason why the Vanderbilt’s cottage is at the top of the list of Newport’s sights. While other homes might be more personal and intimate, the Breakers was built to dazzle and boy does it! The Great Hall alone seems like it shouldn’t even fit in the house. Allow for a few hours so as to not be carried along by the crowd (which isn’t as bad as I imagined it might be) and you will get lost in the details and find ample opportunity to get pictures without other people in the foreground. I found the audio guide available via an app download a bit clunky while trying to take pictures at the same time but I found the printed guide to be quite comprehensive and I listened to the guide later. If you have questions the staff are very knowledgeable.