Newport Harbor is a spectacular harbor to tour with views of bustling downtown with all its shops and restaurants as well as a wide variety of boats from dinghies to super yachts especially to the east and north. To the south Brenton Cove is beautiful and serene and boasts two yacht clubs and some spectacularly beautiful homes.
Most tours go out of the harbor and go south to Castle Hill, north to the Newport Bridge and west to Jamestown. You can also charter a crewed tour boat, make your own itinerary and follow your own timetable. This is a great way to celebrate a special occasion like a wedding or a birthday or just enjoy the beautiful views.
The variety of tour boats is many and varied. They include sailboats and powerboats of all types and sizes. There are a number of larger sailboats that go out for an hour or two for a reasonable fee and are typically berthed at the downtown wharfs or on Goat Island. There are many powerboats available including older classic style boats. You can also tour the harbor (only) on a public lunch shuttle that stops at a number of piers around Newport harbor.