Marble House is a great complement to the Breakers. The interior is much more beautiful in my opinion, as its owner had better taste. There is a lot of fantastic art to look at, and a lot of breathtaking marble (as you'd expect) as well. It was interesting to learn about the family through the audio tour. Alva Vanderbilt is definitely an interesting figure in history that I hope to learn more about. The tension between her own progressive thinking in overall politics and her constraints on her own daughter made for a good story to think about. The Chinese Tea House was also neat, but unfortunately you can't go inside it. It was a little sad to see chairs stacked up on the inside. I'm sure it would be awesome to go to a special event there, but it does take away a little from the illusion of it being sent to the bygone era of the Gilded Age. If I can make a college analogy ... my thought is that you should go to the Breakers first as like a 100-level survey course in Newport mansions. It gives you the foundation of what you need to know about Newport and the Gilded Age with its rise and fall. Then go to Marble House as a 200-level course, a more specific and interesting case study. read more

If you are only going to see one 'cottage', Marble House would be my vote (but I don't think you should stop at one): Even though I was fairly disappointed in Biltmore Estate, I had heard about these Newport cottages and knew it was something I wanted to see. I'm a giant snoop and thoroughly enjoy visiting famous or historical homes. These did NOT disappoint and I found both The Breakers and Marble House to be leagues better than Biltmore Estate. First the price: $35 to see 5 different homes. I only ended up seeing 3, but the ticket doesn't expire! PLUS the audio guide is included at each stop. I wasn't able to see Rosecliff because it was only open to guests with Flower Show tickets. Second: These homes are BEAUTIFUL. Marble House was my favorite, but The Breakers was a close 2nd. I was surprised to learn that most people prefer The Elms, but I didn't particularly find anything draw-dropping about it. Marble House: my GOD. The gold, the intricate carvings, the TEA HOUSE. THIS is what was lacking from Biltmore Estate. THESE people knew how to spend money. Everything in Biltmore was tasteful and classy. When I tour someone's home, I do not want to see taste. I want to see GOLD. I want everything SHINY. And I want something that shows me that you DGAF. Rub your wealth all up in my face. I want to see fat cherubs worth more than my college education adorning your toliet. Don't worry.. I'm still paying my hard-earned money to simply look at your gawdy bathroom, so you still get the last laugh. All three homes also had wonderful audio tours. I did find that The Elms had too many side-options on the audio tour that made it drag on a bit, but both Marble House and Breakers did what Biltmore did not embrace. Brevity. At Biltmore, you were crammed in a small room with 30 of your new best friends listening to loooong recordings. These audio tours were much quicker and fit the size of the space. It wasn't often that was lingering much longer than it took to look around just to finish up the audio. They also tended to focus on the family members and stories of the home.. they didn't just prattle off who made each chair and rug. One thing I did not realize was that each of these 'cottages' has their own parking lot. My original plan was to walk between all of them, but due to the rain I found it a lot easier to drive, which is what the Visitor's Center recommended. There isn't anyone checking tickets or timing you either, so it is quite easy to post up in your spot at The Breakers and walk part of the Cliff Walk while you are there. While it was a dreary day while I was in Newport, the Cliff Walk was still worth it. I can only imagine how stunning it might be without fog when you can see up the coastline. After stopping at The Elms, I then drove Ocean Drive and stopped at Brenton Point State Park. This was a quick stop, but plenty of parking. Then I finished up walking the Bay Walk at Fort Adam State Park. This is a great walk at sunset if you can swing it! read more

This stunning Vanderbilt estate is smaller than some of the others on Bellevue Ave, but is one of my favorites. We took a self-guided tour and enjoyed immersing ourselves in its rich history and elegant details. A must-see! read more

Marble House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Marble house was our first stop of the day, I would say the second most lavish of them (mainly because it is not the largest). The tour of this one is self-guided (and most of the really big ones), with a pack you wear around your neck and a set of headphones. If you didn't guess from its name, IT HAS A LOT OF MARBLE! Almost every room is floor to ceiling marble. I cannot imagine having to dust this place (or any of the mansions really). The tour is set up very well and progresses you through the house at a good pace. You can chose extra blurbs to listen to and learn more, or you can keep going through the house. Really, I am going to say 'You should check this one out" about almost all of the mansions we saw that day, but yes, check this one out. read more

So my family heard a lot about these mansions in Rhode Island and the last time they came here, they wanted to go in but because it was pricey they chose not to; however, they figured, why not this time because so many people were going in and if it's a must, then they too should do it haha. Marble House was $17.50 per person, $8 for children 8-18, no student discount unless you want to do the membership. If you want to visit 5 houses then it's only $35 but we only wanted to do the one. Parking is across from the house and free. Once you park, you cross the street and buy the ticket at the ticket booth (or you can buy it advance I believe-as I saw a lot of people just walk pass the booth). I also heard that these tickets never expire so if you can't go in, you have a whole year to do so. Once you go in the house, they scan your ticket and you have the option of getting an audio guide or a sheet (like my mom who speaks Korean but the audio didn't have Korean). The tour isn't that long, about 45-60 minutes. At the end there is a bathroom as well as a gift shop & a cafe in the Chinese Tea Room out in the back (open to the public-no ticket needed). I thought that this room was good, reminded me of Windsor Castle's tour back in England (but much smaller). Definitely learned a lot. Ms. Vanderbuilt, the guest room and the kitchen were my favorite rooms. Photography is allowed (just no flash). I think this is only worth if you have never done something like this before, or if you're doing the whole 5 home tour; otherwise, if you have done something like this, then you're not really missing out. Good to see if you can, not NEEDED if you don't have the funds. read more

The self-guided tour is 18 dollars per person (adult). They can be pre-ordered online or at the booth when you enter the compound. The house itself has a lot of history of the rich and wealthy, it shines like the gilded age from which it originated.The gardens are pretty subdued when compared to the house itself. The Chinese building, located nearest to the water, was the most fascinating thing about the property. read more

After visiting The Breakers,we were unsure about whether to visit Marble House or The Elms - we have decided on marble house based on reviews on TripAdvisor and exterior of building. Once you walk-in it's definitely grandeur . The self-audio tour is also nice and the gadgets are a bit nicer than breakers. Although it seemed like a small tour , it was nice and seemed similar to breakers. The Chinese tea house in the back was cool. read more

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Its just amazing to see how insane these people were building these "summer villas" read more

Marble House - Marble House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

l am a big fan of the Marble House. Similar to the Breakers in the whole Gilded Age architecture and indulgence, it's look and story are completely different. All of the rooms on the lower level are made from marble. I didn't know there were so many different colors, from the rich reds of the dining hall, the green of the conservatory, or the tan in the main entrance. There are many small details in the carvings of the room, mainly with a greek goddess theme. The story of Alva Vanderbilt is explained in the audio. She is a complicated person, who stood up for women's rights in voting and getting a divorce, yet forced her daughter to marry a man she didn't love simply because Alva wanted a duke for a son in law. It isn't as well maintained as The Breakers. It looked like they were in the middle of restoration projects. read more

Amazing experience seeming more private and catering towards visitors than the bigger tours in the same area. Easy access from free parking lot across the street. Beautifully preserved. Less crowded than most. Very helpful and attentive tour guides. Gift shop personnel were friendly and welcoming as well. Please see pictures attached with this review. Thank you. read more

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Audio tour had lots of good information. Listen to the additional talks, too. There's a fun family audio that kids will enjoy. Home is awesome opulence. It's a must see. Avoid going in summer if possible. Traffic congestion and parking problems. read more

This is an incredible experience. Upon recently watching he series "The American Princesses" on PBS, how pleased I was to find this gem in travels with my cousin. I adored learning more about Consuelo by seeing where she grew up & how her mother's choices and tastes impacted her life. The hounds are particularly amazing as is the view and the team room. I think I was most transported in he lavender bedroom of three lady of the house as well as the kitchen and learning and seeing how servants and chefs ran the business of the house. I also LOVED the ladies coat room/sitting area. The taste is not for everyone, particularly those of us with midwestern sensibilities, but the shear beauty of the marble and the thoughtfulness of design I think are enough to keep the most discerning of travelers entertained. A must see... read more

Pretty amazing. I super love the entry way and the dining room. The staircase is very nice, love all the marble. It is especially nice now at Xmas time with all the decorations, the tree, and the giant wreath right when you walk in. Nice gift shop downstairs. Looking forward to seeing it in the summer so I can go to The Chinese Tea House read more

One step down from The Breakers, which was my favorite mansion by FAR. Not surprising that this was built by the same family, based on the similarities and how insanely extravagant they both are. The Chinese Tea House is an awesome place for pictures - and the whole back lawn by the water is beautiful to relax by for a few after your tour! read more

I liked this mansion as good if not better than The Breakers and here is why: The Marble House has a self-guided tour with headphones. I LOVED this format. You can go at your own pace and spend all afternoon taking your time looking at the artwork and craftsmanship. At The Breakers you have to listen intently to hear your guide some times and may miss things. But... at The Breakers you can ask your guide questions all along the tour. The Marble House is no quite as big. They are both fantastic, and both have reasons which they are great. Most people will be happy with either place. I just really enjoyed the going at your own pace and the ability to take my time and listen to the self-guide headphones. read more

I liked the Marble House. It is definitely amazing how a family can be so rich at that time and just build such an extravagant summer house. I would definitely go back again. I bought a dual membership with my husband which lets us go back anytime for a year. It is more practical than the day pass for a couple of mansions because they give you a guest pass on top of the dual membership which in the end, will give more value to what you spent. read more

Marble House is gorgeous, but for my personal style it was a bit much. I'm a fan of slightly simpler things, whereas an entire house made of marble (or made to look like it's made of marble) isn't exactly simple. We also couldn't get the full feeling of the house because there was a large tent set up that took the entire back yard of the house, so you couldn't see the view over the water. There was also construction or event set up in the tea house, so you couldn't go in there either. The self-guided tour is definitely nice because you can go at your own pace. If you have the time, do the 5-property pass. It's actually the best deal. I just wouldn't suggest trying to fit them all in one day... it's exhausting. read more

This was by far my most favorite house of the Newport Mansions. I love the Suffragette/Women's voting rights history that took place here. You can really feel the history of the house as you move through each room. My only complaint (and why I'm giving 4 and not 5 stars) is I wish that we could have done a self-guided audio tour instead of having a tour guide. Our guide, in particular, shared too much information about his health.... there was also a screaming child on the tour and the guide never once asked them to leave or even try to talk louder over the child. The whole group was annoyed by that. Highly recommend the house itself! read more

After buying tickets for a 4pm tour, and arriving in a timely manner, we were denied access from the house. Even though we were there by exactly 4pm, the man at the gate refused to let us in, although people who arrived 30 seconds before us were allowed inside. Very rude and inconsiderate. read more

This place is amazing. Soo much history behind this house. We did a self guided tour of this house which was informative. How it worked is when you first walk in you get a pair of head phones with a small receiver and as you walk through the house there are several number to press on your receiver which will then tell you the history behind each room. After doing the entire self guided tour it took us 2 hours. This place is nothing like the Breakers but less people come here to visit so its more maneuverable. I would highly recommend it to anyone that visits Newport, RI!!! read more

A must see during a trip to Newport RI. The history of the families that lived in these mansions, the architecture, the furnishings .....truly fascinating. read more

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This historic mansion has a living room with a marble mantelpiece, and a marble staircase leading upstairs. It's one of the first houses to have forced air heating. read more

The audio self tour made this a great experience. The house and stories were spectacular to see and hear. The history continues with all the Newport Mansions read more

Marble House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

First all, the audio tour is not an additional cost! The audio tour was one of the best I have ever experienced. There is a small amount of satire and humor. There are elevators reserved for the truly handicap; just ask. The gift shop was beautiful and there were so many reasonable price items. We also loved the grounds outside. There are several extremely old and interesting trees. You have total control of the speed and detail that you want on this tour. You customize your tour! read more

Marble House - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

The exterior of the Marble house is beautiful and so was the inside. Not the breakers but still very grandeur.

You must visit!! Much smaller than the breakers but absolutely beautiful and ornate. Miniature Versailles is the only was to describe it (very similar to the petite Trianon). If you have limited time in Newport, make sure this is at the top of the list. read more

This was the final house we saw on the Christmas tour, and definitely the most opulent. In 1888 this house costs 11 million to build, with 7 million in marble alone (~500,000 cubic feet of marble from all over the world). I did a calculation on what that would cost in today's money and it's ~ 282million! Even if you aren't into architecture, or think its way over the top, you'll still appreciate the craftsmanship that went into this place. My favorite place in the whole house is the gothic room, which is in stark contrast to the rest of the house with its dark wood and various pieces of gothic art from 1100-1550 that was mainly purchased as a lot by their art purveyor when the home was being built. Every little detail from the coffered wood ceiling, hand carved wainscoting, to the stone carved fireplace was created in Europe by their master craftsmen and then reassembled at their house. The next room over is completely gilded in 22K gold leaf, which is where guests would enjoy themselves dancing the night away. Most of my historic home tours have been in Charleston which were either working plantations or some pretty impressive houses South of Broad Street. None of them even came close to these houses from the gilded age, the wealth thrown around by the country's elite was pretty astounding. Be sure to check these houses out, they're self guided audio tours (which I prefer), most can be done in ~45 minutes, but if you linger or check out other audio clips in the various rooms each house can take closer to 90 minutes. You also get to learn intimate details about the family and just those times in general. One of the more interesting things I learned is how this was the height of rich American's marrying their children into European aristocracy for title which enabled the aristocracy to keep their estates afloat as many of these marriages included a yearly stipend of several million to keep them solvent. Bottom Line: Thoroughly enjoyed all of the houses on tour and marveled at the craftsmanship and skill that went into building these homes (a craft that I'm afraid has all but disappeared). Be sure to check these places out, I know I'll be returning to take a little more time with each house, definitely worth a repeat performance. read more

This place is freaking awesome. Everyone in the whole world should go here. You can also tour all the other mansions...like legit mansions, so sick. Conveniently located mansions away from each other. read more

My friend and I had a horrible experience here- I hope it wasn't the usual. We requested the print out of the tour (the usual tour is via audio tour and horrible) for the hearing impaired. First we were told that they did not have one, then a very helpful young man interjected and informed us AND the older fellow who'd been mistaken that they did actually have one. We got the binders and made our way through the first part of the tour. We arrived at the top of the stairs and a woman there was incredibly rude! She approached me and asked what we were doing with the notebooks. I explained that these were the accommodations for hearing impaired people. She continued to eye us like we were going to shoplift something. She then continued to hover following up with a request that we be sure to return the binders at the end of the tour! Seriously!?! The tour transcripts were horribly unorganized and difficult to follow. There was an endless amount of information that was anecdotal and little to nothing on the substance and history of the place. I chose the Marble House because of my interest in the family and place it had in the suffrage movement. The gift shop had more info. It was HOT the day we toured it. They had fans set up in some of the rooms. They were not all on, though. There was an event being held at the house which meant that a large tent was set up and we couldn't really see the back of the house. The view from the back of the grounds was amazing! You can see several of the other mansions. read more

Definitely one of my favorite mansions by far. I absolutely loved the "gothic" feel of some of the rooms! The houses are absolutely breath taking, pictures do them no justice or seeing them from the outside. The grounds are beautiful as well. The tea house in the back seems very out of place (I didn't listen to the audio, so there may be a reason for it, I plan on listening to the audio next time). I wish it was open so you can take pictures inside, but it just looked like a storage area to be honest. I will definitely go back and listen to the audio and just to visit it again because they were wonderful! read more

BEAUTIFUL. Gorgeous. I'm really not sure how anyone could say anything less. The audio tour was great - we learned that Alva Vanderbilt was a snob who divorced her husband, married his friend, and only used the house for three short summers before living elsewhere and using this home solely for storage of all her ballgowns and laundry. lol But seriously - beautiful architecture and decor. Can I live there, please?? read more

Very beautiful house with a great story. If you want to see a mansion.. at $10per person this is a great one to see. There is no guided tour but they do give you an audio player to listen to which works just fine. I do wish they opened up more of the "servant rooms" but still cool. read more

I'm doing the tourist thing lately. A friend from France is here and has been to RI before. This time he brought his preteen children who are very polite and unspoiled. I write this because basically we visited in the style of a family. This is a small mansion in Newport. It is beautiful and chock full of history thanks to the Vanderbilts. It's not the only mansion to be built and owned by a Vanderbilt family but it is the only one where the Women Suffragette movement was supported and sponsored by charity balls. It is also the only mansion with a Chinese tea house built on the mansion grounds. And that is why I wanted to go. I mean other than to see the mansion. Much of the interior design is influenced by French culture. The inside of the house is gorgeous. The breezes from the Atlantic Ocean help cool the house. The yard slopes down to the ocean and the Chinese tea house. For some reason I'd had these glamorous ideas of the tea house. It was very cute but surprisingly built chintzy; the walls were like plywood. The Breakers' children's playhouse was much more impressive as far as the architecture. There were paintings on the walls which were pretty but needed to be restored. I don't mean to be so critical but I was expecting more. The self guided tours are excellent for kids as they can either pick and choose what they want to hear or just let the audio set do it's thing and lead you around. After wards they can meet you in the basement where the restrooms and gift shop are or linger in the kitchen. I know, you're thinking: "No way would I let kids go off on their own!" Normally I'd agree. But you know your kids. If they get blood sugar drops or are natural hellions then of course keep a leash on them. These two were very polite and were interested in the place. They have the audio tour in different languages BUT NOT IN ALL LANGUAGES. I saw some Asian tourists in the mansion and they had pamphlets that they were reading off of. So call the mansion you plan on visiting beforehand to make sure they have the tour in your guests' language. The gift shops are expensive but there is usually something an adult or child will enjoy that is not going to break the bank. I believe there are some stock gifts that all the mansions have but each one has gifts unique to the mansion's "personality". The tea house has salads, sandwiches and snacks as well as bottled drinks but no table service. It's expensive (read $2.00 for a can of Coke.) The grounds are rather plain. I know that I sound very critical of this mansion but I love it. It is a piece of history and an educational experience as well as a showcase of architecture. I was able to get 4 tickets for $30 through a local deal and it was more than worth it. read more

Newport Mansion tours were excellent, I love the audio taping, very well produced and kept me engaged. The houses were beautiful, esp the Marble House and Breakers. Do not miss it! read more

This is a beautiful "Summer Cottage". The gothic and gold rooms are one of a kind in Newport. You should pay close attention to the details of these rooms. The entire building is a work of art. However, the history behind it and how Alva Vanderbilt treated her husband and children is sad and takes away from the home. Knowing that the entrance fees go maintain this piece of American history and not to a Vanderbilt foundation is one of the reasons why this has been my 4th visit here. read more

not the biggest mansion (the Breakers is) but has many similarities to Versailles, very opulent, lavish, and majestic. The 100% Algerian marble dining room was my favourite. Mrs. Vanderbilt's Chinese Tea House was also a nice stop on the way to the cliff walk and tunnels. read more

SCANDAL: it's not all marble. It is, however, classy as hell, from the interior to the tea house out back.

Really interesting tour of this incredible Gilded Age mansion. Smaller than the Breakers but certainly a match in opulence, extravagance and imagination. Each room is it's own story and it's own personality, perhaps the most amazing is the Gothic Room. The tour is self-guided, each visitor is issued an ipad (with a strap so you can wear it) and headphones. The programmed self-guide narration directs you where to go and when to stop and restart the tour so it's very easy to use. I also prefer this type of tour rather than a group tour. To put it plainly, there is no saucy history to this house. No ghost sightings, past acts of infidelity or scandal, just a really awesome mansion. I am deducting a star because I think the $17.50 entrance fee is too high. But no regrets spending it to see this incredible Newport icon. read more

A beautiful mansion with an interesting history. My guide on the tour of the house was very knowledgable and gave a detailed explanation not only of the rooms in the house, but also of the history of its original owner, Alva Vanderbilt. I went on the off season, so I didn't have to deal with large crowds and the experience was very enjoyable. I also liked walking around the grounds and checking out the tea house which is very unique. read more

We visited Marble House when we visited Newport, RI during our Northeast road trip in Sept 2016. Newport is famous for its 19th and early 20th century mansions and we decided to visit Marble House first. We visited somewhat early in the morning, which was nice because it wasn't too crowded and we felt like we had the whole place practically to ourselves. We were definitely impressed with this place! We spent a good hour touring the mansion and it was nice to have a guided electronic tour to explain the history of the house and the family who lived there (members of the Vanderbilt family). We paid $25 for a mansion pass, which got us admission to 2 mansions (including the more famous Breakers Mansion down the street from Marble House). The mansion is quite beautiful - it's everything you'd expect from Victorian era opulence, and there is a beautiful view of the ocean from the terrace and outdoor area of the mansion. I'd definitely recommend visiting Marble House! If you have to only choose one Newport mansion to visit, Marble House is an excellent choice. And make sure to visit early so that you don't have to deal with the crowds! read more