Visit Newport Beach
United States of America
Visit Newport Beach Inc. is your ultimate resource for Newport Beach travel and tourism. Our team of destination experts is here to help you plan the perfect stay, with insights on everything from luxury resorts, waterfront hotels, and the best restaurants to must-see attractions. Newport Beach, California, offers a reprieve from everyday life and an opportunity to experience laidback luxury by the coast.
INFORMATION
HISTORY
Newport Beach has evolved dramatically over the years, with each new wave of change shaping the city’s modern-day identity. Its rich and colorful history includes a nautical foundation as a vibrant port town in the 1800s, when the harbor became a booming commercial and shipping hub. In 1905, Newport Beach welcomed some of its earliest tourists with the arrival of the Pacific Electric Railroad, which introduced its sun-drenched shores to visitors from the city of Los Angeles. One year later, the city incorporated on September 1, 1906, marking the beginning of flourishing development projects.
DESTINATION
SEASONALITY / BEST TIME TO VISIT / CONNECTIVITY
Newport Beach has a warm, year-round Mediterranean climate that provides ample opportunity to catch a wave, dock and dine, or take a leisurely stroll through one of 10 charming neighborhoods, each lending a unique culture, charm, history and local flavor to explore.
Newport Beach is approximately 50 square miles, comprising 25 miles of water, 15 miles of land and 10 miles of coastline. Situated 45 miles south of Los Angeles (under one hour), 90 miles north of San Diego (under 90 minutes) and 26 miles from Catalina Island (approximately 75 minutes by boat), it is conveniently located at the center of the Orange County coastline, with easy access to the I-405, 55 freeway, 73 toll road, and iconic Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1).
Newport Beach is primarily serviced by and directly adjacent to John Wayne Airport (SNA), whose Private Terminal features one-of-a-kind helicopter and jet experiences to nearby hot spots. A $120 million investment in two new private aviation terminals is currently underway. Other airports include Long Beach Airport (20 miles north); and Los Angeles International Airport (45 miles north).
MAIN HIGHLIGHTS
Beaches & Beyond: A Southern California paradise home to more water than land, Newport Beach has a stretch of shore for everyone. It’s a waterfront playground with epic swells that attract attention from surfers around the globe and 10 miles of pristine coastline perfect for sunbathing, posh picnics, and leisurely strolls on the sand. What’s more, water-centric experiences extend well beyond the award-winning beaches. From the West Coast’s largest recreational harbor to the biggest remaining estuary in Southern California, every corner of the sun-soaked destination offers a new way to luxuriate by the sea.
Hotels & Resorts: A stay in Newport Beach offers a reprieve from everyday life and an opportunity to experience laidback luxury by the coast. With more than 4,000+ hotel rooms, the destination is home to renowned hospitality brands and luxury resorts where visitors can rejuvenate, relax and escape, including VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort & Spa; Lido House, Autograph Collection; Balboa Bay Resort & Club; and the now open, Pendry Newport Beach brings an additional 295 sophisticated guest rooms to the destination, located just steps from Fashion Island.
Culinary: Dining in Newport Beach is a culinary journey — a choose-your-own adventure where artisanal concepts are elevated by masterful technique, locally sourced ingredients and freshly caught seafood befitting a coastal destination. Whether visitors follow the seasons for a chef-driven sensory escape or drift away with the ocean breezes while wining and dining harborside, the destination’s California-fresh and global influences mean there is always something new to sip and savor by the sea. Help travelers navigate their way through an ever-evolving dining scene with this guide that identifies the tastiest themes, neighborhoods and luxurious experiences to discover among the destination’s 400+ dining establishments.
Shopping: A world-class retail destination, Newport Beach has shops to suit every style, from charming boutiques exuding coastal sophistication to luxury storefronts from some of the hottest names in fashion. Whether fierce fashionistas are in search of on-trend looks or families seek sunshine staples like surf apparel and one-of-a-kind artisan gifts, there’s always something new to discover at one of the destination’s walkable waterfront promenades or sun-soaked centers. Shopping by the sea has never felt so dreamy. Fashion Island is the vibrant epicenter of the city’s style scene, offering a sun-drenched, open-air setting for visiting the unique mix of more than 100 ultra-premium designer boutiques and specialty shops.
CULTURE & ART
Newport Beach is fortunate to possess a vibrant artistic and cultural community featuring several Newport museums and theaters:
- Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach preserves the island’s historic photographs and artifacts.
- Newport Beach City Arts Commission offers outdoor performances like Shakespeare By The Sea.
- Newport Beach Historical Society is committed to preserving the history and culture of Newport Beach.
GASTRONOMY / DINING
Newport Beach is the culinary destination that you need to put on your radar! With over 400 restaurants in Newport Beach, our culinary destinations are known for serving our locals and visitors with abundant choices and a wide-variety of top-shelf experiences, from freshly caught seafood straight to your plate to curated upscale chef tasting menus and everything in between. Our ever-changing seasonal menus based on what’s growing local keeps things fresh and our cocktail culture is always shakes things up. And new cutting-edge concepts are joining our legendary institutions year-over-year. Hot spots include Joey, Fable & Spirit, Nobu, A Crystal Cove, Malibu Farm, SUGARFISH and Ocean 48.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN THE DESTINATIONS
Balboa Island: Of the seven islands in Newport Harbor, Balboa Island is public and offers the best in nautical coastal living with an emphasis on home and garden, locally owned shops, restaurants and merchants. Home to the famous « Balboa Bar », Balboa Island is classic, sophisticated, whimsical, and welcoming. Arrive to by the longest-operating and only auto ferry in Southern California, or by renting an iconic « Duffy » electric boat, invented in Newport Beach in 1970.
Dock + Dine: Soak in the splendor of the sea with a dining experience that honors Newport Beach’s nautical founding. Visitors can set sail through the harbor and dock their vessel at one of the many waterfront restaurants serving fresh coastal cuisine. Meals can be savored onboard, or passengers can disembark to dine alfresco on a terrace overlooking the bay.
Historic Fun Zone at Balboa Village: Since 1936, the Fun Zone at Balboa Village has been providing affordable entertainment for all ages. With no admission costs, you can stroll the bayside boardwalk and play as you like. Take a relaxing ride on our Ferris Wheel, which offers fantastic views of the Newport Harbor and Pacific Ocean. The Village is one of the state’s last surviving examples of great waterfront recreational pavilions.
Shopping: With the Pacific Ocean as a shimmering backdrop, Fashion Island is the vibrant epicenter of the city’s style scene, offering a sun-drenched, open-air setting for visiting the unique mix of more than 100 ultra-premium designer boutiques and specialty shops. Visitors are also invited to create a bespoke shopping trip with a Fashion Island personal shopper. The complimentary one-on-one appointments include hand-picked, head-to-toe looks delivered to a personal shopping suite for the ultimate luxury experience. Great for fashionistas, pet parents, families, culinary connoisseurs. Or head to Lido Marina Village, where artisans, tastemakers, chefs, curators, and collectors come together to share their wares and draw inspiration from the sun and the sea. Explore a mix of charming boutiques and stylish shops, and experience a delightfully scaled village ambiance inviting you to stroll and discover creative details at every turn.
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve: Known as “the Back Bay” to locals, Upper Newport Bay is one of the largest, most pristine coastal wetlands in Southern California. Explore the 1,000 acre ecological reserve hiking or biking the Back Bay Loop Trail or take advantage of the calm waters with a guided kayak tour or stand-up paddle board rentals for up-close views of more than 35,000 migratory birds and other wildlife.
AWARDS
- Best Tourism Board — Modern Luxury, 2023
- World’s and USA’s Top 25 Beaches of 2019 – Enjoy Travelling, 2019
- 7 Hugely Charming Coastal Towns in The United States – Trip Advisor, 2019
