Rhode Island · United States
Providence travel guide
Providence is a city in Rhode Island, United States, home to about 191,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- PVD11 km · Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/New York
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Providence
Roger Williams, a Puritan linguist, merchant, and explorer founded Providence, Rhode Island, in June of 1636. Roger Williams was essentially kicked out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony for getting along too well with the local native populations, considering them to be essentially already Christians, who had just not heard of Jesus yet. This was a sufficient problem for Massachusetts Bay that they exiled him, leading to Williams and his followers seeking refuge among the Narragansett, who permitted them to build homes in what would become Providence.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Providence
See
Providence is a city rich in unique architecture, beautiful streetscapes and stimulating intellectual pursuits. One of America's older cities, Providence features many historic buildings like the Rhode Island State House and Trinity Repertory Theater. These locations, among others, exemplify some of the country's best 19th and 20th-century architecture. The RISD museum and Roger Williams Park Zoo offer days of fun sightseeing for adults and children alike. The monumental Rhode Island State House, finished in 1901, is a wonder that has the world's fourth largest self-supported marble dome. Downtown Providence also includes a number of beautiful 19th century buildings in a variety of styles.
Do
Waterfire is an event where 100 fires are set alight on the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence. The string of fires illuminates nearly two-thirds of a mile and residents and visitors gather to stroll along the river. The fires are burned from sunset to past midnight on select evenings (typically on weekends) from April or May through October.
- The feast of St. Joseph
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Providence
Providence has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; March is the wettest, with about 126 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Providence: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD), about 11 km from the city centre in a straight line; Newport State Airport (NPT, 34 km) and New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB, 41 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
T.F. Green Airport (PVD), in nearby Warwick south of Providence, offers many low cost and regular flights to cities in the United States.
Getting around
Downtown Providence is very compact and can easily be covered walking. There is some parking available throughout the city, but RIPTA's public transport network is extensive and an alternative to driving. Although public transit in Providence is almost entirely comprised of buses, the buses are on-time, reliable, and much of RIPTA's bus fleet is new. Kennedy Plaza, RIPTA's downtown bus station, is well laid out with digital displays at each terminal that tell when the next bus will be coming.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
PVD · Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport
NPT · Newport State Airport
EWB · New Bedford Regional Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Providence
Eat
Providence has an abundance of ethnic cuisines, from Spanish to Moroccan to down home New England chowder.
Drink
Although Providence may be small compared to other states' capitals, it has quite a bustling nightlife. There are a variety of bars and clubs to suit any taste and price range - from hip eclectic bars in the artsy college area, to upscale martini bars downtown, techno and hip-hop clubs for the younger crowd, and casual pubs and brewhouses scattered throughout the city, there is certainly something for everybody. RI Law prohibits Happy Hour drink specials.
Stay safe
Providence is not known for scams or pick-pocketing so the biggest issues are drug and gang violence. If you do not use drugs then you should not have any issues. It is best to stay East of the highway 95 North with the exception of Federal Hill and a few other notable places, most of the poverty lies on the West end of the City. Providence is a relatively safe city for its size, though proper caution and common sense should not be abandoned. The downtown area can be dodgy at night, especially around Kennedy Plaza and Washington Street. The club areas on the outskirts of downtown have also been known to draw some issues, though most are gang related.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Providence: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Providence?
Providence has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C; March is the wettest, with about 126 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Providence?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD), about 11 km from the city centre in a straight line; Newport State Airport (NPT, 34 km) and New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB, 41 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Providence?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Providence
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.