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North America > United States of America > New England > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence

Providence is the state capital and largest city in Rhode Island, as well as the third largest city in New England. It used to be an industrial bastion of organized crime, but Providence's Renaissance has created new parks and attractions and brought emphasis back to its historic roots. Downcity events, historic vistas, eclectic districts such as College Hill and Federal Hill, and a great nightlife make Providence a worthwhile tourist destination. Today, it is perhaps best known as the home of Brown University.

Districts

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Districts of Providence
 Downtown
Also known as Downcity. Includes the central business district as well as Waterplace Park, the Providence Place Mall, and Capitol Hill
 College Hill
Home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, this neighborhood is swarming with college students, but also boasts a number of old historic sites.
 Federal Hill
A neighborhood just west of downtown along Atwells Avenue. Known for nightlife and Italian heritage.
 Smith Hill
 North and East
 Southern neighborhoods
Southern Providence has a reputation for poverty and crime, but is also the home of Roger Williams Park - a large and beautifully landscaped park containing the zoo, museums, and other attractions.
 Fox Point
A quieter neighborhood with eclectic shops and restaurants.


Understand

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Downtown Providence

History

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River walk along Waterplace Park

Puritan refugee and Massachusetts exile Roger Williams settled Providence, Rhode Island, in June of 1636. It soon became one of the thirteen original colonies of the United States. The Narragansett Native Americans previously occupied Rhode Island's land.

British taxation held back the city’s economic growth in its fishing, farming, and nautical enterprises. Providence joined other critics of the British Crown and opposed the Sugar Act, a tax that adversely affected Providence’s international rum trade. The Gaspee Affair of 1772 involved the residents of Providence leading the first violent attack of the American Revolution.

After the Revolutionary War, Providence’s economic industry changed from maritime activities to manufacturing, especially in jewelry and textiles. Such industries drew many immigrants from overseas lands such as Italy, Ireland, England, Portugal and Cape Verde, whose descendants compose a high proportion of the population of the state today.

The jewelry industry boomed in the 1920s. The Great Depression hit the local economy hard, leading to population decreases. Organized crime rose to the forefront in Providence in the 1950s through the 1980s, primarily situated in Providence's Federal Hill neighborhood. Providence became a notorious mob scene led by mafia boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca.

The “Renaissance City” got its nickname in the 1990s when Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci Jr came into his second term. After millions in local and national funds were spent throughout the city in the 1970s, the city's previously falling population was stabilized. Cianci pushed for an emphasis on the city’s strength in the arts and entertainment and revitalized the city’s natural landscape. He brought Rhode Island the Providence Bruins hockey team, uncovered Providence’s rivers, relocated a large section of the railroad underground, created the now famous Waterplace Park and river walks, and sanctioned the construction of the Bank of America Skating Rink and the gigantic Providence Place Mall.

Providence has a long history of political corruption that some feel to be part of the local charm. In keeping with this tradition; Mayor Cianci was indicted not once but twice from local office. When running for office for his second term, he actually ran partly from jail. It wasn't until a 2001 racketeering case was brought against Cianci that the notorious Mayor's reign ended.

Once dominated by the Italian-American political establishment, Providence had five mayors of Italian descent, including Cianci's two non-consecutive terms, between 1975 and 2011. Demographic shifts contributed to the election of the city's first Hispanic mayor, Angel Taveras, in 2011. The Mayor of Providence as of March 2020 Jorge Elorza, who did what many in Providence once thought was impossible and defeated Cianci in his final comeback attempt in 2015. Cianci died of colon cancer at 74 little more than a year after the election.

Climate

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Providence
Climate chart (explanation)
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3.9
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
See Providence's 7 day forecast
Metric conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
99
 
 
3
−7
 
 
 
89
 
 
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109
 
 
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114
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Providence's climate is humid continental/subtropical. This means high humidity year-round, with hot, wet summers and cold, snowy winters. Unlike other inland states in New England, Rhode Island's position along the Atlantic coast keeps Providence's temperatures relatively warm. Precipitation is a mainstay in Providence's climate. Spring and summer months often have bouts of rainfall and winter months are regularly hit with snowfall and blizzards. Providence's position on the coast of the Narragansett Bay leaves the city susceptible to hurricanes, but such occurrences are rare.

Visitor information

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  • 1 Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau (PWCVB), 1 Sabin Street (downtown, within the Rhode Island Convention Center), toll-free: +1-800-751-1177. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. The Visitor Center is in downtown Providence and provides maps, brochures and information on hotels, restaurants, shopping, and attractions. 

Get in

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By plane

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T.F. Green Airport (PVD IATA), in nearby Warwick south of Providence, offers many low cost and regular flights to cities in the United States.

  • By car: take I-95 North. Approximately 20 minutes.
  • By bus: the #14 and #20 buses connect the airport to Kennedy Plaza in downtown Providence. #14 is an express bus taking 15-25 minutes. #20 has more stops and takes 40 minutes. See RIPTA for schedules.
  • By commuter rail: MBTA runs 10 trains per weekday from the airport to downtown Providence.

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS IATA) is much larger than T.F. Green Airport, and is generally used for most international flights.

  • By car: take I-95 South. Approx. 1 hour (potentially much longer in traffic).
  • Public transit: take the MBTA Silver Line bus (it's a BRT line) to South Station and take an MBTA commuter train to downtown Providence. Approx. 1hr 30 mins in travel time. Add waiting time of 1-2 hours if you haven't planned which commuter train to catch. The commuter rail leaves you in downtown Providence.

By train

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See also: Rail travel in the United States
  • 1 Providence station, 100 Gaspee Street (across the street from the Rhode Island State House). The central train station in Providence. Providence station (Q7252482) on Wikidata Providence station on Wikipedia (updated Oct 2023)

By car

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For those driving, I-95 will serve you well from Boston or New York areas, Rt. 146 is better when coming from Worcester or western Massachusetts area. I-195 connects to Cape Cod and eastern Massachusetts. Driving from TF Green Airport (PVD), head north on I-95. Driving to the airport exit 13 on I-95.

By bus

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  • RIPTA, ☏ +1 401 781-9400. Services across all of Rhode Island and throughout Providence, with a central hub in Kennedy Plaza. Bus charge is $2.00, and an extra $.75 for a 2-hour valid transfer to travel with other buses. One-day, 10-day, 15-day, and monthly RIPTA passes can be purchased inside the Kennedy Plaza bus station or at a Rhode Island Stop-and-Shop or Shaw’s. 
  • Bonanza Bus Lines. Bonanza travels to many states on the East Coast. Tickets can be purchased at Kennedy Plaza or online. Trips depart from Kennedy Plaza at any given time throughout the day.
  • Greyhound Bus
  • 2 Megabus, Canal Street at Park Row (across the street from Roger Williams National Memorial). Services daily from New York City with three round trips. Tickets can be purchased online, daily deals from $1–61. 

Get around

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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.

Two of the downtown lines are run completely on natural gas trackless trolleys (called the Providence LINK Trolley) and cover most of historic Providence. Base fare is $2.00, though e-riptiks or ride passes may be purchased either on-board or at local Shaw's and Stop and Shop supermarkets. Seniors or disabled persons ride for half price during non-peak hours with the presentation of an id. Students from some local colleges can buy discounted bus passes or use their school id cards (policy varies depending on the school).

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.

Architecture

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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.

Downcity Providence overlooking Waterplace Park

Brown University's Ivy League campus, dating back to the 1700s, features buildings from nearly every American architectural movement. Best to visit in May-September when school is largely out of session and weather is amenable to walking.

Though professional tours of the city are not offered, a book featuring 12 self-guided walking tours of the city's architecture is available for purchase at the Providence Preservation Society, 21 Meeting Street, ☏ +1 401 831-7440.

Streetscapes

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  • Benefit Street and College Hill - The tree-lined Benefit Street contains an outstanding collection of 18th and 19th-century houses and mansions. Additionally, a popular overlook of the Downtown Providence skyline and Rhode Island State House is available at Prospect Park on Prospect Street. Popular with visitors to the city, Benefit Street is also host to the seasonal Providence Ghost Walk (below under "do"), where one may see the ghost of poet Edgar Allan Poe, who was said to spend extended amounts of time in the city, strolling down Benefit.
  • Prospect Park on Congdon Street: This is great park to just go and chill out. It overlooks the entire city, in a relaxed way. It is very easy to waste hours there just laying on the lawn or hanging on the benches. It is very common to see weddings taking place here because it is an ideal Providence Park for such a thing. It is a great spot for having a picnic, playing frisbee with your friends, or simply spending some time alone to sort out your thoughts.
  • Federal Hill: This famous Providence area is located just west of downtown, and is quickly and easily accessible from downtown by walking, biking, or trolley ride. This area is known for its Italian heritage and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Some have even compared it to Little Italy in NYC. In 1994, the movie Federal Hill was filmed here. Showtime filmed its second season of their critically-acclaimed series Brotherhood in and around the Federal Hill area in 2007; a neighborhood referred to in the series as "The Hill", a fictitious Providence neighborhood representative of Federal Hill. There is plenty to do in Federal Hill, including shopping, dining, and nightlife. There are many nationally renowned Italian restaurants here, including Andino's, Old Canteen, and Cassarino's. There are also a number of retailers whose specialty is “Authentic Italian Food,” such as Venda Ravioli, Via Roma, and Tony's Colonial. Gasbarro's Wines is also located on Atwells and carries an extensive variety of wines, both local and international. Impressive bakeries and pastry/confection shops also in the Federal Hill area are Scialo Bakery, Pastiche, and Ocean State Chocolates. Running roughly parallel to Atwells Avenue is Broadway. Broadway has been referred to as the "Bellevue Avenue" of Providence due to the number of large Victorian mansions lining both sides of the street, in reference to the famous mansion-lined Bellevue Avenue of nearby Newport, Rhode Island.
  • The East Side- The East Side (not to be confused with East Providence) starts on the east side of Waterplace Park, encompassing College Hill and beyond. Within the East Side, lies the Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University. One of the oldest parts of the city, the East Side is home to historical houses and buildings and a plethora of unique areas including, the Blackstone District, College Hill District, and the India Point district. The East Side is great for walking around, visiting eclectic shops along famous Thayer Street, and viewing other parts of Providence from the East Side's Prospect Park, located on Congdon Street (between Benefit and Prospect).
  • Thomas Street - Between Benefit (to the east) and North Main (to the west).
  • Westminster Street - Between Memorial Boulevard (to the east) and Empire Street (to the west).
  • North & South Main Street - Between Planet Street (to the south) and Meeting Street (to the north)
  • Weybosset Street - Between Westminster (to the east) and Dorrance Street (to the west).

Parks

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Roger Williams Park

Roger Williams Park, in the southern part of the city, is an elaborately landscaped 427-acre park contains seven lakes and numerous museums and other attractions.

Waterplace Park, finished in 1994, is probably the most accepted recent addition to the city owing to its historic and unassuming look. Featuring cobblestone paths and unobtrusively shaped concrete form, the park follows Providence's downtown rivers quietly below the level of automobile traffic. You'll usually find a few people enjoying the park quietly. Come here during Waterfire (below under "do") to see the park at its best.

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.

Festivals

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  • The feast of St. Joseph, ☏ +1 770 421-9137. It is celebrated on Federal Hill in May. It is sponsored by the Holy Ghost Parish. 
Bunny on the street at Foo Fest 2009
  • “The Stroll” is a twice a year event, in June and October, where you can walk Federal Hill and sample 22 restaurants and 11 boutiques and shops. For hours and exact dates call the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau at ☏ +1 401 274-1636 extension 230 or 231, or register online. Included in the $20 price for sampling, are coupons for two free beverages.
  • Columbus Day is celebrated on Columbus Day Weekend on Federal Hill. It consists of a parade on Sunday, outdoor vendors, and a who’s who of Italian “hierarchy”.
  • Rhode Island Pride Occurs in the summer, usually in June. There are events in the daytime and then a parade at night. The parade lasts for about half an hour filled with dancing men, drag queens, old people driving in old cars, and people celebrating life. The streets of Downtown Providence are lined with some people in crazy outfits and others just there to watch and see what it's all about. It is a very popular event, and people tend to be intoxicated, so some pushing and bumping into people can occur. The floats are usually very well decorated and the people dancing upon them are very skilled at hyping up the crowd. When the parade finishes the gay bars downtown open up for special events complete with more drag queens, lots of dancing, and drink specials.

Arts and theater

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In Downtown, Providence Performing Arts Center is Rhode Island’s home for Broadway productions, children's shows, and popular entertainment. AS220 is a community art center hosting musical performances, poetry slams, and other events. Trinity Repertory Company produces numerous premiere plays.

Entertainment arenas

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Amica Mutual Pavilion is the site of many music venues and the home of the Providence Bruins and Stars on Ice. The Rhode Island Convention Center hosts many functions such as the Rhode Island Home Show. The Strand Ballroom specializes in live music performances. All these are centralized in the downtown area.

Nightlife

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Many nightclubs are located in Downtown, particularly along Richmond St.

  • Water Place Park, is connected to 3/4 mile of cobblestone-paved pedestrian walkways along the waterfront known as Riverwalk host to Providence's popular summertime Waterfire events, a series of bonfires lit on the river accompanied by Classical and World music. The Friday night concert series kicks off at Waterplace Park in June for free. This is a summer concert series for all Rhode Islanders featuring an eclectic array of performers ranging from jazz and folk to hip-hop and rock.

Learn

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Providence is home to many schools. The city is also home to a few notable colleges.

Westminster Street in downtown boasts much of the newest and most diverse local shopping in the city.

Thayer Street in College Hill is the place to go if looking for a pleasurable and eclectic shopping experience. You will almost always see an eclectic mix of people here. Many of the stores sell quirky trinkets which make good gifts. Located near two colleges, it attracts many young adults. It could be called an “artsy” street with stores that sell, imported clothing, handmade crafts, clothes, art, housewares, and books.

Providence Place Mall This landmark just north of the downtown sector can be witnessed as RI's most anticipated establishment since the building of the historic downtown Arcade; Providence may well be the only city in America where plunking down an enormous mall smack in the middle of downtown proved to be a great idea. The massive and well accommodating mall houses 3+ main floors of various shops, including a wide array of specialty items, clothing, shoes, books, and one IMAX and Showcase Cinemas theater each on the fourth floor. There are a handful of lower level restaurants to dine in as well as a food court on the third floor, and a Dave & Busters Restaurant on the fourth floor.

Shop the city Rhode Islanders can be quite secretive about the city's hidden treasures. Outside of the state's most frequented shop spots lie many other great opportunities to find that special item or to simply discover something new and exciting.

Providence has an abundance of ethnic cuisines, from Spanish to Moroccan to down home New England chowder.

Drink

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Cafes

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Nightlife

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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.

Sleep

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Most hotels are in Downtown.

Cope

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Smoking in bars, restaurants, and other businesses is prohibited.

Stay safe

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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. Another area to avoid at night is the Camp Street area of the East Side. There is some known gang activity and there has been some violent behavior in the past. Also, late nights on Federal Hill are a great place for drunken misbehavior, so exercise caution whilst in the bar and club area of this historic neighborhood.

As far as violent crime goes, it is best to avoid South Providence and the Olneyville neighborhoods of the city. There is little reason for most tourists to go to these locations, though the city's three main hospitals are relegated to the South Side. Olneyville's New York System was featured on Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate series, and while there are two other locations within driving distance of Providence (Rhode Island is the smallest state, after all), a quick visit here to get a few hot dogs will not result in a problem unless you decide to walk around the neighborhood a bit and it's 1:00 in the morning.

Consular services

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Go next

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Visit Newport, RI, Boston or New York.

Routes through Providence
New York City ← New London ←  SW  NE  → Westwood → Boston
New Haven ← South Kingstown ←  SW  NE  → Westwood → Boston
Boston ← Pawtucket ←  N  S  → Cranston → New Haven
Hartford ← Johnston ← ends ←  W  E  → East Providence → New Bedford
Worcester ← North Providence ←  N  S  → END
Boston ← Pawtucket ←  N  S  → Cranston → New Haven
Attleboro ← East Providence ←  N  S  → Cranston → Warwick
Hartford ← North Providence ←  W  E  → East Providence → Plymouth
Canton ← Attleboro ←  N  S  → Warwick → North Kingstown


This city travel guide to Providence is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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