Location: Providence
Top Things to do in Providence
Top 10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Providence, Rhode Island (RI)
Years of careful urban planning and meticulous restoration have rendered this former rum and molasses trading town one of the best places to live in the United States, star of an eponymous television show and a swell place to spend a weekend. Historic sites, wonderful museums and theaters seamlessly blend with newer attractions on the block including a modern mega-mall, scenic Riverwalk, outdoor skating arena, convention center, plus new hotels and restaurants. The Roger Williams Zoo, with its updated Tropical Rainforest Building where "spunky monkeys" roam free in a constructed jungle-like environment, remains one of the city's top attractions and offers hours of entertainment for children and adults alike. Wander back in time on Benefit Street, where eminent Federal period homes recall the city's wealthy past. For a modern experience, check out the more than 100 stores at Providence Place. Or tantalize your taste buds on "The Hill," a historic area that boasts many award- winning restaurants, from the Italian and Mediterranean cuisine for which "Little Italy" got its name, to Caribbean, Mexican, Chinese, seafood and baked goods. For a different perspective, take a romantic river cruise on an authentic Venetian gondola. No matter what your vantage point, Providence sparkles.
Restaurants in Providence
1. Experience Rhode Island Tours & Transportation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 434 reviews
Our mission is to help you enjoy life by giving you exceptional tour and transportation experiences.
2. The Rhode Island Brew Bus
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 135 reviews
The Rhode Island Brew Bus provides all-inclusive brewery tours across the state of Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut! We have multiple tour offerings in different parts of RI. Tickets are available online on our website. Test your knowledge and learn with us as we play games and talk beer on the bus! Each tour visits multiple stops that include tours and tastings.
3. Providence Art Club
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
This is said to be the oldest art club in the nation, designed to foster an appreciation for local arts.
4. The Stephen Hopkins House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 114 reviews
TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Take a tour of the 1707 home of Declaration-signer Stephen Hopkins, his family and their slaves, eight rooms full of antiques, Hopkins heirlooms and 18th century atmosphere. Learn about Rhode Island's own Founding Father and his house, the city's oldest, moved twice but virtually unmodernized, where George Washington was a guest in 1776 & 1781. Relax in our parterre garden designed by Alden Hopkins of Williamsburg. We're on Benefit Street between the John Brown House and First Baptist Church, a block from the RISD Museum, the Providence Athenaeum, the Brown campus and spectacular WaterFire. Open all year, Wednesdays 11AM to 2PM, April though November, Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM, and year-round by appointment *** til 10 PM when it falls on FULL lightings of WaterFire (last tour at 9:30)*** Not 12/26th Tour highlights available in Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and soon French!
Reviewed By garygDC
This is a 1700s house with lots of history that has been well preserved with love and attention to detail. Some of the contents are original and some period pieces added for context. The former are carefully ID'd. We got an excellent tour from Dan, who permitted us to come into the middle of one, which he then completed for us. Chris also added additional color and commentary in the kitchen, where we dawdled and chatted about history and its relationship to current events (read between the lines). We learned a lot about local history and enjoyed the architecture and contents. Very well done. I would say a 'must see'.
5. The Vets
6. Escape Rhode Island
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 150 reviews
Escape the room! Your team will have 60 minutes to escape a scenario by solving a series of puzzles that will challenge your mind and confound your senses.
Reviewed By B8309ARchristopherd
My groomsmen and other friends needed something to do before my wedding later that evening and came across Escape Rhode Island. We got there and Libby was fantastic and helpful. We enjoyed the bunker room a whole lot and the puzzles were an excellent way to work together with everyone. We were successful and Libby did such a great job celebrating our victory taking pictures and such. We would definitely recommend it as we are mostly beginners but enjoy a good puzzle. Again Libby took such great care of us and couldn’t say enough nice things. Thank you!
7. The Great Escape Room
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 285 reviews
The Great Escape Room is a real-life room escape game. Escape games are the newest craze sweeping the nation – a fun, team-building, brain-busting experience! The door is locked behind you and 60 minutes are on the clock! You must work together in order to find clues and solve puzzles that will lead you to your escape. Only about 20% of groups are able to meet the challenge and escape in time!
Reviewed By 978coltonm - Houston, United States
My son and I traveled from Texas and we did two rooms tonight. Our game master was great and we really enjoyed our time there. We liked the Escape Artist the best but the Presidential room was good as well. Thank you for a great time!
8. Rhode Island Red Food Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 122 reviews
A guided Food Tour visiting at least 6 food-tasting locations in the Downcity Arts District Neighborhood. Between bites and sips, you’ll get an insider’s view of the "hot" modern day culinary landscape, where food, art & history collide in a very walkable, scenic, small city. Discover Providence’s epicurean favorites, hidden murals, art, speakeasies & local festivals found in the Creative Capital.
9. Base Station VR Lounge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Base Station VR Lounge is Providence and Rhode Island’s first dedicated Virtual Reality Arcade/Lounge. Whether you’re looking to relax and spend time in the Arizona sunshine shooting zombies or create virtual artwork that fills a room sized canvas in 3D, we’ve got the space for you! Base Station VR Lounge has several room scale spaces, all approximately 8’x8′ which allows for movement in the space
Reviewed By Travel02886 - Warwick, United States
We've been here several times with our grandsons and it is always a blast! The equipment is well maintained and clean. Nidal is amazing dealing with everyone's questions, instructions, changing games, etc. It is the one thing the kids ask to do when they come to stay with us. My husband loves it too! It's easy to do and fun even for a non-gamer like me! We love the new Johnston location! Can't wait to go back!!
10. Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 946 reviews
This innovative and internationally renowned museum showcases more than 80,000 works of art from Paul Revere's silver and caricatures of 18th century Europe, to French Impressionists and the avant-garde works of recent alumni. A 12th-century Japanese Buddha has its own room with benches for meditating.
Reviewed By margatemensch2016 - Coconut Creek, United States
Recently,I returned to Providence and the delighful RIsd Art Museum.I devoted my day to studying its quality European paintings and sculpture.I did not see everything in this art museum that has a broad range of Art.Old Master personal favorites were Spinello Aretino's"Saint Anthony Abbott Enthroned",Jacopo di Cione's"Taking of Saint Peter",Giusseppe Cesari's"Perseus and Andromeda".Aert de Gelder's"Esther and Mordecai",Francisco Collantes'"Hagar and Ishmael".Marinus Van Reymerswaele's"Money Changers",and Giovanni Pannini's"Colliseum".19th Century favorites were Jean Victor Bertin's"Tivoli",Edouard Manet's"Repose",Claude Monet's"Bassin At Argentieul"(awesome French Impressionism),Carolus Duran's"Portrait of Manet",and Edgard Degas'"La Savoissiene".I also savored the fine Gothic and Renaissance Period sculptural works that were on display such as Ivory Diptych from 13th Century France depicting Nativity and Crucifixion,and Tillman Riemenschneider's "Pieta",among others..Kudos to a fine art museum in historic Providence.
