Location: Providence
Top Things to do in Providence
What to do and see in Providence, Rhode Island (RI): The Best Things to do Good for Big Groups
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 River Boat Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 474 reviews
Climb aboard one of our open-air, 18 passenger vessels and discover the historic and contemporary milestones of the Providence waterways on our 50-minute narrated tours! Explore the Providence River, Riverwalk, Waterplace Park and the Providence Harbor, as we highlight historical, nautical and architectural points of interest. On WaterFire evenings, we offer unparalleled views of this award-winning artistic installation from sunset to midnight. We are celebrating our 29th season this year, and were recently named as RI Monthly's Best of Rhode Island "Best Local Tour" (2018), the "Best City Tour" by Yankee Magazine (2017), "Member of the Year" by the Providence Convention & Visitors Bureau (2016) and have received "Certificates of Excellence" from TripAdvisor in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019. Walk-ups are always welcome, but are not guaranteed, so please make a reservation prior to your arrival. We hope to see you aboard soon!
4. The Vets
5. 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!
6. 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!
7. 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.
8. 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!!
9. 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.
10. Rhode Island State House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 404 reviews
This imposing marble building houses King Charles' 1663 charter of the Rhode Island colony.
Reviewed By Decaf7
Take the half hour free guided tour, worth your time. See the House and Senate chambers, the library, portraits of former governors, portrait of George Washington painted by our very own Gilbert Stuart and learn about the history of this beautiful building. Dome is a beautiful piece of architecture.
