Visit Providence RI | Find Hotels, Restaurants & Things to Do

AB Variation:

ChillPVD

Experience the warmth and charm of timeless New England holiday traditions, along with Providence's sophisticated arts, culinary and shopping scenes. Plus, Providence has plenty of indoor and outdoor fun throughout the winter.

Cheetah among the snow at the Zoo in winter

Three Nights of Lights
Dec. 5-7

This three-day festival returns to Providence with citywide events, all incorporating the theme of light. Enjoy an evening of WaterFire, multisensory installations and activations by FirstWorks and The Avenue Concept, tree lightings, holiday markets, music, a gingerbread breakfast and more!

FirstWorks Sound Sculpture Three Nights of Lights

Dinner & A Show

An impressive lineup of shows, concerts and events is headed to Providence this season, from holiday classics to A-list comedians. Pair your event tickets with dinner in the city and an overnight at a hotel to turn your night out into a getaway.

Providence Performing Arts Centre neon lights and street view

New Mobile Passes

Pick from one of three new tours and explore Providence. Each passport is packed with surprises and unforgettable experiences.

Things To Do

2024 WaterFire Dates Released

You can travel the globe and never find anything quite like WaterFire. A series of nearly 100 bonfires that seems to magically perch on the three rivers of downtown Providence, WaterFire is actually an art installation. Created by local artist and Brown grad Barnaby Evans, WaterFire has attracted…

Fall in Providence

During the fall season, Providence, RI is brimming with ways to stir up some fun.

The Providence River Pedestrian Bridge spanning the Providence River with the Providence skyline in the background.

WaterFire Providence

Providence's signature event is WaterFire, an award-winning fire sculpture installation on the three rivers in downtown Providence. Created by local artist Barnaby Evans, WaterFire has become a must-see for visitors.

Buy Local

Keep it local and support Rhode Island’s renowned restaurants, eclectic shops, stellar arts organizations and fun family attractions. Find great ideas for shopping, dining and things to do throughout the state.

Things To Do

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Places to Stay

Welcome to

Providence

Some of Providence’s greatest assets are its vibrant, thriving neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own distinct personality, unique history and welcoming community. Together, they have made Providence “America’s Coolest City” (GQ) and “America’s Favorite City” (Travel + Leisure). We invite you to get out and...

Downtown

The busy city streets of Washington, Westminster and Weybosset are central to downtown Providence and at the hub of commercial and retail growth. Notable companies call the city home, as do many restaurants, theaters and institutes for higher education, such as Johnson & Wales University and a campus of the University...

Federal Hill

Providence’s historic Federal Hill neighborhood spans iconic Atwells Avenue and the surrounding streets. Largely settled by Italian-American immigrants in the early 1900s, Federal Hill effuses a sense of warmth and community that embraces visitors and locals alike. While the neighborhood has evolved, the influence of...

College Hill & Benefit Street

The College Hill neighborhood is home to many historic and cultural sites and residences, as well as world-class educational institutions, such as the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Brown University. Filled with art and history, this iconic area has many treasures to visit.

West End

Providence’s West End includes the areas around Broadway, West Fountain Street and Luongo Square. This also includes part of Westminster Street, where the street moves away from the downtown business center and the landscape is a mix of residences and urban businesses. The commercial corridor along Westminster Street...

Thayer Street

Thayer Street, in the heart of the Brown University neighborhood, is a vibrant and constantly evolving area. With dozens of unique businesses, the neighborhood caters to the college crowd but is also beloved by academics and locals. Thayer consistently refreshes its offerings to stay current and engaging in the...

Wayland Square

The Wayland Square neighborhood runs along the edge of the Seekonk River. It boasts the charms of a classic New England neighborhood, with the conveniences of city living within close proximity. The area is rich in diversity, spanning all ages as college students, senior citizens, young couples and families all reside...

Hope Street / Summit

Community resonates in this neighborhood tucked on the East Side of Providence on a stretch of road aptly named Hope Street. Discover vibrant streets lined with historic houses and get a feel for why The Huffington Post named Providence one of the “Top 10 Most Walkable Cities.” Visitors and locals alike will be met...

Fox Point / Wickenden Street

Fox Point is a relaxed and walkable neighborhood with a diverse mix of college students, urban professionals and academics. The area has an eclectic, cool vibe. Old and new are juxtaposed, as vintage and modern meet, and shops and restaurants converge. This area played an important role in the development of Providence...

RiverWalk

Stroll along the area around the Providence River and discover a number of quaint shops and tantalizing restaurants, as well as historic monuments and landmarks of note. South Main Street offers a number of great options for browsing. The dining choices are plentiful and just one meal may help you understand why...

Jewelry & Innovation District

The iconic towers of the Narragansett Electric Company rise high above the Providence skyline illuminating the night sky with the glow of their red lights. They point towards a neighborhood that was once a thriving hub of jewelry manufacturing and is now poised to be a center of innovation. The “Jewelry District” has...

Broad Street

The Broad Street neighborhood is most notable for its international character, especially its distinctive concentration of markets, restaurants, and festivals that reflect the cultures of those who live there. The street itself is a vibrant commercial center filled with entertainment, food, and local small businesses....

Elmhurst & Mt. Pleasant

Visit Elmhurst and Mt. Pleasant and discover vibrant restaurants, delicious bakeries and many locally owned small businesses. These neighborhoods include many single- and multi-family homes, as well as the Rhode Island College campus.

Elmwood

Located directly off Interstate 95, the Elmwood neighborhood is an epicenter of multicultural activity in the city. On this stretch of road, there are more than a dozen different countries represented by neighborhood businesses and community organizations. Locals refer to the Elmwood area, which includes the South...

Silver Lake & Olneyville

Around the turn of the 20th century, communities of Italian immigrants settled these streets. Now home to a worldlier population, the Silver Lake, Olneyville and Valley Street neighborhoods merge, as flavors and cultures meld in this city area. Being spread out, this community is better traveled by car or explored by...

Smith Hill

The Smith Hill area, bordering downtown, is home to the august Rhode Island State House, one of the most impressive in the nation, as well as Providence College, a premier institution of higher education. Shopping is plentiful and residential areas range from modern apartment living in refurbished mill buildings to...

Family Fun

Educational and interesting, eclectic and entertaining, Providence has plenty of attractions, events...

Child with a magnifying glass at the Roger Williams Park Zoo

Events in Providence

No matter when you plan your visit, you will find something fun to do. From historic tours to WaterFire, performing arts to food festivals, and everything in between, there are events for every season.

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