A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bar Harbor vs. Providence for Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Bar Harbor or Providence?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bar Harbor and Providence can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a picturesque, relaxed, and quaint coastal town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the shopping, food, and beaches.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bar Harbor and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bar Harbor than Providence, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bar Harbor is better known for its resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Providence is more popular for its museums and nightlife. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Providence and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Also, Bar Harbor is famous for Acadia National Park. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Bar Harbor different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Bar Harbor. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Providence is a city with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bar Harbor or Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Bar Harbor and Providence.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Bar Harbor makes for a great culinary experience. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Providence has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Providence is a city with good options for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Providence is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a few great resort options. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Providence is not a resort destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for the beach. However, Providence is not a beach destination.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Providence is not a beach destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for hiking. However, Providence is not a hiking destination.

Bar Harbor offers some nice hiking trails. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Providence is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for its shopping areas. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Providence is a great destination for shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Families?

Both Bar Harbor and Providence are notable to visit with kids.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Providence is a family-friendly coastal town. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for couples. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town if you're traveling as a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is a well-known place for students. However, Bar Harbor is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Providence. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Bar Harbor is not popular with students.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Providence is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for times when you don't have a car.

Providence has a few public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Is Bar Harbor or Providence a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor and Providence both are very good when exploring on foot.

Bar Harbor is very walkable. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

Providence is a very walkable coastal town. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting? and Is Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Bar Harbor?

How long in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bar Harbor and Providence. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Providence. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bar Harbor, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Providence. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bar Harbor that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence than Bar Harbor if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Providence.

One day in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Bar Harbor might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and nightlife around the active city of Providence, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Even though Bar Harbor is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal town.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Providence, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Bar Harbor, a popular coastal town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Providence, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Bar Harbor or Providence?

Bar Harbor is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Providence is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Bar Harbor and Providence, we can see that Providence is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bar Harbor Expensive? and Is Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Bar Harbor and Providence, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Bar Harbor or Providence?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Providence in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bar Harbor as well as Providence. The beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Providence for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bar Harbor is generally cooler than Providence. Daily temperatures in Bar Harbor average around 69°F (21°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Bar Harbor usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Bar Harbor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Providence in the Autumn?

Both Providence and Bar Harbor are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Providence in the autumn for the shopping scene.

Bar Harbor is cooler than Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bar Harbor averages around 48°F (9°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In October, Bar Harbor usually receives around the same amount of rain as Providence. Bar Harbor gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence and Bar Harbor during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bar Harbor in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Providence for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Providence can be very cold during winter. Bar Harbor can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Bar Harbor is much colder than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bar Harbor in January average around 18°F (-8°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

Bar Harbor usually gets less rain in January than Providence. Bar Harbor gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Bar Harbor or Providence in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bar Harbor and Providence. Most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Bar Harbor is generally much colder than Providence. Daily temperatures in Bar Harbor average around 43°F (6°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, Bar Harbor usually receives less rain than Providence. Bar Harbor gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Providence and Bar Harbor