A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Mystic vs. Providence for Attractions, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Mystic or Providence?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mystic and Providence. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Mystic

Mystic is a laid back, charming, and quaint town. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Mystic and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mystic or Providence?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Mystic than Providence, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Mystic is better known for its museums, beaches, and shopping, while Providence is more popular for its food. Mystic is more touristy than Providence and is known for its New England charm and local character. Also, Mystic is famous for the Mystic Seaport Museum. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Mystic different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Mystic or Providence?

Mystic is a great town for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Mystic. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

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.

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

Providence is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Mystic is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Providence. 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.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Is Mystic or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Both Mystic and Providence have notable vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Mystic. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

Providence has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Is Mystic or Providence Better for Beaches?

Mystic is a great town for the beach. However, Providence is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Mystic for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Providence is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Mystic or Providence?

Mystic is a great 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 Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

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

Is Mystic or Providence Better for Families?

Mystic is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Mystic. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Mystic or Providence Better for Couples?

Mystic and Providence both notable destinations for a couple.

Mystic is a nice destination for couples. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Providence makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Mystic or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Mystic is not popular with students.

Many students visit 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.

Mystic is not popular with students.

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

Providence is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Mystic or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

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

Mystic is generally not very walkable. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

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

Should I spend more time in Providence or Mystic?

How long in Mystic or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mystic and Providence. In our opinion, Providence has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Providence than Mystic. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence than Mystic 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 Mystic or Providence?

With museums and nightlife around the laid back town of Mystic, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Providence. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Mystic or Providence?

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

Providence is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Mystic or Providence?

Mystic, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Providence. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Mystic or Providence?

Mystic 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fascinating destination of Providence. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.

When comparing the travel costs between Mystic and Providence, we can see that Mystic 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 Mystic Expensive? and Is Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mystic or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Mystic 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 Mystic or Providence?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Mystic or Providence in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Mystic and Providence. The summer months attract visitors to Mystic because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Providence this time of year.

In July, Mystic is generally around the same temperature as Providence. Daily temperatures in Mystic average around 73°F (23°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mystic usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Providence during summer. Mystic gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Mystic usually receives around the same amount of rain as Providence. Mystic gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Mystic or Providence in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Mystic as well as Providence. The shopping scene are the main draw to Mystic this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Providence for the shopping scene.

Mystic is around the same temperature as Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mystic averages around 53°F (12°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic this time of the year. In the autumn, Mystic often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Mystic gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Providence. Mystic gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mystic or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence and Mystic are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Mystic for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Providence in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Providence can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Mystic. In the winter, Mystic is around the same temperature as Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mystic in January average around 28°F (-2°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

Mystic usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Providence during winter. Mystic gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Mystic usually receives around the same amount of rain as Providence. Mystic gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Mystic or Providence in the Spring?

Both Providence and Mystic during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Mystic in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Mystic is generally around the same temperature as Providence. Daily temperatures in Mystic average around 48°F (9°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mystic. In the spring, Mystic often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Mystic gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun.

Mystic usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Providence. Mystic gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Providence and Mystic