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

Should you visit Providence or Boise?

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 Providence and Boise. 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.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Providence and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Providence or Boise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Providence than Boise. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. It is also well known for WaterFire. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Providence different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Boise and Providence.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Providence. 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.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

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

Providence is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Providence has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Providence or Boise Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Providence and Boise.

If you're looking for night time activities Providence has a few options to choose from. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is the Shopping Better in Providence or Boise?

If you're looking to go shopping, Providence and Boise both offer plenty of nice spots.

Providence has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Boise is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Providence or Boise Better for Families?

Providence is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Providence is a family-friendly city. 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.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Providence or Boise Better for Couples?

Providence is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Providence is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Providence or Boise Better for Students?

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

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. 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.

Boise is not popular with students.

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

Providence is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Boise 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 generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Providence or Boise a more walkable city?

Providence is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Boise is lacking in options for its walkability.

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

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Boise or Providence?

How long in Providence or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Providence or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Providence than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Providence, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

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

In Providence, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this fascinating destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With museums and nightlife around the authentic city of Boise, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Boise, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Providence or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Providence. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Boise, 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 Providence or Boise?

Providence is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Providence. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Boise, 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 Providence or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the friendly destination of Providence. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Boise 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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Providence and Boise, we can see that Providence is more expensive. And not only is Boise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boise and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence than you might in Boise.

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

Which is Bigger, Providence or Boise?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 22% larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Providence and Boise, 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.