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

Should you visit Providence or Pasadena?

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 Pasadena. 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. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Providence and Pasadena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Providence or Pasadena?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Pasadena than Providence. While Providence is larger than Pasadena, Pasadena has more sights and attractions for tourists. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl. It is also well known for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

How is Providence different from Pasadena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pasadena 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 Pasadena?

Pasadena is a great city 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 Pasadena. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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 Providence or Pasadena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Providence and Pasadena can be an enjoyable experience.

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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Pasadena makes for a great culinary experience. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Is Providence or Pasadena Better for Nightlife?

Pasadena is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Pasadena has something for everybody. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Providence or Pasadena?

Pasadena is a great city 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 Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

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

Is Providence or Pasadena Better for Families?

Both Providence and Pasadena are nice family-friendly destinations.

Providence offers lots of family activities. 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.

Pasadena is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Is Providence or Pasadena Better for Couples?

Providence and Pasadena both nice destinations for a couple.

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.

Pasadena is a nice destination for couples. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

Is Providence or Pasadena Better for Students?

Providence is notable for students. However, Pasadena 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.

Pasadena is not popular with students.

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

Providence and Pasadena both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Providence offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Pasadena has a few public transit options. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Is Providence or Pasadena a more walkable city?

Providence is notable for its ease of walking around. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its walkability.

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

Pasadena is somewhat walkable. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

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

Should I spend more time in Pasadena or Providence?

How long in Providence or Pasadena?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Providence and Pasadena. In our opinion, Pasadena has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Pasadena than Providence. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Providence, and 1-3 days is enough time in Pasadena.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pasadena than Providence 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 Pasadena.

One day in Providence or Pasadena?

The city of Providence offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Providence or Pasadena?

Providence is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Providence, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?

Providence is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?

Providence is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Pasadena 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 Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Providence and Pasadena, we can see that Providence is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Pasadena.

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

Which is Bigger, Providence or Pasadena?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Providence and Pasadena, 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 Providence or Pasadena?

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 Providence or Pasadena in the Summer?

Both Pasadena and Providence during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Providence because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.

Providence is around the same temperature as Pasadena in the summer. The daily temperature in Providence averages around 73°F (23°C) in July, and Pasadena fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Providence usually gets more rain in July than Pasadena. Providence gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Providence or Pasadena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Providence and Pasadena. The shopping scene are the main draw to Providence this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Pasadena for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Providence is much colder than Pasadena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Providence in October average around 53°F (12°C), and Pasadena averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In October, Providence usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Providence gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Providence or Pasadena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Providence as well as Pasadena. Many travelers come to Providence for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Pasadena in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Providence. In January, Providence is generally much colder than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in Providence average around 28°F (-2°C), and Pasadena fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Providence usually gets more rain in January than Pasadena. Providence gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Providence or Pasadena in the Spring?

Both Pasadena and Providence are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Providence is much colder than Pasadena in the spring. The daily temperature in Providence averages around 48°F (9°C) in April, and Pasadena fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In April, Providence usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Providence gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pasadena and Providence