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

Should you visit Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg is a well-preserved, historic, and charming town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Williamsburg and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Williamsburg or Providence?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Williamsburg. Although Williamsburg and Providence are popular destinations, Williamsburg has more sights and attractions for tourists. Williamsburg is very popular for its museums, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Providence attracts visitors for its nightlife. Williamsburg is more touristy than Providence and is popular for its historic and colonial charm, its award winning amusement parks, and its historical reenactments. It is also well known for Colonial Williamsburg. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Williamsburg different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg is like a living museum with reenactments and historic buildings that date back to the colonial days. In addition to the historic area, there are folk art museums and other historic sights in the area.

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 Williamsburg or Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Williamsburg and Providence both to be excellent destinations.

Dining out in Williamsburg is an experience not to be missed. Head to Historic Williamsburg if you want to try some colonial classics. There are historic taverns that maintain their old world charm and serve dishes such as peanut soup and stewed beef. Around town you'll also find casual restaurants with pizza, macaroni and cheese, and burgers.

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.

Is Williamsburg or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Providence is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Williamsburg is a town with minimal options for nightlife.

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.

Williamsburg doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Despite its student population, there isn't much of a nightlife scene in town. There are restaurants where you can enjoy fine wine or cocktails, but nightclubs and bars are limited.

Is Williamsburg or Providence Better for its Old Town?

Williamsburg is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. However, Providence does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Williamsburg offers plenty to see. Colonial Williamsburg is an impressively maintained area with museums, shops, and taverns. There are live reenactments of historic events as well as blacksmiths, wig shops, and carriage rides. You can wander around without a ticket, but for access to many parts of the historic area you'll need to purchase a pass.

Providence does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Williamsburg or Providence?

Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg. Charming shops both in the historic area and just outside sell unique items that reflect the city's past. There are souvenirs, food items, cookbooks, and home decor to choose from.

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

Is Williamsburg or Providence Better for Families?

Williamsburg is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Williamsburg is very family-friendly. Older kids will appreciate the history in the area. For kids of all ages there are a number of amusement parks and water parks such as Great Wolf Lodge, Busch Gardens, and the award winning Water Country USA.

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 Williamsburg or Providence Better for Couples?

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

Williamsburg is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Historic Williamsburg is filled with inns and charming restaurants that make this a beautiful destination for couples. There are quaint restaurants that serve colonial food and interesting southern shops with unique trinkets. You can also wander around the campus of William and Mary College.

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 Williamsburg or Providence Better for Students?

Williamsburg is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Williamsburg is a very popular place to visit for students. The College of William and Mary has a beautiful campus and students enjoy the charming atmosphere with colonial architecture around town. There are also good restaurants and a great collegiate vibe.

Providence is a very popular town 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.

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

Providence is a good destination for its public transit. However, Williamsburg is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Providence, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Williamsburg. There are buses around town, and they offer access to Historic Williamsburg, but for most places you'll need to have your own car.

Is Williamsburg or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is a great destination for its ease of walking around. However, Williamsburg is a town with minimal options for its walkability.

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

Williamsburg is generally not a very walkable town. Historic Williamsburg and the neighborhoods around the College of William and Mary are all walkable, but if you plan to visit the amusement parks then you'll absolutely need a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Providence or Williamsburg?

How long in Williamsburg or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Williamsburg and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Williamsburg than in Providence. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Williamsburg, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg.

One day in Williamsburg or Providence?

With museums and food around the quaint town of Williamsburg, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Providence, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this fascinating city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Williamsburg or Providence?

With food and shopping around the destination of Williamsburg, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Williamsburg or Providence?

Williamsburg, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Providence. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Williamsburg or Providence?

Williamsburg 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 to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Williamsburg or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Williamsburg. When comparing the sizes of Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg or Providence in the Summer?

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

Williamsburg is a little warmer than Providence in the summer. The daily temperature in Williamsburg averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Williamsburg. In the summer, Williamsburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Williamsburg gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Williamsburg. Williamsburg usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Williamsburg gets 4.7 inches (120 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Williamsburg or Providence in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Williamsburg and Providence. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Williamsburg this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Providence for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Williamsburg is a little warmer than Providence. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Williamsburg in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Providence averages at about 53°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In Williamsburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Williamsburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Providence during autumn. Williamsburg gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Williamsburg usually receives less rain than Providence. Williamsburg gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Williamsburg or Providence in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Williamsburg as well as Providence. Many travelers come to Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg. In January, Williamsburg is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Williamsburg average around 38°F (4°C), and Providence fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Williamsburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Williamsburg gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun.

Williamsburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Providence. Williamsburg gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Williamsburg or Providence in the Spring?

Both Providence and Williamsburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Williamsburg in the spring for the natural beauty.

Williamsburg is much warmer than Providence in the spring. The daily temperature in Williamsburg averages around 57°F (14°C) in April, and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

It's quite sunny in Providence. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Williamsburg. Williamsburg usually receives more sunshine than Providence during spring. Williamsburg gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Williamsburg usually receives less rain than Providence. Williamsburg gets 3 inches (76 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Providence and Williamsburg