Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Providence?

Q: Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Providence?

Since it's a good-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Providence. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great food and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the shopping, local culture, and scenery by staying for a weekend.

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Providence?

Many travelers spend two to three days in Providence during their visit. After all, the friendly city has plenty to explore such as the restaurant scene, the famous sights and museums, and the nightlife scene.

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island and home to Brown University. There are several great outdoor parks as well as museums and art exhibits in town. During the summer months the city hosts many festivals and events and there are often concerts or activities that visitors can enjoy.

Do you have one or two days to visit Providence? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Providence?

Providence is a great place to visit if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. It has some interesting activities and attractions. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the friendly city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the city even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.

How to spend a day in Providence

Don't miss WaterFire during your trip to Providence, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. 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.

A few tour suggestions include:

Downcity Providence Food Tour ($89)

Providence is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Providence?

Since it's a good-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Providence. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great food and fun museums and landmarks, visitors can enjoy the shopping, local culture, and scenery by staying for a weekend.

Providence, RI

How to spend 2 days in Providence

With a weekend (two to three days) in Providence, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. 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.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. 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.

The public transit in Providence is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Providence, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.