Things to Do
Our recommendations for the best activities around Providence!
Visit the RISD Museum
Walkable from DowntownArt & Culture
Established in 1877 as part of a vibrant creative community, the RISD Museum stewards works of art representing diverse cultures from ancient times to the present.
The museum's collection currently contains more than 100,000 works of art and design dating from ancient times to today including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, costume and textiles, and furniture from all over the world. Of these objects, 1,735 of them are on view in the Museum now, 84,308 of them are available online, and there are 1,370 recent acquisitions.
Explore Wickenden Street & India Point Park
Walkable from DowntownFood • Shops • Views
Visit the Children’s Museum
Walkable from DowntownArt & Culture
Always a guarantee of a fun time, explore play-oriented exhibit design, with rotating exhibitions, open to children of all ages.
Explore College Hill
Walkable from DowntownFood • Views • Historical Markers
Explore around RISD, enjoy the stunning citywide views from Prospect Park, grab a coffee & sandwich at Cafe Choklad or a burger at Harry's. Check out the self-guided historic walking tours to learn about Providence's unique history as you exlore. Dip into the Providence Athaneum to explore a historic and unique library full of special treats and beautiful architecture.
If you're up for a steep incline walk, follow the hill up through RISD and into Brown's campus. Near Brown, you'll find Thayer Street, filled with small shops, food options, and lovely pockets to explore.
Schedule a Ghost Tour
Walkable from Downtown
History • Tours
Explore the dark side of Rhode Island's history with a guided Ghost tour around the East Side. Let the guides lead you by lantern light in the footsteps of Providence’s dearly-deceased-but-not-so-departed residents. Keep your eyes open to see who lurks in the shadows of the streetlamps and enjoy the most unique view our city has to offer.
Explore Blackstone Boulevard
Car or Rideshare Required (5min)
Food • Shops • Walking • Views
If you're looking for a beautiful, easy walk that can fill a morning, we recommend this one. With lots of excellent breakfast, lunch, and coffee options (see Wildflour, Cafe Zooey, and Garden Grille), Blackstone Boulevard is a guarantee of a pleasant walk. Visit the Lippit Park Farmers Market, walk around the beautiful, hsitoric Swan Point Cemetery, or just stick to the walking path for an easy stroll.
Visit Roger Williams Park, including the Botanical Center and the Zoo
Car or Rideshare Required (15min)
Parks • Botany • Zoo
Roger Williams Park is an elaborately landscaped 427-acre city park in Providence, Rhode Island and a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park is named after Roger Williams, the founder of the city of Providence and the primary founder of the state of Rhode Island.
The park boasts stunning walking paths, a full conservation zoo, our city's botanical center, and plenty of other activities.