Providence
A lively small city with a strong food and art scene.
Points of interest
- College Hill
- RISD Museum
- Federal Hill
- WaterFire
State guide
Things to do in Rhode Island
The smallest state in the USA, with Newport's Gilded Age mansions and sailing, Providence's food and art scene, WaterFire nights on the river and the beaches and bluffs of Block Island.
2–3
Days to do it properly
The Ocean State
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, and you can drive across it in under an hour. It is called the Ocean State for good reason: Narragansett Bay cuts deep into it, and it has around 650 km of coastline, with beaches, harbours and islands.
Providence, the capital, is a lively small city with Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, one of the best food scenes in New England for its size, and WaterFire, when bonfires are lit on the river on summer nights. Newport, on Aquidneck Island, was the summer playground of America's richest families in the late 19th century, and their enormous mansions line the Cliff Walk above the sea. It is also one of the sailing capitals of the world.
Give Rhode Island two or three days, or combine it with Boston, an hour away. Summer is the season for the beaches, Newport and Block Island, and late spring and early autumn are quieter and pleasant.
Where to base yourself
Providence for value and nightlife, Newport for the coast.
Newport
Gilded Age mansions and one of the sailing capitals of the world.
Points of interest
- Cliff Walk
- The Breakers
- Ocean Drive
- Harbour sailing
Block Island
An island of beaches and bluffs, by ferry from the mainland.
Points of interest
- Mohegan Bluffs
- Southeast Lighthouse
- Cycling
Regions of Rhode Island
Providence in the north, Newport and the bay in the middle, and beaches along the south coast.
Providence
City, food, studentsThe capital, with universities, food and WaterFire.
Newport and the Bay
Mansions, sailingAquidneck Island and the islands of Narragansett Bay.
South County
BeachesBeaches at Narragansett, Charlestown and Watch Hill.
Block Island
Island, cycling, bluffsA car-light island of beaches and cliffs, by ferry.
Things to do
Things to do in Rhode Island
In Providence, walk College Hill's historic streets and visit the RISD Museum. Eat on Federal Hill, the city's Italian neighbourhood, and if you are there on a WaterFire night, walk along the river as the braziers burn to music.
In Newport, walk the Cliff Walk, a coastal path of around 5.5 km with the mansions on one side and the ocean on the other, and tour The Breakers, the grandest of the mansions. Drive Ocean Drive, take a sailing trip on the harbour, and visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Take the ferry to Block Island for cycling, beaches and the bluffs at Mohegan. The south coast has beaches at Narragansett and Watch Hill, a pretty village with a carousel and a lighthouse.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The Cliff Walk in Newport is free, and so is Ocean Drive. WaterFire in Providence is free to watch.
Providence's College Hill and riverwalk are free to wander, and the RISD Museum has free times.
State beaches charge for parking in summer.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Rhode Island has its own food culture. Try clam cakes and chowder (the clear-broth Rhode Island version), stuffed quahogs, and calamari fried with peppers, the official state appetiser. Coffee milk is the state drink, and Del's frozen lemonade is a summer classic.
Providence's Federal Hill is full of Italian restaurants, and Johnson & Wales University's culinary school helps keep the city's food scene strong.
Oysters from the bay are excellent.
Nightlife
Going out
Providence has bars, live music and clubs, with a student crowd from Brown and RISD. Newport's waterfront pubs are lively in summer, especially with sailors.
Block Island has a few bars that fill up on summer weekends.
Outside summer, Newport is quieter.
Getting around
Getting around
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is near Providence, with trains to Providence and Boston. Amtrak stops in Providence on the way between Boston and New York, and MBTA commuter trains run to Boston.
RIPTA buses link Providence and Newport, and seasonal ferries run between them. Ferries to Block Island leave from Point Judith year-round and from Newport in summer.
A car is useful for the south coast beaches.
Costs
What Rhode Island costs
Rhode Island is expensive, especially Newport and Block Island in summer, where accommodation books up months ahead. Providence is cheaper.
Sales tax is 7 per cent, and meals carry an extra 1 per cent. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
Mansion tours and ferries are the main extras.
Safety
Safety and scams
Rhode Island is safe. Take normal city care in Providence at night.
Parts of the Cliff Walk are rocky and uneven, with steep drops, so wear good shoes and stay on the path. Swim at beaches with lifeguards.
Health insurance is essential in the USA. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Music festivals, sailing and fire on the water.
Late July
Newport Folk Festival
Fort Adams, Newport
One of the most famous folk festivals in the world.
Early August
Newport Jazz Festival
Fort Adams, Newport
A historic jazz festival on the water.
Selected evenings, spring to autumn
WaterFire
Providence
Bonfires on the river, with music.
When to go
Summer is the season for the beaches, sailing and Block Island. Late May, June and September are quieter and pleasant. Winter is cold and quiet.
Jan
Cold
Feb
Cold
Mar
Cool
Apr
Spring
May
Pleasant
Jun
Summer begins
Jul
Peak season, festivals
Aug
Peak season
Sep
Warm, quieter
Oct
Autumn
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Festive
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Providence, rounded.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Providence prices.
Treat these as a guide. Newport and Block Island cost more in summer.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Rhode Island questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Rhode Island?
Two or three, for Providence and Newport, or more with Block Island.
Can I visit Rhode Island from Boston?
Yes. Providence is around an hour away by train.
Is the Cliff Walk free?
Yes. It is a public coastal path of around 5.5 km.
How do I get to Block Island?
By ferry from Point Judith all year, or from Newport in summer.
When is the best time to visit Rhode Island?
June to September, with fewer crowds in June and September.
What is WaterFire?
Bonfires lit on the rivers in Providence on selected evenings, with music. It is free.
Is Rhode Island expensive?
Newport and Block Island are expensive in summer. Providence is better value.
Also trending this week
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare hostels across Rhode Island and New England: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.