Tours & Activities in Providence

Explore all of Providence from its beautiful architecture to its foodie havens on this self-guided driving audio tour.

Hunt for the ghosts of famous writers, doomed artists, and a strange founder on this history-packed haunted tour by US Ghost Adventures.

Join us for this elegant stroll through time! Allow our historically costumed, local guides to lead you down the most beautifully preserved street in all of Providence, RI- Benefit Street! Guests will learn the history of some of Providence's most prominent residents and families, including the Dorr family, Roger Williams, and the Hoppin family. See architectural icons including the John Brown House, the First Baptist Church, the Fleur de Lys Building, and the original State House. Learn about the events that shaped our state and nation, including the suffrage movements (yes, there were two!) and the Civil War. This tour will leave you feeling more connected to the city's past and with a greater appreciation for Providence. Benefit Street is a mostly flat street and is suitable for people of most levels of health and fitness.

Explore Rhode Island's capital city of Providence during this 1.5-hour bus tour. Your expert guide will show you around the historic city, highlighting interesting facts, landmarks, and areas throughout the tour.

Join the Providence River Boat Co. for a memorable cruise along the Providence waterways, paired with a sampling of crisp wines and refreshing Prosecco from Rhode Island's own Gooseneck Vineyards. Our limited series wine tastings with Gooseneck Vineyards include: - Several featured wines and Prosecco, with light food pairings. - A 60-minute cruise of the downtown Providence waterways. Throughout the cruise, our Captains will highlight nautical & historical points of interest while your Gooseneck Vineyards hostess will lead a casual, open discussion of their products. This is a fun & casual experience for wine enthusiasts of all levels! Sorry, passengers under 21 years of age are not permitted on this tour.

Explore Providence's must-see sights on this self-driving audio tour. See sights such as the Welcome Gateway, Lippitt House, and Barnaby Castle.

Enjoy a nautical adventure this Father’s Day as we celebrate Dad with our fun, family-friendly boat tours along the shores of downtown Providence! Join us for a narrated daytime tour or evening cruise throughout the Providence River, Riverwalk, Waterplace Park and the Providence Harbor, and create family memories to last a lifetime. Space is VERY limited with capacity at just (18) seats per tour, so book YOUR seats today!

Explore historic Rhode Island during this full-day guided bus tour. Discover the Ocean State and see historic towns, scenic islands, beaches, lighthouses, and mansions.

Avoid the stress of waiting for taxis or shuttle transfers and instead ensure peace of mind with this convenient private transfer from your hotel to the Providence TF Green Airport (PVD). This airport transportation service operates from Newport, Providence, Warwick, Smithfield, North Kingstown or Bristol accommodations. Reach the airport relaxed and with plenty of time before your flight!

Enjoy a food tour with a felonious twist. Come take a taste of Providence's Italian neighborhood while also learning about its historical characters who didn't always play by the rules.

Experience 300 years of architectural history as you cruise the Providence waterways! This 75-minute boat tour, led by the Providence Preservation Society, highlights the stories, sight lines, and subtle details that define Providence. From the most eye-catching landmarks on the city skyline to hidden architectural gems, you'll discover historic Providence from the best seat in town! A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Providence Preservation Society.

Discover Providence while playing a fun murder mystery game on your phone, or from the comfort of home!

Step into the shoes of a newly-minted detective, tasked by Commander Mahoney to solve a gripping case... murder on the streets of Providence. During this crime solving audio adventure, you'll visit each of the 10 locations marked on the map, either in person or virtually via the web version (included). You'll have the choice to experience the downtown area with the walking map, or go with a driving route on the outskirts of the city. *see images for exact routes You'll park or stop at each location, listen to the audio story and put your detective skills to the test by gathering clues and piecing together the evidence. At the end, you'll make your deductions and issue an arrest warrant. Your all around detective skills will be tested too, culminating in a Case Performance Score to gauge your sleuthing prowess. Suitable for solo detectives, dynamic duos, or groups of mystery enthusiasts, this game will have you immersed in an audio tale full of intrigue.

Discover Providence's beauty in all its forms. Admire Providence's architecture and murals while learning about how art catalyzed the city's turnaround from urban decay to a regional arts center.

Join guide David Robinson, Director of the MA Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources, for a 75-minute exploration of the Providence waterways & Green Jacket Shoal at Bold Point, deemed “Rhode Island’s largest ship graveyard!" Bold Point, located in East Providence, RI, had once hosted the Providence Dry Dock & Marine Railway Company, a shipyard that repaired and maintained vessels in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Its floating dry dock was the first on Narragansett Bay and was used, along with two marine railways, to haul ships out of the water for repairs and service. The vessels off Bold Point were abandoned there “at the end of their working lives.’’ Many were likely transported to the company’s yard from within Providence Harbor, stripped of their valuable machinery and hardware—engines, boilers, paddle wheels, whistles, clocks, navigational instruments, rigging gear, bells, chairs and even chandeliers—and then moved a short distance to Green Jacket Shoal to rest in peace.

Solve clues, tackle wacky tasks, and explore your city’s uncovered gems in a scavenger hunt and create a fun, unique experience for your team bonding event, or milestone celebration.

Our company has been a member of the Providence community for nearly two decades. Our company is a walking, haunted history tour of Providence's College Hill neighborhood. Our guides lead guests by lantern light as we explore the history, mystery, legends, and lore of our city. Learn about different types of hauntings, our spirits' most current activities, and the dark tales that have been forgotten over time. Our tour is a wonderful blend of history and mystery, perfect for believers and skeptics alike! The tour includes a portion of College Hill. We have chosen the most walkable route, but it is indeed a hill and our streets are old. Please wear shoes that are comfortable and stable. It is also outdoors, so be sure to dress for the weather.

Join this 3-hour small-group food tour to savor 6+ food tastings in one of America's top food cities with a professional guide. Sip on alcoholic beverages (if option selected) at select locations. Explore this historic capital city's architecture while listening to fascinating stories about the history and view the art and culture as you walk through the Downcity Arts District. Tour is limited to a maximum of 14 people to ensure personalized service and includes a guide offering recommendations for you to further explore on your own.  

Whether you’re a RI native, traveling with family, or visiting for work, our tours are designed to appeal to everyone. Join us in 2023 for our award-winning narrated tour as we celebrate our 32nd season along the shores of Providence! Together, we will explore the Providence River, Riverwalk, Waterplace Park, the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier and the Providence Industrial Harbor as our Captains highlight historical, nautical and architectural points of interest. Statewide Best Local Tour – Best of Rhode Island 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 Mary J. Brennan Tourism Award – RI Hospitality Assoc., 2022 Best City Tour – Yankee Magazine, 2017 Member of the Year – Providence/Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2016 Top-Rated/Certificates of Excellence – TripAdvisor, Yelp & Google, yearly Please note: We are a small, family-owned business with limited capacity on our boats. Because we are often sold-out and turn business away, ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Make sure you can attend prior to booking.

We want to show what’s great about the Ocean State! If you would like to experience the culture, cuisine, scenery, and story of America’s smallest state in one amazing day with an expert guide, then this is the tour for you. Only 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, Rhode Island is full of big surprises! As we take you on this enlightening journey, you will enjoy the things that make Rhode Island so attractive and unique. Beginning in our capital city and traveling by tour bus around our beautiful Bay, you will take in breathtaking views, and learn what this state has contributed to America. On this trip you will visit the things Rhode Island is most known for including picturesque beaches, colonial architecture and history, lighthouses, islands, quintessential New England towns, and stunning mansions. Going from Providence to Newport, and exploring many beautiful towns in between, this tour will show you Rhode Island in a Day!

The story of Providence is told by its buildings. Our city's downtown blossomed during America's Gilded Age, and has well-preserved examples of Art-Deco, Beaux-Arts, Neoclassical, and many more architectural styles. But this tour goes beyond bricks and windows: peer into the past by learning some of the human stories behind the facades. This tour also explores the city's vibrant arts and cultural scene, a key ingredient of its dramatic turnaround from mid-century urban decay to regional arts center. Experience and learn the inspiration for Providence's most breathtaking murals: these massive works weave into the city’s visual landscape for a result unparalleled anywhere in the United States.

WaterFire® is a work of art that involves movement, participation and surprise. Wood boats stoke the fires, rivers flow quietly beneath the braziers, sparks whirl through the night air & flames reflect off the dark surface of the water, animating the architectural fabric of our capital city. Come aboard our open-air vessels and enjoy a relaxing 30-minute cruise throughout the burning braziers that dot the Providence River from Waterplace Park to Crawford Street. Our US Coast Guard licensed Captains will expertly guide you along the entire installation for unparalleled views of this remarkable and unique award-winning experience! WaterFire is a rain or shine event. If they light the fires, our rides will run as scheduled.

A food tour with a felonious twist! The Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence is one of its hottest destinations, home to some of the best Italian food in the world. This tour will give you a smorgasbord of its best bites and drinks, from fine wines to house made pasta. Come hungry! Every guest will also get a memento from their time on the Hill to take home with them. Spoiler alert: it's delicious! The Hill was also home to some historic characters who dabbled on the wrong side of the law. Follow the intrigue of State v. Patriarca, when a future mayor took on a mob boss; learn about the corruption which brought Rhode Island's banking system to its knees in the '90s, and about a raid on an illegal dice game that sent a Providence Police Officer through a second-story window. Guests under 21 will not be served alcohol on this tour.

Join us for this delightful tour of one of America’s favorite cities! As you relax comfortably on our climate-controlled tour bus, we will take you to the most exciting neighborhoods in Rhode Island’s capital city, and tell you the story of this special place and its most famous citizens. From America’s first hero to the mafia to the mayor, this city is filled with intriguing tales. As we travel from College Hill to Federal Hill, and Brown University to the State House, you will admire the loveliest settings in the city, and discover places you will want to go back to and explore on your own. Along the way, there will be opportunities for you to get out, take pictures, and see things up close. Enjoyed by all ages, get ready for one of the most enjoyable tours you have ever taken!

Bathed in the serenity of a softer light, the city's architecture, picturesque bridges and cobblestone walkways take on a whole new life beneath the setting sun. Climb aboard and wind down with a selection of complimentary wine and Prosecco from RI's own Gooseneck Vineyards while you experience unparalleled views of the evening skies! We're taking "date night" to new depths in 2024...join us! Additional Info: - This is an evening cruise ONLY. There is NO NARRATION offered during this boat ride. - This tour is ages 16+ - Not a wine drinker? You may BYOB in a small cooler. Please note: We are a small, family-owned business with limited capacity on our boats. Because we are often sold-out and turn business away, ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Make sure you can attend prior to booking.

WaterFire® is a work of art that involves movement, participation and surprise. It is full of motion—wood boats stoke the fires, rivers flow quietly beneath the burning braziers, sparks whirl through the night air, and flickering flames reflect off the dark surface of the water, animating the architectural fabric of the city. These boat rides include a 50-minute evening cruise along the Providence waterways, with the added bonus of a partial WaterFire lighting. Join us for unparalleled views of the fires from the best seat in town! You may BYOB in a small cooler if you'd like. All ages are welcome but everyone in your party must have a ticket to board, including infants.

Enjoy the spooky side of Providence history as we cruise with our guest guides from the Providence Ghost Tours! Surrounded by the moonlit bridges, cobblestone walkways and century-old architecture of downtown Providence, you will hear stories of our capital city’s “dearly-deceased-but-not-so-departed” residents; local literary giants and humble servants alike; their restless souls still stirring among the living. Climb aboard…they’ve been waiting for you! Appropriate for ages 10+ You may BYOB on all of our tours.

Come on our chilling ghost tour presented by US Ghost Adventures! Are you prepared to explore Providence's ghosts on a tour of the historic city of Rhode Island? Get ready to expose this abandoned colonial settlement's evil side. Discover the frightening explanations for why Revolutionary War troops, politicians, conspirators, and famous macabre authors still spook along the old streets of the capital of Rhode Island.

Let’s Roam is the #1 app-led scavenger hunt company. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Work with your team or compete against them, as you learn new facts and create memorable experiences. Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts are great as an everyday activity, or for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, corporate team building events and more! Each player chooses an interactive role, with challenges varying by person.

Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Explore all that Providence, RI has to offer, from beautiful architecture to foodie havens! With this self-guided driving audio tour, visit historic Federal Hill, Brown University's campus, and the vibrant downtown. Providence features beautiful architecture, like the State House, Barnaby Castle, and the Wedding Cake House. This tour allows you to explore Providence with maximum flexibility and value. After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there. This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit. New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!