Things to do in Providence

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island, a compact, walkable city built around College Hill, home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), whose museum is open to the public. Federal Hill, the city's Italian district, sits a short walk from downtown.

From Boston, Amtrak and the MBTA Commuter Rail (Providence/Stoughton line) run direct from South Station or Back Bay in around an hour, so a car is not needed to see the centre on foot.

WaterFire, the city's fire-and-river event on the downtown waterways, runs on select evenings depending on the season; dates vary year to year, so check the official calendar rather than assuming a fixed schedule. Providence works as a day trip in any season, with summer and early autumn busiest for outdoor events.