Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island and has a population of around 190,000 people. The city is founded in 1636, making it one of the oldest cities in New England. It is home of Brown University, an Ivy League university and one of the best in the country. I would recommend staying for 1 full day.

Downtown

The downtown area is compact and easily walkable on foot. The city also appeared pretty clean. You should visit the Providence Athenaeum, a library established in 1836. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture any photos of that place. If you’re hungry, I highly recommend Geoff’s Superlative Sandwiches. They serve some delicious sandwiches.

Woonasquatucket River
Woonasquatucket River
View at downtown from Brown campus
View at downtown from Brown campus

Rhode Island State House

If you’re already in downtown, make sure to visit the Rhode Island State House. You can freely enter the building and explore it at your own pace. Most of the rooms are open to the public, and the exterior and interior of the building reminded me of the Capitol in Washington, DC, just in smaller. In fact, I enjoyed the Rhode Island State House more than the Capitol because you don’t have to book a guided tour.

Rhode Island State House from outside
Rhode Island State House from outside
House chamber
House chamber
Senate chamber
Senate chamber
Rotunda at the entrance
Rotunda at the entrance
State Library
State Library

Brown University

I think the most charming part of the city is the College Hill area, home to Brown University. The majority of the buildings there are constructed from bricks and have a beautiful aesthetic. I highly recommend taking an hour to stroll around and to look at the architecture of the buildings.

Statue at the campus
Statue at the campus
Sculpture at the campus
Sculpture at the campus
Another statue at the campus...
Another statue at the campus...
A nice looking gate!
A nice looking gate!

RSID Museum

The Rhode Island School of Design Museum, or short RSID Museum, houses a diverse collection of fine art and design from various parts of the globe. It’s definitely worth visiting, especially since admission is free on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Thursdays from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. As of 2025, the regular admission ticket is priced at $22, which reasonable given the museum’s size. You should definitely visit the museum!

Artwork from Alejandro Diaz
Artwork from Alejandro Diaz
Painting from Van Gogh
Painting from Van Gogh
A cool looking Samovar
A cool looking Samovar
Big Lapis lazuli stone
Big Lapis lazuli stone

Conclusion

Before visiting Providence, I had no idea what to expect. During my winter break, I was traveling across cities in New England while studying in Massachusetts. However, when I arrived in Providence, I was pleasantly surprised by the stunning College Hill and the exceptionally clean and walkable city center. If you ever find yourself in New England, make sure to check out Providence. It’s an amazing underrated place!