Best Walking Tours in Providence RI 2023

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Greetings, Internet Stranger, and welcome to the best walking tours in Providence RI. My name is Stella Jane, and I’m the author of the travel self help book, Get Lost. I’m excited to introduce you to Providence today because it’s one of the cities that I know the best.

I actually lived in Providence for four years, when I went to college. (Providence is a great college city.) I like to go back every once in a while, check out new restaurants, and do tourist things, which of course includes the best walking tours in Providence RI.

Allow me to share all the knowledge about the best walking tours in Providence RI that I have picked up with you!

Best Walking Tours in Providence RI

1) Walking and Bus Tour

I know that some people are not aware of Providence’s charms as a tourist destination. That’s why I’m so happy that there are multiple tour companies that will take you around the city and show you what a lovely place it is. excellent walking and bus tour.

I know this is a list of the best walking tours in Providence RI, but there’s actually a big walking tour component to this bus tour, so I believe it counts.

You can go ahead and book this tour by clicking here.

This tour lasts for 90 minutes, and it packs as much Providence into one morning or afternoon as any reasonable person could possibly want. Our guide was a local who also went to college in Providence, so we became fast friends.

I don’t want to spoil all his secrets, but I will share some of my favorite things that we saw on this bus/walking tour.

The most walking you’ll get on the tour is when the tour stops in Federal Hill, and you’ll be given some time to walk around. Federal Hill is Providence’s Little Italy, and the PVD has a large Italian population, so this is a can’t miss neighborhood.

Your guide will show you his favorite places to stop on Federal Hill, and then you can choose where you want to spend your time. I strongly suggest getting sfogliatelle at Scialo Brothers Bakery, which is more than a century old. I was impressed to hear that they make the sfogliatelle fresh here.

These pastries are difficult to make because they are so flaky. As good as the flaky crust is, I like the filling even better, especially the ones that are stuffed with sweet ricotta cheese. Just be polite and don’t bring them back to the bus to eat because you’ll get crumbs everywhere.

Also, I am not quite sure how to pronounce sfogliatelle. I’m sure the bakers will be nice and not expect you to pronounce it perfectly.

On this part of the tour, you’ll learn about the history of the Mafia in Providence. This building above used to be the headquarters of the Patriarca family. I gather that Raymond Patriarca was like the John Gotti of Providence. Like Gotti, he now sleeps with the fishes.

You might not know this, but Providence was actually the third biggest Mob city in the country. (I’m going to assume that the two biggest were New York and Chicago. That means that Providence was once bigger than Boston and Las Vegas! I don’t know whether to be impressed or sad.)

OK, time to talk colleges and universities. For such a small state, Rhode Island more than pulls its weight when it comes to higher ed, and most of those schools are in Providence. Why, in the PVD alone, there’s RISD, which stands for the Rhode Island School of Design, the Friars at Providence College, Rhode Island College, which is a state school, and Johnson and Wales, which is one of the best culinary and hospitality schools in the US.

I went to Brown University, and even though I didn’t LOVE my college, experience, I think Brown is a very pretty campus, and it’s fun to explore because there are so many cute and quirky stories about the place.

In my photo above, you can see the Van Wickle Gates. Brown students are supposed to go through these gates twice and only twice. The first time is when you arrive on campus, and the second is when you graduate.

I only went through once because my mom was sick, so I couldn’t attend graduation. (They just mailed me my diploma instead.) I hope this doesn’t mean that I am cursed for eternity! TBH, my life seems pretty swell, with all the traveling for a living, so any Brown students out there don’t need to worry if you don’t go through the gates exactly twice.

Even better than the Van Wickle Gates is the Carrie Tower, especially if you like romance. This tower is dedicated to Carrie Brown, who was a great-granddaughter of one of the Browns who founded this school. This tower was paid for by her widower, who was so bereaved when she died that he wanted to create something beautiful in her memory.

If you look at the bottom of the tower, you can see that “Love is strong as death” is written at the bottom. I can’t agree with that because love is stronger than death.

I do have one complaint about these dancing Brown students. I think their outfits are a little strange. Are the kids really wrapping themselves in tin foil these days?

There’s tons of other wonderful sights that you will see on this tour, but here are a few of my favorites. Your guide will take you past the big performing arts center in Providence, which is a popular spot for everyone who loves music. Its official name is the Dunkin Donuts Center, but if you call it that, everyone will know you are a tourist. Locals all call it The Dunk.

The most famous building in Providence is the Providence Biltmore Hotel. It has since been taken over by a new company and renamed the Graduate, but they kept the Biltmore sign, which is the iconic symbol of the Providence landscape, so I feel confident that I am allowed to call it the Biltmore.

The Biltmore is special to me because it’s the reason I came to Brown. Mom and I were doing the college tours, and we got lost in a winter storm and couldn’t find the Holiday Inn. We stopped at the Biltmore to ask for directions, and the young man behind the front desk, a Johnson and Wales student, promised us that he would undercut the Holiday Inn if we would stay there instead. We had a great time!

There are some more gruesome stories about the Biltmore that date back to the 1920s and Prohibition. The worst I heard was that a Cardinal was accused of murdering a child prostitute at this hotel, which I’m pretty sure is the worst thing that I have ever heard.

The final spot you’ll see on this tour is Burnside Park. It was named after General Burnside, who fought for the Union during the Civil War. (He married a Rhode Island girl and they moved to Providence.) Burnside is most famous for inventing the sideburns. That might sound like I’m trying to be funny, but it’s extremely serious.

John F Kennedy also gave a famous speech in this park. However, most people in Providence remember this park because it’s where Providence’s charming outdoor skating rink is located. I loved coming here on winter days as a college student.

Mayor Buddy Cianci created the rink because he wanted it to rival Rockefeller Center in New York City. It is in no way as impressive, but still tons of fun!

24 Hour Tip

Well, that’s all the secrets of the tour you’re going to get out of me! If you want to learn the rest,

Check tour rates and availability by clicking here.

2) Providence Food Tour

I’m a big believer that food tours are the best kind of walking tour. After all, on a food tour, you get tons of walking, but you also get to experience local cuisine. And because you are sharing the dishes with the other people on the tour, you get to try much more food than you would be able to experience on your own.

That why I say that the Providence food tour is one of the best walking tours in Providence RI. On this tour, you’ll be able to taste some of Providence’s most delicious food and explore the city by foot while you do it.

Check rates and availability of this tour by going here!

The food included on the door will vary depending on the day. However, you’ll be able to experience at least six different foods on the tour. You’ll go from casual eateries to fine dining restaurants, which will be a great opportunity to explore the amazing variety of food available in Providence.

You can also choose an alcoholic beverage upgrade, only if you are of age of course. But I suggest doing that because it makes the tour more fun! If you’re a vegetarian, you can also get vegetarian options, but be sure to let them know that before the tour.

I think you’re going to love seeing all the wonders that the Providence food scene has to offer!

Go ahead and book this tour for yourself by going here!

3) Classic Providence Walking Tour

Up next, we have the most traditional walking tour, of all the ones that I am presenting to you. There is no food. There are no buses. There aren’t even any ghosts. (More about these ghosts later.)

However, a classic is a classic for a reason, and sometimes a relaxing historical walking tour is exactly what hits the spot. Providence isn’t quite as cute as Boston, but there’s still plenty to see here.

Check rates and availability of this tour by going here.

On this walking tour, you’ll be able to see the government buildings like City Hall and the Rhode Island State House. (Remember that Providence is the capital city of Rhode Island, our smallest state.) You’ll also learn about Providence’s amazing history of religious tolerance and see the first Baptist church in America.

You’ll also learn about Roger Williams, arguably the founder of Rhode Island, who is a big reason for Rhode Island’s history of religious tolerance. But you’ll also learn about some more frivolous Providence attractions, like Waterfire and the Providence Place Mall. The tour lasts about an hour and forty five minutes, which is the perfect amount of time for one of the best walking tours in Providence RI.

Go ahead and book this tour by going right here!

4) Providence Ghost Tour

Providence might not be the first city you think of when you think of haunted American cities. I’ve been to ghost tours in New Orleans, Savannah, Philadelphia, and even Mystic, Connecticut, but I never thought of going on a ghost tour in Providence before.

However, Providence is a colonial city, which means there’s tons of history which means dead people which means GHOSTS! And this is the only ghost tour I know of in Providence, which is why I say it’s one of the best walking tours in Providence RI.

Check rates and availability of this tour by going here.

You’ll definitely see the famous Fleur de Lys studio in my photo above while you are on the tour. However, I did you a favor and am sharing a photo of this building during the day time because my night time photos are all blurry.

The famously creepy writer HP Lovecraft used this building in the short story “The Call of Cthulhu”. That alone is enough to make Providence a famously spooky city. But you’ll learn many other tales of spookiness while you’re on one of the best walking tours in Providence RI

Go ahead and book this tour by clicking here.

Best Walking Tours in Providence RI

Where to Stay?

Providence is a hip college town in many ways, so why not spend your day of the best walking tours in Providence RI at a groovy boutique hotel like the Dean Hotel? There are adorable furnishings in the room, a great cafe for coffee and pastry in the morning, and a terrific restaurant called North in case it’s pouring rain in Providence (very likely) and you don’t feel like going out for dinner.

If that’s not enough for you, know that the Dean Hotel is within walking distance of basically everything you’d want to do in Providence like the Providence Place Mall and the RISD Museum. Finally, it’s located in a historic brick building that was…probably a brothel at one point. THERE! I think I’ve provided something to please everyone. It’s a great base for finding the best walking tours in Providence RI

If you’re looking for great deals on this hotel, click here.

And if you’d rather explore great deals on other hotels in Providence, click here.

This search engine will help you find the most affordable and convenient hotel during your day with the best walking tours in Providence RI. With hundreds of options to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find something for your schedule and budget.

best walking tours in Providence RI

Shopping List

• An excellent small cell charger so you can keep taking pictures of the best walking tours in Providence RI
• My favorite guide to New England, including Providence
• These great TSA approved clear toiletries bags, so I can always keep spare toothpaste and travel sized toiletries in any carry-on
• The most reliable travel umbrella that is small enough to fit in my purse, but strong enough to stand up to powerful winds
• My book Get Lost, that I wrote myself with all my best travel tips. This book will show you how travel can take you on a journey of self-discovery.

That’s the best walking tours in Providence RI

What do you think are the best walking tours in Providence RI? Please email me at stellajane@aroundtheworldin24hours.com and let me know!

Note: If you want to know how I put my travel itineraries together, just click here. Keep in mind that while each article is about how to spend 24 hours in a place, that doesn’t mean you should ONLY have one day with the best walking tours in Providence RI.

Add on a day of the best Mystic Seaport things to do. Find the best things to do in Mystic CT. You can try 24 hours in Providence. Let’s go for the top things to do in Providence RI. Get to know the best Boston places to visit. You can also try 24 hours in Boston. Find the best historical tours in Boston.