Providence, Rhode Island United States
Providence is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and it carries its history lightly. The capital of Rhode Island fits a walkable downtown, a celebrated food scene, and two of the country’s best art and design schools into a compact area you can cross on foot. The Providence River runs through the centre, and on select evenings from spring through autumn the WaterFire installation lines it with braziers of burning wood, drawing crowds along the riverwalk. Federal Hill, the Italian neighbourhood along Atwells Avenue, anchors the dining scene with long-standing red-sauce restaurants, bakeries, and espresso bars. Across the water on College Hill sit Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, whose RISD Museum holds one of the finest art collections in New England, with Benefit Street and its preserved colonial houses running alongside. The city’s culinary reputation owes much to Johnson and Wales, one of the largest culinary schools in the country, and the food punches well above the city’s size. Boston is under an hour away by train, which makes Providence easy to add to a wider New England trip.
- WaterFire - The signature Providence event, bonfires set along the downtown rivers on select evenings from spring to autumn, with music and large crowds on the riverwalk.
- Federal Hill - The Italian quarter along Atwells Avenue, the densest concentration of restaurants, bakeries, and cafes in the city.
- College Hill and the RISD Museum - Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design sit on the east bank, where the RISD Museum holds one of the best art collections in New England and Benefit Street preserves a row of colonial houses.
- Roger Williams Park - A large Victorian park south of downtown with a well-regarded zoo, a botanical centre, and boating, good for a half-day away from sessions.
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) is about 10 miles south of downtown in Warwick, roughly 15 minutes by car and linked to the city by MBTA commuter rail and RIPTA bus. Boston Logan International (BOS) is about an hour north and serves many more international routes, reachable from Providence by frequent MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak via Boston.
Downtown Providence is compact and easy to walk, with most hotels, restaurants, and the convention district within about a 15-minute walk of each other. RIPTA runs the local buses and a route to the airport. Providence Station, the downtown rail hub, links to T.F. Green airport and to Boston by MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak. Rideshare is plentiful for hops out to Federal Hill or College Hill.
Late spring and early autumn are the most pleasant times to visit, with mild temperatures and the WaterFire season running. May, when many conferences are scheduled, is one of the best months in the city. Summers are warm and humid, and winters are cold with regular snow between December and February.
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1 upcoming conference in Providence, Rhode Island
Our picks in Providence, Rhode Island
A curated selection of hotels chosen for location, value, and fit for conference travellers.
Aloft Providence Downtown
191 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
A modern, design-forward hotel with a lively lobby bar, popular with a younger crowd, on the southern edge of downtown. A good...
Courtyard by Marriott Providence Downtown
32 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903, USA
A dependable mid-range Marriott on Waterplace Park, overlooking the river basin where WaterFire is held, a few minutes’ walk from the convention...
Graduate by Hilton Providence
11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
A grand historic hotel in the former Providence Biltmore with a playful university theme, a lobby bar, and a rooftop event space,...
Hampton Inn & Suites Providence Downtown
58 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
A reliable value hotel in a converted 1920s bank building with free hot breakfast and free WiFi, a few blocks from the...
Hilton Providence
21 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI 02903, USA
A full-service hotel with an indoor pool and on-site dining at the foot of Federal Hill, just across the highway from downtown....
Homewood Suites by Hilton Providence Downtown
5 Exchange Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
An all-suite hotel with in-room kitchens and free breakfast, right by the convention center. Good value for longer stays or for two...
Omni Providence
1 West Exchange Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
The 564-room conference hotel itself, connected by skybridge to the Rhode Island Convention Center, with an indoor pool, a fitness center, and...
Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel
5 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Set in a dramatic 1920s former Masonic Temple near the State House, this full-service Marriott pairs historic architecture with modern rooms and...
The Beatrice
90 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Providence’s top-rated luxury boutique, a 47-room property in a restored historic building with the well-regarded Bellini restaurant and a rooftop bar. The...
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