2 to 3 hours (Approx.)

Mobile Ticket

Instant Confirmation

Overview

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!

Description

Stop At: Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Our Providence adventure sets off from the Convention Center downtown! We first head into the historic Federal Hill area -- home to both history and the city's best restaurants.

Note: This 11+mile-long tour covers the essentials of Providence in 1-2 hours.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Garibaldi Square, 99 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI 02903, USA

We enter through the Welcome Gateway, featuring the iconic pineapple. We'll learn about how this neighborhood grew & changed over the years -- including the infamous Macaroni Riots and the secret of the Coin-O-Matic!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Federal Hill Heritage Exhibit, 286 Atwells Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

As World War I was breaking out, food prices spiked. A mob attacked wholesale grocer Frank P. Ventrone’s business block here, smashing windows and hurling macaroni into the street. Commonly known as the “Macaroni Riots,” five violent clashes over two weeks manifested the desperation of Providence’s immigrant working poor.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: De Pasquale Square, De Pasquale Square, Providence, RI 02903, USA

Our journey takes us past Providence's DePasquale Square and we'll learn about this "beating heart" of Federal Hill.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Holy Ghost Church, 472 Atwells Ave, Providence, Rhode Island 02909

We'll approach the historic Holy Ghost Church and learn about the diverse communities it serves.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Luongo Square, Luongo Square, Providence, RI, USA

Next, we'll explore two small but historic squares -- Luongo and Canonicus.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Cranston Street Armory, 310 Cranston St, Providence, RI 02909, USA

This brings us to one of the most beautiful stops on our tour! The yellow-brick, copper-crenelated Cranston Street Armory is one of the most monumental structures in Providence.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Dexter Training Ground, Parade St & Willow St, Providence, RI 02909, USA

Our journey continues past the Dexter Training Ground. Here we'll learn about the Dorr Rebellion, Ebenezer Knight Dexter, and more.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Barnaby Castle, 299 Broadway, Providence, RI 02903, USA

We'll also pass the eclectic Barnaby Castle and learn about the unique visionary behind it's design. This is Providence's only "castle"!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Wedding Cake House, 514 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909, USA

This brings us to the extravagantly embellished “Wedding Cake” house which reflects the euphoric froth of new money.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: AS220, 115 Empire St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Next, we'll see AS220, an arts organization that grew from a single room to three buildings and helped define Providence as "The Creative Capital".

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

This brings us to Tony Award-winning Trinity Rep, one of the last resident acting companies in the U.S.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Our journey continues to the Providence State House: one of the grandest statehouses in the U.S. belongs to the country's smallest state!

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Providence City Hall, Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

This brings us to the Providence City Hall, made of cast iron and masonry.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Kennedy Plaza, Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, USA

Then, we'll continue through Kennedy Plaza, Providence's transportation hub.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Waterplace Park, Memorial Blvd, Providence, RI 02903, USA

We'll pass by Waterplace Park, which represents a vital part of early Providence history.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: The Arcade Providence, 65 Weybosset St, Providence, RI 02903, USA

We'll pass the unique Arcade, which features two slightly different facades.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Grace Episcopal Church, 300 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02903, USA

Among the banks and businesses of bustling Westminster Street, we'll see Grace Episcopal Church. Its bells ring every day on the half-hour... since 1861.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Our journey takes us past the vibrant Providence Performing Arts Center, innovative Wexford Science & Technology Building, and historic Doyle House.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Providence Children's Museum, 100 South St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

We'll also pass the eye-catching Providence Children's Museum - you definitely won't miss this!

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: John Brown House Museum, 52 Power St, Providence, Rhode Island 02906

Success, ambition, and glamour dominate Benefit Street. We'll see John Brown's house next. The Brown family became wealthy from the shipping business, which included privateering, the Triangular Slave Trade, and the China Trade.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: First Unitarian Church of Providence, 1 Benevolent St, at Benefit St., Providence, Rhode Island 02906

This brings us to the Providence First Unitarian Church, a Federal-style building with classical arches and urns combined with soaring pointed Gothic-style windows with delicate tracery decoration.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Providence Athenaeum, 251 Benefit St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

We'll also see the Athenaeum, once frequented by Edgar Allen Poe.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: The Stephen Hopkins House, 15 Hopkins St, Corner of Benefit & George Sts., Providence, Rhode Island 02903

We'll also see the Hopkins House. Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence, a ten-time governor of RI, and Chief Justice of the RI Supreme Court bought this house in 1743.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Memorial Park, S Main St, Providence, RI 02903, USA

This brings us to memorial park, featuring WWI, WWII, and Holocaust memorials.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: RISD Museum, 20 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903, USA

We're now near RISD, the Rhode Island School of Design. This acclaimed school also features a truly unique museum.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Brown University, 1 Prospect St, Providence, Rhode Island 02912

Our journey brings us to the peaceful greenery of Brown University's campus! We can admire this Ivy League's quaint architecture as we drive by.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Lippitt House Museum, 199 Hope St, Providence, RI 02906, USA

This brings us to the Lippitt House. Textile merchant Henry Lippitt, his wife, and his six children lived in this opulent Italian Renaissance Revival house. It was a testament to the burgeoning wealth of industrial Providence.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Providence Art Club, 11 Thomas St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Providence’s tightly-knit community of artists and collectors created this art club to congregate, create and display art. It’s the second oldest art club in the country; the Salmagundi Club in New York City is the first.

Among the founders was Edward Mitchell Bannister, a celebrated African American landscape painter.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Providence Preservation Society, 24 Meeting St, Providence, RI 02903, USA

The progressive idea of promoting education to all in support of a free society was at the heart of this old brick schoolhouse. By 1800, Rhode Island had one of the earliest public education systems, housed in this building.

In its long history as host to innovative educational initiatives, it served as a school for African American students, an early fresh air school for children suffering from tuberculosis, and site of the Meeting Street School, a pioneering organization for children of all mental and physical abilities.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Swan Point Cemetery, 585 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, Rhode Island 02906

Fittingly, we'll end the tour at Providence's historic Swan Point Cemetery. You've now covered every part of this historic city!

Duration: 5 minutes

Schedule

What's Included

What To Bring

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio.
Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.