Booking fee
The booking fee includes the costs of booking your tickets such as charges for payment processing. It also covers the provision of our customer care center for processing your order, and all charges imposed by our suppliers.
* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
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!
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Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Departure Point
Convention Center, Providence, RI, Providence, RI 02903, USA
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
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! 5 minutes
Federal Hill Heritage Exhibit, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
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. 5 minutes
Holy Ghost Church, Providence, Rhode Island, United States We'll approach the historic Holy Ghost Church and learn about the diverse communities it serves. 5 minutes
Luongo Square, Providence, RI, USA Next, we'll explore two small but historic squares -- Luongo and Canonicus. 5 minutes
310 Cranston St, Providence, RI 02907, 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. 5 minutes
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. 5 minutes
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"! 5 minutes
514 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909, USA This brings us to the extravagantly embellished “Wedding Cake” house which reflects the euphoric froth of new money. 5 minutes
AS220, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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". 5 minutes
Trinity Repertory Company, Providence, Rhode Island, United States This brings us to Tony Award-winning Trinity Rep, one of the last resident acting companies in the U.S. 5 minutes
Rhode Island State House, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Our journey continues to the Providence State House: one of the grandest statehouses in the U.S. belongs to the country's smallest state! 15 minutes
Providence City Hall, Providence, Rhode Island, United States This brings us to the Providence City Hall, made of cast iron and masonry. 5 minutes
Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, USA Then, we'll continue through Kennedy Plaza, Providence's transportation hub. 5 minutes
Waterplace Park, Memorial Blvd, Providence, RI 02903, USA We'll pass by Waterplace Park, which represents a vital part of early Providence history. 5 minutes
65 Weybosset St, Providence, RI 02903, USA We'll pass the unique Arcade, which features two slightly different facades. 5 minutes
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. 5 minutes
Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Our journey takes us past the vibrant Providence Performing Arts Center, innovative Wexford Science & Technology Building, and historic Doyle House. 5 minutes
Providence Children's Museum, Providence, Rhode Island, United States We'll also pass the eye-catching Providence Children's Museum - you definitely won't miss this! 5 minutes
John Brown House Museum, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
First Unitarian Church of Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
Providence Athenaeum, Providence, Rhode Island, United States We'll also see the Athenaeum, once frequented by Edgar Allen Poe. 5 minutes
The Stephen Hopkins House, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
Memorial Park, S Main St, Providence, RI 02903, USA This brings us to memorial park, featuring WWI, WWII, and Holocaust memorials. 5 minutes
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. 5 minutes
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
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. 5 minutes
Providence Art Club, Providence, Rhode Island, United States 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. 5 minutes
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.
5 minutes
Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Fittingly, we'll end the tour at Providence's historic Swan Point Cemetery. You've now covered every part of this historic city! 5 minutes
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.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
edhD8018GJ
04 Jul 2023
Wonderful experience. Amazing places to see. Old architecture. A must to see by a visitors like us from other state.
Aquilla_C
09 Jun 2023
Not as engaging as an in-person tour would be, but I did appreciate how there were 40 points of interest. The navigation didn't work on my android google maps (there was no "go to" feature) but we tried to make due with the suggested route on the map anyways.
690edgarm
20 Feb 2023
My family and I did the tour. It was great that we could plug it into the car audio and just go at our own pace as well as start and stop whenever you want. The problem was a few of the stops are too close and sometimes we couldn’t just stop so we didn’t always get the full info. You also have to contend with traffic. It’s also pretty long so we didn’t get to do the whole thing as we had very little kids in the car. All that being said, we plan on going back in a few months and maybe we’ll get to finish the tour then.
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
How great that you want to share your experience! Your feedback helps other travelers to make a better choice.