A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Nantucket vs. Providence for Food, Couples, Families, and Attractions

Should you visit Nantucket or Providence?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Nantucket and Providence can help you decide which place is right for you.

Nantucket

Nantucket is a upscale, charming, and serene island. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. With stunning beauty, Nantucket attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Nantucket travel costs.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Providence travel costs.

Nantucket and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nantucket or Providence?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Nantucket than Providence, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Nantucket is more touristy than Providence and is known for its pristine beaches, upscale atmosphere, and history of whaling. Also, Nantucket is famous for Great Point Lighthouse. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Nantucket different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Nantucket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Nantucket or Providence?

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Nantucket or Providence.

Nantucket is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several museums around town that educate visitors on the island's whaling history and maritime past.

Providence offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

Is the Food Better in Nantucket or Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Nantucket is an unbeatable place for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Nantucket, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Upscale eateries where you can look out on the water make dining on this island a true experience. There are raw bars, seafood restaurants, and local cafes with elaborate salads and duck carnitas. Dishes usually use the highest quality fresh ingredients and chefs bring their "A game" with every customer.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Providence makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Nantucket and Providence.

If you're looking for night time activities Nantucket has a few options to choose from. You'll find a number of bars and a lively singles scene in town. There's also live music and a laid back but active atmosphere in the evening.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Resorts?

Nantucket is a great island for its luxury resorts. However, Providence is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Nantucket to choose from. Luxury resorts and upscale inns offer guests a relaxed setting with oceanfront views and family-friendly activities.

Providence is not a resort destination.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Beaches?

Nantucket is a great island for the beach. However, Providence is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Nantucket for it's beautiful beaches. You'll find the calmest water at the northern beaches, and cooler water with rougher surf to the south. Many of the beaches are accessible from town, but parking can be limited. There are both public and private beaches, each with beautiful settings and relaxing vibes.

Providence is not a beach destination.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for its Old Town?

Nantucket is a great island for its historic old town charm. However, Providence does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Nantucket. The Historic District is filled with New England charm, cobblestone streets, and upscale boutiques. There are many great restaurants and a lot of historic character.

Providence does not have a historic old town.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Hiking?

Nantucket is a great island for hiking. However, Providence is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Nantucket for the hiking trails. The island is easy to explore on foot, and its covered with hiking trails that follow the serene coastline or take you through forests, bogs, and marshland.

Providence is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nantucket or Providence?

Nantucket is a great island for its shopping areas. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Nantucket. The Historic District is filled with boutiques, art galleries, and upscale shops. It's the perfect place to spend an afternoon wandering around and shopping.

Providence is a great destination for shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Nantucket or Providence More Beautiful?

Nantucket is a great island for its scenery and beauty. However, Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Nantucket attracts visitors from all around. Natural beauty and charming character make this a picturesque destination.

Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Families?

Nantucket is a great island for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Nantucket. There's a calm beach that's perfect for kids as well as quaint ice cream shops and plenty of New England charm. The town is also filled with hiking and biking trails.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Couples?

Nantucket is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Nantucket is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The New England charm, natural beauty, and relaxing coastal atmosphere make this a perfect romantic destination. There are also many romantic places to stay and great local restaurants.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Nantucket is not popular with students.

Providence is very popular with students. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Nantucket is not popular with students.

Is Nantucket or Providence Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Nantucket and Providence both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Nantucket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttle buses around the island that operate with greater frequency during the summer months.

Providence has a few public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Is Nantucket or Providence a more walkable city?

Nantucket and Providence are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Nantucket is very walkable. The town is very walkable and parking can be challenging, so it's best to leave your car in the ferry parking lot.

Providence is a very walkable island. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Nantucket Worth Visiting? and Is Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Nantucket?

How long in Nantucket or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nantucket and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Nantucket than in Providence. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Nantucket, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

Families should spend more time in Nantucket than Providence. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Nantucket, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Nantucket than Providence. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Nantucket that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Nantucket than Providence if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Nantucket.

One day in Nantucket or Providence?

Nantucket might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Providence. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Nantucket or Providence?

Even though Nantucket is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this island.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the fascinating destination of Providence. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Nantucket or Providence?

Nantucket, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active city of Providence. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Nantucket or Providence?

Nantucket is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Providence is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nantucket and Providence, we can see that Nantucket is more expensive. And not only is Providence much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Providence would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Providence and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Nantucket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nantucket than you might in Providence.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nantucket Expensive? and Is Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Nantucket or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nantucket. When comparing the sizes of Nantucket and Providence, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Nantucket or Providence?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Nantucket or Providence in the Summer?

Both Providence and Nantucket are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Nantucket in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Providence for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Nantucket is generally cooler than Providence. Daily temperatures in Nantucket average around 68°F (20°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

In July, Nantucket usually receives more rain than Providence. Nantucket gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Nantucket or Providence in the Autumn?

Both Providence and Nantucket during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Nantucket for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Providence because of the shopping scene.

Nantucket is around the same temperature as Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nantucket averages around 53°F (12°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nantucket. Nantucket usually gets more rain in October than Providence. Nantucket gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nantucket or Providence in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nantucket and Providence. The winter months attract visitors to Nantucket because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Providence this time of year.

It's quite cold in Providence in the winter. The weather in Nantucket can be very cold. In the winter, Nantucket is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nantucket in January average around 31°F (-0°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

Nantucket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Nantucket usually receives more rain than Providence. Nantucket gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Nantucket or Providence in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Nantucket as well as Providence. The beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Nantucket this time of year.

In April, Nantucket is generally cooler than Providence. Daily temperatures in Nantucket average around 45°F (7°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

Nantucket receives a lot of rain in the spring. Nantucket usually gets more rain in April than Providence. Nantucket gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Providence and Nantucket