Rhode Island Travel Guide – Attractions & Tours

Featured Lists

Rhode Island Essentials

Rhode Island’s history spans from the 1763 Touro Synagogue to the Gilded Age opulence of The Breakers and Marble House in Newport. In Providence, the 1904 State House features one of the world's largest self-supporting marble domes, while the RISD Museum houses over 100,000 objects. Coastal highlights include the 3.5-mile Newport Cliff Walk and the 1875 Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island. Historic commercial hubs include the 1828 Westminster Arcade, the nation's oldest indoor shopping mall, and the 1673 White Horse Tavern.

15 places

Pub. by Berger Bros., Providence, R.I. / Public domain

Best Beaches

Rhode Island’s coastline features a diverse range of Atlantic shorelines, from the surf-heavy waves of Narragansett to the calm, shallow coves of Jamestown. This collection includes state-managed parks like East Matunuck, known for its modern eco-friendly pavilion, and historic Newport spots like Easton’s Beach, situated at the start of the Cliff Walk. Visitors can find specialized environments ranging from the undeveloped barrier sands of East Beach in Westerly to the family-oriented amenities and carousels found at municipal waterfronts.

15 places

Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic Places of Worship

Rhode Island’s religious history is preserved in these eleven landmarks across Newport, Providence, and Middletown. The collection features architectural highlights ranging from the 1763 Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue building in the United States, to the colonial-era Trinity Church on Queen Anne Square. Significant sites include the historic African American Shiloh Baptist Church and the Gothic Revival Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Providence. These houses of worship showcase the state's diverse heritage through their preserved 18th and 19th-century designs, representing Episcopal, Jewish, Baptist, and Unitarian traditions.

11 places

Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 3.0

Rhode Island Lighthouses

Rhode Island’s maritime landscape is defined by a diverse collection of historic beacons, ranging from the unique "sparkplug" designs of Plum Beach and Sakonnet Light to the 19th-century stone and brick towers of Newport and Block Island. This list features active navigational aids and decommissioned landmarks, including the 1831 Poplar Point Light and the granite Castle Hill Lighthouse. These structures highlight the state’s naval history and architectural evolution across Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic shoreline.

12 places

Kenenth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 4.0

Parks & Recreation

Rhode Island’s green spaces range from historic urban monuments to expansive coastal preserves. This selection features Providence’s 435-acre Roger Williams Park with its Victorian landscapes and Pawtucket’s Slater Park, the state's oldest public grounds. Coastal highlights include the military history of Conanicut Battery and the oceanfront recreation at Scarborough Beach. From the downtown plazas of BankNewport City Center to the wooded trails of Pulaski State Park, these sites preserve the state's natural landscape and civic history.

11 places

Kenneth C. Zirkel / CC BY-SA 3.0

Top Museums

Rhode Island’s museums span from the extravagant Gilded Age summer cottages of Newport, such as The Breakers and Marble House, to Providence’s academic institutions like the RISD Museum and Brown University’s Haffenreffer Museum. Visitors can explore 17th-century history at Smith’s Castle, maritime engineering at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, and specialized collections at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. These sites preserve the state's architectural heritage, industrial legacy, and diverse artistic contributions within historic mansions and modern galleries.

14 places

Rhode Island — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: June, July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

3° (feels like -3°) · extremes -13°–11°
-3° at night
11 rainy days
10 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
5°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

4° (feels like -2°) · extremes -11°–11°
-3° at night
10 rainy days
11 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
4°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

7° (feels like 2°) · extremes -7°–14°
0° at night
11 rainy days
14 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
4°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

12° (feels like 7°) · extremes 0°–17°
5° at night
12 rainy days
14 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
7°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

17° (feels like 14°) · extremes 6°–23°
10° at night
12 rainy days
13 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
11°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in June

Great

22° (feels like 21°) · extremes 11°–27°
16° at night
10 rainy days
13 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in July

Great

25° (feels like 26°) · extremes 16°–30°
20° at night
10 rainy days
15 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Light breeze
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in August

Great

25° · extremes 16°–29°
19° at night
10 rainy days
16 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Light breeze
21°C · cool for a dip
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Great

22° (feels like 21°) · extremes 12°–26°
16° at night
9 rainy days
15 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
20°C · cool for a dip
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Good

16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 4°–22°
11° at night
10 rainy days
13 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor

11° (feels like 6°) · extremes -1°–17°
5° at night
9 rainy days
11 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

6° (feels like 1°) · extremes -7°–14°
0° at night
12 rainy days
9 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
9°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: US Dollar USD $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers: 911 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity: Type A / Type B
120 V · 60 Hz

Languages: English
Tap water: Safe to drink
Driving side: Right
Calling code: +1

Learn more

Tours & Activities

Related destinations

United States Providence County Newport

Other Destinations

California Texas New York Florida Pennsylvania Illinois Ohio Georgia North Carolina Michigan New Jersey Virginia Washington Massachusetts Tennessee State Indiana Arizona Maryland Missouri Wisconsin Colorado Minnesota Alabama Louisiana South Carolina Kentucky Oregon Oklahoma Connecticut State Utah Iowa Nevada Mississippi State Kansas Arkansas New Mexico Nebraska West Virginia Idaho Hawaii New Hampshire Maine Montana Delaware South Dakota North Dakota Alaska Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Vermont Detroit Wyoming State

Rhode Island

Featured Lists

Rhode Island Essentials

Best Beaches

Historic Places of Worship

Rhode Island Lighthouses

Parks & Recreation

Top Museums

Rhode Island — Map

Climate & when to visit

Typical weather in January

Typical weather in February

Typical weather in March

Typical weather in April

Typical weather in May

Typical weather in June

Typical weather in July

Typical weather in August

Typical weather in September

Typical weather in October

Typical weather in November

Typical weather in December

Practical information

Tours & Activities

Rhode Island – Plan Your Days

Related destinations

Other Destinations