Water Place Park
Water Place Park
4.5
About
Watch a street artist sketching the city, enjoy a lovely stroll by the river past Venice inspired bridges or see some wonderful public art, all at this well-designed four-acre park and scenic riverwalk, considered to be the heart of the restoration of Providence's downtown area.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown Providence
How to get there
- Providence Station • 3 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
933 within 3 miles
Attractions
414 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
198 reviews
Excellent
107
Very good
59
Average
23
Poor
7
Terrible
2
Laurel W
22 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The photos people posted sure look great but that’s not what we saw or SMELLED today…. Might have been a great place in the past but very neglected. Dirty concrete, weeds coming through pavement, no care to the foliage, no flowers, trash, dirty water. When walking through one of the tunnels it had a strong smell of urine, no lie. Seedy characters about. Felt unsafe and it was daytime! Hardly anyone there and a beautiful sunny day in the 70’s. $10 to park in the garage next door. Waste of time and money.
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anonymous855
Trabuco Canyon, California1,799 contributions
Sept 2022
I know the funding has a "dicey" story but we enjoyed walking most of it before our gondola ride and thought it was great. A few upscale places to dine but we had other plans. It was an afternoon so we felt completely safe. Yes, there were some homeless and drug addled people there but just don't engage them and you're find.
Written 8 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lcdemar
Ashburn, VA231 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Went during the day in winter. I realize that’s not exactly prime visiting time but we were hoping to have a nice lunch along the river. None of the restaurants seemed to be open yet. There were some men smoking pot under a bridge. Even in sneakers the cobblestones were brutal on my feet.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LightPacker15313
Woonsocket, RI1 contribution
To really appreciate Waterplace and Riverwalk, you may have to have seen the area 25 years ago. But a walk through it (which takes about 20 minutes) is always delightful, even without ever having experienced the stinking ditch full of old tires and refrigerators (and worse) meandering between dirt lots and rusting weed-infested defunct rail lines.If you're a fan of urban parks, be ready for a treat. The design is well-thought out and interesting, the execution flawless, and the materials and landscaping are high-quality. And, even though it is just a few feet from one of the busiest streets in Providence, it's amazingly quiet, being sunken well below the level of the surrounding land.Plan your visit to coincide with a Waterfire lighting. Check the schedule at www.waterfire.com. Be sure to make dinner reservations well ahead of time if you plan to dine downtown on a Waterfire night. For an special treat, reserve a gondola for the hour after sunset, and have a front-row seat for the spectacle.
Written 21 March 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,845 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
This is a beautiful walk with or without Water Fire. See so,e of the Providence buildings while slowly walking the river.
Written 12 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philips009
Carver7 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
nice place to walk around and check out historic Providence. Make sure to stop by Union Station Brewery while you are there to experience Rhode Islands oldest continually operated brew-pub.
Written 11 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leslie P
North Attleboro, MA42 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
This area is on the rebound from economic depression and is really worthy of a visit. It is historically significant, architecturally fascinating, and frankly one of the most interesting places I have visited since moving to the East Coast. It is a diamond in the rough. Is it a little rough around the edges, yes....but worth the trip? Hell yes. I am an architecture nerd and a total history buff and was enraptured by the aura and feeling of this collegiate area. It houses the Rhode Island School of design so there are also very beautiful people to look at. Gondolas on the river, quaint pubs and interesting restaurants. It is a small area.....maybe 10 blocks square....wear good walking shoes because you will want to do it all!!!
Written 21 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scott g
Manchester, NH628 contributions
May 2018 • Family
It was nice that no one else was around. We have been to the fire water where it is packed. So we enjoyed the peaceful setting and seeing things we missed the last time
Written 14 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhonda D
Cary, NC63 contributions
Jul 2017 • Business
This is a neat area of Provence. The area is clean and takes you through the Wall of Hope which was built in honor and memory of those that lost their lives on 9/11. Peaceful..
Written 3 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bwmsdvs
Providence, RI19 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
Water Place Park is just as the name implies, a park divided by a river in the middle of downtown that allows you to forget that you are in the city. A place where you can walk, talk, and relax. If you get hungry along the way there are plenty of places to stop and eat.
Written 29 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, is it possible to bring one's cat in her carrier? Has anyone done it before? Thanks!!
Written 9 June 2019
If you don't mind carrying the cat in the carrier, it should not be a problem. You would not want your cat to roam freely and get lost. City streets and sounds might be upsetting for house bound pets. Be advised that dogs may be present and not all dogs are leashed even though they are supposed to be. In the winter, we came across an unleashed dog and its owner on the park lawns just above Water Place Park and Riverwalk and the owner was having a very difficult time trying to get the dog back on leash. I'm not sure if restaurants would allow you inside with a pet but for outdoor dining in the summer, they may be more accommodating. If not, you could always enjoy a nice picnic on a river bench with your cat at your side.
Written 10 June 2019
There was one last night and they only happen once a month. Not sure how you find the schedule. Get there early. Maybe Uber so you don't have to deal with parking
Written 1 July 2018
It's just a matter of you'd like to make of it. You can start or stop any where along the walk. Your walking speed will dictate how long it will take if you do the entire route but I'd say one direction maybe an hour+
Written 10 April 2018
Driving from Cape to water fires for Saturday night. Where to park? How costly? How is traffic after the event?
Written 5 August 2017
Well, you're probably already on your way, but parking in Providence is reasonable--IF you are not using hotel valet. I would try for the Biltmore garage, which is quite close to the action. If you wish to dine in a downtown restaurant, make reservation ASAP. Traffic after the event is not a factor; the performances go on until midnight and people tend to just trickle away. If downtown is too jammed, try parking on the street on College Hill. The walk is pleasant. Lovely eatery up there too: The Red Stripe.
Whatever you do, don't park overnight in the garage at 165 Washington Street. They are closed on Sundays and I had to pay to have someone drive in from Cranston to let me out.
Written 5 August 2017
Going to Providence RI on June 19th through June22nd. Will they have the fire on the riverwalk during that time? Staying outside downtown Providence and need address where gondolas are.
Written 16 May 2016
We went to Providence mid January so I have no first hand information but there is helpful info on the Trip Advisor attractions
for La Gondola. There are also a web sites for Waterfire and
Water place Park. La Gondola address is 1 citizens plaza
Written 16 May 2016
staying at marriot court yard, wondering about parking.
coming down on motorcycle, things to do.and placesto eat.
coming down for wter fire 8/15
Written 21 July 2015
The Courtyard is right in the heart of Down Town Providence. Stay away from the commercial mall restaurants, and go explore Providences unique restaurants scene. The Roof Top at G Pub is a great place to see some nice views of the city and showcases Providences passion for Food and Beverage. There is also street vendors at Water Fire so leave dessert for one of the local ice cream stands. Nicks on Broadway would be the BEST place to go for breakfast, but expect to wait in line on Sunday morning to get into it. Well worth the wait.
For Parking: The mall doesn't have the gates down 24 hours a day. If you leave early enough the Gates will be open and you can drive right out... ( I was at the mall 10AM Sunday and literally drove right out)
Enjoy water fire, it is SO much fun !!
Written 24 July 2015
Showing results 1-6 of 6
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing