City Sights by Sea: Narrated Providence Boat Tours

See all (9)

Trip Highlights

Explore Providence from the water! (We ARE the Ocean State, after all)
50-minute narration by USCG Licensed Captains
Casual, open-air tours highlighting our historic waterfront & hidden gems

Description

Join us for a captivating journey throughout the Providence waterways. Our Historic Narrated Tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the city's history and culture, with engaging narration and unparalleled views!

Tour info

Duration

50 minutes

Group Size

Up to 18

Price starts at

$30

Languages

English

Meeting Point

101 Dyer Street Providence RI

Open in Google Maps

Dropoff location

101 Dyer Street Providence RI

Why take this tour?

Celebrate Providence’s past as we launch our 35th season of tours in 2026!

🏛️ A Playful Journey Through the City’s Past

Glide along the Providence River as our guides bring the city’s history to life — the triumphs, the quirks, the scandals, and the stories that shaped Rhode Island’s capital. From colonial characters to architectural showstoppers, every bend in the river reveals another chapter of Providence’s colorful past.

🌊 History Told From the Best Seat in Town

Seeing Providence from the water feels like stepping into a living time capsule. Landmarks you’ve passed a hundred times suddenly take on new meaning when viewed from the river that helped build the city itself.

🎉 A Local Tradition with 35 Years of Stories

For more than three decades, our award‑winning tours have been the go‑to way to explore Providence — whether you’re a lifelong local or a curious visitor. This anniversary season is the perfect moment to rediscover the city with fresh eyes and a little extra sparkle.

📅 Plan Ahead for a Spot on Board

Our tours fill quickly, especially during this milestone year. Booking in advance ensures you’ll be part of the celebration — and part of Providence history in the making.

Voted as Best Local Tour - Statewide by Best of Rhode Island
Voted as Best City Tour by Yankee Magazine
Recognized as Member of the Year by GoProvidence.com
Received the Mary J. Brennan Tourism Award by the RI Hospitality Association

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring?

We suggest sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and a cold beverage for daytime tours, and a light windbreaker/sweater in the evening. We also suggest flat bottom, comfortable shoes. Most importantly, dress appropriately for the weather.

Is there a bathroom on the boat?

There are no restrooms on the boats, so please plan ahead and use the bathroom inside The Landing prior to boarding. You will need to allow yourself extra time to check-in, use the bathroom and walk to the docks in time for boarding, so please arrive a few minutes earlier than normal.

Is there food and beverage available?

Adult beverages, coffee drinks, soda, ice cream, and baked goods are now available for purchase to bring aboard! Please arrive a few minutes early to purchase these items inside The Landing.

Can I bring my dog?

We love dogs, but....only service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are allowed aboard. Comfort animals, emotional support animals, and therapy animals are not service animals and are therefore not recognized by the ADA or the State of Rhode Island.

Do I have to wear a life vest?

RI Law requires all children under 13 years of age to wear a USCG approved PFD while underway in a vessel. Our vessels are inspected by the USCG, and we carry PFD's aboard for every passenger.

Can I stand up and walk around during the tour?

For the safety of our guests, we do not allow passengers to stand up and walk around. However, you are certainly welcome to stand briefly to change seats, get refreshments, or take pictures.

Can I book a private tour?

Yes! Private Charters are offered 7 days/week, subject to availability. Please see that page on our website for details, or call our office for assistance.

Things to know

Booking

Walk-ups are always welcome, but not guaranteed. Advanced booking is highly recommended, especially on weekends.

Age Requirement

All ages are welcome, but we feel that this tour is most appropriate for ages 6+. Please make sure this will be appropriate for your younger children.

Pricing

Adult (Ages 18+): $35.00

Senior (Ages 65+): $33.00

Military/PD/FD: $33.00

Child (Ages 0-17, all passengers, regardless of age, must have a ticket): $30.00

Adult (Ages 18+): $35.00

Senior (Ages 65+): $33.00

Military/PD/FD: $33.00

Child (Ages 0-17, all passengers, regardless of age, must have a ticket): $30.00

Parking Information

There are several parking garages, outdoor parking lots and on-street metered parking spaces throughout our neighborhood.

The Arcade Parking Garage, located behind our building on Pine Street, offers very reasonable parking rates.

We also recommend taking your hotel shuttle, a
...

There are several parking garages, outdoor parking lots and on-street metered parking spaces throughout our neighborhood.

The Arcade Parking Garage, located behind our building on Pine Street, offers very reasonable parking rates.

We also recommend taking your hotel shuttle, a Lyft or Uber, or walking from your hotel, if possible. We are centrally located in downtown and most hotels are within a 15 minute walk from us.

Accessibility

Because our vessels were built specifically for us to navigate the low-hanging bridges throughout downtown Providence, they are not wheelchair accessible.

To get on and off our vessels, one needs to be able to navigate a 40+ foot ramp from street level to our docks, and step over the side ra
...

Because our vessels were built specifically for us to navigate the low-hanging bridges throughout downtown Providence, they are not wheelchair accessible.

To get on and off our vessels, one needs to be able to navigate a 40+ foot ramp from street level to our docks, and step over the side rail and onto the interior step. Our crew can certainly lend a hand to get on/off the boat, however, they not allowed to pick someone up and carry them aboard.

Walkers and wheelchairs may be left on the dock while touring, at your own risk.

Tour Cancellation Policy

All of our tours are non-refundable. Please make sure you are booking the correct date & time.

Customers may reschedule their reservation or receive a credit for a future tour (subject to availability) with 72 hours advance cancellation only.

We reserve the right to resched
...

All of our tours are non-refundable. Please make sure you are booking the correct date & time.

Customers may reschedule their reservation or receive a credit for a future tour (subject to availability) with 72 hours advance cancellation only.

We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel tours when less than 4 passengers have booked. It doesn’t happen often, but we will call you ASAP if it does.

Weather-Related Cancellation Policy

The weather in New England changes often, and quickly. Because of this, we do not postpone or cancel boat tours until the day of the tour. If we were to cancel your tour, we would call you at the phone number provided on your reservation. Please do not call us questioning cancellations, we will
...

We reserve the right to cancel our tours in the event of severe or unsafe weather conditions. If we do cancel your tour due to inclement weather, you may reschedule, subject to availability, or receive a full refund.

Book Now

0 views this week

Why book with us?

Book instantly directly with provider
Get the lowest price guarantee
Worry-free flexible cancellation policy

$450