Harvard Yard
Stroll the leafy heart of Harvard University, where seventeenth-century brick halls frame shaded greens and student life buzzes all around. Snap a photo with John Harvard’s statue and soak up the collegiate atmosphere on a self-guided architecture walk.
Phone: 617-495-1000
Harvard Art Museums
Three world-class collections under one Renzo Piano roof showcase everything from Egyptian funerary art to Rothko murals. Don’t miss the glass-walled conservation labs that let you watch restorers at work.
Phone: 617-495-9400
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Marvel at the famous Blaschka Glass Flowers, walk under a T. rex, and compare meteorites from Mars and the Moon—all in one visit. Interactive displays make it a hit with families and earth-science buffs alike.
Phone: 617-495-3045
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
Explore Indigenous art, towering Maya stelae, and artifacts from every inhabited continent in one of the oldest anthropology museums in the world. Rotating exhibits highlight current issues in cultural heritage.
Phone: 617-495-2341
MIT Museum
Robotics meets holography in this hands-on museum where cutting-edge research becomes interactive fun. Ride the giant kinetic sculptures and check out rotating displays on artificial intelligence and spaceflight.
Phone: 617-253-5927
Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters NHS
Tour the elegant Georgian mansion where George Washington planned the siege of Boston and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Ranger-led walks trace literary and Revolutionary-War history side by side.
Phone: 617-876-4491
Mount Auburn Cemetery
America’s first landscaped cemetery doubles as a 170-acre arboretum with sweeping views from Washington Tower. Wander winding paths to admire Victorian monuments, bird-watch at peaceful lakes, and study renowned landscape architecture.
Phone: 617-547-7105
Charles River Reservation (Cambridge Side)
Run, cycle, or paddle along miles of riverfront trails with postcard views of the Boston skyline. Sunset rows and seasonal festivals make this parkland a year-round urban escape.
Phone: 617-727-4708
Kendall Square
Dubbed “the most innovative square mile on Earth,” Kendall’s tech towers hide hip cafés, rooftop beer gardens, and nightly outdoor concerts. Grab a rental kayak or visit a biotech pop-up exhibit between meetings.
Phone: 617-547-5772
Central Square Cultural District
Street murals, live-music clubs, and global eateries pack this eclectic corridor. Experience Cambridge’s nightlife with craft cocktails, indie galleries, and legendary jazz at the Middle East.
Phone: 617-945-2184
Fresh Pond Reservation
A 2.25-mile loop skirts Cambridge’s drinking-water reservoir, perfect for runners, cyclists, and birders. Picnic meadows and an award-winning water-treatment–plant roof deck add unexpected educational stops.
Phone: 617-349-4770
Cambridge Public Library (Main)
Glass-and-granite architecture encloses soaring reading rooms, maker spaces, and rotating art shows. Relax on the lawn with free Wi-Fi or join a community history tour of this LEED-certified civic hub.
Phone: 617-349-4040
Brattle Theatre
Cinephiles flock to this 1950 art-house to catch 35 mm classics, director Q&As, and cult-film marathons. The single-screen venue’s mid-century marquee is a Harvard Square icon.
Phone: 617-876-6837
American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)
See Broadway-bound premieres and experimental stagings at Harvard’s celebrated professional theater. Bars in the lobby and outdoor biergarten seating make pre-show networking easy.
Phone: 617-547-8300
MIT Chapel
Designed by Eero Saarinen, this cylindrical brick chapel shelters a stunning Bertoia metal screen cascading above a circular altar pool. Natural light and acoustics create an unforgettable contemplative space.
Phone: 617-253-3913
MIT Press Bookstore
Geek out over cutting-edge titles in AI, design, and philosophy at this publisher-run shop. Monthly author talks and a zine wall make it a go-to for serious readers and curious visitors alike.
Phone: 617-253-5249
Harvard Stadium
Climb the concrete colonnade of the 1903 “mother of all football stadiums” for panoramic training-day views. Weekend warriors can join local stair-running groups on the same tiers where Ivy-League legends played.
Phone: 617-495-2211
Harvard Book Store
Browse staff-curated shelves, print on demand at the in-house Espresso Book Machine, and catch nightly author readings at this revered indie. Don’t leave without a signature “Shop Local” tote.
Phone: 617-661-1515
The Sinclair
This music hall–gastropub mashup hosts indie darlings one night and hip-hop legends the next. Savor rooftop tacos before catching a show in the acoustically tuned, 525-cap room.
Phone: 617-547-5200
Lamplighter Brewing Co.
Sip hazy IPAs and barrel-aged sours beneath Edison bulbs in a converted auto-repair shop. On-site coffee by day, trivia and drag bingo by night keep the taproom buzzing.
Phone: 617-945-0450
Toscanini’s Ice Cream
Called “the world’s best ice cream” by The New York Times, Tosci’s churns cult flavors like B3 (brown sugar–brown butter–brownie). Lines move fast, and scoops pair perfectly with late-night Central Square strolls.
Phone: 617-491-5877
CambridgeSide
Waterfront shopping meets dining and indoor pickleball at this revitalized mall steps from the Lechmere T. A rooftop garden and pop-up art shows lure visitors beyond retail therapy.
Phone: 617-621-8668
Cooper-Frost-Austin House (1681)
Step inside Cambridge’s oldest surviving home to see original post-medieval framing and rare 17th-century paint. Seasonal tours reveal centuries of restoration craft.
Phone: 617-994-6669
Hooper-Lee-Nichols House
Dating to 1685, this Georgian-era mansion turned History Cambridge HQ hosts exhibits on slavery, architecture, and ghost stories. The orchard lawn is popular for summer talks and film shoots.
Phone: 617-547-4252
Harvard College Observatory
Visit 60 Garden Street for public telescope nights and exhibits on exoplanet discovery. The historic Great Refractor dome still opens for celestial events.
Phone: 617-495-9059
Sanders Theatre
Acclaimed for its perfect acoustics, the 1875 Memorial Hall jewel hosts symphonies, TED-style lectures, and Harvard commencement concerts beneath a stained-glass rose window.
Phone: 617-496-4595
Harvard Coop
Since 1882 this cooperative bookstore has outfitted generations with crimson swag, textbooks, and a rooftop café view of Harvard Square. Members still earn annual rebates on purchases.
Phone: 617-499-2000
MIT Stata Center
Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad labyrinth houses MIT’s AI and robotics labs. Public art tours reveal hidden hacks, while the lobby café provides prime people-watching among tech luminaries.
Phone: 617-253-5851
MIT List Visual Arts Center
Cutting-edge contemporary installations fill sleek galleries beside the Stata Center. Free tours spotlight works by Laurie Anderson, Anicka Yi, and MIT’s own artist-engineers.
Phone: 617-253-4680
Cambridge Common
This 16-acre National Historic Landmark once quartered Washington’s troops and now hosts picnics beneath century-old elms. Kids flock to the Revolutionary-themed Kemp Playground.
Phone: 617-349-4600
Science Center Plaza
Food trucks, outdoor art, and giant chess boards animate Harvard’s civic backyard. Grab a smoothie and watch pop-up science demos or ice-skate on the winter rink.
Phone: 617-495-3741
Alewife Brook Reservation
Boardwalks wind through freshwater marsh where herons, muskrats, and spring peepers thrive just minutes from the Red Line. Bike paths link to the Minuteman Trail for longer excursions.
Phone: 617-727-9693
Porter Square Books
Anchor of the Porter Square transit hub, this indie bookstore-café offers curated shelves, author talks, and cozy reading nooks. Grab a latte from Café Zing and browse local zines.
Phone: 617-491-2220
Out of Town News Kiosk
Harvard Square’s historic newsstand is being reborn as a civic events pavilion. Even under renovation, its copper roof and neon sign remain a beloved photo backdrop.
Phone: 617-491-3434
Longfellow Bridge Walkway
Nicknamed the “Salt-and-Pepper Shaker” for its granite towers, this 1906 bridge offers breathtaking skyline and river vistas. Pedestrian lanes connect Kendall Square to Boston’s Esplanade.
Phone: N/A
Broad Canal Walkway & Charles River Canoe & Kayak
Launch a kayak from the reclaimed tidal canal and glide past MIT’s boathouse toward the Zakim Bridge. Twilight paddles and SUP yoga classes cater to all skill levels.
Phone: 617-965-5110
José Mateo Ballet Theatre (Sanctuary Theatre)
Set inside a Gothic-revival church, this dance company stages intimate ballets mere feet from the audience. Adult open classes welcome beginners seeking a barre workout in sacred space.
Phone: 617-945-1944
Central Flea Market
Vintage fashion, vinyl, and food trucks fill University Park on last-Sunday markets from spring through fall. Live DJs and craft brews make treasure-hunting a full-day outing.
Phone: N/A
Harvard Square Farmers Market
Every Tuesday June–November the Science Center Plaza transforms into a growers-only market bursting with heirloom tomatoes, local cheese, and small-batch kombucha. Live folk music adds picnic vibes.
Phone: 781-893-8222
The Garment District
Dig through 12,000 sq ft of thrift, vintage, and costume rentals—including the famous “By the Pound” clothing pile at $2/lb. A must-visit for stylists, students, and Halloween hunters.
Phone: 617-876-5230
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