Harvard Campus Guided Walk

Join a guide for a 1 hour 10 minute walking tour of the Harvard University campus. Walk through the grounds as the guide points out sights along the route. Prices start from $23.

Overview

A current Harvard student meets you outside the main Harvard Subway Station on Massachusetts Avenue, next to The Harvard Shop, and walks you through the university's old buildings at Harvard Yard for roughly an hour and ten minutes. The route covers Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, the John Harvard Statue and the Science Center area, ending at a student-run souvenir shop on Mt Auburn Street or JFK Street. Along the way the guide mixes campus history with stories about what student life in Cambridge is actually like, delivered with the theatrical, humorous style the operator advertises.

The format suits a wide range of visitors. Prospective applicants get an account of college life from current students, while casual visitors get the key buildings and the school's storied past in a short loop. The route is under a mile, wheelchair and pushchair accessible, and written translations are provided in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Mandarin. An illustrated map of Harvard Square is included, and there are several departure times to choose from during the day.

Groups run up to forty travellers, so expect a shared walk rather than an intimate stroll. Reviewers consistently describe the student guides as energetic, funny and generous with personal anecdotes, and several note the mix of historic facts with contemporary campus customs. The tour is free to enter at every stop except Memorial Hall, where admission is not included.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet outside Harvard StationThe tour begins right outside the main Harvard Subway Station at 1380 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, next to The Harvard Shop. Look for the managers in the straw hats.
2. Harvard SquareThirty minutes in and around Harvard Square, free to enter, with the guide covering the area's history and character.
3. Harvard UniversityTwenty-five minutes through the university's old buildings in Harvard Yard, free admission, learning about the school's past.
4. John Harvard StatueFifteen minutes at the statue, free admission, passing by the Harvard Art Museums along the way.
5. Memorial HallFifteen minutes at Memorial Hall. Admission is not included, so entering the building costs extra.
6. Finish at The Harvard ShopThe walk ends at The Harvard Shop on Mt Auburn St or the branch on JFK St, both run by current Harvard students. Souvenirs are not included.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to know before booking, based on the listing and what travellers report back.

• Pace and distance. The route is less than a mile and takes an hour and ten minutes, so almost anyone can manage it. One reviewer called it quick paced, so be ready to keep moving between stops rather than lingering.
• Who leads it. Current Harvard students guide the walk, and each adds their own style. Reviewers often mention the mix of history, campus traditions and personal stories about student life.
• Group size. The tour caps at forty travellers, so it is a shared group experience. Several reviewers found the guides happy to take questions, and one noted the guide checked for questions before each next stop.
• Accessibility. The listing states the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, with accessible surfaces along the route. Service animals are allowed and the meeting point is near public transportation.
• Weather and timing. The experience requires good weather, and poor conditions can mean a different date or a full refund. Choose from several departure times throughout the day when booking.
• What you get. A free illustrated map of Harvard Square is handed out, and written translations are available in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Mandarin. The walk ends at a student-run shop if you want souvenirs, though these are not included.

Common issues. Memorial Hall admission is not included, and gratuities and souvenirs cost extra. Cancellations within twenty-four hours of the start time receive no refund, and the tour depends on good weather.

Common Questions