Welcome to Cambridge

Top Reasons to Go

• Take it all in: Browse the new- and used-book stores, trawl the artsy boutiques, grab a cup of coffee, and people-watch in Harvard Square.
• Do the museum circuit: The Harvard Art Museums; the Semitic Museum for ancient Near Eastern collections; the Peabody and the Natural History Museum for artifacts and culture; the MIT Museum.
• Be surprised with art at a tech university: Visit MIT to wander its campus (full of hidden works of art), visit its museum, and see Pritzker Prize–winning architect Frank Gehry's Seuss-like Stata Center.
• Visit the country's first university: Breathe the rarefied air of Harvard with an official tour (or an irreverent unofficial one) and a stroll around its famous "Yard."
• Walk the Charles River: Follow Memorial Drive to spend some time along the famous river. The busy road is closed to traffic on Sunday from the last Sunday of April until the second Sunday of November.

Getting Here

Just minutes from Boston, Cambridge is easily reached by taking the Red Line train (otherwise known as the T) outbound to any stop past Charles/MGH station. There are stops at MIT (Kendall Square), Central Square, Harvard Square, Porter Square, Davis Square (actually in Somerville), and Alewife. Harvard Square is the best place to begin any visit to Cambridge, but driving (and parking) here is a small nightmare. Do yourself a favor and take the T. If you insist on driving, suck it up and park in a garage. (Street parking is usually limited to two hours, and most spots are permit only.) Driving is less of a pain in other parts of Cambridge, but you're still better off getting around via the T. Try to spend as much time as possible exploring on foot. This is a walking town, and you will want to spend more time exploring the sites than looking for a parking spot.

Quick Bites

Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage. Try this Harvard institution with a menu that includes dozens of riffs on the humble burger. 1246 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square www.mrbartley.com Harvard.

Felipe's Taqueria. A good bet for tasty Mexican food. 21 Brattle St., Brattle Street www.felipestaqueria.com Harvard.

Toscanini's. Known for their coffee and homemade ice cream. 159 1st St., Central Square www.tosci.com Central.

Veggie Grill. Popular with vegans and vegetarians for plant-based burgers, sandwiches, and bowls. 57 John F. Kennedy St., Harvard Square www.veggiegrill.com Harvard.

Planning Your Time

Most visitors don’t go beyond Harvard Square and Harvard Yard, but Cambridge is a one-of-a-kind city filled with funky restaurants, independent shops, unique art, historic sites, and lots of independent bookstores. If you plan to visit Harvard’s natural history or art museums or explore other Cambridge neighborhoods like Kendall, Inman and Central Squares, give yourself a day or two.