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Cambridge was founded in 1630 as Newtowne, making it one of the earliest settlements in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Settlers chose the site along the Charles River because of its strategic location and access to fresh water, and in 1638 the town was renamed after the University of Cambridge in England. That same year marked a pivotal decision when the colonial legislature chose Cambridge as the location for a new college, which would later become Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
The city played a crucial role during the American Revolution when General George Washington arrived in 1775 to take command of the Continental Army and established his headquarters on Brattle Street. Washington resided at what is now the Longfellow House, where he planned the siege of Boston and laid the groundwork for the Continental Army that would go on to win independence. Cambridge grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution as glassmaking, printing, and manufacturing firms established factories along the Charles River, transforming the area into a major industrial hub.
The 20th century brought profound change when the Massachusetts Institute of Technology relocated from Boston to Cambridge in 1916, creating a powerful academic corridor alongside Harvard University. Technology and innovation became the city’s defining economic force, especially after the Route 128 technology boom of the 1970s and 1980s established Cambridge alongside Silicon Valley as a center of the digital revolution. Today Cambridge is recognized worldwide for its contributions to science, with Kendall Square often described as having the most innovative square mile on the planet.
Cambridge offers visitors an extraordinary concentration of museums, starting with the Harvard Art Museums, which house a world-class collection spanning ancient times to contemporary art under one stunning Renzo Piano-designed roof. The adjacent Harvard Museum of Natural History captivates all ages with its famous Glass Flowers exhibit, a collection of over four thousand meticulously crafted botanical models that have amazed visitors since the 1890s. For science and technology enthusiasts, the MIT Museum showcases cutting-edge research through interactive exhibits on artificial intelligence, robotics, and holography.
Exploring the historic campus of Harvard University should be at the top of every visitor’s list, with guided tours led by current students offering an insider’s perspective on university traditions and architecture. Spend time in the iconic Harvard Yard surrounded by red-brick dormitories, then find the statue of John Harvard where rubbing its shoe for good luck has become a beloved ritual. Walk across the river to tour the vast campus of MIT, where you can see the distinctive Stata Center designed by Frank Gehry and visit the Great Dome overlooking Killian Court.
An evening in Harvard Square provides endless entertainment with its famous street performers, live music venues, and historic bookstores such as the Harvard Book Store and Grolier Poetry Book Shop. Catch a performance at the American Repertory Theater, one of the country’s most celebrated regional theaters that has launched numerous productions to Broadway. For a more relaxed experience, bring a picnic and sit along the banks of the Charles River to watch the sailboats and rowing crews glide across the water.
The architectural diversity of Cambridge is a sight in itself, from the Georgian elegance of Harvard’s Old Yard to the bold contemporary design of the Ray and Maria Stata Center at MIT. Walk along Brattle Street, known as Tory Row for the loyalist mansions that lined it before the American Revolution, to admire Longfellow National Historic Site, the beautifully preserved home where George Washington commanded the Continental Army and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow later lived and wrote. The Mount Auburn Cemetery, founded in 1831, is a designated National Historic Landmark and one of the most beautiful garden cemeteries in America featuring winding paths, ornamental plantings, and an observation tower with spectacular views.
The Harvard Lampoon Building, housed in a whimsical castle-like structure designed in a Dutch Gothic style, stands as one of the most unusual buildings in the area and has been home to Harvard’s humor magazine for over a century. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology presents one of the world’s greatest collections of Native American artifacts and cultural treasures from across the globe. For a quieter architectural experience, wander through the residential streets of Harvard Square’s historic district where centuries of New England building styles are preserved in beautifully maintained homes and carriage houses.
The best time to visit Cambridge is during September and October, when students return to campus and the city buzzes with energy, the autumn foliage transforms public spaces into brilliant displays of color, and the weather remains comfortably cool for walking tours. Spring months of April and May also offer pleasant temperatures and beautiful blossoms across Harvard Yard and Mount Auburn Cemetery, with the added bonus of fewer tourists than the summer peak. Commencement Week in late May brings both excitement and large crowds, so plan accommodations well in advance if visiting during this period.
Summer from June through August brings warm temperatures and the longest days for exploring outdoor attractions along the Charles River, though humidity can be significant and hotel rates peak during this high season. The Head of the Charles Regatta in October draws thousands of spectators and rowers for the world’s largest two-day rowing event, making it a thrilling time to experience Cambridge’s riverfront culture. Winter months offer the advantage of smaller crowds and lower hotel prices, though visitors should be prepared for cold New England conditions with snow and freezing temperatures common from December through February.
The Harvard Art Museums represent one of the finest university art collections in the world, bringing together the Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum under one remarkable roof. The Harvard Museum of Natural History stands as a family favorite with its celebrated Glass Flowers, extensive dinosaur fossil collection, and displays of glittering minerals from around the planet. Across town, the MIT Museum offers a window into the future with hands-on exhibits exploring artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and the latest research emerging from MIT laboratories.
The Longfellow House and Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site preserves two centuries of American history within its elegant walls, from the Revolutionary War to the literary achievements of one of America’s most beloved poets. Mount Auburn Cemetery serves as both a tranquil sanctuary for wildlife and a living museum of landscape architecture where visitors can climb the Washington Tower for panoramic views of Boston and Cambridge. The Charles River Esplanade and its network of walking paths provide a scenic corridor connecting Cambridge to Boston, offering some of the best views of the skyline from across the water.
Here are some of our recommended things to do near Cambridge. Choose your favorite!
Mount Auburn Cemetery stands as a National Historic Landmark and one of the most significant designed landscapes in the United States. Founded in 1831 by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society , it was the first large-scale rural cemetery in Americ…