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Harvard University

1350 Massachusetts ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-9400
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As featured in 3 days in Boston
Ranked #6 of 45 attractions in Cambridge
Type: Educational Sites, Historic Sites
Activities: City walk sightseeing, Group tours/walking tour
Fee: No
Recommended length of visit: 2-3 hours
Owner description: Founded in 1636, Harvard is America's oldest institute of higher learning and one of the country's most prestigious universities. Among the... more » Owner description: Founded in 1636, Harvard is America's oldest institute of higher learning and one of the country's most prestigious universities. Among the illustrious alumni are civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois, philosopher Henry David Thoreau, writer Gertrude Stein, composer Leonard Bernstein, cellist Yo Yo Ma and seven U.S. presidents. « less
Useful Information: Activities for older children
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291 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    157
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    26
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Date Rating
Top Contributor
332 reviews 332 reviews
69 attraction reviews
Reviews in 95 cities Reviews in 95 cities
109 helpful votes 109 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

From the exterior setting (a quiet oasis within bustling Harvard Square) to the stately old buildings, the campus is definitely somewhere that everyone living or visiting Boston should stop by.

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See 12 more reviews by jsnyder02 for Cambridge
Framingham, Massachusetts
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 6, 2013

There was a time you observed many smart Americans walking the grounds of tHarvard Yard. Now, it is like the United Nations and Leave It to Beaver is no where to be found. There are plenty of young smart Bostonians with high SAT scores. But Harvard appears to educate the outsiders from the middle east and Asia, and return them... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 2
Cotabato City, Philippines
Senior Contributor
31 reviews 31 reviews
11 attraction reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2013

Because as far as I know so many great minds, presidents, bigwigs, celebrities, political people and great lawyers of the country and known around the world studied there. The education cost is expensive and only those who can really afford can study there, of course even scholars need to have their own personal expense, too. When we entered the grounds,... More

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Houston
Top Contributor
55 reviews 55 reviews
12 attraction reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 4, 2013

Great for a visit (and education - i have heard...). Would definitely take a tour. awesome place to see one of the oldest institutions of learning (in America).

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See 4 more reviews by Vivek K for Cambridge
Athens
Senior Contributor
46 reviews 46 reviews
24 attraction reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 27, 2013

We visited Harvard twice on our vacation. The first time we walked through on the way to the Peabody Museum but the second time we took the 1 hr tour. It was led by one of the students who was very entertaining. Brent, Bret, Brad (sorry I can't remember his name) gave us some very interesting information on the history... More

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newbury uk
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 20 cities Reviews in 20 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 21, 2013

If you're a tourist in Boston, Harvard University is definitely worth a visit even if it's just to walk around the square to take the history in. It's a good way from the centre of Boston but easily accessible by T line or bus. We were there when it was pouring with rain so ran for shelter into the church.... More

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Chandler, Arizona
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
11 attraction reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 17, 2013

Our family walked around the campus while in Cambridge to cheer our son in the Boston Marathon. Amazing architecture, lovely grounds and tons of history. A pleasant afternoon

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Scotland
Senior Contributor
46 reviews 46 reviews
15 attraction reviews
Reviews in 20 cities Reviews in 20 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 17, 2013

It is worth a visit primarily because it is so famous throughout the world. It is good to see what it is all about and has some pretty (if slightly plain) buildings. It certainly is no where near as pretty as the likes of Cambridge and Oxford in the UK. We visited the Natural History Museum which was quite good... More

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Greenville, South Carolina
Top Contributor
77 reviews 77 reviews
51 attraction reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
32 helpful votes 32 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed April 15, 2013

Our son was cross admitted to Yale and Harvard. We visited Yale 1st and Harvard just couldn't live up to the beauty. The people there also lacked the warm and welcoming attitude that seemed to ooze from the folks at Yale. Guess which college he will be attending in the fall???

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See 2 more reviews by BinkyandJane for Cambridge
portland, oregon
Senior Contributor
48 reviews 48 reviews
16 attraction reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
33 helpful votes 33 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 14, 2013

Would have been nice if there were more on campus for visiting parents to do, like even an open coffee shop. The museum is great but there really wasn't any place to duck in and relax.

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See 6 more reviews by brainmind for Cambridge

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