Our most recommended things to do in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Boston Duck Tour: The Original and World-Famous

1. Boston Duck Tour: The Original and World-Famous

Make a splash on an 80-minute “Duck” tour of Boston and see the city from the land and water on one non-stop journey. Climb aboard your World War II-style amphibious landing vehicle at the Museum of Science or Prudential Center, and set off to discover unique neighborhoods. You will be welcomed on board by one of the legendary “ConDUCKtors®” who will narrate your tour and tell you about Boston as the birthplace of freedom and place of “firsts.” Travel by the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill, and continue to Boston Common and Copley Square. Hear about the “Big Dig,” and marvel at fashionable Newbury Street. Go to historic Quincy Market, and more. As the best of Boston unfolds, your “ConDUCKtor®” will give you lots of little-known facts and interesting insights into the heritage of the city. Then, just when you think you've seen it all, it's time for a splash into the Charles River. Enjoy views of Boston and Cambridge that you won't get anywhere else. All tours feature a fun, informative local guide. In addition, foreign language tours depart every half hour from the Museum of Science location. These tours utilize cutting-edge GPS technology to offer tours in Spanish, German, French, Mandarin, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian dialect), Cantonese and Korean, at no additional cost to you. If you require this multilingual commentary, be sure to choose the option from the Museum of Science.

Boston: Hop-on Hop-off Old Town Trolley Tour

2. Boston: Hop-on Hop-off Old Town Trolley Tour

Enjoy a hop-on hop-off tour aboard Boston’s charming orange and green Old Town Trolley and visit more than 100 points of interest in the city at your own pace. Enjoy the freedom to hop on or off all day and discover sights like the Boston State House, Liberty Wharf, and the Charlestown Navy Yard. Take in double-decker height views while protected from the elements. The comfortable enclosed trolleys allow you to experience elevated viewing come rain, snow, or shine. Choose between 1-day and 2-day ticket options with free unlimited re-boarding. The Boston Trolley tour covers all the major areas including downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the theater district, and the waterfront. Conductors narrate the tour, offering a fun mix of trivia and humorous stories. There are 14 stops conveniently located close to over 100 points of interest in Boston, these are: • Stop 1: New England Aquarium/Faneuil Hall Marketplace • Stop 2: Historic North End • Stop 3: USS Constitution/Charlestown Navy Yard • Stop 4: North Station/TD Bank Garden • Stop 5: Old State House * Stop 6: Beacon Hill/Antique Row • Stop 7: Cheers Bar "The Original" • Stop 8: Prudential Center/Skywalk Observatory (Currently closed due to construction) • Stop 9: Christian Science Plaza/Symphony Hall • Stop 10: Copley Place Shopping Galleries • Stop 11: Copley Square/Trinity Church • Stop 12: Old Town Trolley Welcome Center • Stop 13: Boston State House/ Boston Common/Beacon Hill • Stop 14: Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum (discounted admission included)

Boston: Harvard University Guided Walking Tour with Student

3. Boston: Harvard University Guided Walking Tour with Student

Join a student-led walking tour of America's oldest university, Harvard. See the historic campus through the eyes of a student and visit highlights, including the John Harvard Statue and Memorial Hall. Beginning in the heart of Harvard Square, you'll be led into the historic Harvard Yard by an enthusiastic Harvard student. Enjoy the sights while your guide entertains and inspires with tales of Harvard history and personal experience at the university they call home. You'll get an up-close look at major Harvard landmarks including Johnston Gate, the John Harvard Statue, Memorial Hall, and Widener Library. You'll even become privy to a few Harvard secrets along the way! Whether you're a student visiting colleges or a family on vacation, the Hahvahd Tour is undoubtedly the top way to see Harvard.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Public Tour

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Public Tour

Meet your student guide in Kendall Square and visit the university that ranks among the top schools in the U.S. Tour the campus and learn about some of the world's most talented innovators in the fields of math, science and technology. Get the inside scoop on the history, culture and alumni who hail from MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on a 1 hour 10-minute tour. Hear about some of the institution's alums, from engineer and astronaut Buzz Aldrin to world-famous architect, I.M. Pei. See the Great Dome, home to the school's engineering library and lovingly referred to by alums as the Center of the Universe.

From New York City: Boston and the Freedom Trail Day Trip

5. From New York City: Boston and the Freedom Trail Day Trip

Depart New York along the Eastern Coast through Connecticut to Massachusetts and to its capital, Boston. Your first stop is the city of Cambridge where will find one of the most famous and most prestigious universities in the world: Harvard. The tour starts with a walk in Harvard Yard; the oldest academic ground in America. See Widener library, then rub the shoe of John Harvard for good luck. Continue to a panoramic tour passing by City Hall, MIT and Cambridge College. Then cross the Charles River and arrive in the center of the intellectual capital of the country. Visit Copley Square, home to beautiful Trinity church. Next up is a walk along the Freedom Trail through Boston Common Park. Break for lunch at Quincy Market, and try the world famous Clam Chowder or a lobster roll. After lunch, visit the site of the famous Tea Party and the navy ship Constitution. In the late afternoon, depart southwest for an evening arrival in New York.

Boston: Charles River Sightseeing Cruise

6. Boston: Charles River Sightseeing Cruise

Enjoy a 70-minute, fully-narrated sightseeing cruise along the Charles River. Your captain and crew will both entertain and educate while pointing out the historic and cultural sights of Boston and Cambridge. Sights include Beacon Hill, Esplanade Park, the Back Bay, Boston University, M.I.T., Harvard and countless sailboats and rowers! Enjoy the sights from a covered seating area, or come out to the front for a better view. Sightseeing cruises depart from Lechmere Canal Park at Cambridge Side. The ticket booth and boat departure is located outside the doors by the Food Court.

Cambridge: Harvard Campus Self-Guided Walking Tour

7. Cambridge: Harvard Campus Self-Guided Walking Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Note: This 1 mile-long tour covers the essentials of the Harvard Campus in 2-3 hours. Explore your way on this self-guided walking tour of Harvard University’s campus in Cambridge. Visit the most iconic spots of the Ivy League campus with the help of an app that functions as your guide, narrator, and map. See animated videos that let you visualize parts of the tour. To start, simply set up the tour guide app on your phone and arrive at the starting point of the tour. Step into the life of a Harvard student and visit the heart of Harvard University's campus: Harvard Square. See and learn about the John Harvard Statue, Widener Library, former dorms of famous alumni like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, and more.

Boston: Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 45+ Attractions

8. Boston: Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 45+ Attractions

The Boston All-Inclusive Pass by Go City provides you access to over 45 of the area’s top activities, attractions, and tours for a single low price. Enjoy planning your own itinerary while saving up to 50%* compared to the cost of individual attraction tickets. Choose a 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7-day pass and visit as many attractions as you like during that time. Take a Trolley Tour, visit the New England Aquarium, or explore the Museum of Science. These and many other options are included in the cost of your Boston All-Inclusive Pass. A free digital guide helps you decide what to do, where to go, and how to get there. Below, "(R)" means that reservations are required. Included attractions with your Boston All-Inclusive Pass: TOURS AND ACTIVITIES • Historic Sightseeing Cruise (Seasonal - April to October) • CityView Hop-On Hop-Off Boston Trolley: 2-Day Ticket (Seasonal - April to November) • Fenway Park Tour • Swan Boats of Boston (Seasonal - April to September) • The Harvard Tour • Boston Movie Mile Walking Tour (Seasonal - April to October) (R) • Boston Bike Rental • One-Hour Guided “Let it Begin Here” Battle Green Tour • Hyannisport Harbor Cruise (Seasonal - May to October) • Cape Cod Canal Cruise (Seasonal - May to October) • Liberty Ride (Seasonal - April to October) • Boch Center Wang Theatre Tours • North End Boston's "Little Italy Tour" • Boston Historic Pub Crawl Tour • Boston Seafood and More Food Tour • Beacon Hill True Crime Tour • Sam Signature Experience MUSEUMS AND PLACES OF INTEREST • View Boston • New England Aquarium • Old State House Museum & Old South Meeting House Combo Ticket • USS Constitution Museum • Museum of Science • Paul Revere House • Museum of Fine Arts • Salem Witch Museum (R) • Boston Children's Museum (R) • Harvard Museum of Natural History (R) • JFK Presidential Library and Museum • Plimoth Patuxet plus Mayflower II or Grist Mill Combo (Seasonal - April to November) • LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston • Franklin Park Zoo • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum • Peabody Essex Museum • Institute of Contemporary Art • House of the Seven Gables • Buckman Tavern • Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology (R) • Otis House Museum • Concord Museum • Old Sturbridge Village • King's Chapel Attractions and tours are subject to change. Check the digital guide included in your confirmation voucher for the full list of inclusions, opening times, and reservation instructions. *Savings based on itineraries on Go City website.

Boston: Charles River Sunset and Cocktail Cruise

9. Boston: Charles River Sunset and Cocktail Cruise

Experience the spectacular scenery of Boston and Cambridge from the calm waters of the Charles River during this 90-minute cruise. With cocktail music in the background and a refreshing drink in your hand from our full-service bar, you will watch the setting sun over the cities of Boston and Cambridge. Guests can purchase drinks and light snacks from a full service bar on board. Charles River Sunset Cruises depart from Lechmere Canal Park located directly outside the Food Court at CambridgeSide Mall. Cruises run rain or shine!

From NYC: Exclusive Spanish-Language Day Trip to Boston

10. From NYC: Exclusive Spanish-Language Day Trip to Boston

Your trip to Boston begins in Midtown Manhattan at the entrance of your preferred pickup hotel: Millennium Broadway, Pennsylvania, or Manhattan at Times Square. Once you have been picked up, head north to the capital city of Massachusetts. There will be a stop halfway, where you will have time to have breakfast and use the services. Once you arrive in Boston, the first stop is Copley Square, where you can appreciate the architectural contrasts of the city. See iconic sites such as the first public library in the United States, the Hancock Tower, the Church of the Holy Trinity, and the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Within Copley Square, discover the monument to the Hare and the Turtle, which commemorates the cemetery of the Boston Marathon.  The next stop will be in the Church of Christ Scientist. Following, head through Massachusetts Avenue where you will see the Back Bay neighborhood, famous for its Victorian houses. Pass by Berkeley College, the largest private music school in the world. Then, marvel at the monument to Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and get up close to the Baseball Stadium Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. Continue towards Cambridge where the MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the prestigious Harvard University are located. Walk through the Harvard University Campus and past the famous monument of the three lies, after which you will have time to buy souvenirs. After this experience, back in Boston, walk one of the most attractive and expensive neighborhoods in the city "Beacon Hill." Leaving the neighborhood, pass by the bar made famous by the TV show "Cheers" and through the first public park in the USA. Cross through the Massachusetts Governorate, part of the Freedom Trail and the Financial Center, and the place of the Boston Massacre of 1770. The last stop will be at Quincy Market. At its inception in 1826, it was used as a center of production, purchase, and exchange of food products and is now the city's cultural center. In the market, you will have free time for lunch. Your guide will advise you as to where the best clam chowder and lobster sandwiches are sold, two of Boston's most famous local dishes. Finally, after lunch, head back to NYC and get dropped off where you were picked up.

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4.5 / 5

based on 2,806 reviews

This was a GREAT Tour!! We went to Harvard (which I did not think I would be very interested in) and learned quirky and little know facts and trivia, then toured Bunker Hill, and Old Ironside! For the money you cannot beat a tour with Stuey!! He’s a great conversationist, and it was just four of us on this private tour!! Besides our tour of Fenway Park it comes in a close second on the list of adventures in Boston!! Thank you, Stuey!!

The guide was very funny, super knowledgable and managed to fit a huge amount of information into the tour. We left with a much clearer understanding of the MIT Campus and the amazing things that happen within its walls.

The 2 tour bus drivers we had the pleasure of travelling with were incredibly entertaining as well as full of fun facts, I wish I could remember their names!

Very nice trip to Boston and Cambridge. Even if the travel is long you have sufficient time to visit the most interesting places.

We love Austin! His speech is so informative and very personal.