Where exactly is Harvard University located?

Question

I've always heard about Harvard, but I'm a little fuzzy on where it's actually situated. I know it's obviously somewhere near Boston, but is it in Boston or a different city? 

I'm trying to plan some college tours with my family this summer, so I want to know if Harvard is in Boston itself or if it's in another nearby area. Also, is it easy to get there with public transportation from downtown Boston? 

If anyone has visited or goes there, would love to know how the campus is set up compared to the surrounding city or towns too.

Accepted Answer

Harvard University is actually located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is just across the Charles River from Boston. Even though a lot of people say “Harvard, Boston,” the university’s main campus is not technically in Boston proper. Cambridge and Boston are neighboring cities, so it’s only about a 10-15 minute subway ride between downtown Boston and Harvard’s campus.

To get there using public transportation, the most common option is the MBTA Red Line subway. If you’re coming from Boston, you can hop on the Red Line and get off at Harvard Station. As soon as you exit the Harvard Square stop, the university’s famous gates and historic buildings are right in front of you. The area around campus, called Harvard Square, has plenty of restaurants, shops, bookstores, and coffee spots. It’s a really lively neighborhood and has a distinct feel compared to downtown Boston.

The main Harvard Yard is at the center of campus and is surrounded by academic buildings, libraries, and dorms. The campus is very walkable and blends into the wider Cambridge area, so there’s not a strict boundary between "Harvard" and the surrounding city streets. If you take a short walk from campus, you’ll find residential neighborhoods and more commercial areas. The mixture of old brick buildings and green spaces on campus gives Harvard a classic New England college feel, even while it’s in the middle of a bustling urban area. 

If you’re planning a college tour, you’ll find it easy to combine Harvard with visits to other Boston-area colleges thanks to the efficient public transit system. As an example, many families visit MIT right after or before Harvard, since MIT is just about a mile away along the Red Line in Cambridge as well.