About
Cambridge is a city in the state of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. It sits across the Charles River from Boston, and the two are close enough that many visitors treat them as one destination, moving easily between them on foot or by public transit.
Cambridge is best known as home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Both institutions give the city its character: a steady flow of students, researchers and visiting scholars, and an atmosphere shaped by learning, debate and new ideas. The city is also a major centre for research and technology innovation, so its streets mix campus life with laboratories, offices and young companies.
What a visit offers
- Campus walks. The grounds of Harvard and MIT are open to explore, with old brick halls in one place and modern research buildings in another.
- Intellectual life. Lectures, exhibitions and events are often open to the public, depending on the season and the institution.
- Neighbourhood streets. Beyond the campuses, the city's districts offer bookshops, cafés and places to eat, reflecting its large student population.
- Easy links to Boston. Its location across the river makes it simple to combine a visit here with time in the wider Boston area.
Planning your trip
Cambridge suits visitors interested in universities, science and technology, and anyone who enjoys a city where education shapes daily life. Because it is a working academic community, the mood changes with the academic calendar, so check the schedules of the institutions you want to see before you travel.