Walk Harvard Square at your own pace with a location-aware smartphone audio tour. Start at the Sheraton Commander, follow campus stories from 17th-century Common to the Harvard Art Museums, and stop where you like.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Streetlights hum as you step off Garden Street and into a square that still speaks in printed paper and argument. The audio tour finds its rhythm with your footsteps: cobblestones, pedicabs, students with coffee, and the hush that falls across quads between lectures. Follow the app and the city’s layers unfold—meeting houses, a turreted Lampoon building, and gates that have marshaled graduates for centuries.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
75–105 minutes
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires walking on paved surfaces and short stairways.
Wildlife
History
Cambridge Common was established in the 1630s and later served as the site where George Washington took command in 1775; Harvard University dates to 1636, shaping the area’s civic life for nearly four centuries.
Conservation
Respect historic markers and landscaping—stay on paths, pack out litter, and avoid climbing monuments to protect fragile stones and plantings.
Reserve your spot on the Harvard Square and University Smartphone Guided Audio Walking today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Download and unlock before you go
Install the WalknTours app and enter code sea2780 so the experience is ready when you reach the Commander Hotel start point.
Bring wired or noise-cancelling headphones
Headphones improve audio clarity in crowded squares and next to busy streets.
Carry a pocket battery
Expect 75–105 minutes of audio plus map use—an external charger avoids mid-tour shutdowns.
Watch foot and bike traffic
Harvard Square is busy—stay aware of bikes and shuttle buses when stepping off curbs or crossing intersections.
Smartphone with WalknTours app
Runs the audio experience and maps your progress through Harvard Square.
Comfortable walking shoes
Pavement and occasional stairs require supportive footwear for 1–2 hours of walking.
Headphones or earbuds
Improves audio clarity and immersion in busy outdoor environments.
Portable battery pack
Keeps your phone powered for the duration of the tour and incidental navigation.