855 455 8747 ext 2
Please enjoy our tour preview by zooming in and following the yellow line.
The Hahvahd Tour is the most popular tour of Harvard University. Our guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind theatrical journey through Harvard from the perspective of current Harvard students. With plenty of laughs, and lots to learn, the Hahvahd Tour will leave you with smiles and memories that will last for years to come!
Starting Location: 1376 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA (outside the Main Harvard Red Line Subway Station at the Cambridge Information Booth)
Ending Location: 57 JFK Street, Cambridge MA (The Harvard Shop)
Cost: $10 per person (save when you book online)
Tour Times: 7 days a week, March-November. Click “Book Now” for exact tour times
Tour Length (time): About 70 minutes
Tour Length (distance): Less than one mile
Transportation Options: We suggest taking the Subway or a cab. If you drive in the closest parking is an outdoor lot at 50 Church Street, Cambridge MA
You might be asking yourself...
Our tour is Led by a REAL Harvard Students who each complete a rigorous 2-month training process
Our tour is scripted to provide theatrical entertainment suitable for all ages.
According to the New York Times, our tour is a “crash course” in student life, University history, and has stories you won’t hear anywhere else!
At $10 per person, you can’t beat our price - plus we offer a FREE MAP to every tour guest!
Our guests enjoy discounts on souvenirs at The Harvard Shop.
You can Reserve Tickets Online for a Discounted Rate
You may be be wondering...
400 years of Harvard, Cambridge, and Boston history
Our tour includes three main tour themes:
Harvard History - including the untold stories and lore of Harvard University
Insider Information - stories and tips from current Harvard students
Famous Harvardians - learn about the most famous people to attend Harvard
Much more!
You probably want to know...
Harvard Yard including Old Yard and New Yard
Dozens of historic buildings including Memorial Hall, Sever Hall, The Widener Library, and the Harvard Lampoon
The John Harvard Statue
The surrounding neighborhood of Harvard Square
Much more (check out our online tour map for more tour information and tour teasers)
What are you waiting for? It’s time to book the tour!
The Hahvahd Tour was founded 2006 by Harvard students. We set out to offer Harvard visitors a theatrical entertaining and educational look into the fame, lore, and history of Harvard University. Our tours have since served over one million Harvard visitors. We are proud to offer the best student-led, historic walking tour in Cambridge!
Our tour has received praise from major media outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, History Channel, AAA, and Forbes magazine. Our company is licensed by the Harvard Trademark Program and officially partners with the The Harvard Shop, the Harvard COOP and Harvard Student Agencies.
Today, our authentic and engaging tour is still given by current Harvard Students and enjoyed by thousands of guests each year. We hope you join us!
The Hahvahd Tour is the most popular walking tour of Harvard University. Guided by current Harvard undergrads, it is a 70-minute historic tour of Harvard Yard and the surrounding neighborhood of Harvard Square. Entertaining and educational, the Hahvahd Tour is in its 8th year of operation. It receives consistent praise from guests and major media outlets!
The Hahvahd Tour starts at the Cambridge Information Booth, located at 1376 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138. This address is right outside the Harvard Red Line “T” (subway) Station. Our guides and managers will greet you wearing straw hats, and our famous “Hahvahd” t-shirts!
There is a charge to take our tour. For booking online, tickets are $8.00 per person. If you do not reserve tickets ahead of time, you will pay $10 at the end of the tour.
To book and print tickets online, please visit our Booking Page (hyperlink needed). From there, you can select your tour time, the amount of guests in your party, pay by credit card, and print out your tickets right at home.
When you reserve online, we process your payment in advance, so you can save time on the day of your tour. If you wait until the day of the tour costs $10 per person, so you save when you book ahead of time! Also when booking online, you receive coupons and special offers with your ticket - a unique benefit only available with only booking.
Our walking tour of Harvard is a 70 minute adventure led by a Harvard Student. The tour is partly-scripted to be a theatrical, entertaining performance! Tour themes include Harvard History, Insider Information & Famous Harvardians. The tour covers major Harvard landmarks including Johnston Gate, John Harvard Statue, Memorial Hall, Widener Library, Memorial Church, Harvard Lampoon, and the historic Winthrop Park.
Founded in 2006 by Harvard Alumni, we are a private company that employs over 50 Harvard students per year. The Harvard Trademark Program officially licenses our company to use the Harvard brand. We are an official partner of Harvard Student Agencies, The Harvard COOP and The Harvard Museum of Natural History. We provide tours for nearly every Harvard graduate school. Our founder sits as a Board Member with the Harvard Square Business Association. We are proud to serve Harvard.
Our tour guides are current Harvard Students! When you join our tour, you’re getting the inside scoop from someone who knows the ins and outs of Harvard University. As current students, our guides are a resource to guests who want to learn more about the Harvard experience.
The tour route is less than one mile. We walk at a leisurely pace through campus.
Yes, the terrain of the tour route is handicap accessible at nearly every stop. If someone in your party has a disability, please contact us before the tour and we will do our best to serve you. We cannot provide wheelchairs on site.
Yes, at the halfway point, the group will be given an opportunity to sit outside the doors of the famous Widener Library.
We operate rain or shine from March 1 - Nov 15. During severe thunderstorms with lightning our public walking tours do close for the safety and comfort of our guests. Don’t worry - storms never last long in New England!
Yes, in fact, National Public Radio has called the Hahvahd Tour “the real deal” for prospective students. However, it is important to note that we are not the Harvard Admissions tour. We encourage all prospective students to visit the admissions office at some point on their visit to Harvard. While our tour is geared toward guests of all ages from across the globe, prospective students can gain a lot of insight about the University and Harvard culture. Your guide is a current student and is happy to answer your questions!
Yes! Our tour is scripted to entertain both adults and children. AAA Magazine called us “great for families!” We strive to serve guests of all ages, and families really enjoy our friendly, interactive tour guides!
The Hahvahd Tour does not tour the interior of the buildings. We show our guests all the key highlights of the Harvard campus, leaving time to absorb the rich history and lore given at each stop. To go inside buildings consider booking a private tour through our parent company Trademark Tours (hyperlink needed)
Tours are offered between 10am - 4pm, 7 days a week from March - December. Please view our current schedule on our Booking Page.
There is limited street parking in the area, but there are several parking garages close to our tour. Take a look on our Map to get a better feel for the area and to plan your visit.
Our tours have been praised by NPR, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Forbes Magazine, AAA and the History Channel. We have a Yelp page, and we are considered the #1 Tour in Cambridge according to Trip Advisor.
Our parent company, Trademark Tours, deals exclusively with private group events at Harvard University, the MIT Campus, and the City of Boston. If you would like more information regarding private tours and events, please visit www.trademarktours.com
Class Year at Harvard: 2014
Concentration (Major): Social Studies
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Harvard Extracurriculars: The Harvard College Writing Center
Favorite Place at Harvard: Widener Library, because it's home to some terrific puns
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: The boat jokes
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Government
Hometown: Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Harvard Extracurriculars: Massachusetts Institute of Politics, Harvard College Peruvian Association
Favorite Place at Harvard: My favorite place at Harvard is the John W. Weeks Bridge. It's a pedestrian bridge that connects Harvard college to the Harvard Business School. From the bridge, you get an amazing view of the Charles River, the illuminated domes on the tops of the undergraduate houses, the golden steeple of Baker Library at the business school, and the sunset on a clear afternoon. It's one of my favorite places to have some frozen yogurt and just enjoy the scenery of the area.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Being a tour guide has given me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, to hear about their experiences, and to share my own. Not only have I been able to meet and talk to folks from all over the globe, I've been able to entertain them and tell them all about the school I love.
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): History and Literature
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Harvard Extracurriculars: TClub Soccer, China Town Afterschool, Harvard Storytime Players, Dorm Crew, Intramural Frisbee, Alzheimer's Buddies
Favorite Place at Harvard: The Weeks Bridge: the best spot to from which to jump into the Charles.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: The people I meet, especially when they tell me crazy stories about thier lives.
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Government
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Harvard Extracurriculars: YLC Chair and Social Outreach Committee Member of the Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC), Board member for the Holoimua O Hawaii (Harvard Hawaii Club), and Member of the Bee Club
Favorite Place at Harvard: My favorite place at Harvard would have to be Dunster House! We have a beautiful courtyard and dining hall that I consider unique and quite special. The view from our bedroom window is amazing, overlooking both our courtyard and the Charles River. It's a lovely, very homey community to have here at Harvard!
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: love getting to share the wonders of Harvard with people from all over the world! It's also a fun opportunity for me to bring out my quirky theatrical side and express all the ALOHA I've got for this place :)
Class Year at Harvard: 2016
Concentration (Major): Undecided, leaning towards Linguistics
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Harvard Extracurriculars: Harvard Classical Club, Zumba
Favorite Place at Harvard: Cafe Gato Rojo
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: I love sharing my college and hometown with people from all over the world.
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): History and Literature
Hometown: Needham, MA
Harvard Extracurriculars: Freshman Outdoor Program (FOP), Harvard Model Congress (HMC)
Favorite Place at Harvard: Weeks Footbridge: See a classic view of the Charles and Harvard without the traffic of other bridges. Also very fun to jump off when it's warm!
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Each tour is different; it's great to meet personalities from all over the world and represent the incredible university I get to call home.
Class Year at Harvard: 2016
Concentration (Major): Statistics/Social Studies
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Harvard Extracurriculars: Expressions Dance Company, Citystep
Favorite Place at Harvard: The observatory at the top of the science center, because you get a great view of Boston and it's very quiet
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Getting to tell jokes and, on the occasion, make people laugh
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Slavic Languages and Literatures
Hometown: Halifax, MA
Harvard Extracurriculars: I'm a physical trainer, barista, cook, and contributing writer for several clubs!
Favorite Place at Harvard: Russell House Tavern (for the best quality meal) then the Yard (for the best quality post-meal nap)
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: love all the new people I meet and the impeccable gait I've developed walking backwards. Really. Come check it out. It's amazing.
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Psychology
Hometown: Zeeland, Michigan
Harvard Extracurriculars: Harvard College Faith and Action, Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, Black Arts Festival Committee
Favorite Place at Harvard: Boston Tea Stop -- they have the BEST smoothies with boba!
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: I love meeting people from all over, hearing their stories and sharing some of mine... oh, and of course being obnoxious!
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Sociology
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Harvard Extracurriculars: Harvard Glee Club, Satire V
Favorite Place at Harvard: Clover Food Lab: the have a small menu, but every item is fresh and delicious
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Meeting interesting people from all around the world!
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Psychology
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Harvard Extracurriculars: Undergraduate Council, The Harvard Crimson, Asian American Association, Harvard Model Congress, Harvard Middle Eastern Dance Company, Delta Gamma
Favorite Place at Harvard: The Quad... it's not that far...really
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Having folks laugh at my corny jokes
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Psychology
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Harvard Extracurriculars: Act on a Dream, PBHA Keylatch, Tutoring, Harvard Map Collection
Favorite Place at Harvard: My favorite place at Harvard University is the Science Center. Although I don't have too many classes here, the Science Center is a great place to randomly see a lot of friends you haven't seen in a while since so many classes are held here. Furthermore, it offers so many conveniences such as the computer lab, the greenhouse cafe and cabot library.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: I love showing tourists what Harvard is all about!
Class Year at Harvard: 2014
Concentration (Major): Divinity School Graduate Student -- Buddhist Studies
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Harvard Extracurriculars: Research Assistant for Science, Religion, and Culture Program; Transliterator Extraordinaire for Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center; VeriToss -- Divinity School Ultimate Frisbee
Favorite Place at Harvard: Lost in the bowels of Widener Library, or sitting beneath trees in the courtyard of the Divinity School, catching leaves as they fall.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: The looks my guests give me when I share silly/absurd tidbits from Harvard history.
Class Year at Harvard:2015
Concentration (Major): Government
Hometown: Pennsylvania
Harvard Extracurriculars: The Crimson, Harvard Republican Club, IOP
Favorite Place at Harvard: I love the Dunkin Donuts on the corner of JFK and Eliot. It is right across from where I live and provides the perfect place to get good, affordable coffee early in the morning.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: I love meeting people from around the world, hearing where they are from, and learning from their experiences.
Class Year at Harvard: 2014
Concentration (Major): Government
Hometown: Georgia
Harvard Extracurriculars: Harvard College Faith and Action, Harvard Ichthus, Harvard Student Mental Health Liaisons, Government Department Peer Concentration Counselor
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: I love expressing and sharing the Harvard experience with people from all over the world. :)
Class Year at Harvard: 2015
Concentration (Major): Economics
Hometown: New Jersey
Harvard Extracurriculars: AAB, AAA Board
Favorite Place at Harvard: Cabot L-31. 4 of my favorite people in one place.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Seeing the tourists' really enjoy themselves.
Class Year at Harvard: 2016
Concentration (Major): Economics
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Harvard Extracurriculars: Asian American Dance Troupe Harvard China Forum Smart Women Securities Harvard Association for US-China Relations
Favorite Place at Harvard: I love Boloco, the burrito place. I also love Starbucks, of course, being from Seattle.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: I love interacting with visitors from all over the world, and seeing everyone on the tour enjoying themselves and laughing at the stories we tell.
Class Year at Harvard: 2016
Concentration (Major): Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Iraq
Harvard Extracurriculars: Tutoring at the Bureau of Study Counsel
Favorite Place at Harvard: Border Cafe
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Meeting new people from all over the world every day
Class Year at Harvard: 2014
Concentration (Major): Economics
Hometown: Houston, TX
Harvard Extracurriculars: SAMC, Advocate, Ballet Folklorico
Favorite Place at Harvard: The Café Gato Rojo is my favorite place to grab a cappuccino or some tea and read the paper. Fantastic atmosphere.
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Fantastic atmosphere. Sharing my experience at Harvard with tourist is always grounding and exciting. I love meeting people from all over the world as well!
Class Year at Harvard: 2016
Concentration (Major): Computer Science / Math
Hometown: Columbia, MD
Harvard Extracurriculars: Harvard Ballroom Dance, Harvard Fencing Club
Favorite Place at Harvard: Fellipe's, Pinocchio's, the Kong... basically, any place serving cheap food after midnight!
Favorite Part of Being a Tour Guide: Stretching my legs, enjoying the beautiful campus, the fresh air...and of course, the always-wonderful guests!
The Massachusetts Bay Colony established the college to educate Protestan ministers.
John Harvard bequeathed his book, money and cow pastures to New College. One year later the college was re-named “Harvard”.
The Great and General Court of Massachusetts issued Harvard corporate charter making it not only the oldest college but the oldest corporation in America.
As the second oldest building at Harvard, this building served as the headquarters for General George Washington during the American Revolution.
is stablished
Harvard’s most secretive (and some say powerful) organizations are known as the Harvard Final Clubs. The first Final Club, The Porcellian, was founded in 1791.
This elite student theatrical company is famous for its annual student-produced-all-male-musical where the actors dress in drag to play female roles!
is stablished
is established.
is established.
is established.
The Crimson describes itself as "the nation's oldest continuously published daily college newspaper". Past famous editors include Franklin Roosevelt & John F.Kennedy.
The Lampoon is the second oldest comedy magazine in the entire country. Lampoon alumni write for hit television shows including The Simpsons, SNL, Seinfeld, and The Office.
(later re-named Radcliffe Collage) for women is established.
Harvard's oldest bookstore was founded to serve students.
Daniel Chester French (the same man who carved the Lincold Memorial) created this famous statue.
is established.
This horseshoe shaped stadium was the fist vertical structure to use reinforced concrete. Harvard boasts more division I sports teams than any other school in the country.
is established.
is established.
is established.
is established.
are established. (The former was renamed John F.Kennedy School of Government in 1966)
Harvard's oldest a cappella singing group is made up of 12-14 male signers. Today Harvard has approximately 10 active a cappella singing groups.
This organization was created to provide students jobs at Harvard with "real-world" managerial experience.
begins awarding joint Harvard-Radcliffle diplomas.
University Hall became the focus of national attention when 300 Harvard students occupied the building to protest Harvard military contracts.
drops out of Harvard.
graduates from Harvard Law School
Combined three historic research museums - the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Geological Museum, and the Herbaria.
launches Facebook at Harvard from Kirkland House.
This Harvard student-led tour captures the attention of local and national press coverage as a theatrical and entertaining look at the University.
University and the first woman president in Harvard's history.
Harvard's Endowment peaks at a current record $37.2 billion.
