Art Lovers
Cambridge Art & Culture Immersion
A curated journey through Cambridge's artistic treasures
2 days9 stops
All ItinerariesArchitecture Fans
Cambridge Architecture Walk
Le Corbusier, Gehry, Saarinen, and Aalto — all in one city
1 day
10 stops
Moderate
Year-round (fall light is best for photography)
Overview
Cambridge has one of the densest collections of significant architecture in America. In a single day, you can see the only Le Corbusier in North America, Frank Gehry's wildest deconstructivism, two Eero Saarinen masterworks, Alvar Aalto's only US building, and Renzo Piano's glass-roofed museum — plus 300 years of colonial, Georgian, and Victorian architecture. This walking tour connects them all.
Your Day
9:00 AM45 min
Christ Church & Old Burying Ground
Garden St, Harvard Square
Start with Cambridge's oldest surviving church (1761, Peter Harrison) and the 1635 burying ground. Colonial architecture at its most authentic.
Insider Tips
- •Peter Harrison is considered America's first architect
- •The headstone carvings are folk art masterworks
10:00 AM1 hour
Memorial Hall & Sanders Theatre
45 Quincy St
Harvard's Gothic Revival cathedral to its Civil War dead. Peek into Sanders Theatre's stunning Victorian wooden interior.
Insider Tips
- •The stained glass windows tell Civil War stories
- •Annenberg Hall dining room visible through glass doors
11:15 AM45 min
Carpenter Center (Le Corbusier)
24 Quincy St
The only Le Corbusier building in North America. Walk through the signature spiraling ramp and see free art exhibitions in the Sert Gallery.
Insider Tips
- •The pedestrian ramp is the building's most distinctive feature
- •Directly adjacent to Harvard Art Museums (Renzo Piano)
12:00 PM1 hour
Harvard Art Museums (Renzo Piano)
32 Quincy St
Renzo Piano's 2014 renovation united three museums under one spectacular glass roof. The courtyard alone is worth the visit.
Insider Tips
- •The glass-roofed courtyard is the architectural highlight
- •Free for MA residents Saturday mornings
1:00 PM45 min
Lunch at Tatte Bakery
1288 Massachusetts Ave
Refuel at this Israeli-inspired bakery near Harvard Square. The shakshuka and fresh-baked pastries are outstanding.
Insider Tips
- •The courtyard seating is lovely in warm weather
- •Try the halloumi sandwich
2:00 PM30 min
Brattle Street / Tory Row
Brattle St
Walk down Cambridge's most elegant street. Georgian mansions from the 1700s line both sides, including the Longfellow House.
Insider Tips
- •The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House (1685) offers occasional tours
2:45 PM30 min
MIT Chapel & Kresge Auditorium (Saarinen)
48 Massachusetts Ave
Two Eero Saarinen masterworks side by side. The Chapel's light sculpture is transcendent; the Auditorium's thin-shell dome rests on three points.
Insider Tips
- •Visit the Chapel on a sunny day for full light effect
- •The reflecting pool by Kresge is seasonal
3:30 PM30 min
Baker House (Alvar Aalto)
362 Memorial Dr
The only Alvar Aalto building in the US. His serpentine brick dormitory ensures every room has a unique Charles River view.
Insider Tips
- •Best viewed from the river path
- •Interior is residential — exterior only
4:15 PM45 min
Stata Center (Frank Gehry)
32 Vassar St
Frank Gehry at his most audacious. Tilting towers of brushed aluminum and brick that look ready to collapse. Every angle reveals a new perspective.
Insider Tips
- •Walk all the way around — each side is completely different
- •The lobby café is open to visitors on weekdays
5:15 PM1 hour
Drinks at Loyal Nine
660 Cambridge St, East Cambridge
End your architecture walk at this beautifully designed restaurant. The cocktail menu is as thoughtfully crafted as the buildings you just saw.
Insider Tips
- •The bar seating is walk-in only
- •Try the seasonal cocktails