Boston Harvard & Cambridge Walking Food Tour: College Town Eats

Harvard's Hidden Food Stops, Not the Tourist Restaurants

A guided walking food tour through Cambridge and Harvard Square that covers three hours of campus history, college-town character, and six tastings at local favorites: the Secret Dish, Boston Cream Pie donut, New England popover, fried clam po' boy, pizza, and water included. You walk past Harvard Yard, the John Harvard statue, and Cambridge Common while a live English-speaking guide shares stories of the university's notable former residents and the Puritan roots of the area.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. John Harvard Statuepassing by
2. Cambridge Common15m

Explore Harvard and Cambridge highlights

• Visit Harvard Square and shops
• Walk through Harvard Yard
• Pass by Harvard University campus
• See John Harvard statue
• View Harvard Lampoon Building
• Stop at former JFK Library site
• Explore Cambridge Common park
• Visit 17th-century cemetery

The experience

The tour starts in Harvard Square, the neighborhood anchored by Harvard University's stately brick buildings and leafy campus. Your guide leads you past the John Harvard statue, through Harvard Yard, the oldest part of the campus, and into the surrounding streets where bookstores, indie boutiques, and laid-back bars draw a largely collegiate crowd. You'll hear how Julia Child, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg once walked these same paths, and why the Puritans chose this spot to establish one of America's first cities.

Food stops are woven into the route: you taste the Secret Dish, a Boston Cream Pie donut, a New England popover, a fried clam po' boy, and Harvard's favorite pizza. Water is included throughout. The walk also passes the Harvard Lampoon Building, a site of Revolutionary War history at Cambridge Common with its fields and bike paths, and a 17th-century cemetery where early colonial jurists and Harvard College presidents are buried. The three-hour pace lets you absorb the neighborhood's character without rushing between stops.

You can book this as a private tour or join a public group: both follow the same route and include the same tastings. A live guide in English leads the way. Public transportation is nearby if you need it, and the walk is moderate in intensity. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

• Six food tastings including the Secret Dish, Boston Cream Pie donut, New England popover, fried clam po' boy, and Harvard's favorite pizza.
• water throughout the walk.
• a live English-speaking guide leading the three-hour route through Harvard Yard, Harvard Square, and Cambridge Common.

Options for this experience

2 options

Public tour optionGuide in English · Available from 27 Nov · 12:00 and 13:00

Private tour optionGuide in English · 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00, 12:00 and 13:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the route and tastings without joining other travelers. Choose the public tour to meet other visitors and keep the price lower. Either way, the walk is moderate in pace and covers three hours, so it suits someone who wants to explore Harvard's campus and neighborhood character without a full-day commitment.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the private and public tour options?

Both follow the same route through Harvard and Cambridge, include the same six food tastings, and are led by a live English-speaking guide for three hours. The private option is just your group. The public option joins other travelers on the same departure.

How many food tastings are included on this tour?

Six tastings are included: the Secret Dish, a Boston Cream Pie donut, a New England popover, a fried clam po' boy, Harvard's favorite pizza, and water throughout the walk.

Will we actually go inside Harvard Yard and see the campus?

Yes. The tour walks through Harvard Yard, the oldest part of the campus, and past the John Harvard statue. You'll see the stately brick buildings and ivy-covered walls that make up the heart of the university.

Is this tour walkable for someone who isn't very fit?

The tour covers three hours of walking through Cambridge and Harvard Square at a moderate pace. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. If you have concerns about fitness level, contact the operator before booking.

What's Cambridge Common, and do we spend time there?

Cambridge Common is a historic park with fields, bike paths, and a creative playground: a site of Revolutionary War history. The tour passes through it as part of the walking route through the neighborhood.