Just walk out of the metro station and you are in the middle of it. Lots of places to eat and something always going on with the students.
As if getting to see the beautiful Harvard campus wasn't enough, we stopped for lunch and a look around Harvard Square afterwards. There are a few frozen custard shops - a must! Although merchandise shops are quite pricy, don't hesitate to look around. It's great to sit at a corner cafe and watch everyone bustle about, and was an experience I won't forget!
Take the train in if you can because of the parking. If you can't, go ahead and shell out for one of the garages. It makes things much simpler. There are tons of shops and restaurants throughout the square. You can find a gift for everybody there. The Garage is a great little mall with plenty of cute shops like Anime Zakka and Newbury Comics. There are terrific book stores like Schoenhoef's which specializes in foreign publications. Happy shopping!
The expectations of Harvard and its' history were met with the exception of the extremely high occurrence of running into panhandlers all around the Harvard campus and the streets just off of the campus proper. I have no doubt that some truly are in need of help, but why just off of the campus of a college property of this magnitude. I personally felt uncomfortable with wanting to give to the ones that really needed help and the ones that are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Exciting & fun place to spend time before joining the tour of Harvard Campus. Many interesting & unique shops. Also in the favourite students pizza place.
I love Harvard Square not only for a few good shops such as Crema for coffee lunch and sweets, Tess for unusual cloths, the Harvard Coop for quick books, and any bank you need but also the churches, #1 bus, and the museums ... peabody, fogg, bush and stackler.. enjoy a walk to see all the historical haunts, and find new views of life.
Planned on stopping to see Harvard Campus for less than an hour and ended staying around Harvard Square almost three! We walked our the campus ourselves, it is a gorgeous campus and I would recommend stopping by if you are a tourist. There were tours going on but we just did our own things. It is so pretty and a call for lots of photo ops. After walking around the campus, we walked the cute little town. Lots of cafes, bakery's, Harvard gift shops, and good food places. We actually ate at Shake Shack which was delicious. I would go to waste a few hours. Lots of fun and super cute.
We only had a few hours to spend in Harvard Square but it was worth it - a beautiful place with lots of lovely buildings. We were there during holiday time so, no students. I'm sure it would have been a lot busier during term time. Worth a walk round.
over the last quarter-century, the square has lost much of the character once provided by primarily independent shops, most all of which have been forced out by ridiculous rents and replaced by the chain stores that can pay those rents. but despite that, it keeps on keeping on. the cigar store is still there (i think; just occurs to me i haven't looked in a while); the shoe repair shop is still there; unbearable cardullo's is still there; the coop, etc. the loss of 'upstairs on the square,' however, is a real blow and hard to overcome. you can still get some very good food (rialto, harvest, and a little further down in quality henrietta's and toscano); you can still overpay for a burger, but get a good one (but avoid mr. bartley's at all costs).and it's where everyone wants to be. almost always lively and vibrant. when you leave your office or dorm or get off the T, it almost always lifts you at least a bit, gives you back some of the energy you've lost.
Very nice shopping/dining area right outside campus. Worth a look if you come to see the university (which I DON'T recommend). There are much better things to see in Boston than Harvard, but if you do take the time to come here, make sure to see the square.