Cambridge is often described as a city of squares. These are not squares in the geometric sense, but neighborhood centers, usually at busy intersections, each with shops, restaurants and a character of its own. Spring is a great time to explore them, with outdoor seating returning and the Charles River paths turning green. Here is how five of the best-known squares compare.
Harvard Square
Harvard Square sits beside Harvard Yard and is one of the most visited places in the Boston area. It is full of bookstores, cafes, street performers and historic buildings. Parking is limited for its level of activity. There are a few garages and metered spaces, and the surrounding residential streets are largely reserved for permit holders. The Red Line’s Harvard station sits in the heart of the square, making transit the easiest way to arrive. Spring brings university events and, later in the season, commencement, which can strain parking.
Central Square
Central Square, between Harvard and MIT, is known for its music venues, diverse restaurants and murals. Massachusetts Avenue runs through it, with metered spaces along the street and a municipal lot or garage nearby. Like Harvard Square, it has a Red Line station at its center. Evenings with shows at local venues can make parking competitive.
Kendall Square
Kendall Square, next to MIT, is one of the world’s leading centers for biotech and technology research. It has a large supply of garages attached to office and lab buildings, many of which serve the public in the evenings and on weekends. On weekdays, demand from commuters is high. The Kendall/MIT Red Line station and the riverfront make it easy to combine with a walk along the Charles.
Porter and Inman Squares
Porter Square, north of Harvard, mixes shops, restaurants and a shopping plaza with surface parking. It has a Red Line station and commuter rail service, which makes it a convenient stop for visitors arriving from the north and west. Inman Square, east of Harvard, is known for its restaurants and lively evening scene. It has no subway station, and parking is mostly metered street spaces and nearby residential streets with permit restrictions. Many visitors reach Inman by bus, bike or a walk from Central or Harvard.
Moving between the squares
- Red Line: Connects Kendall, Central, Harvard and Porter in a few minutes.
- Buses: MBTA routes link the squares, including Inman.
- Bikes: Cambridge has an extensive network of bike lanes and bike share stations.
- Walking: Harvard to Central or Central to Kendall is a pleasant walk along Massachusetts Avenue.
The City of Cambridge publishes current parking information at cambridgema.gov, and posted signs are the final word on every block. For many visitors, the best plan is to park once, often at a garage in Kendall or at the Alewife station garage at the end of the Red Line, and use the train to hop from square to square.
Planning a Day of Square-Hopping, Step by Step
Exploring several squares in one day is one of the best ways to see Cambridge, and the Red Line makes it easy. Here is a practical plan.
- Choose your squares. Pick two to four squares based on your interests, whether bookstores and history in Harvard, music and food in Central, the riverfront and modern architecture in Kendall or restaurants in Inman.
- Decide where to park. Consider the Alewife garage, a garage in Kendall or a garage in another square with available space. Park once.
- Plan your route. Use the Red Line to connect Kendall, Central, Harvard and Porter, and plan a bus ride, bike ride or walk to reach Inman.
- Check the calendar. Look for university events, commencement and concerts that could affect crowds.
- Set up your fare. Load a transit card or app in advance to make hopping between squares easy.
- Plan your return. End the day near the station that takes you back to your car.
A Sample Spring Day
A visitor from the suburbs might drive to Alewife, park in the garage and ride the Red Line to Porter for coffee. They continue to Harvard, explore the bookstores, walk through Harvard Yard and have lunch. In the afternoon, they walk along Massachusetts Avenue to Central, stopping at shops and murals along the way, then catch a bus or walk to Inman for an early dinner. After dinner, they walk back to Central and ride the Red Line to Alewife. The car never moved.
Another visitor might park in a Kendall garage on a weekend, walk along the Charles River, explore Kendall and then ride the Red Line to Central and Harvard before returning.
Common Mistakes When Visiting the Squares
Driving between squares
The squares are close together, and driving between them often means another parking search. The Red Line, buses, bikes and walking are usually faster.
Parking on residential streets
Many residential streets near the squares are reserved for permit holders. Read every sign, and choose a garage or meter if you are unsure.
Visiting Harvard Square during commencement without a plan
Commencement brings large crowds and road closures. Plan to arrive by transit or choose a different day.
Overlooking Inman’s transit gap
Inman Square has no subway station. Plan a bus ride, bike ride or walk from Central or Harvard.
Questions Visitors Ask
Which square is best for first-time visitors?
Harvard Square is the most famous and offers a mix of history, shops and cafes. Many visitors start there and branch out.
Is Kendall Square worth visiting on a weekend?
Yes. Weekends are often quieter, garages are easier to use and the riverfront makes for a pleasant walk.
Can I walk between all the squares?
Many visitors walk between Harvard and Central or Central and Kendall. Porter and Inman are a bit farther, and a short bus or train ride helps.
Is biking a good option?
Yes. Cambridge’s bike lanes and bike share stations make it easy to hop between squares. Ride carefully in busy areas.
What about evenings?
Central and Inman are known for their evening scenes. Check your garage’s hours and the last Red Line trains if you plan to stay late.
Is there a good square for families with young children?
Many families enjoy Harvard Square for its open spaces and street performers, and Kendall for its walks along the Charles. Large garages with elevators make strollers easier to manage, and the Red Line ride between squares is short enough to keep little ones interested.
