Yes. Harvard offers free student-led tours departing from the information center in Harvard Yard. Self-guided walks are also possible since Harvard Yard is open to the public. MIT does not offer official tours, but the campus is open and walkable, with highlights including the Stata Center and the MIT Museum.

Boston Logan Airport is 15 minutes by car, or about 30 minutes via the Blue Line to the Red Line. The T (subway) runs frequently and drops you right in Harvard, Central, or Kendall squares.

Directly across the Charles River. The Red Line connects Central Square to downtown Boston in about 15 minutes. You can also walk across the Harvard Bridge (which actually connects MIT to Boston) in about 15 minutes.

It depends on what you want. Cambridge is quieter, more walkable, and has its own character. If you're drawn to Harvard, MIT, bookstores, and a more local dining scene, Cambridge works well. The Red Line connects to downtown Boston in about 15 minutes. For a first visit focused on Boston's historic sites, staying in Boston may be more convenient.

May through June and September through October offer the best weather for walking. The academic year (September through May) gives the city its signature energy. Summer is quieter and easier to navigate. Cambridge works year-round.

Cambridge is home to Harvard and MIT, but the city has character beyond its universities. Harvard Yard is open to explore, and the Harvard Art Museums hold three world-class collections. MIT's campus has modernist architecture and public art. Central Square has restaurants, bars, and live music at The Middle East. Harvard Square has bookstores and cafes. The Charles River Esplanade offers walking and kayaking with Boston skyline views. The restaurant scene ranges from cheap Indian food at Punjabi Dhaba to inventive small plates at Little Donkey.

Two properties: 907 Main (67 rooms) in Central Square, with Althea restaurant and rooftop Saigon Babylon on-site; and Cambridge Common House (16 rooms) near Harvard Square, in a restored 1835 building with a guest lounge serving breakfast and refreshments.