The Harvard Student-Led Walking Tour
Guided Historical Tours (Public)
In the event of inclement weather, please check the calendar, or call regarding a scheduled tour time.
The Official Harvard tour departs from the Harvard Information Center, in the Holyoke Center Arcade. The tour is student-led and comprises an outdoor walk (please dress appropriately) through Harvard Yard, providing a history of the university, general information, and a unique view on the student’s individual experience! The tour is around one hour long, and completely free of charge. There is no pre-registration for general visitors, however, if you have a group of 15 or more, reservations are required (please see below).
Please view the calendar for more details »
Please Note: The university does offer another guided tour of the undergraduate campus. Offered through the Admissions Office, this student-led tour of Harvard Yard is designed for prospective students and those visitors wishing to learn more about student life. For more information on these tours, visit the Office of Admissions.
Group Tours and Reservations (Private)
NOTE: Please review the updated tour fee information here »
Reservations are required for tours of 15 or more people, with a absolute maximum of 125 people. We request 2 weeks notice to schedule a tour. Please note, we cannot accommodate groups that arrive without a reservation. Call about the tour schedule: 617-495-1573 or e-mail info_center@harvard.edu. Wheelchairs are available with a week or more of advance notice. Please note we can take requests from 9:45-3:45 pm, but during our public tour start times, (10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.), we cannot accommodate requests.
Winter tours resume February 4, 2013.
Available start times: 9:45, 11:00, 11:45, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 3:15pm, 3:45pm
To submit a group tour reservation request please click here
Late Arrivals
Reservations will be held for 15 minutes. Tour guides will be released at the discretion of the Information Center.
A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Harvard Yard
If you are interested in touring the campus on your own you may want a self-guided walking tour. These tour pamphlets, offered in nine different languages, can be purchased from our office for a minimal charge.
You may also download audio files of historical information on each of the buildings in Harvard Yard. These files, which together comprise an Audio Tour can be obtained here.
If you have a mobile device, you can download our new Mobile Tour.