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Sunrise

Cambridge Sunrise: Light and Coffee

Beat the rush to watch the sun crest over Harvard Square, then fuel up with fresh coffee and pastries.

Best time: 15 JanAbout 75 min

Timeline

  1. 06:41

    Plough and Stars

    Grab a pre-dawn spot near the entrance of Plough and Stars. It is an early start, so dress warmly and bring a jacket. The bar opens at 11:30 AM, so you will be outside waiting for the day to begin.

  2. 07:11

    Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

    Walk 28 minutes northwest to Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. This is your viewing spot. Position yourself to face west-southwest. The sun rises at 07:11, casting a golden light that lasts until about 15:53, but the initial burst at sunrise is the key moment.

  3. 07:56

    Petsi Pies

    Head back toward the square and walk 7 minutes to Petsi Pies. It opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 on weekends. Since sunrise is at 07:11, arrive here right after your view to get fresh coffee and a pastry while it is still early and quiet.

Local tip

Petsi Pies is open from 07:00 on weekdays. If you are visiting on a weekend, it opens at 08:00, so you may need to wait or adjust your plan slightly after the sunrise moment.

Check before you go

  • Petsi Pies opens at 07:00 on weekdays and 08:00 on weekends.
  • Plough and Stars opens at 11:30 AM, so you cannot enter until midday.

Worth knowing

  • Petsi Pies is open at 07:56 only on Mo, Tu, We, Th, Fr

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Cambridge (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

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