Things to do in Cambridge

16 activities, venues and outings in Cambridge, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
BIDA contra dance
Try out an energetic social folk dance native to the region, whose ease of learning makes it a welcoming option for travelers. Live traditional fiddle music.
Sundays 7PM-10:30PM$5-$15 (sliding scale)
Do
Charles River Canoe & Kayak
The best way to do this is to rent a boat and paddle upstream to Allston from Kendall Square. Vice-versa is great too, the river has no current to fight against. It'll take less than 2 hours and is amazing.
8AM-10PM$15-20 per hour, $40-60 per day
Do
Charles Riverboat Company
CambridgeSide
Sightseeing, sunset, and architectural tours on the Charles River and Boston Harbor.
May-Oct 10AM-7PM daily$10-28
Do
Landmark Kendall Square
One Kendall Square
This great theater has all the newest Hollywood blockbusters, plus all the arty flicks you never knew you wanted to see. Big garage next door, so parking here isn't as big an issue.
Do
Lynch Family Skatepark
Shred your face off in this concrete paradise designed for you to bust out your sweetest ollies and kick-flips. Graffiti is encouraged on the "free walls", and there's an Artist-in-Residence program in the summer. Established in 2016.
Dawn-10PMFree
Do
Plough and Stars
Another sorta Marxist bar down from People's with excellent live music.
Mon 11:30AM-midnight, Tue Wed 11:30AM-1AM, Thu Fri 11:30Am-2PM, Sat 11-2AM, Sun 11Am-midnight
Do
Red Fox Escapes
They have 2 games: The Heist (you get to steal a diamond) and The UBoat (WWII submarine themed).
$34 per person
Do
The Brattle Theatre
The Brattle shows the best in classic, cutting-edge, foreign, and art-house films. The Brattle Theatre has been operated by the non-profit Brattle Film Foundation since 2001.
Do
The Cantab Lounge
A Cambridge staple since the early days of the American folk music revival. Small, old-school feel with live music 7 nights a week, focusing heavily on American roots music. The Cantab hosts a folk music open mic on Monday nights and jams other nights, as well as small- to medium-sized acts every night. A must for those interested in the Boston folk music scene.
Mon-Wed 8AM-1AM, Thu-Sat 8AM-2AM, Sun noon-1AM
Do
The Lilypad
A performance space, art gallery and community space for anything from yoga, to jazz jam nights, to lectures and workshops.
Afternoons and eveningsUsually no cover
Do
The Middle East
This legendary Cambridge institution consists of an art gallery, 4 live music venues, 4 full bars, and no less than 3 dining areas (including the upscale Zuzu, below). Sample a large variety of Lebanese dishes served in a vibrant, artsy setting. The "Corner" dining area (enter at 480) features live music every night, often free, with belly dancing on Su and W. Extensive vegetarian menu.
Sun-Wed 11AM-midnight, Thu-Sat 11AM-1AM$4-12
Do
The Phoenix Landing
The Phoenix Landing really depends on what time you get there. It could be a subdued local pub trivia night, a fan packed sports bar, or even a full on dance party.
Mon-Wed 11AM-1AM, Thu-Sat 11AM-2AM, Sun 10AM-1AM
Do
Zuzu
This is also a middle-eastern tapas joint, which serves pretty good food at reasonable prices.
Sun-Thu 5PM-1AM, Fri Sat 5PM-2AM
Do
Fresh Pond Golf Course
Public course.
Apr-Dec sunrise-sunsetNine holes: $24-27, cart $20, private lesson $50
Do
The Comedy Studio
Hong Kong
All shows begin at 8PM
Thu-Sun 8PM$10-15
Do
The Sinclair
Affiliated with Great Scott in Allston.
Mon-Wed 5PM-1AM, Thu Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat 11AM-2AM, Sun 11AM-1AM

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Cambridge (CC BY-SA 4.0).