Timeline
15:11
Pick up a pastry or coffee at Harvard Book Store. It opens at 10:00 on Sundays and stays open late, so you can grab a warm drink and settle in before the walk begins.
15:51
Walk 41 minutes from Harvard Square to the Prospect Hill Monument. Climb the tower early enough to secure a good spot. The view looks west, directly toward where the sun will set.
16:36
Watch the sun sink toward the WSW. The golden light hits the tower and the Boston skyline just before the sun disappears.
17:06
Head down the hill and walk 4 minutes to The Independent. It is an unpretentious pub that opens at 16:00, perfect for a post-sunset drink as the evening sets in.
Local tip
The walk from Harvard Book Store to Prospect Hill takes about 45 minutes. Start early enough to enjoy your drink and have time to climb the monument stairs before the sun goes down.
Check before you go
- Harvard Book Store opens at 10:00 on Sundays (Mo-Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00).
- The Independent opens at 16:00 (Mo-Th 16:00-01:00; Fr 16:00-02:00; Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 11:00-01:00).
- Check the sunset time for your specific date, as it shifts throughout the year.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Somerville (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).