Porter Square Hotel
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Porter Square Hotel is worth booking if you want a clean, modern room within walking distance of Harvard for far less than our other two Cambridge picks. Expect a compact room with little storage, and check whether breakfast is offered.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
Visitors heading to Harvard, whether for a campus tour, a conference or a family visit, are the obvious fit. This 3-star hotel scores 8.6 out of 10 from 1,308 reviews, and guests describe it as spotless and modern.
Solo travellers and couples with light luggage will cope best with the room sizes. The neighbourhood is described as safe and quiet.
Skip it if you need space to spread out for a long stay, or if you want to sleep right on Harvard Square. Our Luxury pick, The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, costs more than double.
Location and getting around Cambridge
The address is 1924 Massachusetts Ave, in the Porter Square area. The location score is 9.3 out of 10.
Straight-line walking estimates are reasonable. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is about 1.3 km away, roughly 16 minutes. The Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East is about 1.4 km, around 18 minutes, and Harvard Square is about 1.8 km, around 23 minutes. Guests also mention shops and restaurants within walking distance.
For trips into Boston, our data does not cover transport, so check your options before you go.
What guests say
Two things earn praise. The location is walkable to Harvard, shops and restaurants, in a neighbourhood guests call safe and quiet. Cleanliness is the other: interiors are described as spotless, modern and well maintained.
The weakness is room size. Rooms are compact with limited storage, though many guests still find them functional and well designed. On review score, the hotel shared 3rd place out of 9 eligible properties.
Price and how it compares with our other picks
We saw €222.71 per night for a 2-night stay on 10 to 12 November 2026, 2 adults, one room. The sample median was €317.29, so this was about 30% below it. These are reference prices seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026, not live quotes. Check today's price for your dates.
The Kendall Hotel at the Engine 7 Firehouse, our Best Value pick, scored 9.0 with 4 stars at €411.55, close to €190 more a night. The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square, our Luxury pick, scored 8.8 with 5 stars at €539.02. Cambridge is expensive, and Porter Square Hotel is the most affordable of the three by a wide margin.
Listed facilities are a restaurant, a garden, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Breakfast is not confirmed in our data, and neither is parking.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 9 eligible hotels in Cambridge. Porter Square Hotel had the lowest eligible reference price after the upscale choice was set aside, so it is our Budget pick.
A score of 8.6 from more than 1,300 reviews, plus consistent praise for cleanliness, made it a safe choice at that price.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition and cancellation terms have not been assessed. Given the comments on compact rooms, look closely at the room size in the listing.
Ask whether breakfast is available and at what cost, and whether there is parking if you are driving. Restaurant opening hours should also be checked for your dates.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
How far is Porter Square Hotel from Harvard Square?
About 1.8 km, roughly 23 minutes on foot as a straight-line estimate. Guests say Harvard is within walking distance.
Are the rooms at Porter Square Hotel small?
Guests describe them as compact with limited storage, though functional and well designed. Check the room size before you book.
How much does Porter Square Hotel cost?
We saw €222.71 per night as a reference price for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults. Check today's price for your dates.
Does Porter Square Hotel have parking or breakfast?
Neither is confirmed in our data. Ask the hotel directly before booking if you need either.