Situated in eastern Massachusetts on the shore of Charles River, Cambridge is an iconic city known for world-class educational institutions. The city is home to Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, two globally acclaimed academic centres. The best time to visit Cambridge is between the months of June and October as the university students head out and it’s much easier to get around. This also allows for better deals on accommodation. The city boasts several museums which visitors must check out, for instance, Harvard Art Museums, MIT Museum and Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Cambridge is also well connected by rail and road, with Boston Logan International Airport being the nearest airport. If you’re looking for places to go on a short trip, this city can be the answer. Read on to find out about the best short-term rentals in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) host status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, decor, availability of dates, and short-term stay rules and regulations. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on May 31, 2024.
1. Award-winning property in a historic building (from USD 375)
This beautiful and elegant house located in a quiet part of Cambridge can accommodate up to six people. The historic house has been carefully restored and modern amenities have been added to make it comfortable for guests. There is an outdoor deck overlooking a garden which is perfect for alfresco dining.
Harvard University is only a 10-minute walk away. Public transport is also easily accessible from the area. This property offers a 5% weekly discount for guests.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
coffee tea great kitchen amenities perfect location for visitors to harvardwe appreciated the well equipped kitchen — and especially the waffle ironnice kitchen living space dining space and work spacewe stayed in the house for 7 days and it was very comfortablethe two bedrooms and two bathrooms were wonderful for kids and adultsCleanliness:
everything very very clean and easy to usekjersti's place was clean comfortable and quietclean bright spacious well stocked and very comfortablebeautiful and clean and simply easy every wayvery spacious and cleanHost:
kjersti was an amazing hostthank you for being such a great hostthe host kjersti is very helpful and communicativekjersti was a helpful host and quick to respond to any questionsopen space worked well to enjoy each others company host was great communicatorRead more reviewsLocation:
the location is also greatperfect house with a location you cannot beatthis home is located in a great location which makes it easy to walk to everything you needi thought the location was perfectly situated and close to everything we wanted to dogreat location and a wonderful place to stay
2. Sunlit apartment with vibrant decor (from USD 240)
This bright three-bedroom apartment is a favourite with tourists for its convenient location and clean interiors. Everything that you may need for a hassle-free stay is provided in this apartment. This airy property is located barely 1 mile (2 kilometres) away from Harvard University and is very close to Davis Square. There is a biking trail in close proximity which is a great place for guests to go for a walk or a jog.
A 10% discount can be availed on bookings longer than a week.
Top guest reviews
Cleanliness:
very clean and very well stockedthe property was clean convenient and comfortablenice clean rooms in a great boston neighborhoodgood location clean lots of roomthe apartment was immaculately clean a wonderful layout for my husband and three older childrenHost:
very nice responsive ownersthey are eco-friendly with recycling and composting of food scraps which we really appreciatedRead more reviewsLocation:
the location is great with multiple ways in and out of the neighborhood making it easy to reach
3. Impeccably furnished apartment with central air-conditioning (from USD 270)
This effortlessly impressive property with hardwood flooring, classy furniture and bright upholstery exudes a welcoming vibe. There are large windows in every room giving it an airy feel. Plus, there’s central air-conditioning for your comfort. The pristine home is located in a lovely neighbourhood with easy access to public transport and is close to plenty of parks and restaurants.
This property is a short walk away from Kendall Square. The host also throws in a 10% weekly discount for guests staying longer than seven nights.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
pepita was great for morning coffee and breakfast sandwichesCleanliness:
the place is super clean and all linens smelt clean and freshsuper clean plenty of rooms for multiple gueststhe place is clean and on a quiet streetplace was clean and very nicethe apartment is very clean and very comfortableHost:
the host was extremely helpfuljimmy was a great hostjimmy was an amazing hostjimmy is an outstanding hostjimmy is an awesome hostRead more reviewsLocation:
the location was perfectfantastic space and great locationgreat location easy access to multiple t stops - 15 minute walk to a couple of stopsthe place is even nicer in person the location is ideal to the t and nicely located in cambridgeit was a short walk to the train station safe and convenient
4. Luxurious house in a convenient location (from USD 695)
Situated only a few minutes away from Kendall Square and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this elegant property will charm you with its classy interior. Featuring expansive windows and hardwood floors, this house has a private backyard, perfect to wind down after a long day. The villa is in close proximity to many restaurants, so you can easily explore the amazing local cuisine.
On top of all these, you can even avail of a 10% weekly discount.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
kitchen is well appointed; bedrooms were ample and furnishings were quite lovelycosy nicely holiday-decorated house with many rooms and lots of spacea comfortable space with beautiful decorCleanliness:
comfortable clean stylish home in cambridgethe house was excellent clean spacious and walkable to restaurants and transit systemthe home was beautiful clean and comfortablethe home was beautiful and clean with a nice outside patio and a fun rooftop gardenHost:
host instructions were greatlynne was a gracious host and easily available if we had any questionsher friendly cat was an added bonus to staying herelynn was an excellent hostlynne was a wonderful host and helped us with all of our needsRead more reviewsLocation:
good location walkable to boston restaurantsthe house is impeccable and the location is perfectgreat location beautiful home and wonderful hostwe felt very safe in the neighborhood and even took a late night walkwe were extremely happy with the property size condition location and the hostess
5. Studio apartment with lovely patio (from USD 115)
This cosy studio apartment is set in an old neighbourhood and is within walking distance from a bus stop, making it easy to go around town. The property has a patio where you can lie down on a hammock and admire the canopy of leaves spread out over you.
The apartment comes with ample utilities to keep you comfortable and can sleep up to four people. The host also provides a 12% weekly discount.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
Wi-fi worked greatThe apartment wasn't as well equipped as most HomeAway apartments that I have stayed in but it does have all of the basicsIf you have hair on your head you may need two towels You have to walk up a bunch of stairs to get to your door from the outside deck; the motion sensor comes on every time any of the other downs...and we needed to warm up the condoI was attending a conference and needed a place to stay in Cambridge at a reasonable price for 4 nightsCleanliness:
Apartment was clean warm and invitingIt was comfortable clean and conveniently locatedBathroom had a distinct smell and sheets and pillows had stains on themLocation was great Apartment was not as clean as I would have expectedHost:
Host nice on phone son @ propertyetc Also had soap shampooVictor's detailed instructions about everything were very helpfulOnly one towel per personPlace was nice Deck was greatRead more reviewsLocation:
Harvard square is only 20 min to walk in the pretty and safe neighbourhoodBusses ran regularly at three minutes walking distance but I enjoyed walking to downtown Cambridge by foot which took about in 30 minutesEnjoyed the area with walking distance to shops and restaurants- very nice neighborhoods and walking trails nearbyWe ate out and cooked in Easy walk to the Charles River and fresh lakeReally enjoyed staying here when visiting my daughter in Cambridge
6. Riverfront apartment in a historic building
This well-furnished riverfront apartment is located in close vicinity to Harvard Square and has easy access to public transport. The property is surrounded by wide windows allowing ample sunlight inside. You can also enjoy scenic views of Chrales River from the bedrooms. Seven people can comfortably stay here.
Guests can avail of a 15% weekly discount on this property.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesAccommodates: 7
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
we really enjoyed our stay at mike’s apartmentCleanliness:
but very clean and well equippedit was clean well-stocked and comfortableapartment is dated but clean and comfortableapartment is clean beds comfortable; apartment in need of some repairsplace is gorgeous great location and very clean exactly as advertisedHost:
mike's a great hostcheck-in was easy and the host was responsiveparking onsite was helpful also the on street parking was fine as wellRead more reviewsLocation:
great locationgreat location for a city staygreat location and a great valuegreat location in cambridge reasonable distance to bus and subway depotwe really enjoyed the location
7. Fully furnished home for families (from USD 351)
This beautiful house is located in a peaceful residential area and is close to many shops and restaurants. There are bike lanes nearby which the guests can take advantage of, an outdoor playground is available for the kids. Moreover, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are a short ride away.
The well-equipped kitchen and comfortable beds make this space perfect for slightly longer stays. You can also enjoy a 10% discount on week-long bookings.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the air conditioning units were able to make our sleeping areas and living areas comfortablethe beds well if you like firm like plywood you will like theseCleanliness:
very clean with simple furnishing and not a lot of personal toucheshouse was very clean and has everything you needthe apartment was clean and well set up for our group of three couplesvery clean place my friends stayed there and enjoyed their staythe house was very clean and ready for the five of us when we arrivedHost:
they were always accommodating and kindkitty and mark were wonderfully responsive hostswe would definitely stay again - property owner was so kind and helpfulkitty and her family were very friendly and helpfulRead more reviewsLocation:
the apartment is in a great location right by freshwater pond and a grocery storethe location was great for our trips into the cityi would recommend this property for its close proximity to harvard squarewould highly recommend this house and is within a mile walking distance to great neighborhood restaurantswalking distance to some of cambridge's best cafes and armenian markets
8. Cosy apartment with high-speed WiFi (from USD 211)
This cosy two-bedroom apartment is big enough for a small family of four. The apartment is well furnished with tasteful upholsteries and eye-catching artwork on the walls. There’s a large smart TV in the living room for you to enjoy with your family. You can also explore the numerous restaurants and coffee shops close to the property. Guests can avail of an 18% weekly discount.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the room window ac’s were awesome at nightlots of amenities & interesting art in the bathroomthe beds were super comfy with nice beddingerin gets bonus points for the extra-nice tv and super comfy mattressthe beds were among some of the most comfortable we've ever slept in at an airbnbCleanliness:
the space is very clean and comfortableit was clean and the beds were comfortablethe unit itself was very clean and comfortableit is clean cute and niceit is clean uncluttered and nicely furnishedHost:
erin our host was available and helpfulshe was extremely helpful and responsiveerin was such a great hosterin was a great host and communicated promptlyerin was a wonderful host she was super responsive to messages and very helpful as a hostRead more reviewsLocation:
great location with restaurants within walking distancegreat location and comfortable homecute cozy apartment close to restaurants and sitesextremely great location to restaurants on inman square as well as bus stops nearbyeasy walk or bus to harvard square and central square and very transitable
9. Loft-style apartment in a vintage home (from USD 145)
This semi-loft apartment is located two blocks away from Central Station and is perfect for a couple. The apartment features an open-plan design that makes maximum use of the available space. It is located in a residential neighbourhood and has many restaurants nearby. There’s also a well-equipped kitchen for those who prefer home-cooked meals.
The host offers a 15% weekly discount for anyone staying for more than seven nights.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
very good kitchen for air bnb in the areabeautifully decorated and feels like a luxury home meets comfortable cabininstructions to get into the apartment were very simple and jookun was easy to reachjookun’s apartment was a dream just like the pictures but even betterCleanliness:
the listing is accurately described and very cleanreally welcoming clean and spacious apartmentit is very quiet and very cleaneach space is clean and unclutteredit is a good sized apartment quiet very clean nicely appointedHost:
a perfect place to stay prompt and courteous responses from the hostjookun is a great hostjookun was a great host and even had some food in the pantry for usjookun is a very responsive host and the apartment is well-stockedRead more reviewsLocation:
the location is greatawesome loft in great locationexcellent super convenient locationdefinitely recommended great locationhuge perk that it was so close to central square so transport and grocery shopping was simple
10. Victorian apartment with modern amenities
This cosy Victorian house is located on a beautiful tree-lined street just five blocks away from Harvard University. The home is beautifully furnished and large windows and skylights bring in ample natural light. The property is located close to many restaurants and has easy access to public transport, making it easy to explore the city and its vicinity.
The host provides a 12% weekly discount.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesSuperhostAccommodates: 3
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
having parking a/c and a washer/dryer was key hosts were kind and responsivethe kitchen is small but well equipped and the bedroom large pleasant and light filledthe apt was an excellent base for our weekend in cambridge & bostonCleanliness:
the house was clean comfortable and about 1the apartment was cozy charming clean and quietit is a good space for 2 people - very clean quiet and well-maintainedinside we had a comfortable bed in a clean & homey unitthe apartment is clean with plenty of space for two or even three personsHost:
friendly & responsive hostsjudy and steven are gracious hoststhey were extremely kind and helpfuljudy and stephen were wonderful hoststhey are lovely hosts would be happy to stay againRead more reviewsLocation:
wonderful location and very comfortablegreat location and beautiful spacethe location is great it is close to mass ave and the porter square subway stationgreat location within walking distance to many locations in cambridge and somervillejudy's place is ideally located - walking distance to great food shopping transportation but still very quiet
Explore the varied attractions in Cambridge
Hallowed campuses, well-curated museums, historic buildings, beautiful streets, delicious food - there’s plenty to enjoy in the charming city of Cambridge. It is the perfect destination for those looking for a week-long break from their daily routine. Choose one from this list of short-term rentals for a delightful stay in Cambridge and be assured that you are getting the best deal.
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