Cambridge is a small, fine university town a bit away from London. The university is ranked on the top of the world, the old town is just beautiful and there is also good food. A real insider tip.
I have had the good fortune to be a whole week in the charming city and have tried and looked at everything worth mentioning. Not everything was as great as described in the guidebook, but much. And the highlights can now be read here.
Table of contents
The journey to Cambridge
You can get to Cambridge relatively easily (and cheaply) by flying into London Stansted. Many of the budget airlines fly to this airport and it is even closer to Cambridge than to London!
The fastest way to get from the airport to the city is by train. After 30 minutes you get to the Cambridge train station.
Finding your way around Cambridge
The relatively exhausting arrival day is best used for orientation. A tip here are the sightseeing buses. Sounds absolutely touristy, looks like it, but is very practical. The buses are so-called "hop on, hop off" buses and you can ride them all day. So you can also use them as a normal means of transportation.
They go to all the major sightseeing points, you can get a description via headphones. Highly recommended, as you can get off directly at many sights in Cambridge to which you would otherwise have to walk a bit.
A good idea is to get off at the botanical garden and admire the beautifully landscaped piece of nature. It's the perfect place to rest a little after your arrival surrounded by flowers. The botanical garden also has a really interesting and visibly old glass house to offer. Here you can discover many species of cacti and palm trees if you can tolerate a little tropical air :)
The best way to get around England is to visit a pub in the evening, I think. After the first run around Cambridge, good food and maybe a beer or a cider can't hurt.
The prejudice that English cuisine is not good is certainly no longer true. The only thing that takes some getting used to is that you always order at the counter in pubs, regardless of whether you're just having a drink or also eating something.
Punting - with the gondola through the cam
Cambridge takes its name from the river "Cam" that flows through the city. To have been in Cambridge without having tried "punting" is almost impossible.
Actually, you can imagine them as thick Venetian gondolas. The wooden boats are about 6 meters long and are steered and moved with extremely long rods made of wood or metal. It is a very special feeling to see the city from this perspective. You also pass almost all the colleges and they have it in them. Seeing that was fantastic.
You can choose to rent a boat and try it yourself, or you can go in a group of 12 and have your own "punter" to take you around. I was not brave enough to go myself. The river is sometimes quite busy and it happens that tourists get stuck in the mud with the pole and take a cool bath.
It was very funny to sit in the boat. The punter was a student and told all the time anecdotes of the colleges while he permanently warned us to keep our fingers in the boat. The Cam can be quite stormy. For a while, three boats were so close to each other that I could have shaken hands with those in the other boat. Then no one wants to have the finger between them.
The colleges - a must see!
Speaking of punting. Looking at a college is also a must in Cambridge. You can't go home before that. The University of Cambridge is actually a network of colleges (so the one university does not exist). Each college has a different history, different rules and consists of a variety of incredible buildings.
The colleges are huge and charge admission. I visited St. John's College and was just blown away by how incredible it is inside.
I was also lucky enough to be there during graduation time and saw many students in their gowns. It makes you feel like you're at Hogwarts.
Cambridge for those who have a little more time
So the most important things are settled. Do a sightseeing tour, go "punting" and visit a college. These are the basics that you have to do in Cambridge. But three days are unfortunately not an eternity either, so the next suggestions are for specific personalities. After all, we usually all expect something different from our vacation.
Cambridge for the nature lover
Too much city annoys you and at some point all the crowds can slide down your hump? You like nature and could hike all the time? But you don't mind a snack either?
Then I have the right thing for you here: Orchard Garden
A little paradise of apple trees, tea, really good cake and delicious food. Orchard Garden is a large tea garden where you can really relax. There are many deck chairs around small tables where you can relax and enjoy the treats from the kitchen. I can especially recommend the "Victoria Sponge Cake".
The tea garden is located in the village of Grantchester. It is about an hour's walk from Cambridge along the Cam River. Quite untypical for a city vacation, you walk in the middle of meadows and pastures, really idyllic. The path is signposted, but you can also get to Grantchester by bus.
Cambridge for the culture lover
When you see a museum, you're immediately drawn to it? You find art really interesting (you don't just pretend)? Maybe you even have a book or two about art at home?
My tip for you: The Fitzwilliam Museum
The magnificent Museum of Art and Antiques is located in an even more incredible building, which is worth seeing in itself. Focusing on art exhibition has a lot of painting from the Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism.
There are even paintings by great masters like Picasso, Monet, Rubens, Titian and Renoir. The best thing about it all? Admission is free, you can look as often as you like.
If you are on Sunday in Cambridge, you can even catch a free concert at the Fitzwilliam. Great music always rings through the venerable halls at 1:15pm. Space is limited, but you can get free tickets from the main entrance starting at 12:00.
Cambridge for the bookworm
Half of the contents of your suitcase are books? Do you feel lost without a book in your hand? You really don't like e-books? Reading English is no problem?
Then let me introduce: Waterstones
On some floors full of books you can stroll around for days if you like. You don't even have to go out to eat, the bookstore has its own cafe. Electricity is provided if you take an adapter (in Europe we have different plugs than on the island) and wifi is also available.
I have to admit I was in the great store almost every day. Also, there are many small, fine bookstores to explore in Cambridge that have many antique books to offer. A dream.
Cambridge The Shopping Queen
Shopping counts as an endurance sport for you? Vacation souvenirs are a must? You love to discover the stores of your vacation countries?
Then this is just the thing: The Grand Arcade
In the heart of Cambridge lies the ultimate shopping opportunity. 60 stores of the extra class delight the shopping heart. However, you will not save anything here.
The typical souvenirs can be found near the colleges. College shirts and sweaters in all variations. This is also a good idea in a university town. You could also bring tea for those who stayed at home. The best tea is in England. There are many expensive tea stores, I have limited myself to plunder the supermarket. Tastes equally good, is just not so nicely packaged but accordingly cheaper.
But I have to admit, I took the tea for myself. Every time I enjoy one, I feel transported back to England.
Have a good trip!
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