<p>After visiting Harvard a couple of times I've kind of been bothered by the city feel of the college. Don't get me wrong, i love boston and its culture and history, but I really dislike the constant amount of tourists at harvard- for me it detracts from the college feel. At least when I was there, there were probably 5 or 6 tour groups just in the yard alone. </p>
<p>Do any current or past Harvard students have any input on the tourism? Maybe it was just the days that I visited...</p>
<p>Tourists are a part of being at Harvard. If you want the "college feel" in a traditional self-contained campus, Harvard does not fit your bill.</p>
<p>You are talking about two different things, perhaps. Tourists and tour groups. Tourists are probably drawn to Harvard because it's... well... Harvard. But tour groups are a fact of life at every college these days. You probably went on a few yourself, and this would happen at both urban and country settings. There are lots of students interested in looking at all colleges.</p>
<p>One of the things our daughter liked about Harvard is that the community uses the campus to walk across, and you can never really tell who is a student, on campus or walking around Harvard Square and Cambridge. She did not want to be on a self-contained, pretty "bubble" campus where she would feel defined and labelled as "student," and never see older people, kids, people going to work etc. Everyone is different.</p>
<p>The tourists are a big part of Harvard Yard and Harvard Square. In the houses, you will barely notice them.</p>