January is a surprisingly busy month around Harvard and MIT. While undergraduates are still on break, campus fills with short intensive courses, visiting researchers starting spring appointments and professionals in for executive programs. If you're coming for a few weeks in January, here's how to plan your stay.

Quick answer: Stay between Harvard and Central Squares on the Red Line. You can walk to Harvard, reach Kendall Square and MIT in a few stops, and book a weekly or monthly rate instead of paying nightly hotel prices for three weeks.

What's Happening in January (2027)

  • MIT Independent Activities Period (IAP): MIT's January term of short courses, workshops and research. For 2027 it's expected to run from early January to the end of the month (about Jan 4–29). Confirm on MIT's official IAP site.
  • Harvard Law School winter term: a three-week term starting Monday, January 4, 2027, according to the school's calendar.
  • Harvard Winter Session and January terms: Harvard College's Wintersession and other schools' January programs run through most of the month. Harvard's graduate school calendar lists a January term starting Monday, January 11, 2027 (tentative).
  • Spring-term arrivals: many visiting scholars, postdocs and fellows arrive in January for spring appointments.

Dates change, so always check your program's own calendar before booking travel.

Where to Stay: Cambridge Beats Downtown in Winter

In January, the commute matters more than the view. Walking ten minutes in the cold beats a 30-minute T ride twice a day. Staying in Cambridge, near the Red Line, means:

  • Harvard: walkable, with no transfers.
  • MIT and Kendall Square: a few Red Line stops from Harvard or Central.
  • Groceries, cafés and restaurants on Massachusetts Avenue, so a long stay feels like living here, not visiting.

For the full comparison, see Cambridge vs. Boston: Where Should You Stay?

Save on a Multi-Week Stay

Three weeks of nightly hotel rates adds up fast. Ginkgo House offers weekly and monthly rates from November 22 to March 14: 10% off 7+ nights, 20% off 14+ and 25% off 28+, with deeper discounts on our larger rooms. Our two private suites with kitchens have a 14+ night rate from $229/night. The discount applies automatically when you book direct.

Surviving (and Enjoying) a Cambridge January

  • Dress for real cold: daytime highs are often in the 30s °F, with colder nights and the occasional snowstorm. Bring boots with grip.
  • Snow emergencies: if you have a car, learn the rules. Parking is banned on posted Snow Emergency Routes during storms. Our Cambridge parking guide explains it.
  • Rainy or snowy weekend? Harvard Art Museums are free, and the Brattle Theatre, MIT Museum and bookshops fill an afternoon. See things to do on a rainy day in Cambridge.
  • Coffee and work spots: our guide to the best coffee shops in Harvard Square has places to settle in with a laptop.

FAQ

When does MIT IAP 2027 start?
MIT's January term is expected to run from about January 4 to January 29, 2027. Check MIT's official IAP calendar for confirmed dates.

Is it better to stay near Harvard or near MIT?
If you'll spend time at both, stay on the Red Line between them. Harvard and Central Squares are a short ride from Kendall Square.

Can I get a monthly rate in January?
Yes. At Ginkgo House, stays of 28+ nights between Nov 22 and Mar 14 are 25% off (35% on our Deluxe and Family Queen rooms). Check availability →