15 Amazing University Campuses Worth Visiting

Where: Cambridge, England

is characterized less by a proper campus than a collection of colleges, medieval churches, courtyards, and wisteria-filled gardens. The town of Cambridge originated in Roman times, and the university dates back to 1209. The exact founding story is unknown, but the version told to Cambridge students recounts that some Oxford scholars chased out after the accidental shooting of a peasant fled to Cambridge, where they established a new university. The prestigious university is shrouded in mythology and funny stories of students' pranks. Going with a guide is the best way to get all the insider info.

Insider Tip: When passing under the Great Gate at Trinity College, look up at the statue of Henry VIII. At some point, the scepter in his hand was replaced by a table leg, but when or how the switch was made is one of Cambridge's great mysteries.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Bologna, Italy

The oldest university in the Western world, the traces its roots to 1088, when free teaching became widespread outside of the church. Many of the university buildings date back to the Renaissance, and several are from the 17th and 18th centuries. Strolling through the redbrick and stone arcades around the university makes for a pleasant afternoon. Several museums commemorate the scholarly advances of intellectuals like Nicholas Copernicus, Erasmus of Rotterdam, and Albrecht Dürer, all of whom studied here. In particular, the Museo di Palazzo Poggi displays botanical specimens, scientific instruments, and paleontological artifacts.

Insider Tip: Bologna is full of good, inexpensive restaurants catering to the student population, but for a great aperitivo, stop by the restaurant at (Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna).

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Oxford, England

It's hard to imagine a more picturesque university than Oxford. The oldest university in the English-speaking world, dates back to 1167, when King Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. On the campus, regal Gothic buildings housing classrooms, dormitories, and dining halls stand out against the quad's verdant lawn, where you can imagine Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oscar Wilde, and W. H. Auden lounging between classes. Oxford's circular is a masterpiece of Palladian architecture and one of the .

Insider Tip: Harry Potter fans touring the campus should pay attention to see where scenes at Hogwarts were filmed.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Dublin

Roaming the green, sprawling campus of , you'll likely feel connected to the great literary tradition there. Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, and Samuel Beckett all studied at Trinity, and their busts stand proudly in the . Most of the university's buildings were constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries, but Queen Elizabeth I established Trinity College in 1592 with the aim of "civilizing" Dubliners. In the historic Examination Hall—also known as Sir William Chambers' Theater—you can marvel at the impressive 18th-century interiors and the organ, which was recovered from a Spanish ship.

Insider Tip: In James Joyce's Ulysses, Leopold Bloom visits near the college. Today, many Trinity students work there, selling the lemon soap that Joyce described.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Coimbra, Portugal

A , the University of Coimbra has grown and evolved over the course of seven centuries. Its lavish baroque library—the —is widely recognized as the most beautiful university library in the world. The university holds plenty of other attractions, including the 12th century Cathedral of Santa Cruz, several 16th century colleges, and the 18th century botanical gardens. The oldest nucleus of the campus is located on the site of the former Royal Palace of Coimbra.

Insider Tip: Be sure to visit the university's outstanding , which has an excellent colloction focusing on physics, chemistry, natural history, astronomy and medicine from the Enlightenment period.

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Cambridge, MA

America's oldest and most prestigious university is comprised of a series of buildings that narrate the progression of architecture in the U.S. Established in 1636—over a century before the United States was an independent country— took its name from John Harvard, who donated his entire library and half his wealth to the university upon his death. His statue stands at the center of the gated campus, in Harvard Yard. Visitors can freely wander the grounds admiring the charming red brick buildings, though many have restricted access for students and faculty only. Memorial Hall, with Saunders Theater inside, is a Victorian masterpiece and a memorial to the Harvard men who died for the Union cause during the Civil War.

Insider Tip: Tourists love to take photos with the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard, but beware—Harvard students .

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: New York City

Originally founded as King's College in 1754, is one of the oldest universities in the U.S., but has only occupied its current campus since the early 20th century. Back then, this part of Manhattan—known as Morningside Heights—was still quite rural. Famed architects McKim, Mead, and White designed the picturesque campus in the Beaux-Arts style. It's a bit of an idyllic oasis in the city, with plenty of green space surrounded by red brick and stone classroom buildings, libraries, and chapels. Columbia has its fair share of secrets, like the origins of the oldest building on campus—the Maison Française—as a mental hospital. Poe's Raven Mantel, donated to Columbia in 1908, was in a back room of Butler Library after being lost for over 100 years.

Insider Tip: After touring the campus, head over to the Hungarian Pastry Shop, one of .

Plan Your Trip: Visit

Where: Charlottesville, VA

In 1819, Thomas Jefferson founded and designed the pastoral . He believed that the young nation he helped found would need a public institution of higher education to form future generations of leaders, instilling them with knowledge, personal responsibility, and ethics. He took inspiration from the Classics, modeling the Rotunda on Rome's Pantheon. The Lawn, surrounded by red brick academic buildings with white columns, served as a model for many other American universities.

Insider Tip: After visiting Jefferson's university, explore , his home in Charlottesville.

Plan Your Trip: Visit