Almost everything in Cambridge is “off the beaten path,” so to speak, because you’ll almost never find crowds at museums, restaurants or any of the other typical tourist traps. Seekers of the truly obscure will not be disappointed here.

First, there are the antique bookstores. The tiny back streets of the King’s Parade district are dotted with quaint bookshops well-stocked with an eclectic collection of new and used books. Even Cambridge’s more modern bookstores can lead to some satisfying literary discoveries: try Heffers, which serves coffee on the upper level to enhance the reading experience.

Next, there are a number of tiny museums that tourists overlook simply because they don’t look like anything from the outside. The Kettle’s Yard gallery and the Folk Museum – both on Castle Hill (castle mound commands a reasonable view of town, though lacks a castle as such) – have good-sized collections of art and artifacts, even if the rooms themselves are small. Also worth visiting are the Downing Street and Sidgewick Site Museums - including Arch and Anth, Geology, and Zoology. The Fitzwilliam museum has a good collection of paintings, and the Whipple Museum of History of Science is worth a visit. Take a trip to the tourist information office on Corn Exchange Street to organise tours of the town, maps and details of the above.

Working out of the city centre takes you to some of the city's best kept secrets. South of town towards Maids Causeway, is Llamas land, the Millpond, from where punts and rowboats can be hired to spend a sunny summer's day on the river to Grantchester. Also in the area are Cambridge Botanical Gardens, and Hobson's conduit.  To the north, on Jesus Green is Britain's longest outdoor pool (second week of May - second week of September),  and the college boathouses. Visit during university may week (rather confusingly, the third week of june), or the third week of July, and walk down the river towpath to fen ditton to see bumping races on the river in the evenings. 

Alternatively, in Winter months, early risers can enjoy a crisp walk through Parkers Piece at dawn while the stars shine to the west above teh town and the sky lights to the east above the pool. A long walk along the riverside towards Fen Ditton will reward you will serene  views of the frosty river bank, swans and ducks, perhaps a few keen rowers, and most importantly a beautiful sunrise on a clear day. 

Finally, there’s the mathematical bridge, located on the property of Queens College. This humble bridge’s distinction is that it was the first bridge in the world to be built according to mathematical principles – a precursor to modern engineering. The bridge sits practically unnoticed most of the time, so if you have an inkling of appreciation for mathematics, pay the bridge a short visit. Designed by Etherington without any load bearing pins, it was apparently dismantelled to 'see how it works', then couldn't be properly rebuilt.

Also on the 'backs', is the Bridge of Sighs, a pastiche of the Venician bridge of the same name, more expensive punt-hire opporunities, and some classic views of Kings, Johns, Trinity and Queens.