30 Exciting Things to do in Salem, Massachusetts – Witch Trials, Haunted Tours & Hidden Gems!
Salem, Massachusetts, is one of the most unique and fascinating places I have ever visited.
Being the place where the 1692 Salem Witch Trials took place, the small town now carries a Halloween-themed atmosphere all year long, with almost every popular attraction revolving around witches and their history.
In this post, you will read about some of the ultimate best things to do in Salem, Massachusetts.
in a hurry?
These are our favorite SPOOKY things to do in Salem:
- Learn about Salem with the History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour
- Get bewitched in Salem on The Salem “Hocus Pocus” Movie Locations Tour
- Spooky Salem Night Ghost Tour
- Learn about voodoos with Salem Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour
- Sail on an old boat on the Privateer Schooner Sailing Tour in Salem Sound
- Take a journey through 400 years on The 1692 Salem Night Walking Tour
Plan your Perfect trip to Salem
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Best Things To Do In Salem, Massachusetts
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1- Visit the Salem Witch Museum
The Salem Witch Museum is a great place to start your visit to Salem, Massachusetts.
Here, you will learn all about the history of the Salem Witch Trials and about how witches have been portrayed in society over the years.
2- Bewitched Statue of Elizabeth Montgomery
In 1970, the tv series Bewitched filmed a series of episodes in Salem after a fire shut down its Hollywood set and today there is a bronze statue of Samantha to celebrate the show.
The statue is a very popular photo spot.
3- See a psychic
One of the most exciting things I did in Salem was seeing a psychic and getting a tarot card reading.
I went to Leanne at Hex Old World Witchery and it was wonderful. Her reading was very accurate and I left the shop feeling amazing! If you’re into tarot card readings, then seeing a psychic is one of the best things to do in Salem.
4- Visit the Satanic Temple
Inside the Salem Art Gallery, it is possible to visit Salem’s Satanic temple. Anyone is welcome to visit the temple, which is surprisingly a very friendly place.
5- Go on a ghost tour
Going on a ghost tour in Salem is an absolute must!
There are many great tours to choose from, but the most popular ones are The Salem Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour and The Salem Night Tour.
Read: The 12 best tours to take in Salem, Massachusetts.
6- Explore the Salem Witch Village
With the guidance of a practicing witch, the Salem Witch Village is another good place to learn about facts and myths about witches.
You can find the Salem Witch Village at 282 Derby St, Salem, MA.
7- See the monsters at Count Orlokās Nightmare Gallery
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery might just be one of the most unusual things to do in Salem.
The gallery showcases full-size movie monsters and characters. If you are a fan of horror films, this is absolutely the place for you.
You can visit Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery at 217 Essex St, Salem, MA.
8- Stay in a Haunted Hotel
The Hawthorne Hotel is often spoken of as being one of the most haunted hotels in the United States and yes, you can absolutely stay there.
9- Spend Halloween
There is nothing quite like spending Halloween in Salem! In fact, the town is one of the best places to celebrate Halloween around the world.
During spooky season, thousands and thousands of visitor fill the streets of Salem and many Halloween-themed events happen around the city.
10- Visit the witchy shops
The adorable and quaint shops of Salem are a delight to visit. Inside them, you will find every kind of witchy merchandise you could ever think of.
11- Tour Salem with a practicing witch
In the Salem Witch Walk, you get to see Salem from the point of view of a real life practicing witch.
Along with visiting the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, youāll participate in a real magic circle and help raise energy for a blessing. Plus, water and candy are provided, so you can stay fueled up during the walk.
12- Go on a private schooner sailing tour
Embark on an interactive sailing excursion off the coast of Salem on a replica historic privateer schooner.
Great for families and anyone who gets bored easily, this adventure keeps you engaged by offering opportunities to help with tasks such as raising the sails and steering the boat.
13- Ride the Salem trolley
A trolley tour is a great way to get an overall look at a new city. You can find more information about the Salem trolley tour on this website.
14- See the Salem Witch Board Museum
This museum contains one of the largest collections of ouija boards in the world. Inside, you will also find a Victorian-style sƩance room that is available for use.
You can find the Salem Witch Board Museum at 127 Essex St, Salem, MA.
15- Visit the Hocus Pocus film locations
A lot of scenes of the Halloween movie ‘Hocus Pocus’ were actually filmed in Salem! These are some of the locations you can visit:
- Pioneer village
- Phillips Elementary School on Salem Common
- The Ropes Mansion
- Old Burial Hill
- Old Town Hall
- Salem Common
16- See art at the Peabody Essex Museum
The Peabody Essex ranks among the top 20 art museums in the United States by measure and is home to one of the major collections of Asian art in the country as well.
If you enjoy art museums, make sure to stop by.
17- Visit the beach
Even though sometimes it doesn’t really feel like it, Salem is actually a beach town.
If you are looking to have some fun in the sun, you can visit Dead Horse Beach, Waikiki Beach, or even Winter Island Park.
18- Tour The House of Seven Gables
The House of Seven Gables is popularly known as the setting of Nathaniel Hawhtorne’s world-famous novel.
Today, it is possible to tour the house for approximately 25 dollars.
You can find the House of Seven Gables at 15 Derby St, Salem, MA.
19- Salem Willows arcade
Salem Willows is a family friendly arcade and amusement park. It has attractions for all ages and a few good restaurants that are worth trying out.
20- Look for the best food in Salem
Speaking of food, Salem is a great foodie destination! Here are some of the restaurants that you absolutely have to try:
- Village Tavern
- Turners seafood
- Flying Saucer Pizza Company
- Ugly Mug Dinner
- Sea Level Oyster bar
21- Have a professional photoshoot
Looking for a fun memory to take home? Then why not do a professional witchy photoshoot? You can book one here.
22- Go on a historical tour
There is so much to learn about Salem’s history… And going on a historic tour is a great way to learn some of it.
Some of the most popular historic tours are the Bewitched Historical Tour and the 2.5-Hour Salem History & Sightseeing Guided Walking Tour.
23- Pay your respects at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial
If you’re looking for some different and less popular things to do in Salem. The Witch Trial Memorial should be on your list!
The Witch Trial Memorial was built in honor of the victims of the witch trials. At the memorial, there are several benches with the name of each of the victims.
The memorial was dedicated by the Nobel Laureate Holocaust survivor who noted, āIf I canāt stop all of the hate all over the world in all of the people, I can stop it in one place within me. We still have our Salems.ā
24- Americaās oldest candy Company
Did you know that America’s oldest candy company is located in Salem? That’s right. Ye Olde Pepper Candy Co has been open since 1806 and sells delicious candy up to this date.
25- Visit the Witch Dungeon Museum
In the Witch Dungeon Museum, you can watch live performances of Witch trials adapted from the 1692 historical transcripts.
26- The Burying Point Cemetery
The Burying Point Cemetery is among the oldest cemeteries in the country. Judge John Hathorne, one of the most important witchcraft trials magistrates, was buried here.
27- See The Witch House
One of the post popular things to do in Salem is visiting The Witch House. The house is the only structure still standing inĀ SalemĀ with direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692. It was the home of Jonathan Corwin, the judge responsible for the trials.
You can choose to contemplate the house from the outside or take a guided tour.
The Witch House is located at 310 Essex St, Salem.
28- Tour the Ropes Mansion
The Ropes Mansion is one of the most historic houses in Salem – and also a location in the movie Hocus Pocus, as previously mentioned.
In October, the mansion is usually open for self-guided tours.
29- Stroll through Salem Common
Right in the heart of the town, is Salem Common, Salem’s public park. This grassy green 8-acre park is perfect for picnics and enjoying sunny afternoons.
Where to stay
There are many great hotels to choose from! These are some of our favorites:
Wrap-up: Best things to do in Salem, Massachusetts
That’s a wrap! You now know all the best Salem Massachusetts. I really hope this post made planning your trip to Salem an even more enjoyable experience.
Linnea
Wow this is such a huge list! I had no idea about the oldest candy shop either! Thatās such a fun fact!
Hannah
It looks like there are so many great things to see in Salem! The Witch House looks very sombre, I’d love to see it in person! I’d also love to take a historical tour because I bet the history is so interesting! And a ghost walk! I’ve joined a few in the UK and really enjoyed them! Thanks for the great guide!
Camila Neves
HannahI am so glad you liked it! š
Digitaldaybook
Iāve briefly visited Salem but now I have more of a reason to visit again Iāve clearly missed some place haha
Terri
You missed The American Burlesque Collection, a really charming little museum about America’s favorite pastime! http://www.BurlesqueMuseum.org
Allison Sorbera
I grew up there and a witch descendant you missed Redās restaurant best breakfast/lunch and best Bloody Marys in the north east