30 Exciting Things to do in Salem, Massachusetts: Witch Trials, Haunted Tours

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.

Best Things To Do In Salem, Massachusetts

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 Orlok’s 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, you’ll 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 séance 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, “If I can’t 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.”

24- America’s 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 in Salem 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:

• The Hotel Salem
• Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites
• Hawthorne Hotel
• The Salem Inn
• The Merchant

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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.

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