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Salem Culture & history

Our most recommended Salem Culture & history

Salem: Ghosts, Witches, & Warlocks Guided Walking Tour

1. Salem: Ghosts, Witches, & Warlocks Guided Walking Tour

Meet your tour guide and venture through 8-12 different sites around the city, each one spookier than the last, starting with the historical Salem Old Town Hall. Continue down the eerie streets to explore the Old Burying Point Cemetery, a preserved burial ground that was established in 1637 where some prominent pilgrims and town officials were buried. This haunted tour takes you to different sites and reveals their true stories so that you can feel connected to the history that took place there. Experiencing these stories while at the sites where they occurred is a truly unique experience that can’t be recreated by simply reading about their history.  During your tour, find out how Salem became the center for all haunted happenings. The phenomenon is partially explained by Salem’s rich history and the fact that many of its oldest structures and sites are preserved today, including the famed Witch House.  Salem’s commitment to preserving this history has made it a perfect spot for spirits to linger and for visitors to experience a connection with the past.

Salem Witch Trials Self-Guided Audio Tour

2. Salem Witch Trials Self-Guided Audio Tour

Join a spooky self-guided tour that will help you to explore Salem's past and learn about the events that took place there. Explore some of the town's most notable landmarks and places connected to the famous witch trials. Along the way, there are plenty of optional detours available for those looking for a little more. The experience begins at the Salem Armory. From there, walk to the 1692 Memorial, where the victims of the witch panic are memorialized. Get to know many of the key figures who found themselves swept up by the plague of fear and paid the ultimate price. Next, you’ll see the Old Burying Point, where many of the trials’ victims and aggressors were laid to rest. Listen to the tragically heroic tale of Giles Corey as you walk through the gravestones, a man who refused to bow to the nightmare overtaking his town and was immortalized in The Crucible. After that, you’ll pass by some of Salem’s spookiest architecture, including the Joshua Ward House and the Old Town Hall. You’ll also hear of the secret tunnels which run beneath some of these buildings, many of which still exist to this day. Continue on past the old jailhouse, where innocent people were subjected to cruelty so terrible that some suggest their spirits never really left. You'll hear about Hollywood’s many forays into Salem, including hits like Hocus Pocus and Bewitched. Pass by the Witch Museum on your way back and hear about how all the madness finally came to an end. The final stop brings you to the Salem Common, where the tour wraps up with some things you probably didn’t know about the aftermath of the trials.

Salem: Witch Trial Walking Tour

3. Salem: Witch Trial Walking Tour

Immerse yourself in the dark and somber history of the Salem Witch Trials on this walking tour. See the most important historical locations in the city. Learn about the trials' main players such as John Proctor and Bridget Bishop. Discover the most tragic aspects of the witch trials, including the humiliating examinations that women who were suspected to be witches endured. Meet your guide at the Salem Five Bank and begin your journey into the tragic history of the trials. Learn more about topics such as the possession of children and animals, curses, and black magic. Make your way to the Witch House and head towards the 18th-century Merchant Hotel. Wander through the country's oldest cemetery, Burying Point Cemetery, and pay your respects at the Witch Trials Memorial.

Salem: History & Witchcraft Day Tour

4. Salem: History & Witchcraft Day Tour

Meet near the cobblestone streets and brick-lined center of town on Essex Street. Follow your licensed and experienced historical guide through the Axelrod Garden Walkway toward the Witch Trials Memorial. Hear about the lead up to the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria that engulfed the town in 1692. Through the memorial and into the Old Burial Point Cemetery your guide will continue to explain the surprisingly relevant stories of those accused and those that accused them. Continue on to several other locations with strong ties to the witchcraft hysteria such as the witch dungeon site, and others.

Salem History Tour: Winter Edition

5. Salem History Tour: Winter Edition

Salem is almost 400 years old, making it one of the oldest cities in the US. It has a vast and varied history. Since its humble beginnings as a fishing community, it has developed as a key metropolis and was even the state capital for a brief period. On this 1.5-hour tour, you will see sites that relate to the 1692 Salem witch trials and hear compelling stories that once shook the town to the core. There are also locations that have incredible significance to the American Revolution; the US may not be the same US without Salem. The seaport was arguably the richest in America in the early 1800s and was frequented by ships that brought goods from all over the world. The city is home to inventors, as well as famous political leaders, and has been visited by countless celebrities who have shot movies and TV shows within the city and its environs. At the end of the tour, you will be regaled with a tale of the supernatural activity that plagues the city even still.

Salem: Self-Guided Ghost Tour

6. Salem: Self-Guided Ghost Tour

Walk Salem's spooky streets on a smartphone-guided ghost tour. Listen to professionally narrated stories and discover unnerving legends as you make your way to some of Salem's most haunted locations. Charged smartphone in hand, set out on a ghoulish tour that takes you to eerie sites like the Witch House, the Salem Inn, the Salem Witch Trial Memorial, and many more. Hear stories about the lady in blue, the underground tunnels, the ghost of the strangler, and others. This tour is app-based and uses GPS navigation, guiding you turn by turn to the most haunted locations in Salem. Go at your own pace and take the tour at any time, even exploring the city during the witching hour if you like.

Salem: Pirate Museum with Authentic Treasures Entry Ticket

7. Salem: Pirate Museum with Authentic Treasures Entry Ticket

See an authenticated pirate's treasure with a ticket to Real Pirates Salem. Discover the real-life story of “Black Sam” Bellamy and his beloved Maria Hallet, the "Witch of Wellfleet," on an interactive experience. Enter the mysterious world of "Black Sam" Bellamy and Maria Hallet. Learn about Bellamy's success as a young pirate, thanks to his capture of the Whydah Gally, one of the fastest ships of its time. As you explore the exhibit, marvel at the coins, jewelry, and weapons Bellamy liberated from over 50 ships after stealing the Whydah Gally. See bounty that was last touched by pirate hands 300 years ago before falling into the Atlantic after the Whydah crashed on the shores of Cape Cod. Continue your visit with a stop in the discovery lab, where you can see archeologists unearth artifacts. Finish off your day with a video and photo experience. The Director's Tour options includes personal guided tour of the museum, a gold coin for each member of your boarding party that secures you $5 off $10 or more in the Plundered Goods gift shop, and a complimentary postcard with access to an audio tour of the shipwreck recovery narrated by discoverer Barry Clifford.

Salem: HP Lovecraft Connection Walking Tour with a Guide

8. Salem: HP Lovecraft Connection Walking Tour with a Guide

Experience the beauty of the city of Salem on a guided walking tour. See the famous places like the Witch House, Derby House, and many more. Learn about the stories that inspired horror writer HP Lovecraft. HP Lovecraft was a writer who delved into the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He came to Salem several times and used the homes, buildings, and the 1692 witchcraft trials as inspiration for some of his fantastic tales. During the tour, you will visit the Crowninshield-Bentley House, the building which inspired The Thing on The Doorstep story. See the Witch House, used for his The Dreams of the Witch House, and the location of the Old Victorian Train Station that he thoroughly loved. Visit the Charter Street Cemetery that was the setting for his story The Unnamable, Images of the Danvers State Hospital that he called the Arkham Sanitarium, and general areas of Salem that he named Arkham in his books. You will learn how Salem influenced many of his writings and how he references Salem in his books. 

Salem: Witch Trials Self-Guided Walking Tour and Quiz

9. Salem: Witch Trials Self-Guided Walking Tour and Quiz

Learn about the sobering history of Salem at your own pace on a self-guided walking tour. Hear the history of the Salem Witch Trials, visit the Old Burying Point, and find Salem's haunted buildings. Before beginning your tour, download the Action Tour Guide app on your phone to allow easy offline access. Head to the Salem Armory to get started. From there, walk to the 1692 Memorial, which honors the victims of the witch panic. Next, head to the Old Burying Point, the final resting place not only for many of the trials’ victims but also for their persecutors. Walk among the graves and hear the tragic, heroic tale of Giles Corey and others who paid the ultimate price when they refused to go along with the madness. Continue your tour with some of Salem’s spookiest architecture, the Joshua Ward House and the Old Town Hall. Learn about the Old Town Hall's secret tunnels, which still exist today. Head to the old jailhouse, where some say the spirits of the confined and tortured innocents remain. Continue through town and spot landmarks featured in Hollywood hits like Hocus Pocus and Bewitched. Next, pass the Witch Museum and learn how the witch trials ended. Finish your tour at the Salem Common and discover the aftermath of the trials and how the town of Salem recovered. As you follow the tour, there are plenty of optional detours available, from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s house to a tavern infamous for 18th-century kidnappings.

Frequently asked questions about Salem

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What people are saying about Salem

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 40 reviews

Our guide, Stephanie, was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. She really enjoys her subject and it shows in her smile!! She helped bring the pirates to life and gave them a voice. The treasure was amazing to see and you get to touch some of it! All in all a fun experience for all ages!!

We had a wonderful time. The tour was very informative and is a great way to learn about Salem as a whole not just the witch trials. A beautiful city with a rich past. This tour is good for the whole family!!

David T was beyond amazing! He is the best tour guide ever!!! Definitely deserves a raise!!!!

Very professional and knowledgeable guide recommend it for everyone

It was a great adventure! Listened in spanish an it was awesome