I have twice completed a day trip to Salem, Massachusetts: once from Boston and once as part of a Maine Coast Road Trip. It does not matter if you plan to spend one day or a few days, Salem is a unique city filled with a rich history and not just the infamous Salem witch trials. Below are the 11 things you should not miss on your day trip to Salem.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links so if you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we might earn a small commission (but don’t worry, it’s no extra cost to you).
Best Time for a Day Trip to Salem
The best time of the year for a day trip to Salem is during the fall months of September through November. October offers many Halloween events which draw more crowds than any other month, but also offers a unique visit to this haunted town. Another popular time to visit is during the summer when the weather is generally warm but not too hot. Winter and spring are definitely colder months. If you do not mind having to bundle up, this would be the best time to avoid crowds.
A Day Trip to Salem Mapped Out
What to Pack for a Day Trip to Salem
- Sunscreen – The Athens sun can be unforgiving, and I learned the hard way that sunscreen is a must.
- Reusable Water Bottle – Make sure to stay hydrated!
- Cute Outfit – For your day trip to Salem, you need to sport a cute but comfortable outfit. For the men, here is some shorts and a t-shirt for you to rock. For women, I have a few more options:
- These shorts and tank would look amazing.
- V-Neck Romper
- T-Shirt Midi Dress
- One-Shoulder Wide Leg Jumpsuit
- Comfortable shoes – Stylish but comfortable is the name of the game when walking around the city. Here is an option for men and women.
- Weekender Bag – For a short visit, a simple weekender bag is perfect.
- Hobo Bag – I often carry this cute hobo bag on my travels. It isn’t too big but big enough to carry small souvenirs I buy along the way.
Best Things to Do on a Day Trip to Salem
1. Witch History Museum
The Witch History Museum (or the Salem Witch Museum as an alternative) is a great place to get an introduction into the history of the Witch Hysteria of 1692. A tour guide takes you through the wax museum and explains the events behind each of the scenes. The Salem Witch Trials resulted in the hangings of 19 accused people and 1 person crushed to death during torture. This tour explains how the hysteria began as well as the stories of some of the individual victims. Tours are $13 per adult, $12 per senior citizen, and $10 per child (4-13 years). You can save $8 total if you bundle this tour with the Witch Dungeon Museum and the Pirate Museum.
2. Witch Dungeon Museum
The Witch Dungeon Museum is another wax museum tour that tells the stories of the Salem Witch Trials. This museum is unique in that they perform a reenactment of one of the trials to give you an idea of how frustrating it was for the innocent people who were accused. The tour also takes you to a replica of the dungeon that would have housed the imprisoned “witches”. The museum displays an actual wooden beam from the original dungeon. Tours are $13 per adult, $12 per senior citizen, and $10 per child (4-13 years). You can save $8 total if you bundle this tour with the Witch Dungeon Museum and the Pirate Museum.
3. Salem Witch Trials Memorial
The Witch Trials Memorial was completed in 1992 and is a dedication to the 20 people who needlessly lost their lives during the Witch Hysteria. The small courtyard is flanked by two 4-foot granite walls with a rock bench protruding from the wall for each victim. The benches are engraved with the name, means of execution, and date of execution for each person that lost their lives.
4. The Old Burying Point Cemetery
The Old Burying Point Cemetery is the oldest in Salem and one of the oldest in America. Many notable people in Salem’s history are buried here including John Hathorne and Bartholomew Gedney, who were judges in the Witch Trials. Massachusetts governor, John Brooks, and a Revolutionary War heroine, Sarah Bradlee Fulton, are also among those buried here. It is also believed the bodies of those executed for witch craft were dumped in this area as they were not allowed to have proper burial sites.
5. The Witch House of Salem
The Witch House, also known as the Jonathan Corwin House, is the only structure in Salem still standing that has direct ties to the Salem Witch Trial. Jonathan Corwin was a merchant and local magistrate who presided over some of the trials. Through the self-guided tour, visitors can witness the life, architecture, and furniture that existed for families during this time in history. Tours are $9 per adult, $7 per senior citizen, and $5 per child (6-14 years).
6. The House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables was built in 1668 by John Turner and his wife, Elizabeth. The house became famous after Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel based on this house as the setting. Across the way from the House of Seven Gables is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthplace home which can also be toured as part of your tour package. Fun fact…Nathaniel Hawthorne was born Nathaniel Hathorne. He changed his name because he wanted to distance himself from his direct descendant, Judge John Hathorne who presided over the Witch Trials. A guided tour package is $20 for adults and $12 for children (5-12 years).
7. Ropes Mansion and Garden
Ropes Mansion was built in the 1720s for Samuel Barnard and then sold to Judge Nathaniel Ropes, Jr. in 1768. The house remained in the Ropes family until it became a public memorial. The backyard of the mansion hosts an extensive garden that includes giant sunflowers. Ropes Mansion was also featured in Disney’s Hocus Pocus movie as Allison’s house.
8. Old Town Hall
Old Town Hall was also featured in Hocus Pocus for the site where the Halloween Party took place. More importantly, Old Town Hall is Salem’s oldest municipal building which was constructed in 1816. In addition to town hall events, this historic building also served as a marketplace. Today this space is used as a cultural and rental facility for the townspeople of Salem.
9. Walking Tour
If there is one thing you do on your day trip to Salem, it should definitely be a guided walking tour. Many of the sights listed here can be seen with one tour, and the tour guides are very knowledgeable about Salem’s history. The Witch City Walking Tour is the touring company I used because it is ranked highly on Tripadvisor, and I was not disappointed. You can also do a Hocus Pocus movie scene tour if you are a big fan of the cult-classic movie.
10. Shopping on Essex Street
In addition to the gift shops at all the museums listed above, there are a myriad of shops on Essex Street and other nearby streets where you can buy souvenirs. Stores here carry normal souvenirs like t-shirts, home goods, and books, but some stores also carry spooky souvenirs from stores that look a little more satanic.
11. The Roof
The Roof is Salem’s only open-air rooftop bar and is located above The Hotel Salem on Essex Street. The city wide view will give you an aerial shot of the cobblestone streets below as well as the harbor in the distance. Hand-crafted cocktails, beers and wine are some of the libations your can enjoy here. Make sure to try their Mexican-themed cuisine. The friendly staff is just icing on the cake when we visited The Roof on our day trip to Salem.
Other Sights to See on Your Day Trip to Salem
The 11 things listed above are how I spent my day trip to Salem, but there are other things you can choose to do whether you replace the items above or you extend your trip to multiple days.
- New England Pirate Museum
- Peabody Essex Museum
- Salem Maritime National Historic Site
- John Ward House
- Phillips House
You May Also Be Interested In
The Best 4-Day Maine Coast Road Trip Itinerary
1 Comment
Comments are closed.