I’m giving you all the best things to do in Salem Massachusetts to help you plan the ULTIMATE spooky vacation!
This site contains affiliate links, view the disclosure for more information.
With Halloween coming up, there’s one place that always comes to mind when planning trips: Salem! There are so many great things to do in Salem Massachusetts!
Best known for the Salem Witch Trials, it’s one of the best places to visit during the fall season, although there’s so much to do at any time of the year.
Also if you’re taking a trip to Boston, it’s not too far! So you can make it a little day trip if you want to!
This post is all about the best things to do in Salem Massachusetts!
Best Things To Do In Salem Massachusetts!
1.) Salem Witch Museum
If you’re going to go to Salem, you HAVE to learn about the Salem Witch Trials – it’s literally what put Salem on the map. And there’s no better way to do that than visiting the Salem Witch Museum. There are two separate exhibits to experience. One with 13 life-sized stage sets that you walk through, with narration, all the details of the Salem Witch Trials. The other takes a deep dive into the definition of the word witch and the entire history of it. It’s a great way to kick off your trip and get you prepared for everything else you’ll see around Salem!
2.) Psychic Reading
There are so many “witchy” shops in Salem, and many offer psychic readings as well! Whether you’re into that kind of stuff or not, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re going to go to the witch capital of the world. There are SO many places to choose from in Salem, but here’s some that really stick out!:
While you wait on your reading do some shopping! There are tons of cool things to check out!
3.) Walk the Heritage Trail
If you’re trying to decide exactly how you want to start exploring Salem and get your bearings around the town, this is perfect for you. And even better, it’s totally free!
The Heritage Trail is basically just a red line that is painted all through the town. You can start at whatever point you choose, and continue on to see tons of historic sites in Salem. It’s a great way to see Salem without having to pay for an official tour.
You’ll see things like the Nathaniel Hawthorne Statue, Charter Street Cemetery, The House of the Seven Gables, Salem Witch Museum, and so much more!
4.) Wynott’s Wands
Wynott’s Wands gives BIG Harry Potter vibes. It’s a magic shop filled with wands. Go check it out and see which one matches your vibe!
5.) Howard Street Cemetery
There are a few cool cemeteries to check out in Salem, but Howard Street is definitely at the top of the list. It’s got over 1,000 headstones and is believed to be the site where Giles Corey was pressed to death in the witch trials. Many people say this cemetery is still haunted by Giles Corey to this day, and that his ghost is usually seen walking around before any tragic events that happen in Salem.
A part from Giles Corey, there are also tons of other people buried there that died a tragic death. It’s a must see!
6.) The House of the Seven Gables
Are you a Nathaniel Hawthorne fan by any chance? Then you may want to go visit The House of the Seven Gables which inspired his best selling novel! They are open daily for tours if you want to learn more about the history of this historic home.
7.) Witch Dungeon Museum
The Salem Witch Dungeon Museum is really cool because they do a live re-enactment of the trials. It’s another great way to hear some of the specific stories of the horrific occurrences that happened so long ago.
8.) The Witch House
The Witch House is a famous home in Salem that once housed Judge Jonathan Corwin who played a huge role in sentencing many of the “witches” during the trials. It is one of the only structures you can visit that has direct ties to the trials themselves.
You can buy tickets for a self-guided tour through the home, set up to look how it would’ve while Corwin was living there.
9.) Hawthorne Hotel
Okay I have to be honest, the only reason I found out about the Hawthorne Hotel was from watching The Real Housewives of New York City lol. Obviously, you can stay there if you want to because it’s a hotel. It is best known for being one of the most haunted places in Salem.
The hotel is named after Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the Scarlet Letter and House of the Seven Gables. The 6th floor is said to be haunted, but from what most of the staff says – it’s mostly friendly ghost.
If you don’t want to stay there (or can’t get a reservation cause it books up so quickly!) but still want to get to experience the hotel, you’re in luck! You can always stop in for a drink or dinner in one of their two restaurants – The Tavern and Nathaniel’s. The tavern is there more bar food, chill spot. Nathaniel’s is more upscale 1920s vibe and usually has a live music piano player.
10.) Check Out All The Hocus Pocus Film Locations
Salem happens to be where they filmed the movie Hocus Pocus! If you’re a fan, make sure to go around and check all the iconic locations from the movie! Here’s a few of the places you can stop by:
- Pioneer Village – a living history museum where much of the opening scenes were filmed
- Phillip’s Elementary School – Max & Allison’s school (only available to view from the outside)
- The Ropes Mansion – Allison’s house where Max attends the Halloween party
- Old Town Hall – The location of the other Halloween party where Bette Midler performs “Put a Spell on You”
- Salem Common – Where many outdoor scenes were filmed
- Count Orlock’s Nightmare Gallery – Not featured in the movie, but has an iconic statue of Winifred Sanderson
11.) Diehl Marcus & Company
Okay, this may be kind of random but I had to add it cause I just thought it was really cool. Diehl Marcus & Company is a great antique store that you should definitely stop by to check out! Not only do they have great antique items, but they also have some great teas and hand poured candles!
12.) Crow Haven Corner
If you go to any Witch Shops in Salem, you have to stop by Crow Haven Corner. Crow Haven Corner is the oldest witch shop in all of Salem. Do some shopping, get a reading, or go cast a spell at Lorelei’s spell table! Lorelei’s is known for being Salem’s famous love clairvoyant!
13.) Ghost Tour
Take a ghost tour! I’ve done ghost tours in a couple of different cities, and I feel like you can’t go to Salem without doing one! Nothing better to get you into the spooky spirit. Plus it really does help so much to learn some history of the town and get your bearings of the town.
This post was all about the best things to do in Salem Massachusetts!
Other posts you may like:
The Ultimate Packing List for Vacation
7 Best Places to Travel for Halloween
