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About Salem
Ahhh...Salem, Massachusetts in October. There’s nothing quite like it.
Whether it’s the witchy vibes, the cool crisp mornings, or the salt air of the sea, there’s just something about Salem that pairs so well with autumn and October.
Once a place known for horrendously burning witches at the stake, Salem today has become a magnet and safe haven for witchy people. Besides Salem’s dark witch history, the coastal city is also known for its rich history in ocean ships, literature, settlers, pirates, and trading.
A Very Brief History of Salem
Salem was founded in 1626 by Roger Conant and a group of immigrants from Cape Ann. The town was initially called Naumkeag, but the settlers preferred to call it Salem, which came from the Hebrew word for peace. Starting in 1628, thousands of Puritans began calling Salem their home.
In 1637, Salem began trading salted cod to the West Indies, making it one of the most significant seaports in early American history. Several famous houses are built including the Custom House (1649), the House of the Seven Gables (1668) and the Witch House (1675). (Ironically, no witches ever lived there; it was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, a judge who presided over the Salem Witch Trials.)
The Salem Witch Trials began in 1692 starting a hysteria of accusations which resulted in the hanging of 19 innocent people in three months (14 women and 5 men). Another man was pressed to death. The Trials came to an end when the Governor's wife was accused of being a witch. Governor William Phipps disbanded the court and released those awaiting trial.
In 1790, Salem became the 6th largest city in the United States, and the richest per capita. The Peabody Essex Museum was founded by sea captains in 1799 and is the oldest continually operated museum in the country.
In 1836, Salem was incorporated as a city. Nathaniel Hawthorne published The Scarlet Letter in 1850 and The House of Seven Gables in 1851.
In 1914, a huge fire destroyed 1,376 buildings and left 18,000 people homeless over two days. This was about half of the population. The fire started at a leather manufacturing plant. In 1993, Hocus Pocus was released in theatres, and featured several places found in Salem.
When to Visit Salem
As you may guess by the title of my post, I believe that Salem in October is simply magical. Between the Haunted Happenings event calendar and the gorgeous New England weather, I loved visiting Salem in October. There are a ton of great spots all within walking distance of each other, so going when the weather is nice is ideal.
That being said, October is the most expensive and most crowded time of the year, so it may not be ideal for you. Although there were a few things on my itinerary that we were not able to do because it was sold out, I wouldn’t let that deter you from coming in October. It just means that you’ll need to plan ahead more and book the items that are most important to you beforehand.
Furthermore, I booked the trip about 3 weeks out, and every hotel was booked up completely. As a result, we had to stay in Peabody outside of town. It was less expensive than staying in Salem in October, however it was a bit of a nuisance to have to Uber in and out of town each day.
If you can go on weekdays versus the weekend, that’s ideal. We went on a Wednesday through Saturday which definitely helped beat some of the crowds. Another good way to beat the crowds is to go in late September or early October versus closer to Halloween at the end of the month.
If you’d like to explore Salem during off-season, visit between late June and mid September. During this time of year, there’s fewer rainy days and the weather stays at a pleasant 65°F to 80°F.
How to Get to Salem
To get to Salem from out of state, fly into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). From there, you can get to Salem by car, train, or bus. Rental car prices were crazy, so we didn’t get one. (Because Salem is so walkable, you may not want a rental car anyway.)
On our arrival to Boston, my sister and I thought it’d be fun and less expensive to take the public transportation to get to Salem. If you are not familiar with public transportation, I would not recommend it. We ran into several challenges and confusions between the bus and the train, which significantly delayed our arrival into Salem.
Yes, an Uber/taxi will be more expensive than public transportation, but it’s way more convenient and a much shorter commute. I wish there was a train station directly from the Boston Airport, but there’s not. To take the MBTA Commuter Rail, you’ll have to take a couple buses to get to the Newburyport/Rockport line. It should have been about one hour but it took us three. This is about $5-$9. Compare three hours to a 45 minute Uber, and you can see why I’d recommend just Ubering for about $36-$50.
That being said, if you’re a pro at public transportation, go for it!
Where to Stay in Salem
As I mentioned before, we were actually unable to stay in Salem, MA on our trip because the town was fully booked. So if you want to stay in Salem in October, book early! We ended up staying at a Holiday Inn in Peabody, which was about 15 minutes outside of Salem. It was annoying to pay an Uber for every time we went in and out of Salem, but we did save money on the hotel by staying in a suburb, so you may want to consider this option if you’re looking to save some money. A couple other nearby suburbs that you may consider staying in are Beverly and Danvers.. Had we stayed in the city of Salem, this is where I would have loved to stay.
Hawthorne Hotel
Guests have reported moving furniture, unexplained noises, and sightings of a ghostly woman. Room 325 is supposed to be the most haunted room in the hotel and Room 612 as well as the 6th floor in general have had reports of a ghostly woman walking the halls.
Managed by Historic Hotels of America, Hawthorne Hotel tries to capture a colonial feeling through the use of vintage furniture and décor. Rooms are quaint and still historically true to its origins. In the 1970s, an episode of Bewitched was filmed in one of the Hawthorne elevators.
In October, non-guests are not allowed in the lobby or the dining area unless you have a reservation. To make sure that we could experience the hotel, I booked cocktail reservations at the Tavern on our first evening. I loved their fun list of spooky cocktails including: Sanderson Sisters Spritzer, The Witches Brew, and Harvest Moon. It was also the perfect setting for our first night - with a cozy wood-burning fireplace, oak-paneled walls, and winged back chairs.
This hotel is also known for hosting some epic October balls including the Halloween Ball and the Witches Ball.
The Daniels House Bed & Breakfast
If you aren’t staying at The Daniels House, you can still tour inside for $15. The tour is 45 minutes and allows you to take a rare look inside a 17th century mansion - one of the oldest in Salem, MA. There are also other seasonal tours available, like Local Lore by Candlelight, Christmas Fireside Tales, and Winter Fireside Tales.
The Hotel Salem
This is a more modern, vibrant boutique hotel with 44 rooms and a seasonal rooftop bar not to be missed. The Hotel Salem was formerly a high-end clothing store. Today, it’s decorated with mid-century modern décor and vintage, retail-inspired touches.
Rooms feature private baths, vaulted ceilings, and Lark Hotel amenities. Rooms vary in sizes from spacious suites to micro-rooms for the budget conscious travelers.
The Merchant
Though it’s not really known to be haunted, this spot may actually be more haunted than we think. The Merchant was commissioned in 1784 by Joshua Ward, a post-Revolutionary War sea merchant and privateer. But prior to the creation of this home, the land formerly belonged to Sheriff George Corwin. Corwin was self-appointed to interrogate anyone suspected of witchcraft - he tortured those accused and even carried out death sentences. For this reason, some suspect that a few of these innocent victims still roam the halls, including a ghostly woman with wild, black hair.
The hotel’s unique interior design was inspired by the property’s wealthy sea merchant owner and the town’s shipping port history. This resulted in the use of gray/blues, rich reds, dark purples, and deep emerald greens with Asian accents. Wainscoting and paneling were restored and the “floating” staircases were the works of 18th century architect Samuel McIntire.
What To Do in Salem
Haunted Happenings
Haunted Happenings is a festive celebration of Halloween and fun fall activities that run from October 1-31 in and around Salem, MA. Events include:
Grand Parade
Haunted Street Fair
Film Nights
Costume balls
Ghost tours
Psychic readings
Haunted houses and harbor cruises
Live music and spooky theatrical performances.
The first Haunted Happenings was for a single day in 1982. Now it has grown to a celebration that spans the whole month of October.
Check out the calendar here before you start planning your trip to see what activities you want to incorporate into your travel itinerary.
Salem Witch Museum
When: Year-round (10 am - 5 pm), July / August (10 am - 7 pm) / October (extended hours)
Where: 19 ½ Washington Square North, Salem, MA 01970
How Much: $15 / adult
The Salem Witch Museum contains 13 life-size stage sets with waxy figurines and re-hashes the 1692 Salem Witch trials.
The figurines are not animatronic - different sets get lit up while a narration of the trials plays overhead. As an adult, I decided to pass on this because I already knew the history of the trials and had been before, but if you don’t know much about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, this is the place to learn.
The second exhibit explores modern witchcraft and its evolution over time.
A very important thing to note about this museum is that in October, tickets go on sale at midnight for the upcoming day. Tickets are sold online and it’s highly recommended to purchase them online before your arrival. Ticket times cannot be switched and refunds are not offered if you miss your reserved time.
Here are some additional tips about visiting the Salem Witch Museum in the month of October.
Shopping
SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR SALEM! If you are the least bit interested in witchy things, antiques, and magical keepsakes from your visit to Salem, bring money to shop! There are so many amazing and uniquely decorated stores in Salem. Many are themed and play music to go along with the entire vibe of the shop (e.g. Practical Magic soundtrack, Harry Potter soundtrack).
>>> For my complete guide on where to shop in Salem, MA, click here. <<<
Even if you don’t buy a single thing, it’s still worth going into these interesting shops. It was one of the highlights of my trip, and I brought back some really beautiful things including some crystals, two necklaces, candles, and an antique brass candlestick.
Bewitched Statue
When: 24/7
Where: 235 Essex Street
How Much: Free
This landmark pays tribute to the TV sitcom Bewitched and its filming of the 8th season there.
Historic & Witchy Houses
There’s no shortage of witchy and historic homes in Salem, MA, considering that it’s one of the oldest cities in the United States. Even if you’re not really into history, you can appreciate the architectural style of the times.
>>> For my complete guide on historic homes to visit in Salem, MA, click here. <<<
Some of these historic houses are open to the public as museums while others are privately owned. If you only have time to visit two, make sure it’s The Witch House and Ropes Mansion & Gardens, both on Essex Street.
Book a Spooky Photo Shoot
A fun and unique way to get into the spooky spirit is to schedule a fun photo shoot while in Salem, MA. Get dressed up as a witch or Miss Havisham’s ghost on an eerie set equipped with lighting and props.
Witch Pix
Set themes include:
Magick Avenue: fly over the moon
Olde Salem Village: recapture life in 1692
Witches Cottage: practice your witchcraft
If you’re visiting Salem in October, book your appointment ahead of time (walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed). Typical time in the studio, from costuming to shoot, is about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Hair and makeup is not included and up to the customer.
Miss Havisham’s Parlour: An Immersive Experience for Selfies & Photos
If you prefer something more casual and without an onsite photographer, there’s a new pop-up set this 2021 in Old Town Hall. (Remember Bette Midler’s rendition of “Put a Spell on You” in Hocus Pocus? That was Old Town Hall!) I discovered this pop-up through the posting listed on Haunted Happenings’ event calendar.
This year’s theme was Miss Havisham's Parlour. It was an immersive experience for selfies and photos created by Linda with Grace & Diggs. The set was hand-crafted by recycled materials and grandiose fascinators were provided for you to transform into Great Expectations’ jilted bride.
Walking Tours
Salem has a TON of walking tours to choose from both day and night, everything from historic tours to food tours to ghost tours.
I enjoyed this tour because it was a good mix of history and ghost stories. The tour is 90 minutes long which I think is an appropriate amount of time. (I think 60 minutes long would be my preference for this type of tour.) It covered stories of the oldest cemetery in Salem, brutal murders, strange legal battles, torture, and ghosts.
Here are some other recommended tours:
- Salem Food Tours - AM coffee walks and afternoon strolls (from $25)
- Witch City Walking Tours - history and hauntings of Salem (from $25)
- Haunted Footsteps and Salem Historical Tours - Salem Witch Trials history (from $21)
- Tours for Touring Tourists - Salem's spooky spectres / ghost tour (from $26)
- Spellbound Tours - Salem voodoo, vampires, and ghosts (from $21)
Peabody Essex Museum
When: Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays 10 am–5 pm, Fridays 10 am-8 pm and holiday Mondays
Where: East India Square, 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970
How Much: $20 / adult
When we visited Salem, MA in October, there was a featured exhibit at the Peabody called, “The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming”.
I’ll admit, I was a bit misled by the exhibit’s advertising. The featured image shows a stunning Alexander McQueen dress from the Fall/Winter 2007 collection based on Elizabeth How, a McQueen ancestor who was hanged as a witch in July 1692. I thought that the exhibit would feature more of these beautiful dresses from the collection, but I was mistaken.
Regardless, the exhibit was still very interesting to see, and I’m glad I made time for it. There were authentic 17th century documents and objects on display as well as a photo series from Frances F. Denny’s series: Major Arcana: Portraits of Witches in America.
My favorite exhibition was Anila Quayyum Agha’s All the Flowers Are For Me. It’s a gorgeous light and shadow exhibit that highlights Persian and Turkish architecture. It’s an incredible piece where a laser-cut steel cube is suspended from the ceiling and illuminated by a single bulb from the inside.
A couple of other exhibitions worth checking out include Salem Stories, Fashion & Design, and Michael C. McMillen: The Pequod II.
Hammond Castle
When: check the calendar for tours and availability
Where: 80 Hesperus Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930
How Much: $18 / adult (general admission)
Hammond Castle is located in Gloucester, MA, about 30 minutes outside of Salem. This was another spot that I visited as a kid, and I remember being completely enamored with it. I knew I had to return as an adult.
Hammond Castle was constructed by John Hays Hammond, Jr. between 1926 and 1929. This medieval style castle overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Hammond Castle is a fascinating place to me, particularly because his commissioner was equally as fascinating.
John Hays Hammond, Jr. was an inventor - he held over 400 patents, one of which was for the remote control! A rather eccentric and playful person, Hammond, Jr. made sure that Hammond Castle reflected that. Most of his wealth was inherited, and he used it to buy a broad collection of artifacts from the Old World from eras across the medieval and Renaissance periods. He created a covered courtyard containing a green-dyed 7 foot deep swimming pool and a weather contraption to mimic thunder, rain, and lightning.
The seaside residence also features a gigantic pipe organ, designed and built by a collection of world-famous organ builders over a period of 10 years. It consists of 8,400 pipes. As much as Hammond, Jr. loved and appreciated the organ, he could not play it. SO he invented a device included within the console which could record what was being played so that he could continue the music.
I could have spent the entire day in Hammond Castle. Truly - I want to live there. It’s a very special place, and there’s really no place like it in all the United States. 10/10 recommend!!
Sunset Cruise
Photo courtesy of Mahi Cruises.
Since Salem is a coastal city, you should make some time to enjoy a sunset cruise on the water around the harbor. In October, you can take a haunted harbor cruise which includes tarot card readings, pirate stories, costumes, and more! The cruises were all sold out when we visited, but this is on my list for next year’s visit!
Here are some options:
- Mahi Cruises - Haunted Happenings harbor cruise (75-minute cruise from $36)
- Sunset Sail Salem - morning mimosa sail cruise (120-minute from $45)
- Schooner Fame - sunset sail cruise (105-minute from $39)
Witch Trials Memorial
When: dawn until dusk
Where: 24 Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970
How Much: free
Photo courtesy of Once Upon a Wheat.
It was designed as a place of respect and reflection, and it honors those who unjustly lost their lives in 1692. The Memorial is surrounded on 3 sides by a handcrafted granite wall. The victims’ protests of innocence are inscribed into the stone. The protests are interrupted mid-sentence by the wall to symbolize the community’s former indifference to oppression. Surrounding benches have the names of the 20 victims inscribed.
Pioneer Village
When: Saturdays and Sundays, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm (last entry at 3:30 pm)
Where: 98 West Avenue Salem, Massachusetts
How Much: $5 /adult
Photo courtesy of Pioneer Village.
It represents Salem from the year 1630. The Village sits on 3 acres and contains various examples of colonial architecture including dugouts, wigwams, thatched roof cottages, and the Governor’s Faire House. It also features culinary and medicinal gardens and a blacksmith shop.
Another reason to visit this spot is that it was the site of the opening scene in Hocus Pocus, featuring Binx as a human before getting cursed as a cat!
Get a Psychic Reading, Cast a Spell, or Attend a Séance
Photo courtesy of Salem.org.
Today, Salem is a magnet and safe haven for witchy people and psychics. So if you’re in Salem, you may want to try a reading or attend a séance in the spirit of spooky season.
There are quite a few ways you can get a reading: love readings, couples’ readings, palmistry, health scans, mediumships, numerology, tarot.
Here are a few spots where you can book a session.
Love Clairvoyant Lorelei & Her Psychic Readers at Crow Haven Corner
Not only is it a shop for magical supplies, occult books, herbs, crystals, and more, but it’s also a place to get a reading or cast a spell at Lorelei’s Spell Altar in her Egyptian room.
Lorelei is a psychic reader and Salem Witch. For 35 years, she has specialized in tarot cards, palmistry, and mediumship. A 30-minute session is $90 for a combination of a tarot card reading, palmistry reading, health scan, and a Spell.
Leanne Marrama & Timothy Reagan at Pentagram: Witchcraft & Magick Shoppe
Leanne Marrama and Timothy Reagan have practiced witchcraft and the psychic arts for more than 20 years. Psychic readings at Pentagram include mediumship, couples readings, astrology readings and more.
Live Spell Casting at Salem Wax Museum
A few months a year, you can attend a live spell casting session for $12 by a practicing witch at the Salem Wax Museum. He/she will walk you through the steps of a ritual circle, sacred space creation, magical workings, and spell releasing.
Salem Séance at OMEN: Psychic Parlor & Witchcraft Emporium
Attend a séance with a gifted psychic medium for $40 in the Spirit Parlor of OMEN, starting with a spiritual blessing. Participants are guided in a meditation to help open the way for spirit to come through. Bring an object worn by the departed to strengthen the connection.
Tarot Reading at The Witchery
Designed for tarot beginners and tarot enthusiasts, learn how to read tarot cards and practice connecting with your intuition in a tarot session at The Witchery for $40. Alternatively you can get a tarot reading group or private tarot reading for $40.
Attend a Broom Making or Book Binding Workshop
Photo courtesy of Hawthorne Hotel.
The Witchery is a crafty, creative space for DIY witch projects. They offer two workshop options: broom making (starting at $59) and book binding (starting at $85). In one of these workshops, you can take home your very own, one-of-a-kind broomstick or spell book / journal!
Where to Eat in Salem
Salem has some AMAZING places to eat - especially when it comes to seafood (obviously!!) Clam chowder, raw oysters, lobster rolls...take me back!! These are the top 10 restaurants I’d visit again and again if I lived in Salem, MA.
>>> For my complete guide on the top 10 places to eat in Salem, MA, click here. <<<
I cover the best places for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and dessert!
Closing Thoughts About Salem
A sinister past, a spooky spirit, and an autumnal aura, Salem, Massachusetts is the perfect place to ring in the festive fall spirit of New England. Known as the “witch capital” of the United States, Salem, Massachusetts is THE place to visit in October.
What once was a closed-minded, oppressive community, Salem is now a place of eccentricity, acceptance, and magic. Whether you come for the whimsical witchy shops, the haunted ghost stories, or the sea breeze and fall foliage, Salem, MA is worth the visit.
This walkable town will take you back in time with its beautiful 17th century colonial architecture and historic destinations. Salem is sure to bewitch you. It sure did for me! I plan on making a witchy pilgrimage to Salem every October from now on!
author bio
Known as The Jet Set Blonde, Brittany Ryan inspires others to add more adventure to their childfree travel experiences. Brittany has visited 23 countries (and counting!) Connect with her to get access to detailed childfree travel itineraries, travel guides for weekend getaways, and updates on adult-only hotels, resorts, cruises, and other travel amenities.
