You might remember the first time I visited Salem, Massachusetts was all the way back in 2018. I've been fortunate to a few times since, but fast forward a few years (and a lot of travel later), and I finally made my way back in 2025 - and honestly, it felt long overdue.
Salem, MA really is one of those places that really sticks with you. It’s equal parts history, atmosphere and a little bit of that cosy, autumnal magic. Revisiting with fresh eyes and being able to take my husband was really special. That said, there are a lot of people who make
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Mistake 1: Visiting Salem at Halloween time (September - October)
OK, stay with me. You might think me mad for saying this, but take it from someone who's been in 3 out of 4 of the seasons and has spoken about this at length with locals - the best time to visit Salem is NOT Halloween (September-October).
Salem is, of course, absolutely beautiful during the autumn months. The pumpkins are on full display, the leaves have turned, the street performers bring their a-game and there's just a magical-feel in the air. That said, when you have over 1 million tourists descend upon a small downtown centre that's approx. 3 miles over the course of two months, it is utter chaos.
I completely understand the desire to visit Salem during Halloween and for many people, it’s a real bucket-list experience. It certainly was for me before I knew any better - but Salem is surprisingly small. If you are planning to go at this time, expect higher prices, extremely long queues for shops and attractions (some places had a 2+ hour wait time), and be prepared to book your hotel and restaurants around a year in advance.
Alternatively, if you opt to visit outside of the Halloween season, I personally think you'll have a far better experience where you can really take your time to explore everything with ease and without the queues. And, if like me, you want to get photos for your Instagram grid, you can get these without countless tour groups blocking your shot. Not to mention the countless local business and attractions that will benefit from your custom for the rest of the year.
That said, make sure you read on for some other considerations when visiting Salem.
Mistake 2: You Don’t Need a Week in Salem (Trust Me)
One of the things I love about Salem is that you only need around 2-3 full days in Salem to see everything it has to offer - more-so if you visit outside of the fall season. You can cover a lot of ground very quickly. Of course, if you want to really take your time you can give yourself an extra day or so, but I promise it won't be necessary. You will quickly run out of things to do because, again, Salem is not a big place. That said, if you do go around Halloween, you will spend a lot of time in queues and maybe only then would you need a week.
If you do find yourself with a little more time, why not make a point to visit the surrounding areas of Massachusetts and the neighbouring States? New England has some beautiful spots including New Hampshire, Maine and Boston. Boston, in particular, is a great add-on adventure as it's just approx. a 30-40 min train journey away or a short 20-25min car journey.
See my first-timers guide to visiting Boston, MA.
Mistake 3: Opening Hours That Can Ruin Your Trip
Looking up opening times is key so not to miss out in Salem. As a sleepy New England town that is primarily made up of smaller, independent businesses, a noticeable number of shops tend to open Thursday to Sunday, especially outside the peak Halloween season. It's a very laid back place so they may shut as early as 4pm, close for a few hours for lunch, or (as we found in some cases) not open until much later in the day with a late close - so make sure to check and plan accordingly.
In terms of your typical tourist attractions (the Witch House, the Witch Museum etc), almost everything people go to Salem for is open year-round with consistent operating hours, though it's always worth checking just in-case.
Mistake 4: Watch Out for Tourist Traps
More-so during the Halloween months, Salem has a few attractions that many consider a bit of tourist trap; especially in the very central, high-footfall area around Essex Street. It’s not that they’re bad as such, but a few are widely seen as overpriced for what is a very short 'experience' or 'haunted house' walk through. They can feel very rushed, or gimmicky compared to the rest of what the town offers.
Before paying upwards of $20 per person for admission or queuing to get in to a 'museum' or 'haunted house', maybe just take a few minutes to Google it first, or look it up on Instagram. Note also, that if you're someone who loves taking photos or making content from such places, many do not allow photos or video recording inside and this may leave you feeling a little disappointed by the end.
I will say, however, that plenty of people still enjoy a lot of these type of attractions in Salem so you do you, but as always I'd recommend researching any attractions beforehand no matter where you go in the world.
Mistake 5: Hen Dos (Bachalorette) and Partying
This isn't a common mistake for many, but I've had a few people ask me the best places in Salem for a boozy night out (going "out-out" for my UK readers) for hen dos or bachelorette parties. There is a nightlife in Salem, but it’s not really a big party town in the way people expect, especially compared to somewhere like Boston. If you're looking for a wild night out on the town, maybe shift your expectations to social drinking at a craft brewery with a few beers or cocktails, most likely accompanied by a nice meal instead. Which sounds like a better night out to me, anyway.
That said, if you do want an evening out with a few drinks, I'd recommend the following:
- Tipsy Cowboy Country Dive - newly opened as of 2026, they have country music with line dancing, comfort food and cocktails
- Bit Bar - a cool arcade game themed bar with games and comfort food
- Hallowed Ground for cocktails, comedy and trivia nights)
- All Souls Lounge - vintage cocktails and grilled cheeses)
- Notch Brewing - craft beers with a beer garden on the water
Mistake 6: Overlooking Other Parts of Salem
You will be hard pressed to visit Salem and miss the references to witches and magic everywhere you go. Even their football team, newspaper and Police have a witch as their logo. It's built in to every part of the culture and it's part of its charm. That said, there is of course a side to the town that often gets overlooked.
As well as being a very arty, LBGTQA+ inclusive place to visit, Salem is one of the most historic American towns. Whilst for us English it feels very fresh and knew, if you do enjoy American history, it has a lot of offer. Ultimately, it's just a beautiful coastal town - and in the spring and summer you can usually expect clear blue skies and decent temperatures. As such, there are all kinds of boat trips, the waterfront and pretty light houses you might wish to add to your itinerary.
Beyond anything spooky, there are a whole host of independent cafés, boutiques and they really do embrace a slower pace of life. Stevie and I particularly love Harrison's Comics for toy and comic book hunting, and for film fans the Cinema Salem movie theatre is a must. The Peabody Essex Museum is also popular for art, culture and global history far beyond anything witch-related.
For me, a trip to Salem is also an excuse to eat plenty of seafood and lobster! I'd highly recommend booking a reservation at the historic Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall.
Must-See Things to do in Salem, MA
So now you know what to avoid - what are the must-see parts of Salem? For me, these are essential, particularly if you're a first time visitor. The best part is, most of these are completely free!
The Witch House
The Witch House in Salem (also called the Jonathan Corwin House) is the only surviving building in Salem directly connected to the 1692 witch trials. It's a beautiful building, painted black to replicate houses from that time (houses were often coated with tar) and is often used as a symbol of Salem.
It wasn't actually the home of a witch, but of Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the magistrates who examined accused witches. Today, it’s a museum showing what daily life looked like in 17th-century colonial New England. I've never gone inside the house as it's a small exhibit and not essential, but I just loved seeing the outside and seeing this iconic landmark.
Location: 310 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970 - Free to visit (if you don't want to enter inside)
The Bewitched Statue
Charter Street Cemetery
Located right next to the Witch Trial Memorial, Charter Street Cemetery is Salem’s oldest cemetery and dates back to 1637. It contains uniquely designed, historic gravestones and many find it a very atmospheric spot in Salem. You may recognise the skull and angel design on the graves (sometimes seen around Salem in art). I find these really interesting as they were carved at a time when religious symbols still hadn't been defined. Nowadays where some might have a cross, they hadn't worked these out yet and so these were early ideas. Also, as God-fearing Puritans, people were forbidden from being extravagant in life but were able to be in death. This meant you could absolutely have a fancy, carved tombstone with designs on.
Location: Charter Street, Salem, MA 01970
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is a small outdoor memorial dedicated to the 20 victims of the 1692 witch trials. It's worth stopping to see the stone benches engraved with the names of the victims and dates of their execution and pay your respects. People often leave flowers and it’s a quiet, reflective spot in Salem.
Location: Liberty Street, Salem, MA 01970 - Free to visit
Filming Locations from Hocus Pocus
It's easy to find iconic Hocus Pocus (1993) filming locations all over Salem. Ropes Mansion (Alison's house) is just a short walk up the same road as The Witch House and is decorated as it was seen in the film for Halloween every year. Spots like Max's house (a residence on Ocean Avenue), Pioneer Village and the Old Town Hall are also within a short walking distance of downtown.
Locations: Ropes Mansion (Alison's House), Ocean Avenue (Max's House), Pioneer Village, The Old Town Hall (party scene) and Salem Common.
Have an Aura Reading
The staff at the shop are super friendly and will talk you through it, but essentially all you have to do is sit inside a small retro-style photo booth and place your hands on metal sensors, which are said to measure your “energy". A camera then takes a photo that produces coloured aura-like effects around you, each with different meaning and that are unique to you.
After the photo, a reader then explains what the colours and patterns are interpreted to mean about your personality. Regardless of your beliefs surrounding auras and energy, or witchcraft, it's a really lovely experience and a must when visiting Salem. Your colours can change over time, mood and who you are with in the photo so it's something you can do every time you visit to see if you've changed.
Location: HausWitch, 144 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970 - other locations offering aura readings can be found around Essex Street
Join a Walking Tour
A walking tour in Salem is one of the best ways to explore the city’s history, and there are countless really knowledgeable tour guides. From the witch trials to its maritime past, guided tours (including ghost tours) they usually last around 60 minutes and are available regularly and take you round to visit key landmarks.
Depending on who you book with, some walks are more gimmicky than others so depending on what sort of vibe you're hoping for, do some research and book one that suits you. For example, some are more family friendly, or purely historical, while others are witchy or steered around ghosts.
They vary in price but expect to pay around $20 per person - whilst some more themed ones can go up to $45 per person during peak times. They also have audio/walking apps for as little as $7. You can usually book these online ahead of your trip, although there are shops with information and leaflets around everywhere for how to join one if you feel like doing one last minute.
Locations: Typically around Essex Street or Salem Common
Shopping in Salem
Are the 'museums' worth visiting in Salem?
Until next time fellow travellers and witches,
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