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An *Updated* Travel Guide to Salem, Massachusetts (New Items included for 2021!)

Your Updated Magical Guide to Visiting Historic Salem!

Just because October is over doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the dark and mysterious all year round in a mystical port city rich in local history and magical lore: Salem, Massachusetts! The city is rife with metaphysical shops and spooky tourism to enjoy all year round, but of course the prime time to visit is in the Autumn as the local region really leans into the Halloween season!

A Brief History of Salem

The town of Salem was founded in 1626 by Roger Conant and a group of settlers from Cape Ann. Originally called Kaumkeag, the settlers decided to change the name to Salem after the Hebrew term for “Peace.” It has been one of the pinnacle seaports in early American History since the 1600s and through the American Revolution. Its ports have long served as prime dock space for many trade ships from Europe, the Pacific, and Asia. It is also most infamously known as the site of The Salem Witch Trials.

In the late 1600s, witchcraft allegations were made against several young citizens including Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Giles Crey and others. Instead of trying to hide from its dark history, the town of Salem fully leans into its Witchy roots and rich, but shadowy history. As a result, this is one of the top destinations in the Northeast for fall travel destinations, especially on Halloween! Check out our travel guide below for fun historical tours, spooky haunted locations, gift shops, museums, and more.


Get into the Spooky Spirit at one of these fine historic hotels or magical lodging options:

  • The Haunted Hawthorne Hotel is named after local author Nathanial Hawthorne. Staff have reported seeing the apparition of a woman who is believed to be the spirit of Bridget Bishop. Guests also often report the haunting aroma of fresh apples, even if none are being served on premise, thought to be Bridget’s way of communicating that the hotel is built on her family’s apple orchard lands.

  • The Salem Inn has some conflicting tales to its hauntings; the owners are adamant that the existence of ghosts is questionable, but the staff and visitors beg to differ! Visitors and employees claim this to be one of the most haunted hotels in the area, with no less than three spectral beings on site, including the ghost of a cat.

  • The Thomas Brown House was built in 1781 and is one of the oldest homes on Winter Street. It’s a gorgeous property right in the heart of the Salem Commons and the Peabody Essex Museum.

  • Stay at The Daniels House - one of the oldest BNB’s established as early as 1667. It boasts 9 gorgeous fireplaces and is inspired by Salem’s long standing maritime history. The facilities were restored in 2019 by the new owners, Adele and Patrick, and they kept many of the antiques from the original home. It’s a one-of-a-kind stay!

Now that you’ve cozied up and met some of the local residents, living and undead, it’s time to hit the cobblestones and explore the intersections of past and present in this wonderful witchy locale!

Activities to Explore in Salem



And what vacation would be complete without a proper list of delectable eateries, pubs, and breweries.

Looking for some fun ways to bring a bit of Salem’s magic back home? We’ve got you covered with a few picks for witchy gift giving and unique shopping experiences:

If you’re venturing out for some Halloween fun, October is really the city’s time to shine! But we hope we’ve shed a little light on just how magical a trip to Salem can be year round.


Travel Guide updated and compiled by Ellen Avigliano
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