Location: Salem
Top Things to do in Salem
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Top 8 Cultural Tours in Salem, Massachusetts (MA)
Best known for the witch trials that took place in 1692, Salem is sure to bewitch you with its seaside charm, its maritime history and spellbinding beauty. Follow the Red Line along the sidewalks to navigate your journey through historic sites, including the Witch Trial Memorial, the Old Burying Point Cemetery and more. Discover serenity by the sea on the beaches of Salem Willows. The Bewitched statue, the Witch Museum and the Witch Dungeon conjure up diverse takes on witchery through history.
Restaurants in Salem
1. Satanic Salem Walking Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
Salem history from The Satanic Temple! Who the hell are we? Watch the documentary "Hail Satan?" on Hulu before booking and you'll get it! The most unique walking tour in Salem, free from supernatural or superstitious elements. Your tour guide is an expert in occultism, witchcraft, and a member of The Satanic Temple! Surprisingly very family friendly, but for weird families.
Inclusions: Licensed and certified guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Summerstar22
By far the best tour in Salem! Don’t take this tour if you enjoy wasting your money on gimmicky tourist BS. Take this tour if you want to learn unique and accurate historical facts about Salem with a pinch of grit. Thomas is a fabulous and charismatic guide and we can’t wait to take the tour again!
2. Black Cat Historical Day Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 290 reviews
Our daytime historic tour is a story of Pirates and Puritans, Witchcraft and War. We travel around the city of Salem and share the tales of its amazing history. From its humble beginnings as a city founded on the idea of peace for all, to the site of the largest incident of witchcraft hysteria in the modern world, learn how it became one of the biggest shipping ports in America, played host to some of the most famous authors of all time, and learn some of the biggest secrets this city has to offer! Our daytime walking tour lasts about an hour and forty five minutes, and covers a mile's worth of the downtown area. It is an easy walk, but we suggest comfortable shoes and clothing to match the season. Our tours are unscripted, and can be customized to every group's particular areas of interest!
Inclusions: Professional guide
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By ChardonnayShevat
I went in early October 2020 with my family, and we had such a great time. Our guide, which her name escapes me, was very knowledgeable, and very attentive to our group. I learned a lot about the ghosts of Salem, and I can't wait to go back! All the locations were close to each other, and it was an easy walk. Don't forget to bring your cameras!
3. Dark History: Hauntings & Witchcraft Hysteria
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 70 reviews
Join your local guide for a trip back in history as they share the story of Salem’s founding in 1626 by Puritans, whose search for religious freedom ultimately ended in a wave of fear, suspicion, and anger that gripped Salem for one fateful year in 1692. Your tour will include stops at some of Salem’s most popular locations, like the Witch House, Chestnut Street, & Burying Point Cemetery, and some secluded off-the-beaten-path locations that very few tourists get to experience. Along the way, your guide, an experienced storyteller, will recount all the details of the witchcraft hysteria & share Salem’s spookiest local legends of hauntings from 1600s through the present day. All tours meet outside of Coon’s Card and Gift Shop. 2 hours (All ages)
Inclusions: English guide
Exclusions: Parking
Reviewed By mrnewport17
Great tour to get in the Halloween spirit! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and explained things well. It had a good combination of information on the witch trials as well as other historical events that have happened in Salem.
4. Steps Through 1692 (History Tour)
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 20 reviews
Steps Through 1692 is a 45-minute historic walking tour in the heart of downtown Salem. Learn about the hysteria of the Salem Witch trials at points of interest.
Inclusions: Certified guide
Exclusions: Private transportation
Reviewed By tdf1331
We took an evening ghost tour (Salem’s Spooky Spectres) with Pamela and loved it! Pamela was informative, a great storyteller, and a lot of fun ~ a perfect blend of historic and spooky. Some really chilling moments + an educational tour.
5. The Salem Witch Walk
Overall Ratings
4.7 based on 1,024 reviews
Join us on the Salem Witch Walk for Salem's only Magical tour. You will be greeted by real Witches and participate in a real Magical Circle. You will be seated in our Magical Garden and we will educate you about Modern Day Witchcraft and the history of the accused witches of 1692. You will be given a Magical Bag with discount coupons, educational information and brochures and about each victim including a special Blessing that we will do at the Witch Trials Memorial where you may call in your higher as well. All of our guests receive a Magical Gift blessed by Salem's Famous Love Clairvoyant Lorelei, owner of The Salem Witch Walk and Crow Haven Corner - Salem's oldest witch shop! We also have water and a little candy for your walk. Your highly knowledgeable licensed tour guides look forward to meeting you for this one of a kind experience!
Inclusions: Tour escort/host, All activities
Exclusions: Excess luggage charges (where applicable), Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Drinks, Food and drinks, Food and drinks, unless specified, Food and drinks, other than the "value added offers" specified in your guidebook, Lunch, DVD (available to purchase), Souvenir photos (available to purchase), Hotel drop-off, Hotel pickup, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option not selected), Transportation to/from attractions
Reviewed By flowerchild_scorpio
Loved Charlotte's magical walking tour of Salem, it was a lot of fun, even on a cold winter day. It was just shy of an hour and a half long with some great information with an edge of levity where appropriate.
6. Salem Day Tour: Historical Witchcraft Hysteria Walking Tour
Overall Ratings
4.7 based on 12 reviews
This Salem Day Tour is recommended for any guest who wants to learn the true history of the most sensationalized dark moments in Colonial American history. While being led by local, experienced and licensed guides, guests will see the famous & iconic historical sites of the Salem. This tour contains dark and serious history, and may not be suitable for very young children.
Inclusions: City of Salem Licensed Guide
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Tthomaskillam
We had Sebastian as our guide. He was gracious, a natural thespian, knowledgeable, and as such he had everyone hanging off his every word. He did a great job tailoring his comments to our group. He stayed and answered our questions at the end. This was the best part of my day in Salem. A great mix of history and ghost stories. If you’re reading this, DO IT. Hands down worth it. I would have chosen it over seeing the Witches House and the Witches Museum. My only complaint is one out of anyone’s control- I wish I could have seen our guides face!
7. Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour in Salem
Overall Ratings
3.9 based on 7 reviews
This is a Smartphone Guided ghost tour on our walking tour app. Go to the Ropes Mansion, press play and put your phone in your pocket. From there you are guided turn by turn along the spooky streets of Salem. 1 purchase works on 4 smartphones. Once you unlock the tour it does not expire and can be taken anytime. This offers spooky narration, theatrically crafted and music infused tour you can take anytime. Contactless and social distance friendly. It's recommended to listen on headphones or earbuds. Also you can Listen on a bluetooth speakers or your phone speaker. What makes this tour special? -The spooky narrator is one of a kind. -This is not a fact dumping tour. It's a spooky adventure. -Go anytime. Go at your own pace -Great bang for your buck. Get the adventure for a fraction of the price of other tours.
Inclusions: Smartphone Guided Walking Tour, Recap tour you can take after taking the in person tour
Exclusions:
Reviewed By T7327WNjillb
I loved the commentary! The music! Everything! It was a great way to learn more about the city and the history which is everywhere. It was easy to use. At first the app was a little glitchy but we got it to work for us.
8. The Great Cannoli Tour
Ciao. Welcome to the North End, the Little Italy of Boston. I hope you’re hungry. During our walk I will take you to the local cannoli shop that Food Insider declared as the best Cannoli in Boston, the one the locals eat at. On our experience we will visit 4 Cannoli shops, I’ll share story of the Italian immigrants, we will see the Prado, Old North where Paul Revere saw those lanterns, hear about why Sicilian immigrants came to Boston, discover immigrant stories, the rise of the Mafia and walk down historic Salem street. You will also learn a bit of the history of Cannoli. Mama mia, your friends will all be jealous. Join me for my tasty adventure in the North End, Boston. What makes this tour special? - Pro voice overs, scripts and sound. - Go anytime. This is flexible on your schedule. - Start anytime. Go at your own pace - Take the Virtual Tour anytime - Great bang for your buck - Freedom trail from start to end - Walking experience like no other
Inclusions: GPS guided walking tour "The Great Cannoli Tour" on the WalknTours app, Virtual Tour "The Great Cannoli Tour" take the Virtual Tour anytime.
Exclusions:
Reviewed By T7327WNjillb
I loved the commentary! The music! Everything! It was a great way to learn more about the city and the history which is everywhere. It was easy to use. At first the app was a little glitchy but we got it to work for us.
