Private Salem and Hammond Castle day trip from Boston

Two centuries of history in one day: castles, trials, and gilded-age mansions

A private day trip from Boston to Salem and Hammond Castle combines a guided tour of an eccentric millionaire's clifftop castle in Gloucester with a Salem walking tour covering the 1692 witch trials, the Witch House, Old Burying Point cemetery, and the mansions lining Chestnut Street. Pickup from your Boston hotel is included, along with the guide, castle admission, and seven hours of transportation and instruction.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Hammond Castle MuseumEntry included2h 15m
2. Salem Witch Trials Memorial25m
3. Old Burying Point15m
4. Bewitched Statue10m

Salem and Hammond Castle day trip

• Pickup from your Boston hotel
• Drive to Hammond Castle (~60 min)
• Guided tour of Hammond Castle (~75 min)
• Explore castle grounds and take photos
• Drive to Salem (~30 min)
• Lunch in Salem (1 hour free time)
• Learn about Salem's maritime past
• See historical Salem and Puritan settlement
• Visit Witch Trials Memorial
• Visit Old Burying Point cemetery
• Learn about Harry Houdini's jail escape
• See Bewitched Statue and learn about show
• Visit Witch House building
• Visit Hocus Pocus mansion
• Stroll Salem's beautiful mansion-lined street
• Visit Salem's prominent dance hall
• See witches' hanging site from trials
• Return to Boston hotel and drop off

The experience

The day starts with a drive north to Hammond Castle in Gloucester, about an hour from Boston. A guide leads you through the castle's narrow staircases and rope-bannistered passages, explaining how the eccentric millionaire inventor built it on the ocean cliffs. You get free time to explore the grounds and gardens on your own, with plenty of spots for photographs. Then it's a 30-minute drive to Salem, where you have an hour to eat at one of the downtown restaurants (lunch is on your own).

After lunch, your guide walks you through Salem's core. You'll see the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and Old Burying Point, the oldest cemetery in the city, with graves dating to the trials themselves. The Witch House, one of the few buildings directly tied to the hysteria, gets its own stop. You'll learn what really happened in 1692, where the victims were hanged, and the story of the Corwin Curse. The tour also covers Salem's maritime wealth (how it became one of the richest cities in America during its gilded age), and takes you down Chestnut Street, one of North America's most beautiful streets, lined with multi-million-dollar mansions built on that fortune. You'll see the mansion featured in Hocus Pocus and learn about the Bewitched statue that put Salem on the tourism map.

The whole group stays private throughout: it's just you, your party, and your guide in one air-conditioned vehicle. Bottled water is provided. At the end of the day, the driver returns you to your hotel in Boston and drops you at your door. Winter bookings (January through March) may face Hammond Castle closures. The operator confirms availability after you book and offers an alternative tour if needed.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Boston hotel.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• Hammond Castle admission.
• parking fees.
• and return drop-off at your door in Boston.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard PickupGuide in English · 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Pickup is included in Boston within 3 miles of the North End, except at Boston Logan International Airport or Boston Flynn Cruiseport.

Cruiseport PickupGuide in English · 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Pickup is included at Boston Flynn Cruiseport.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 7h, runs every day at 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30, from US$ 462 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30Last departure this season: 3 Jan 2027

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Boston Hidden Gems

Is this one for you?Choose this to visit both Hammond Castle and Salem's witch trial sites in one day with a driver handling navigation and transport between them.

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Top questions

What exactly happened during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692?

The Salem Witch Trials were a period of mass hysteria in which 20 people were executed on accusations of witchcraft, most of them hanged. The tour visits the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, where you learn what actually occurred, and Old Burying Point cemetery, where victims are buried. You also see the Witch House, one of the few buildings still standing that was directly involved in the trials.

Can I see where Hocus Pocus was filmed in Salem?

Yes. The tour includes a visit to the mansion that was featured in the Hocus Pocus film, and your guide shares the story of the two famous ghosts said to still reside there.

How much time do I have to explore Hammond Castle on my own?

After the guided tour of Hammond Castle, which lasts about 75 minutes, you have free time to walk the rest of the grounds and gardens at your own pace and take photographs.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included, but you have an hour in Salem's downtown to choose from a wide variety of restaurants. The cost is on your own.

What is Chestnut Street and why is it part of the tour?

Chestnut Street is one of the most beautiful streets in North America, lined with multi-million-dollar mansions built during Salem's maritime golden age. The tour drives through it so you can see how the city's wealth from shipping created this architectural legacy.