Salem: Witch Trials & Hauntings Walking Tour with Historian

Salem's History & Hauntings in Two Hours on Foot

You walk Salem's historic streets for two hours with a local historian covering 400 years of history, the 1692 Witch Trials, and the supernatural stories that shaped the town. You'll see the Witch Trials Memorial, Bewitched statue, Witch House exterior, and Old Burying Point without entering buildings. The guide is a professional historian, dogs are welcome, and the tour runs regardless of weather. Just bring comfortable shoes and plan for brick sidewalks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Bewitched Statue5m
2. Salem Witch Trials Memorial10m
3. Old Burying Point2m

Salem history and haunted walking tour

• Depart from Salem's Old Town Hall
• Walk cobblestone streets by lantern light
• Explore Essex St Pedestrian mall
• Visit First Church site and hear Lady in Blue tale
• See the Bewitched statue
• Pay respects at Salem Witch Trials Memorial
• Discuss history and visit home gardens
• Stroll historic district and take photos
• Discuss Witch House history outside
• Guide points out Old Burying Point cemetery
• View Samuel McIntire’s Hamilton Hall outside

The experience

So yeah, the tour starts right at Old Town Hall on the three steps, and your guide is actually a historian, not someone who memorized a script last week. You're walking the cobblestones in Salem's historic district, and the first thing that hits you is how narrow and uneven everything is, which is kind of the point. These streets were a Native American trading path before they became the heart of a 17th-century seaport, and the guide walks you through how Salem got wealthy, how the Witch Trials hysteria happened in 1692, and why people still talk about it. The Essex Street pedestrian mall is where you'll spend a good chunk of time, and there's this story about the Lady in Blue at the First Church site that actually sticks with you after you leave.

The Bewitched statue, that 9-foot bronze thing from 2005, is one of the stops, and the guide tells you how locals actually reacted when it went up. There's a reason there are security cameras on it. You also visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial to pay respects to the victims, walk past the Witch House (outside only, no entry), see the Ropes Mansion gardens, and the guide points out Old Burying Point cemetery without taking you inside. Hamilton Hall gets a mention too. It's all exterior, which means you're moving the whole time, and the brick sidewalks and uneven surfaces are real, so wear shoes you can actually walk in for two hours. The group caps at 40 people during busy times, so it's not intimate, but the historian keeps things grounded and specific to Salem, not generic ghost stories.

Dogs are allowed, wheelchairs and scooters work but the brick and narrow areas mean you're taking on the responsibility yourself. There are no public restrooms on the route, so plan ahead. The tour runs rain or shine. They don't cancel for weather, and there's no refund if you don't show up or if it rains. It's two hours, sometimes stretching to two hours and fifteen minutes depending on the group and how many questions come up. You're not going inside any buildings, so this is pure walking and listening, which is either exactly what you want or not what you want.

What’s included

• Your two-hour tour includes a professional local historian guide, entry to Salem's historic district and exterior sites (Witch Trials Memorial, Bewitched statue, Witch House, Ropes Mansion gardens, Old Burying Point, Hamilton Hall), and 400 years of Salem history from the colonial seaport era through the 1692 Witch Trials and beyond.
• Dogs are welcome, and the tour runs rain or shine.
• You do not enter any buildings or cemeteries.
• This is an outdoor walking experience only.

Options for this experience

2 options

English Version Only56 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 21:00Available in English only

Spanish Version Only11:00, 15:45 and 18:45Available in Spanish only

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day56 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 21:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 95 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Witch City Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want Salem's history and Witch Trials context from someone who actually knows the subject, without the indoor museum stops. Expect two hours of steady walking on brick and uneven surfaces, which is what lets you cover the full historic district and hear the real stories behind the sites.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

16,427 verified traveler reviews

5 ★15,427

4 ★532

3 ★222

2 ★115

1 ★131

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, with 56 departure times. In Spanish, at 11:00, 15:45 and 18:45.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the Salem history and hauntings walking tour?

Approximately two hours, sometimes extending to two hours and fifteen minutes depending on group size and questions.

Do you enter buildings on this tour?

No. This is an outdoor-only tour. You visit exteriors of sites like the Witch House, Ropes Mansion, and Old Burying Point, but do not go inside any buildings or cemeteries.

Is the tour accessible for wheelchairs?

Wheelchairs and scooters are welcome, but Salem has brick sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and narrow areas. Visitors assume responsibility for navigation and safety.

Are dogs allowed on the tour?

Yes, dogs are welcome on the tour.

What happens if it rains?

Tours run rain or shine. The company does not cancel for weather, and there are no refunds for weather conditions.

What sites do you visit?

The tour includes the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, Bewitched statue, Witch House, Ropes Mansion gardens, Old Burying Point cemetery (exterior), Hamilton Hall, and the Essex Street historic district.

How many people are on each tour?

Groups can be up to 40 people during busy times.

Are there restrooms on the tour route?

No. There are no public restrooms on the tour route, so plan accordingly.

Is alcohol allowed on the tour?

No. Alcoholic beverages, smoking, and vaping are prohibited on all tours.