Salem Witch Trials walking tour: 1692 history and haunts

Stand at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, where people were wrongfully executed centuries ago.

A one-hour guided walking tour of Salem, Massachusetts covers the 1692 witch trials at their actual locations: the memorial, the second-oldest U.S. cemetery where trial participants are buried, and sites tied to the town's war, piracy and business history. The guide is a licensed professional storyteller. Children from age 5 are welcome. The tour runs regardless of weather and includes passage through Salem's historic McIntire and Washington Square.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Salem Witch Trials Memorial10m
2. Bewitched Statue10m

Explore Salem Witch Trials and Haunts

• Visit Salem Witch Trials Memorial
• Explore the second oldest cemetery
• Take photo at Bewitched Statue
• Learn about Merchant Inn hauntings
• Discover Nathanial Hawthorne's history

The experience

What happened in Salem in 1692, and where exactly did it happen? This tour answers both. You walk to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, built in 1992 to honor the 20 people wrongfully convicted and executed, then move through the second-oldest cemetery in the United States, where many of those accused and their accusers are buried. The guide unpacks the victims, the accusers and the culprits (the actual people and their roles in one of the first major scandals in American history) as you stand at the places where the trials unfolded.

Beyond the trials themselves, the route weaves through Salem's other layers. You'll stop at the Bewitched statue to learn about the 1960s TV episode filmed here, visit the Merchant Inn and hear its hauntings, and hear about Nathaniel Hawthorne's life and his connection to the trials. The guide also covers Salem's history of war, piracy and business: the parts of the town's almost 400-year story that don't make the headlines. You walk through the historic McIntire and Washington Square, passing the architecture and layout that shaped the town as it was then.

The tour is one hour and runs every day, rain or shine. A licensed, experienced guide leads the whole thing. They're trained storytellers who know the material deeply. The route is wheelchair accessible, strollers work fine for infants and small children, and service animals are welcome. If you're getting around Salem without a car, public transit stops are nearby.

What’s included

• In-depth history of Salem, Massachusetts.
• professional licensed tour guide experienced in storytelling.
• passage through the historic McIntire and Washington Square neighborhoods.
• visits to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, the second-oldest U.S. cemetery with trial participants buried there, the Bewitched statue, the Merchant Inn, and Hocus Pocus movie locations.

Information

Lasts 1h, runs every day, 5 start times, from US$ 29 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Tuesday and Thursday: 11:00, 15:00 and 20:00Wednesday: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 20:00Friday to Sunday: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 20:00Last departure this season: 31 DecAnother time? ›

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

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

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Wicked Awesome Tours

Is this one for you?One hour leaves room for other Salem stops (museums, shops, meals) in the same day, so you can pair this with a self-guided cemetery walk or a visit to one of the town's historic homes without the tour eating your whole afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, and why was it built?

The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was created in 1992, 300 years after the trials, to remember and respect the 20 victims who were wrongfully convicted and executed. It stands at one of the actual trial sites you visit on the tour.

Does the tour cover anything besides the witch trials?

Yes. The guide also walks you through Salem's history of war, piracy and business, shows you the Bewitched TV statue and Hocus Pocus movie locations, tells the hauntings of the Merchant Inn and cemetery, and explains Nathaniel Hawthorne's connection to the trials and the town.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour runs regardless of weather, so rain, snow or cold won't cancel it. Dress for the conditions and you're set.

How much ground do we cover in one hour?

You'll walk through Salem's historic McIntire and Washington Square, visit the memorial and cemetery, stop at the Bewitched statue, pass the Merchant Inn, and hit several other trial-related sites. It's a compact route that fits the major landmarks and stories into the hour.