Things to do in Salem
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Sailing on Historic Schooner Yacht in Salem, MASail aboard the Malabar X, a historic North Shore schooner yacht in Salem, Massachusetts, on a 2-hour harbor cruise where you navigate Salem Sound and the islands under canvas as sailors did in the early 1900s. You can help trim the sails or relax while the crew handles them; soft drinks and bottled water are included, and a craft beverage bar with cocktails, beer, wine and cider is available for purchase. Morning, afternoon and sunset departures run daily, and children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Pick the morning or afternoon sail if you want to explore the islands and Marblehead's shoreline in full daylight; choose the sunset departure if you want to watch the light change over Salem Sound and the harbor as the day closes.
1692 Salem Witch Trial Tour: 400 Years of HistoryA two-hour walking tour of Salem led by a local historian, visiting over a dozen historical sites tied to the 1692 Witch Trials. You'll hear the full arc—Salem before the trials, what sparked the hysteria, the judges and accusers, how residents responded, the 20 victims, and how it ended. The tour meets at the Hermetic Arts Center on Essex Street and is family-friendly and dog-friendly.Is it for me?Standing at the actual trial sites with a historian who knows Salem's story transforms scattered fragments into the full context of what happened in 1692.
Salem: Witch Trials, Ghost & Real Witch Tours ComboYou attend a 45-minute Q&A with a practicing witch at 3:30pm, walk the Witch Trials sites for an hour at 5pm, and join a 60-75 minute ghost tour after dark. All three tours include a certified guide; the combo pass saves $10 and lets you choose your evening start time at 7pm or 8:30pm.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Salem from three angles—the actual witchcraft history, the 1692 trials, and the ghost stories—without planning three separate bookings or timing them yourself; the fixed schedule across the afternoon and evening is what makes all three fit into one day.
Salem: Witch Costume Photo Shoot at Olde Salem Village SetYou’ll step right into Olde Salem Village and get styled head-to-toe by a friendly local expert before posing on an elaborate 1692 set with your own pro photographer guiding you through every shot. Your session wraps with a private photo reveal—expect laughter, maybe some surprises—and digital files to keep.
Salem: Witch Cottage Costume Photo Shoot & Theatrical SetYou’ll step into Salem’s Witch Cottage set and get styled in your own witch or wizard costume from their huge wardrobe. A friendly local photographer guides you through playful poses among potions and spell books before revealing your photos at the end. It’s fun, welcoming, and surprisingly memorable — especially if you let yourself be a little silly.
Salem: Witch Broom Making Workshop & Custom SouvenirYou choose your broom handle, broomcorn colors, ribbons, and charms, then learn to bind them together under instruction from Salem-based craftspeople. The result is a custom witches broom for your home or altar, made in a dedicated workshop space designed to keep the experience focused and calm. You leave with a finished souvenir you built yourself, and the instructors provide guidance on shipping if you need it.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants a hands-on Salem souvenir they actually made, or for groups looking to do something creative together in one ticket—the instructors handle the teaching so you just focus on building and choosing what goes into your broom.
Salem: Kids Slightly Spooky Walking Tour & Witch HouseYou’ll follow a local teacher through Salem’s winding streets, hear true tales mixed with gentle spooky stories for kids, peek at Hawthorne’s old home, and climb up to an ancient cemetery before ending outside the Witch House. Expect laughter, curious questions, and just enough mystery to make your family want more.
Salem: Witch Trials, Revolution & Maritime History Walking TourYou walk about one mile through Salem's downtown over 90 minutes, stopping at the Witch Trials Memorial, Old Burying Point cemetery, Lyceum Hall, and sites tied to the American Revolution and the Age of Sail. A local guide with an amplifier covers four centuries of history — from the 1692 trials to maritime wealth to George Washington's visit to Alexander Graham Bell's telephone work. The fixed 12pm departure time and frequent stops mean you see the major sites without arranging your own route or timing.Is it for me?Best for travelers who want Salem's full history — witch trials, revolution, maritime wealth, and famous residents — covered in one walking tour without arranging separate stops or timing. The guide's amplifier and frequent stops mean you hear everything clearly even on busy streets, and the fixed 12pm departure takes the scheduling off your hands.
Salem Dark History Tour: Witch Trials & Haunted SitesYou walk Salem's actual Witch Trials sites with a licensed local guide who knows the real stories, not the Hollywood version. The tour covers the church graveyard, Giles Corey's haunted location, and the Old Jail—a place with documented ghost stories that locals still believe in. You'll spend 2 to 3 hours on foot hearing what happened in 1692 and what people still report happening today, with a guide who lives in Salem and answers questions as they come up.Is it for me?Book this if you want to understand the real Witch Trials history without the theme-park treatment—a licensed local guide who lives in Salem takes the guesswork out of where to go and what actually happened on these streets.
Salem Witch Trials Walking Tour with Local GuideYou walk downtown Salem with a licensed local guide who untangles the 1692 witch trials from the mythology. You see the memorial, the old jail, the first church, and the Bewitched statue while learning the actual history and colonial context. The tour includes a guide who knows Salem and can point you toward places locals actually go—so you leave with both the facts and the lay of the land.Is it for me?Book this if you want the actual history of the 1692 witch trials rather than the sensationalized version, and you'd rather have a local guide untangle the colonial context than read a plaque on your own.
