In the spirit (no pun intended) of one of the United States’ most celebrated holidays (and my own favorite holiday), I thought it would be a treat to kick off my first post of the U.S. with the biggest Halloween city on the east coast, Salem, Massachusetts. Although I had only spent a day trip in Salem, I will be highlighting the must- see shops, where to stay if you choose to spend the weekend, and all the paranormal attractions you can discover (if you dare) while visiting the town.
Number of Days to Stay: 1-3 days
Expenses: $$-$$$
Best Time to Travel:
Fall/October – If you want to capture all of the spookiness of Halloween and get the most out of your trip, October is the best month to visit! As long as you don’t mind waiting in lines and dealing with crowds it is very enjoyable; I have friends who go every Halloween weekend and absolutely love it! It is Halloween everyday of October and people are dressed in costume all month long.
Spring – If you want to avoid all crowds and lines, then spring is a great time to visit! Only the locals will be around, and you still will get to explore all of Salem’s museums, shops and wonders it has to offer. Not to worry though, it’s still spooky!
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Where to Stay:
My friends and I planned a weekend road trip to Boston when we visited Salem, so we only spent the day wandering the town. Luckily, I have other friends who make a yearly trip or have also visited during the off season and gave me some insight on how to beat the crowds and where to stay locally. If you plan to visit on Halloween or the weekend of Halloween, make sure you book a year in advance as the popular hotels book up immediately after Halloween the year before!
Hotels:
- Salem Water Front Suits – My friends stay here every year for Halloween! They absolutely love the rooms and the location is perfect for families
- The Hawthorne – This is the hotel in town that is said to have a haunted room. If you want to stay in the room, you might be looking at a reservation in five years as it is booked out way ahead of time
- Hampton Inn- A friend stayed here with her mom for the weekend. It is a great affordable accommodation
- The Salem Inn
- Hotel Salem
- The Cove Hotel – This hotel is a little ways away from the downtown part of where all the action happen and it a little more expensive compared to other hotels
*I did not include any Airbnbs/rentals since they were either full home rentals for families or just renting a room in the host’s house.
Where to Eat & Nightlife
For a small town, there are a fair number of establishments to grab some grub and drinks after being spooked by ghosts and learning the dark history of the witch trials. You won’t find a place with a club atmosphere, but the restaurant/pub ambiances give off a great bar vibe to wind down and enjoy your trip! For any lunch or dinner plans, make sure you make a reservation two weeks from your trip to lock in a date and time especially in October!
Cafes and Snacks:
- Good Night Fatty ($-$$)– the best cookies in Salem!
- New England Soup Factory ($-$$) – My friend told me this is the greatest soup you will ever have in your life and they visit here annually! Vegan Options!
- Engine House Pizza ($-$$) – Great spot to grab a quick bite, it’s not NY pizza but it’s still good quality overall
- Whimsy’s Sweet Life ($-$$) – Popular Ice cream shop
- Jolie Tea Company ($$) – English Tea and macaroons
- Red’s Sandwich Shop ($) – A popular spot to grab a sandwich as a quick bite
- Gulu Gulu Café – Looking for European treats and drinks? From espresso to wines, this café has it all and will have live entertainment for you to enjoy. Vegan options!
- Harbor Sweets ($$) – Calling all chocolate lovers, this is the spot for you to stock up on all your chocolatey delights
- Coffee Time Bake Shop ($$) – Every sweet you could desire and that your dentist hates, from caramel apples, sweet chocolates, pumpkin cheesecake and so much more
- Jaho Coffee and Tea ($$)
Restaurants/Bars:
- Rockafellas ($$) – This is one of the most popular restaurants in Salem not for its cuisine (although it’s still good), but because it is said to be haunted
- Finz Seafood and Grill ($$$) – Great restaurant for all seafood lovers
- Longboards Restaurant & Bar ($$) – Establishment on the water with a beautiful view and great for drinks
- The Tavern ($$) – Located in the Hawthorne Hotel this restaurant is great for a cozy meal. Vegan Options!
- Village Tavern ($$)– There is a huge outdoor patio seating on site and three full bars inside for grub and fun
- Bit Bar ($-$$)– An arcade with pinball and classic games that also has amazing cocktails and local crafted beers. Vegan Options!
- Salem’s Retreat ($$) – Comfort food at your fingertips. There is also a bar and live music will play from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm
- East Regiment Beer Company ($$) – Brewery in Salem located in the heart of downtown
- Barrio Tacos + Tequila Whiskey ($) – Do I need to say more? It is rated one of the top 10 taco stands in the U.S.! Vegan Options!
- Sea Level Oyster Bar ($$) – Pescatarians or anyone who likes seafood in general cannot miss this oyster bar servicing fresh seafood
- Old Main Street Pub ($$) – Your local Irish Pub serving pints and bar food. It is also a family friendly spot
- Ledger Restaurant and Bar ($$$) – If you want a fancy meal, Ledger is a great option for an upscale dining experience. Vegan Options!
- 99 Restaurant and Pub ($$) – If you are traveling with a large group, especially kids, this is a family friendly establishment with great food
- Dire Wolf Tavern ($$) – If you are craving sushi and fancy cocktails, this is the establishment for you
Vegetarian/Vegan Recommendations:
- Jodi Bees Bakes – Vegan café and bakery
- Chocolate Pantry ($$) – Vegan and gluten free chocolate
- Life Alive Organic Café ($$) – All of your vegan meals, treats, snacks and drinks
- Flat Bread Company ($$) – Chain restaurant that includes vegan options and desserts
- Blue Fez ($$)
What To Do
Museums/Experiences
Make sure to book all the experiences in advance, especially if you are planning to go in the height of tourist season (October.) All the time slots will quickly be reserved and you will not be able to attend. If you are visiting in October, make sure to read Haunted Happenings; this magazine will write about the activities, shows and events that are happening each week of October in Salem!
- The Witch House – One of the top attractions in Salem as it has been said to be haunted. My friend may or may not have seen a ghost
- The House of Seven Gables
- Salute of Elizabeth Montgomery
- Bewitched Statue
- Visit John Proctor’s Grave at The Salem Witch Trial Memorial – If you read The Crucible, by Aurthur Miller in high school you will know exactly who this is (poor Tituba!)
- House Pocus film sites:
- Old Town Hall – 32 Derby Square
- Ropes Mansion – 318 Essex Street.
- Binx’s house (Pioneer Village)
- Hocus Pocus House – 4 Ocean Ave.
- You can also take a tour of all the 32 filming sites. Click here for the tour.
- Visit the Old Burying Point Cemetery – If you visit any cemetery, make sure you don’t buy a map! They will be posted inside
- Guided Walking Tour: There are many niche walking tours of Salem that you can choose from so I narrowed it down to a few that have great reviews or that my friends have experienced! They all range from $25-$30
- Haunting of Salem – One of my friends did this walking tour and loved it!
- Ghost and Witch Tour – Another one of my friends recommended this as the tour guide with the top hat is excellentNight Tour: Haunt and History
- Ghosts, Witches and Warlocks Tour
- Salem Ghost Tours – Highly rated ghost tour in Salem that a group of disbaled veteran runs this company that offers history tours, ghost tours, and more and helps support our veterans!
- Salem Haunted Happenings (Only in October where everyone dresses up for Halloween and there are festivities and shows to partake in)
- Walk and Shop Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
Shops
All the shops can be found on Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. Shops are lined up from one end of the street to the other. This is where, during peak season, you will find very long lines to enter the stores. Some of the line time waits can range from one to three hours.
- Salem: Coon Card and Gift Shop – All things witchy, Halloween-y, and spooky! The line for this store is usually long as it is very popular
- Remember Salem Gifts – Recommended by a friend that this is a must shop store
- Moody’s Home and Gifts – This shop is known for supporting local and international companies bring in cute décor, trinkets, cards and stationery
- Bewitched Shop – A great shop for anything metaphysical and for tarot cards
- The Marble Faun Books and Gifts – Find all Halloween, witch, horror, crime, and mystery books as well as little décor and trinkets
- Omen – Known for having the best crystals and incense
- Vampfangs – Realistic Vampire veneers and everything vampire themed
- Artemisia Botanica – Absolutely adored this store as a plant, crystal, and herb lover
- Hauswitch Home + Healing – if you are traveling during peak season make sure to make an appointment to shop! They do not take walk-ins
- Oak + Moss – My favorite shop we walked into accidently. I bought myself a tarot card candle here and a couple of other trinkets to bring home for me or as gifts
- Magicka – If you are looking for a great metaphysical store that has psychics, then look no further. Magicka was recommended by friends and they have said that physic the readings are the best and they always make the visit annually
Transportation:
Getting to Salem
Airport – Salem does not have an airport, so you will have to fly into Boston Logan International Airport. From there, there are different modes of transportation to get to Salem which I will cover below. The commute from the airport via bus or driving is an average of about 40 minutes.
Train – A popular way of transportation to get to Salem if you are staying in Boston or heading to the town from the airport is taking the Newburyport/Rockport Line from the North Station. This will take about 30 minutes and costs $8.00 one way.
Bus – Depending on the time of day you leave, the bus ride can take from 30 minutes to an hour from Boston. You can take bus line 450 on Congress St @ Haymarket St. and it will take you right into Salem! The ticket price for a one-way trip is $4.25.
Ferry – There is a ferry that travels from Boston to Salem and back that is also an option! The duration is about 50 minutes and on board is a cash bar, light snacks for purchase, and an outdoor viewing deck! Listed on their website is the ferry website from May-October. Depending on the day of your trip a one-way ticket can cost you from $29-$35.
Driving/Uber – When visiting Salem, we drove up from Boston …which was kind of a disaster. We traveled in October of 2020 on a Saturday and thought it was going to be less packed because of Covid…we were so wrong. It took over an hour there and an hour back driving. Although the view during the drive was beautiful with the fall foliage, I wish we had planned it a little better. We even ended up driving around for a half hour before finding a parking garage that was open. Parking is very limited so if you plan to take a day trip and drive, be mindful of finding a spot on the street or in a garage. An Uber may be expensive if you are traveling from Boston or a nearby town, so it is not recommended but a possible option!
You can find all information on Boston’s public transportation on how to get to and from Salem on their website. They have an effective trip planner including different ways to get to and from Salem!
While In Salem
Walking – The best way to discover Salem and all its ghoulish wonders is by walking! Since the town is small and very walkable, this is the usual mode of transportation tourists like to take. Downtown is only a mile wide, and you can walk from one end to the other in just 20 minutes. You will close all your rings between exploring the museums and walking to each attraction.
Salem Skipper – This is a local rideshare service offered in Salem that can take you any where from $2 a ride or $1 for senior citizens, students, or anyone with a disability. You can download the app on your phone to schedule a ride or call the number on their website. I only recommend this to those who are need of an easy way to get around town due to an injury, disability or for senior citizens.
Bluebikes – Bluebikes is like any other organized rental bike service in major cities. You can download the app and purchase a pass for 24-hour access or pay-for-ride which lasts about 30 minutes. You can bike outside of downtown, which makes it a convenient way to see more of the town!
Salem Trolley – The trolley runs through the town daily April through November from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can take the trolley as a tour or hop on and off throughout the day, but not guaranteed during peak tourist season. You must buy tickets in person.
Living in the Northeast makes it very easy to get to Salem, so I plan on visiting again in the future to really experience the magic in the city and all of its history. Although October is the high season and there are many lines to all of the experiences and shops, it is the only true way to celebrate Halloween! Whether it is a day trip or a quick weekend you are bound to learn so much about the town and see a ghost (if you believe in the paranormal!) For now, I’ll leave it to the ghost hunters of the world to figure that one out.
See You in the Shadows,
Salem
