VISITING SALEM IN OCTOBER - A MINI GUIDE TO A SPOOKY WEEK-END
If you love all things October and Halloween you must put Salem, Mass on your travel bucket list. Salem goes all out during the spooky season with events every week-end for all ages, like ghost tours, costume contests, witch trial and Hocus Pocus walking tours.
Salem is a very popular destination in October, especially on the weekends leading up to Halloween. Visiting Monday-Thursday means fewer crowds, but also missing out on a lot of the Halloween events. Yes, there will be large crowds, long lines and waits on the weekends, but with a little preparation, you can still have a fantastic time. Don’t forget to wear your favorite costume or witch’s hat.
Here’s our guide for having the spookiest time in America's Halloween capitol city.
GETTING HERE
Salem is located 30 minutes from Boston.
If you’re flying in, you will want to fly into Boston Logan Airport. While you can get to Salem using public transportation, we liked the convenience of having our own car.
From Boston:
If you’re driving on a weekend day, arrive by 0700 for best parking spots. Parking is expensive, over $30/day in most lots around central Salem and traffic can be so congested, it could take you a very long time to get out
By Train/Bus from Boston: Take the Newbury/Rockport line from North Station in Boston ($16 roundtrip). Download the MBTA app; purchase tickets on app. Walk from Salem Depot to downtown Salem
By Ferry: You can hop on at Boston’s Long Wharf. For pricing and tickets click here.
GETTING AROUND:
Walking is the best way to get around Salem in October - Chestnut Street
Salem gets extremely crowded on week-ends in October and driving is almost impossible. We attempted to drive on two separate trips and were just stuck in gridlock trying to get around. We will never do that again. Walking will be your best bet here and the City of Salem has really gone to some lengths to try to make it easier by having Shuttles on the week-ends to satellite parking lots. This is what I would recommend if you plan to rent a car.
Bring a good pair of walking shoes, you will be walking a lot.
Parking: As mentioned above, parking is very, very difficult. If you want to try to park as close to the activities as possible and don’t mind paying $40-$50 a day then plan to arrive by 0700. For a list of paid parking lots, click here.
Walking: This will be the fastest, easiest way to get around. Parking is very expensive if you can find an open lot. I recommend parking at a Satellite lot and taking Shuttle into town
Shuttle: On the weekends you can hop on a shuttle from one of the various satellite parking lots. Last year, there were three satellite lots. The shuttle lines do get long as the day goes on so just prepare for this and as you can imagine, it can be a long wait to return to your car at the end of the day.
Salem Trolley: This is a great way to get the layout of the city with a little history narration. Tickets sell out quickly in October.
Ride Share: If you don’t feel like walking at the end of the long day or waiting for a Shuttle, you can use Uber or local ridesharing service, the Salem Skipper for a ride back to the Ferry, parking lot or your hotel.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND TIPS:
Download the Destination Salem App. This will give you access to event schedules, locations and transportation tips
Book tours in advance. If you’re planning to visit a museum or take a walking ghost tour, book these early - they sell out quickly.
MUST SEE AND DO
House of Seven Gables
Most of these are all centrally located and within walking distance of each other. The trolley stops at many of them including the Pioneer Village.
Explore Essex Street- this is a pedestrian mall that has tons of cute shops, restaurants and tarot card readings
Take a Walking Tour - lot’s of haunted options here from witch trials history to Hocus Pocus fun
Walk down Chestnut Street - this is the most charming street lined with colonial homes and in peak fall foliage season the yellow leaves are just sprinkling down. This is a can’t miss. Just a block or so over from the Rope’s Mansion. Don’t try to drive it, traffic will be bad.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial - a memorial to the 20 victims of the Witch Trials in 1692. Located off Charter Street on Liberty St.
Old Burying Point Cemetery - opened in 1637, make sure you grab a map at the entrance or join a tour so you can find notable gravestones easier.
Salem Witch Museum - I’m not going to lie. This museum is super cheesy. But, it is very educational and I think it’s worth it for any first time visitor.
Pioneer Village - living history museum detailing Salem life in the 1630’s (take trolley or drive, not walking distance)
House of Seven Gables (take trolley or walk - there is minimal parking) - Built in 1668, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel by the same name. Purchase tickets in advance if visiting in October.
Tarot card/psychic reading - we did this when we visited in the summer and it was fun
The Witch House - only building still standing with direct ties to Witch Trials (1692)
Wynott Wands - must for Harry Potter fans
HOCUS POCUS SITES
Let’s be honest. We love Halloween but a main draw for us to visit Salem was to visit all the sites that appeared in our favorite Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus. Most of these are walkable except the two at the end which you can visit at the same time.
Rope’s Mansion - Allison’s house in Hocus Pocus
Ropes Mansion (Allison’s House) - 318 Essex Street. You won’t miss the long line. It moves quickly and is worth it for the photo op. The Witch House Museum is a few doors down and you may have walked by it to get here. While here, head over to Chestnut street for a stroll.
Salem Old Town Hall (Halloween Party) - 32 Derby Square
Phillips Elementary School (Max and Allison’s school) - just off Salem Common
Max and Dani’s House
The following are not walkable but near each other: Trolley or park at Pioneer Village - walk to:
Max and Dani’s House (roads are blocked off/no street parking) 4 Ocean Ave
Thackery Bink’s House (Pioneer Village) - 98 West Ave. (there is a large parking lot here but can fill up quickly)
Happy Spooky Travels!
Want more Fall travel inspiration? Check out my Fall in New England itinerary.