A Locals Guide To Visiting Salem For Halloween
Spooky season is officially here and Salem, Massachusetts is the perfect place to be. The town is famous for the witch trials that occurred in 1692, and has become the ultimate Halloween destination that truly has something for all travelers. Read on for up-to-date information regarding all the happenings and must-sees on your next trip!
How to get there
Public transportation - If you are coming from Boston, the best way to get there is the commuter rail. They run all day and the last train back is at 11:30 PM. During the week it costs $16 round trip but during the weekend if you download the mticket app from the MBTA you can buy the weekend ticket that allows you to travel on the rail as much as you want for $10. All of downtown is walking distance from the station, so you don’t have to worry about how to get anywhere. If you are feeling more adventurous or want to take in more of the waterfront you can take the Salem Ferry for $45 roundtrip. During the week it runs until 4 PM and on the weekends it runs until 7 PM.
By car - Without traffic, it is about a 30 - 45-minute drive to Salem from Boston but unfortunately the closer it gets to Halloween, the more traffic you can expect. To be on the safe side it is recommended to anticipate being in traffic for at least another hour, especially if you are coming in the evening after most people are out of work for the day. Once you are here, there is street parking but your best bet is to go for one of garages downtown. The best one is usually the MBTA garage at 252 Bridge Street on the edge of downtown. During the week parking is $5 for your first 5 hours and on the weekends it is $2. The town advertises that it is only a 10 to 15-minute walk to all attractions from all public parking areas.
Activities
Salem features over 1,000 events every October so there is always something to do. Some classic visitor spots include The Witch House which was the home of the judge presiding over the witch trial, The House of the Seven Gables the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel, and The Salem Witch Museum. There also are tours for anything that might interest you including:
The Salem Food Tour which runs about 3.5 hours that they describe as “a roaming dinner party”. Learn about early colonial dinners, local history and culture, as well as Salem’s illustrious maritime spice trades while tasting the food from at least 5 stops.
The Salem Trolley Tour - it covers 8 miles of historic Salem. You will pass places such as The House of the Seven Gables, The Charter Street Barrel Ground and The Salem Witch Museum. It lasts about an hour from start to finish but you can get on and off at one of their 8 stops as many times as you want throughout the day.
There are also many incredible options including walking tours that you can find more info about here and you can also see a full calendar of events here.
Food and Drink
Of course, a day trip isn’t complete without some delicious food and drink. Luckily, Salem gives some great locally-owned options.
If you’re looking for a great sit down meal your options include Sea Level, a great seafood restaurant right on the harbor with amazing views from their second floor. Opus, a new American joint that features small plates and sushi. Ledger, an upscale venue with one of Open Table’s best ranked brunches in the country or The Gulu Gulu Cafe, an artisan sandwich shop that has an amazing craft beer selection.
Or if you want to grab a drink there are great options for that too. Notch Brewery & Tap Room specializes in craft beer and on a nice night you can sit and sip along the river. The Roof Bar on top of The Salem Hotel is the only rooftop bar in the city and has an incredible bird’s eye view of the festivities. Deacon Giles is Salem’s first distillery in 100 years that serves amazing cocktails in their “speakeasy lab”, and if you don’t mind a 10 minute walk from downtown you can go to Far From the Tree, a craft cider house that makes all their own cider (that’s not just apples!) and offers seasonal selections in their taproom.
For a unique snack head to Goodnight Fatty, a late-night small batch cookie shop that’s only open on weekends or The Jolie Tea Company is a perfect break from the cold with hot tea and french pastries.
Tips and Tricks!
While it can be tempting to go on a less busy day, it is so much fun to go on a busy evening and look at all the elaborate costumes with the 31st being the most festive night!
Bring cash! If you come on a weekend or Halloween week there are street vendors and performers all along the main pathway, Essex Street.
If you are looking for a unique souvenir check out Hive and Forge, a store full of different handicrafts from local artisans or Emporium 32, an oddities and vintage-inspired haven.
If you’re looking for a non-porta-potty bathroom, the public bathroom inside Witch City Mall on Essex Street is usually a safe bet.
Salem, Massachusetts is really the Halloween capital of the world. It’s filled with history, ghost stories, and oddities while being a beautiful, picturesque New England town that is certainly worth the trip.