Are you planning a trip to Salem and can’t figure out which historical tour to take? There are a number of great tours in Salem but only a limited amount of time to do them in.
With so many Salem historical sites to see, it’s hard to know where to start. Guided tours are a great solution to this problem because they bring you to all of the important sites and tell you everything you want to know.
Tour guides can often answer any questions you may have while keeping you entertained at the same time.
Some of these historical tours listed here are only available for a limited time in October while others run almost year round. Most of these tours cost less than $20 and the majority of them are walking tours.
The following is an overview of all the historical tours available in Salem, Massachusetts:
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Salem Historical Tours:
Salem Historical Tours offers many history tours including a general history tour, a Hocus Pocus Movies & More Tour, several types of Salem Witch Trials Tours, the Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour, the Grave Matters tour, and many more.
The Salem 101: General History Tour explores Salem’s colonial history, the city’s role in the American Revolution as well as Salem’s maritime history. The Grave Matters graveyard tour explores Salem’s oldest graveyard, the Old Burying Point. The Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour discusses Salem’s true stories about local ghosts, creepy crimes and haunted locations.
The company also offers Specialty Tours which includes a Religious History tour, a Book Talk Book Walk Tour, an Architecture tour and more.
These are just a few of the many tours available so check out the company’s website to see a full list of the available tours. The tours are conducted by knowledgeable historians, authors, and teachers with years of experience in their fields.
Salem Trolley Tour:
The Salem Trolley Tour is another great way to see the sights in Salem without a lot of walking. Some of the trolleys are also wheelchair accessible.
The tour is a one hour narrated historical tour of Salem with same day shuttle service (shuttle service on weekends in October is not always possible.) The eight mile long ride takes you past the Old Burying Point, the House of Seven Gables, the Witch Dungeon Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, the historic waterfront area and etc.
The driver and tour guides provide interesting tidbits and facts about Salem. Riders are allowed to get on and off at any of the 13 stops throughout the day, using the trolley as a shuttle service.
The tour stops include:
1. The Visitors Center, Witch History Museum & The Trolley Depot
2. Old Burial Point & Salem Witch Trials Memorial
3. South Harbor Garage & New England Pirate Museum
4. Pickering Wharf & Sea Level Restaurant
5. Salem Maritime Site (flag stop)
6. The House of The Seven Gables
7. The Salem Ferry (flag stop)
8. Winter Island (flag stop)
9. Salem Willows (flag stop)
10. Salem Witch Museum
11. Peabody Essex Museum,Visitors Center & Trolley Depot
12. Witch Dungeon Museum
13. Salem Witch House & Salem Inn
14. Phillips House, Hamilton Hall & Chestnut Street (flag stop)
All tours depart from the company’s office at 8 Central Street and are approximately one hour. Tickets for all tours can be purchased online or in person the day of the tour.
Salem Smugglers’ Tour:
The Salem Smugglers’ Tour offers three different historical walking tours: The Downtown Smugglers’ Tour, Historic Salem Commons Smugglers’ Tour and the Salem Laughing Tour.
The Downtown Smugglers’ Tour is led by the author of the book Salem Secret Underground: The History of the Tunnels in the City and it discusses the secret tunnels built underneath Salem in the early 19th century. The tour includes exclusive photos of the secret tunnels and a visit to two of the sealed tunnel entrances (the tour guide lifts the covers and lets you look inside.)
The Historic Salem Commons Smugglers’ Tour discusses the history of Salem Commons which used to be the town swamp, where colonists watered their animals, but later became a public park.
The tour includes exclusive photos of the common over the years as well as photos of the secret tunnels around the common that helped transform the landscape of the common.
The Salem laughing tour explores the irony of Salem’s history. The tour starts in downtown Salem, passes by the common and ends at the waterfront.
The company highly recommends purchasing tickets in advance either online or by phone since the tours often sell out.
Bewitched After Dark:
Bewitched After Dark offers the Bewitched Historical Tour. The tour is led by Salem native Jeff Page and discusses the history of the Salem Witch Trials, Salem’s colonial history and modern-day witchcraft. The tour runs daily, days and evenings, from March-December.
This two hour tour departs from the Bewitched in Salem store located on the pedestrian walk at 180 Essex Street in Salem. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Black Cat Tours:
Black Cat Tours offers a Daytime Historic Tour which discusses topics like Salem’s maritime history, the Salem Witch Trials and the American Revolution as well as famous authors who have lived in or visited Salem. Tickets are available online or you can purchase them in person the day of the tour.
The Salem Night Tour:
The Salem Night Tour discusses the legends and history of the Salem Witch Trials. The tour takes you to important cemeteries, churches and houses in Salem’s history.
Reservations are required during the month of October and the tour company suggests you buy tickets as soon as possible since the tours sell out weeks in advance.
Spellbound Tours:
Spellbound Tours offers a Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Tour which they advertise as a historically accurate paranormal tour the delves into the history of the Salem Witch Trials.
The sites visited during the tour are all locations from the Salem Witch Trials and are also reportedly haunted. The sites include a house that is reportedly the most haunted home in America and the Old Burying Point where the Salem Witch Judge John Hathorne is buried.
The tour also explores the theory that one of the accused witches, Tituba, was actually a voodoo practitioner and that voodoo may have played a large role in the Salem Witch Trials.
The company recommends that you purchase tickets in advance online, as tickets often sell out, particularly in October.
Essex National Heritage Commission:
The Essex National Heritage Commission offers a walking tour called the Myths & Misconceptions Walking Tour. The tour clears up many of the myths and misinformation about the Salem Witch Trials. The tour includes stops at the Old Burying Point, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and the site of the old Salem jail.
The tours meet at the Essex Heritage Desk at the National Park Service Visitor Center at 2 New Liberty Street in Salem. Tickets may be purchased online or in person on the day of the tour.
Witch City Walking Tours:
The Witch City Walking Tours offers a History and Hauntings of Salem Walking Tour led by local elementary teacher and certified historian Beth Crowley. The tour groups are small so Crowley can take the time to get to know each guest and spend time answering questions.
This two-hour tour combines history, hauntings, witch trials and architecture and explores all the little ins and outs of the city.
If you are interested in sightseeing in Salem, check out this article on the Salem Heritage Trail.
I would highly suggest you check out Witch City Walking Tours. This tour company is one of the HIGHEST rated tours in Salem. I am a long time resident of Salem AND a teacher. It is the ONLY tour in Salem that combines history, hauntings, witch trials and architecture. The reviews are amazing and people rave about this tour!
Thank you for letting me know about your tour, Beth. It sounds great. I will add it to the list.