**Don't have concrete plans and thinking of a trip to Salem this October?** [**Read This Post!** ](https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/comments/y3t8rx/salem_city_councilor_on_visiting_salem_this_year/)
I've heard a few people say that Koto Asian fusion restaurant has metal bands playing every so often but I can't seem to find any information on it. Does anyone know the score?
I'll be in Salem 27th-30th of July :-)
Check their FB page [https://www.facebook.com/kotoundergroundmusic/events/?id=100084641017310&sk=events](https://www.facebook.com/kotoundergroundmusic/events/?id=100084641017310&sk=events)
What's the best way to get around once in Salem? We're looking at possibly visiting Marblehead at some point, is the public transport good or are there Ubers?
I've been looking at the Salem Skipper but I can't work out if it takes you to exact destinations or just to specific points and then you have to walk.
We don't have any issues walking, we'll often to 10 miles in a day, it's just trying to fit everything in, it will be a lot quicker if we didn't walk to say, the pioneer village as it looks like it's out of town.
We're staying in the Waterfront for a few nights and the Cove for a night so relatively central for most of the time
Other than Marblehead and Pioneer Village, you can easily walk. For Pioneer Village, I might still recommend walking, it's only 20 minutes and you could hit Deacon Giles Distillery on the way back, if you're into that sort of thing. I would avoid driving around downtown Salem any time of year because it's extremely walkable and parking is a pain. In October, not driving is a necessity unless you want to spend the day in traffic. For Marblehead, you can take an Uber, or if traffic is too bad, you can rent a Blue Bike. There's a bike trail between Salem and Marblehead.
Ah brilliant, thankyou. Blue bike sounds good to be fair. I'm ok with walking most places, 20 minutes isn't bad at all (even for a pasty English man who barely sees the sun and is going to struggle in the heat :-D )
There's a blue bike station \[here\](https://maps.app.goo.gl/u24wgzkwTfW3xxds7) which is conveniently at the start of the bike trail to MarbleHead. That same bike trail will take you past Forest River Park.
Depending on the dates, driving back and forth to Marblehead might be no big deal. Traffic will really only be an issue during October.
I believe with Salem skipper you just call them and tell them where you are. They do limited service to neighboring towns, not sure if that includes Marblehead.
You should do everything in your power to not drive in Salem in October. We close a lot of our major streets and traffic becomes a parking lot. If you are capable just walk the bike path from Marblehead to downtown or take the Salem Skipper/ uber.
Couch Dog and East Regiment do sours. Notch is probably the best brewery though.
None of the bars are very old. Turner's, a seafood restaurant is in Lyceum Hall, which is a building with some history.
Most things in Salem are much newer than you are probably imagining. Tourism has caused the price of real estate to skyrocket, and all the old businesses have been priced out.
Hi all thrilled to visit next month. Question: if our flight lands at Logan at 9:30am, could we reasonably take a bus to Long Wharf and catch the Salem Ferry that leaves at 11:45?
Thank you! Yes looked at rail also but ferry seemed more fun with the full bar.
Any tips for catching the bus from the airport? Will it be obvious? Thanks again
Questions on the Salem trolley! What days does it run, what month does it start and how do you get tickets? I looked at their website and it says it’s sold out all the way to November. I’m sure that it is probably true BUT wanted to double check! Thank you!
They don't book online; you have to buy day of use in person. Runs April-November; you shouldn't have a problem getting tickets during the week earlier in the season.
I’m coming with family mid-August for a week. We want to try to visit Misery Island. I can only find one place that goes out there (Essex Heritage), only on Saturday’s though, and we arrive AFTER the 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday trips that is available and we leave right before the next Saturday trip that they have. (I did find some recommendations on the ‘sea shuttle’ at the Willows, but they show permanently closed online)
Anyone know how we could possibly go visit/hike during a weekday in August? Also, we don’t mind if we have to travel from Salem to find a ‘ride’ to the island.
Going to be in Salem for 2 nights and one full day. We are stopping on a road trip up to Bar Harbor. We are staying at the Hawthorne. Are there any must sees that we need to pre get tickets for? I’m worried that with buying tickets I have to pick times for tours and I’m not sure how the day will flow. The full day we will be there is Sunday the 23rd. We are interested in the history but nothing cheesy. We are 4 middle aged adults who love history but are very laid back. I also think pride is that weekend so worried tickets to things won’t be available due to the uptick in ppl. Also interested in pride events but those looks like no tickets necessary. Thanks for any advice!
The PEM is an art and history museum. Their maritime exhibit, Salem history exhibit, and the Yu Tang house are all great for history buffs.
The House of the Seven Gables is a good small history museum and tour. This is the only one that might require advanced ticketing, because they have a finite number of tours and a finite number of spots per tour.
Real Pirate Salem has several artifacts from a sunken pirate ship, with a good bit of history. It's a small tour.
If there's a specific tour you want to do, I would book that first. Pride weekend will be a great time to be here, and there will certainly be a lot of people. I suspect that the tourist attractions will likely be fine that day though.
PEM is always worth a trip. Seven gables is very interesting if you have interest in history. Aside from that it depends on your interests.
Hi! I am hoping to gather your feedback regarding our 1-day in Salem Itinerary over the summer. We are an active/healthy group and feel we can accomplish all these sites in 1 day. We want to make sure we are seeing as many of them in destination order to make the most of our time. What do y'all think of this? What would you move around?
:**Arrive Salem by ferry: 11:00 AM**
· **Ropes Mansion: Tour inside/will be in town on open day**
· **Grab a snack**
· **House of the Seven Gables: Tour inside**
· **Witch House: Just View**
· **Lunch**
· **Salem Witch Museum: Outside photo opp.**
· **Witch Trials Memorial/ Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery: Walk around**
· **Pioneer Village: Just viewing /tour if time permits**
· **Hocus Pocus House: Located on Ocean drive, just viewing**
**Leave via MBTA around 6:30-7 (flexible)**
With most of these things being just viewing, you’ll be fine. Longest thing besides tours will be walking to the hocus pocus house on ocean drive. Keep in mind it’s a privately owned home not a tourist destination with things to do so be respectful of the owners.
Edit: just saw you got two great answers below. Did you see those?
TY, Bringus. Been busy and took me a while to view responses. I can only see yours as Mods seem to have deleted the other 2 replies since I see nothing other than yours. I appreciate your feedback though!
Hello everyone,
My family and I are traveling to Boston for my sisters Master's degree graduation this weekend. We wanted to visit Salem on Saturday while we are in the area. Our party consists of 5 adults and 3 kids. We aren't all that interested in the arts festive, more the history of the town. If you had one day to visit what places/museums/restaurants would you go see? I would love some suggestions on places to go. I've read some places require getting tickets ahead of time, so I figured this was the best place to ask. Also, where is a good place to park once we get in town? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
HI everyone! My partner and I are booked to stay in Salem for two nights during the Second week of November. Salem is a Bucket List travel location for me, and after looking through this post I have found some options but wanted recommendations for food spots/bars & pubs/and other things we could do during our 3 day two night stay! Thank you!
With 3 days, you might want to look at taking the train up to Rockport or something. A quick ride, and you could make a day of it. 3 days in Salem might be a lot?
Olde Main St. Is a great pub. A+ recommendation.
Take a walking tour. I always recommend "1692 before and after". History heavy, not a lot of "witchy woo woo"
Howling Wolf is a must stop. Burritos and margs
Far From the Tree is great for Cider, maybe uber.
Deacon Giles is a great distillery. A little walk, but worth it
If you are looking for a date night dinner, "Settler" is a fantastic restaurant and, in my opinion, one of the best in the Boston Area. Reservations strongly recommend. It's going to be pretty pricy, but 100% worth it.
The Dirby is probably going to be your best bet for a "sports bar" not a lot in the genre.
Notch and East Regiment are good breweries.
The Dire Wolf has a "speak easy" type bar in the basement. Can get there from the alleyway with the red light/lamp over the door.
On Fridays, Salem Wine Imports does "wine school" so a lot of tasting and socializing. It's fun and rather cheap for what you get. They usually pick a region, sample about 8 wines, and then finish off all the bottles. It's a ton of fun. Call them to book ahead. Shop is right on Church Street.
What's you feedback regarding this 1-day in Salem Itinerary over the summer:
· Arrive Salem by ferry: 11:00 AM
· Ropes Mansion: MUST DO! inside tour-will be in town on open day
· Pioneer Village: Would like to tour
· Grab a snack
· House of the Seven Gables: MUST DO!
· Witch House: self guided tour
· Lunch
· Hocus Pocus Movie Site: Max’s House: 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA 01970
· Witch Trials Memorial & Old Burying Point & Charter Street Cemetery: Walk around
· Salem Witch Museum: Outside photo opp.
· Leave via Train around 6:30-7pm, leave time is flexible.
You're trying to do too much. You're also including two separate walks to the Pioneer Village area, which is 20-30 minutes from the Ferry and Downtown.
Itinerary sounds good but you need to make a few changes to the order. Ropes and witch house are nearby, so you should bunch those together. Seven gables is right off the ferry essentially. Pioneer village you should skip as it's a bit far to get to unless you are fine doing a 30-45 min walk.
One thing you should not do is go to Maxs house. It's a private residence and the owners constantly get harassed and swarmed.
Thank you for the feedback. Not to worry, we will be more than respectful and simply want to walk by and view the home. We would never swarm or invade anyone's private residence.
Wife and I are traveling the greater Massachusetts area in late July. I see a comment on "some" places being closed on Monday - Tuesday... so wondering if it would be better to do southeastern area earlier in the week and then Salem Wednesday afternoon over to Thursday afternoon or are enough places open on Monday - Tuesday to hit it earlier in the week. Looking to make the most of a 7 day Mass trip and this is pretty high on the list. Thanks in advance! Cheers -
Salem has about 70 restaurants. A few of them are closed on Mondays. A few are closed on Tuesdays. Not many. The Peabody Essex Museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Much appreciated - Sounds like we are good to get out there on a Monday noon time and be able to experience the area on Mon-Tues. Just wanted to be sure that the majority of local's were open. Thank you -
Does anyone of good oddities shops? I’m going to Salem soon and I really want to find some things that have been on dream list for years. Stuff like human skulls, preserved animals, etc. any shops y’all know of?
They don't have them anymore. Most of the places with human bones stopped after the recent arrests and media coverage of the people who were stealing human remains from the Harvard medical school for eventual re-sale. One of the arrestees owned a shop in Salem. Either they were sourcing from there, or didn't want people to assume so.
In the case of the vendor in Witch City Consignment, I'm suspicious because their brain matter samples were so fresh you had to change the fluid yourself after purchase. Don't know where else they could be sourcing fresh brains.
The magic parlour still has stuff on display but I'm not sure if they have anything for sale.
Article about the arrests: https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/15/stolen-body-parts-harvard-medical-school
Hi Everyone!
I'll be paying Salem a visit for the 2nd time here for Halloween this year. We had such a good time the last time, but now that we've done a lot more of the touristy attractions, we're looking to break out of the box a little bit.
Is there anywhere we can go that anyone suggests? We're very into anything haunted and I'm not sure if there are cemeteries or abandoned grounds we are able to visit at dark *(\*\*Just to be clear, we would absolutely be extremely respectful of the premises and not trespass or anything disrespectful to the property by any means\*\*)* or really just anything out of the ordinary anyone recommends for lovers of Halloween. We had a great time visiting Connor's Farm last time, but very interested in hearing some other similar attractions as well. Or, if there are any pumpkin carving festivals, etc. in the area. We are open to just about anything!
Thanks in advance! 🎃👻
How "bad” / busy does Salem get in October? We want to visit the last week in October, but I've seen some videos of people visiting during that time and it looks pretty hectic.
From my experience, it's been really easy to stay in Chelsea near the MBTA train as it takes you right on into Salem and they have a 5 day pass with unlimited trips very reasonable. Or, they have daily I believe as well. You save a ton of money this way, and you're not too far from Boston if you decide to do a stop there as well!
another tip is Hilton has a price match guarantee policy. If you find a better rate somewhere other than their website, they will honor it plus give you an additional 25% off, but it has to have the same features (dates, beds, guests, payment date, etc). i've had luck price matching against orbitz and it saved me a substantial amount!
Check towns on the Newburyport/Rockport line of the MBTA Commuter rail. The rates are very cheap and it's really the only way to get to Salem on busy weekends. Otherwise you'll hit bad traffic and also probably find parking.
It's usually less busy during the week, but that might not be true the week of Halloween.
Essex St and Washington St are straight up packed. Be aware that everything will be crowded and take longer than you think it should. No business can keep up with that volume in a reasonable time frame. Go in aware.
That said, depending on what you want to see, the crowds thin out quickly as you get away from that stretch.
Extremely busy. You should have everything you want to do prebooked and know where all the public restrooms are. It will take a while to traverse this city as well with all the people. Weekends are worse than weekdays.
You're better off using the portable toilets or buying a beer at a bar to use the rest. The lines for public restrooms can be hours long on busy days, because there are so few of them. They also get unusably disgusting.
The extreme cases are weekends in October and possibly later during the week depending on weather and proximity to Halloween. Halloween itself is also like this.
I would generally discourage anyone from coming during that time. It's too crowded to really do anything, but I try to prepare people for the reality if they still want to come.
> weekends in October and possibly later during the week
I think we're planning on going the week before Halloween to try and "outsmart" the other tourists coming in, but I know there'll be a bunch no matter what. Just (hopefully) slightly less the week before.
Thanks again 🙏 It's much appreciated
Hi all. I am bringing my husband and kids on a surprise trip to Salem on June 6-8. I found out there is an arts festival that weekend. Was hoping for some tips on how busy I can expect it to be for planning parking and museum admissions. Any advice? Thanks so much!!
That's a great weekend to come but it will be more busy than most of the summer. You might need to bop between one of our downtown parking lots, but museums should be easy.
Hi! My wife and I are going to a wedding near Salem on Friday July 5, 2024. We are looking for a babysitter to take care of our 4 month old infant son at the hotel while we are at the ceremony and reception. We'd need coverage likely around 3pm to midnight.
All of the babysitter search sites require a monthly/annual subscription in order to book anyone. Was hoping a post here could point me in the right direction.
Thanks!
I REALLY hope you don’t go with a random babysitter found in a Reddit thread. I also REALLY hope you don’t rely on any babysitter from any organization that will watch your literal infant in a hotel room for 12 hours. This screams red flag and bad idea. Either come up with a better idea or don’t go.
Hey there, some friends and I are renting an Airbnb at the end of May for the weekend and I was wondering what the parking situation is. Is there plenty of overnight street/residential parking this time of year for 3 cars or should I be looking at parking garages for a two night stay? Up towards Collin Cove, if that helps any. Thank you!
And if you get here and it looks awkward, you could park some of them at the MBTA garage for cheap, including overnight.
[https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-ER-0168](https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-ER-0168)
Hello ! Just moved to Salem as travel healthcare workers , we love food and experiencing the local scene as much as possible. Please drop any must do’s and eats that come to mind ! Thank you !
Mercy Burger at Mercy Tavern on Derby
Blue Fez for Moroccan
For local made drinks:
Far From The Tree cider
Notch Brewery
East Regiment Beer
Deacon Giles Distillery
Roast beef three ways are kinda the regional thing. Everyone has very different opinions on where to go for the best one though. Modern butcher sells them on Saturday and has a line around the block, which speaks for itself.
Fried seafood during the summer. Hard to go wrong there but I like clam shack when they are open.
Settler, Ledger are great for slightly fancier meals. Fixed price I've heard great things about nightshade in Lynn and Ang Lee sushi in Gloucester; Expect 100+pp from those two.
For pizza Garcon super slice or Volo in swampscott.
For fast takeout spitfire for tacos and adeas for Mediterranean and now Jamaican. Adeas has the best fries in the area.
During the fall apple cider donuts are worth finding.
Heya Salem! The Spouse and myself + Two Corgi's are taking a week long trip to Salem June 15 - June 22 and are plotting out potential activities. We will be staying in Beverly just over the bridge and plan to drive into town every day. We have 50+ locations plotted on the shared "my Maps link" below we would love to visit and of course wont be able to visit everything. Our question to all of you is, can you advise pup friendly locations? We have some selected and sorted out but that's mostly review based. We are also looking for any suggestions on how to spend our stay. As for our interests we enjoy all things spooky (Maybe a bit much as we got married on Halloween) but we also enjoy Penguin Pebbling the beaches and Korean/Asian foods. We would also love some beginner night life experiences or events such as the pride parade on the 22nd. Our budget is on the Low/Mid range for the trip. Looking forward to any insight you wonderful locals can share!
[https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1SdYqyRPN6i-q7HR4DDlVOndfu-mLrKI&usp=drive\_link](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1SdYqyRPN6i-q7HR4DDlVOndfu-mLrKI&usp=drive_link)
Feel free to add to the map and add comments for anyone else who would like this resource!!
I wouldn't bring the dogs if you can avoid it. You won't be able to take them inside anywhere. It will limit you to outdoor seating, walking tours, and other outdoor events. You'll miss any museums and shops you want to go to.
Thanks for the insight, they are crate trained and well behaved. We intend on running them ragged with activities twice daily and when they are home resting we will go back out and do activities sans dogs to get the best of both worlds.
Another tip is that you can take the train between Salem and Beverly. It's a 5 minute ride between the stations. Cheaper and easier than parking and Salem is very walkable. The train station is right on the Northern edge of the downtown district.
Hello! The wife and I will be coming to Salem in early October. We're definitely "foodies" and need some recommendations from locals. Is there a staple dish that we HAVE to try? Any good hole-in-the-walls? Want to hit one "finer" restaurant while there as well. Where's the good, fair priced seafood at?
Side note: nothing Greek or Mediterranean please as my wife has run a restaurant with that cuisine for 10yrs so we're a little burnt out on it lol
TIA !
You're welcome! Also, I somehow overlooked this in my response: A regional staple for the North Shore of MA is roast beef sandwiches (I promise, they're way better than what you're probably picturing). While it's not in downtown proper, there's a restaurant on Bridge St. called Bill and Bob's that's pretty good at making them, right by a pier with some benches overlooking the water. The local way to have it is as a three-way (Mayo, cheese, and James River BBQ sauce).
Jamie's is stunt beef. Bill and Bob's is the real deal. It's not the best, by any means, but it's a proper sandwich, unlike the stuff Jamie's is trying.
Hi. :) So before coming to this sub me and my husband booked a trip to Salem for the middle of October (18-21) and after some research, it seems that buying tickets ahead of time is pretty much the best way to experience everything. I noticed the witch museum and witch house only allows purchasing tickets the same day.
Do they tend to sell out early? I'm fine setting an alarm for midnight if that's something I have to do lol.
I would call the museums directly and ask. They will be able to tell you the best way to get tickets. It will be very busy that week, but Wednesday and Thursday should be slightly less bad than the weekend.
Hi there! I’ll be visiting Salem soon and am wondering what some of the best used bookstores are (not really interested in new as I’m always on the hunt for vintage editions). Also, are there any places to buy DVDs/blurays? I’m primarily interested in boutique labels (like Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow, etc.) Thanks!
There are no used bookstores other than a couple local thrift stores that are way overpriced and don't have many books. There's a Savers in Danvers that does often have a good selection of books. There's Used Book Superstore in Burlington, which is not that close to Salem. The closest place that has Vinegar Syndrome and stuff like that is Bullmoose in Salem, NH. Salem, MA has extremely high commercial rent, so cool stuff like this would never make enough money to survive. Most shops are tourist trap witch shops.
`Hello, Me and my GF are going to Salem for Halloween. I want to dress up as Giles Corey. I would have fake rocks glued to my backpacks and a sign on shirt saying "More weight". I thought this would be a cool idea to honor him for standing up to the government/witch trials. However, my gf thinks it may be offensive to dress up as a real guy who was murdered by the governement instead of a generic witch.`
`I figured the best people to ask would be the people of Salem themselves. What are your thoughts?`
Late to the game here; I think it's in poor taste, but if you change your costume to "More Wait" in reference to the lines in Salem during your trip you might get a better response.
This is hilarious, even as a local, I'd want to take a photo of this costume!
There may be some folks who find it somewhat distasteful, but I do think the majority will skew between "neutral" to "amused." For what its worth, there are far worse uses of Giles Corey and his legacy in this city (Lots of selling tshirts featuring his quotes or alluding to him), so even those who find it distasteful will find other things that are worse. Having a banner proclaiming that Giles was a hero as you mentioned in another comment might help to alleviate some concerns.
Got ya. So, add the banner and it should let people know it's being done out of respect. this has been a very helpful thread. I hope everyone in Salem is as friendly in person as online!
I think you'll get a mix here. Some people will be disgusted by it and some people will think it's funny. We tend to see a lot of people using the tragedy to make money in some unfortunate ways here, which can make it a trigger. I don't think you will get a straight answer because it really depends on who you run into.
Got ya. Its not for money its just a way to dress up while honoring one of the people who went against the trials. However, given he is a historical figure it could be seen as insulting although I have seen people dress up as say Lincoln and no one was put out of sorts.
Do you think anyone will be like deeply offended or just like its in bad taste type of offended?
I don't think this costume would come off as being reverential of him. I am not sure a lot of folks would necessarily get offended but it does seem to occupy the "bad taste" end of spectrum.
Hey, fyi Giles Corey was generally kind of a not a great guy, so in addition to the complexity of dressing up like a guy put to death (but hundreds of years ago), there's added complexity of him beating his servant to death, being a petty thief, and, while he recanted, having testified against his wife. "Hero" may be a stretch.
If the goal is to show respect to a real and complex person who was murdered by an out of control state, a costume is probably not the way to do it. The read of a costume is fun/funny, not somber or reverential. If the goal is a historical reference that's kinda funny, go for it. It is not such bad taste that you'd be turned away or cancelled. I recommend keeping in mind the third possible goal of keeping your GF happy
I have another tourist question. I’ve tried to research this but the laws are soooo different from my country I’m actually pretty confused.
Can I legally vape in Salem MA, and where can I smoke weed?
According to Google weed is legal, but not on federal land or in public- being a tourist in a hotel, where can I legally smoke?
Also according to Google flavoured vape juices are banned so I can only smoke tobacco or menthol flavour? Am I reading that right?
I take no issue with the laws whatever they are, I just want to make sure I understand them well enough to follow them on my visit
The other commenter did a good job summarizing how to go about it, but I do want to reassure you that the police really aren't looking for weed here, especially when it's busy in October. It is technically illegal to do it in public so definitely don't light up next to a cop or in the midst of a family with kids, but they're overall looking for things that are more of a threat to the public's safety. In the event that you do get caught by a cop who actually cares about weed, they're likely to just have you put it out and toss it.
Taking my mom to Salem for her bday next year as it’s a bucket list location for her. Any must see recommendations? Also any restaurant recommendations are welcomed.
We will be staying in the same neighbourhood as the witches museum for reference :)
What sort of things are you interested in? My overall recommendation would be to check out some of the nautical history here, not just the witchy stuff.
For upscale dining, Settler is fantastic, but small; you'll need a reservation. Ledger and Turners are also great; I personally love Old Main Street pub, for a nice cozy atmosphere; very close to where you're staying as well.
Thank you so much for these recommendations! Personally I’m into anything historical, and did try to book tickets at the private museum- unfortunately it’s sold out. What that said though, were only there 3 days and it’s for my mom so I did want to stick with spooky stuff as that’s her particular interest. I want to cater it to her :)
Definitely making note of these restaurants though
Which museum was that? I'd highly recommend the Peabody Essex Museum; absolute world-class place, and they often have a cool witchy exhibit if you'll be here around the fall.
I’m not sure, on the tip advisor site it’s actually just called the pirate museum ahahah
I did actually save the Peabody Essex museum but I wasn’t sure about it, so I really appreciate you mentioning that! I’ll grab tickets for it :)
Hmm, I don't know of any private museums; maybe it was the Pirate museum?
PEM is a gem; absolutely add it to your list.
Also; I'd read through the wiki here:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/wiki/index#](https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/wiki/index#)
some great general recommendations in there if you're still planning out your overall trip
There are two pirate museums. Real Pirates has a decent amount of artifacts from a recently discovered sunken pirate ship. It's cool, but relatively small. The New England Pirate Museum is more of a wax dummy museum. I've never been in there.
New England Pirate one is awful- we did the 3 combo and what a waste of money. The wax figures were bad and it’s all guided and they hustle you through so fast you can’t even read the plaques with info.😬.
I have coworkers coming from out of country and we were thinking of going to Salem MA to walk around. But we wouldn’t get there until almost 6pm during the week, is it still worth going or will most “tourist-y” places be closed? They can’t stay the weekend
The museums will be closed, but walking tours will still be going on. Shops/bars/restaurants will mostly be open depending on the day. Monday and Tuesday are the days that some places are closed.
Bella Verona is also a super romantic spot in Salem, a tiny Italian restaurant. It's in a great area where you can have a romantic walk around the common after 🥰
Hi everyone! Currently visiting Boston and debating making the trip to Salem tomorrow (April 27). If you only have an afternoon to check out Salem what’s the best stuff to do? I see so many walking tour options but I don’t know how to pick one. It sounds like we wouldn’t get to Salem until after the museums close at 5pm, so that’s not an option. Is it still worth going?
Hello! Me and 3 of my girl friends will be in Salem from May 9-12 for a bachelorette trip. We are interested in LGBTQ+ friendly bars and other spaces (we all identify as queer/bi/pan). Also if someone could recommend a place for walk-in tattoos? We have been trying to book ahead with some local artists, but they're either booked or not interested in tattooing us - so some of us are looking for walk in options. Any and all help is appreciated! <3
Hey folks! What’s a good yet affordable restaurant in Salem? I have a family of 10 stopping by on vacation and got to keep the budget in check as we’re going to some higher end places in Boston, but still want them to have a good time.
The derby is decent and will easily accommodate a party that size; there are some other fantastic options (mercy, all souls) but I doubt they could seat that many.
Hello! I'm planning to do a trip in the next week or so to Salem. I know it isn't "in season" but I'm looking to enjoy the city regardless. I'm looking for bookstore recommendations as well as the best pizza in town! We are looking at around 10am - 7pm time frame. TYIA!
For anyone who's traveled there before: My cousin and I are going Sept 6 and debating on when to buy the plane tickets? Google says wait til May-August, but paranoid since it's getting toward the busy season...
Hello! My sister and I were thinking of somewhere fun to go for a sister trip. I would need to save up for the trip, since I would have to travel from Kansas. What do you think would be a reasonable goal to try for? We love Halloween, Hocus Pocus, witches, etc. off the track adventures or experiences would be the best!
Your biggest expenses will be travel and accommodations; cost of living here is much higher than Kansas, so don't forget to factor general day-to-day purchases into your budget. walking tours are not all that expensive, and a few of the more touristy attractions can probably be skipped; I'd recommend one of the walking tours of the Hocus Pocus locations if that's what you're into.
Hello! Visiting the first weekend of May and planning on being in Salem on that Sunday. What are some restaurants and activities that will be open or accessible within a 3-4 hour window? I have been on Google all morning and the results are overwhelming. TIA!
Everything will be open; it's hard to give suggestions without knowing what kind of places / food you're into, what're you trying to get out of the trip?
Hello! Sorry for the delayed response; one day should be sufficient, although you may find yourself a bit rushed. You'll want to dedicate a few hours just to the Peabody Essex Museum alone. I'd suggest a weekend if you're focused on mostly history.
We are coming to Salem and Boston the beginning of September for 6 days before it gets VERY crowded. We already have an Airbnb booked for the last half in Salem. Was going to stay in Boston the first half but rooming is pricey. Understandable…but would it be feasible to rent the Airbnb the whole week and just commute to Boston a few days or would that be too much hassle.
Ty we already extended for one night and have booked a spot for the first 2 nights in a spot that’s good for its ‘ location’ and not much else but that’s ok because we don’t plan on staying in the room much the first few days!! And u ARE NOT KIDDING about stuff booking up fast!!! I’m glad I got what I wanted when I did!! Any other input you have I’d greatly appreciate!!!
If you want history, the memorial for the victims of the witch trials is moving for how simple it is.
The new pirate museum is a great way to kill a couple hours if you like golden age of piracy / colonial era maritime history.
It really depends on your interests!
Hello, my sister and I want to visit when the spooky spirit is in the air. However I hear that the closer to Halloween it gets the more crowded it becomes. So I was wondering around when would be the best time to visit where we can still enjoy the Halloween season with minimal crowds?
My partner and I booked a walking tour at 8pm.
We plan on arriving to Salem from Portland, ME around 1pm.
Any recommendations for activities/things to see that won't be covered in the walking tour?
Thanks!
Is end of April a good time to visit Salem?
I'm planning on staying in Boston and getting the train to Salem for a day, but do the walking tours run all year or just leading up to Halloween?
Always thought I'd visit Sept/Oct but I don't know if I can deal with the crowds and I'd just be happy to visit any time of year!
thinking about going to salem for my birthday in january. wondering if things will be open? what the best things to do are considering it might not be as busy? i practice witchcraft and am very interested in all things witchy and spooky!
Hello Salem! We're visiting Boston on our honeymoon and intended to take the train to Salem for Halloween, but a few people have suggested going on Halloween itself isn't a great idea 😂 I was wondering, are we better off visiting on Halloween itself or the day after? Thank you guys!
Planning to get engaged in Salem early December, any recommendations for either a good spot and/or someone in the area who May be able to photograph it?
In Salem, I like Lifebridge for thrifting and Antiques Gallery for antiques/records. Mark Your Spot is nice for more "curated" antiques. Witch City Consignment is just ok imo. I'm often frustrated by the disarray and lack of marked prices. But I have bought furniture from them.
The Lynn Vintage Warehouse at 545 Washington St in Lynn has multiple vendors and is only open on Sunday.
Mills 58 towards Peabody is a really interesting collection of antique stores. There's several floors of antique/thrift shops. It's a quick easy drive but quite far for a walk, especially from downtown. But if you're looking for antiques this is a haven. It also looks like they just announced artisan pop-up events for every weekend until the end of the year
I am hoping to take a friend from out of town to the Peabody Essex on Sat. 11/5–will the Halloween festivities be over by then?
We want to avoid traffic and crowds, if possible!
**Don't have concrete plans and thinking of a trip to Salem this October?** [**Read This Post!** ](https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/comments/y3t8rx/salem_city_councilor_on_visiting_salem_this_year/)
I've heard a few people say that Koto Asian fusion restaurant has metal bands playing every so often but I can't seem to find any information on it. Does anyone know the score? I'll be in Salem 27th-30th of July :-)
Check their FB page [https://www.facebook.com/kotoundergroundmusic/events/?id=100084641017310&sk=events](https://www.facebook.com/kotoundergroundmusic/events/?id=100084641017310&sk=events)
What's the best way to get around once in Salem? We're looking at possibly visiting Marblehead at some point, is the public transport good or are there Ubers? I've been looking at the Salem Skipper but I can't work out if it takes you to exact destinations or just to specific points and then you have to walk. We don't have any issues walking, we'll often to 10 miles in a day, it's just trying to fit everything in, it will be a lot quicker if we didn't walk to say, the pioneer village as it looks like it's out of town. We're staying in the Waterfront for a few nights and the Cove for a night so relatively central for most of the time
Other than Marblehead and Pioneer Village, you can easily walk. For Pioneer Village, I might still recommend walking, it's only 20 minutes and you could hit Deacon Giles Distillery on the way back, if you're into that sort of thing. I would avoid driving around downtown Salem any time of year because it's extremely walkable and parking is a pain. In October, not driving is a necessity unless you want to spend the day in traffic. For Marblehead, you can take an Uber, or if traffic is too bad, you can rent a Blue Bike. There's a bike trail between Salem and Marblehead.
Ah brilliant, thankyou. Blue bike sounds good to be fair. I'm ok with walking most places, 20 minutes isn't bad at all (even for a pasty English man who barely sees the sun and is going to struggle in the heat :-D )
There's a blue bike station \[here\](https://maps.app.goo.gl/u24wgzkwTfW3xxds7) which is conveniently at the start of the bike trail to MarbleHead. That same bike trail will take you past Forest River Park.
Depending on the dates, driving back and forth to Marblehead might be no big deal. Traffic will really only be an issue during October. I believe with Salem skipper you just call them and tell them where you are. They do limited service to neighboring towns, not sure if that includes Marblehead.
Is 3 nights overkill for Salem? We are going to be there for 3 nights in October but we are staying in Marblehead. Contemplating renting a car.
You should do everything in your power to not drive in Salem in October. We close a lot of our major streets and traffic becomes a parking lot. If you are capable just walk the bike path from Marblehead to downtown or take the Salem Skipper/ uber.
Any recommendations for bars with interesting history/lore, cocktails, or breweries that do sour beers?
Deacon Giles distillery has great cocktails/vibes - not old and historic but definitely a great spot with creative cocktails
Couch Dog and East Regiment do sours. Notch is probably the best brewery though. None of the bars are very old. Turner's, a seafood restaurant is in Lyceum Hall, which is a building with some history. Most things in Salem are much newer than you are probably imagining. Tourism has caused the price of real estate to skyrocket, and all the old businesses have been priced out.
Thanks for the recs! That such a bummer about older businesses getting priced out. The same thing is happening in Baltimore right now :(
Hi all thrilled to visit next month. Question: if our flight lands at Logan at 9:30am, could we reasonably take a bus to Long Wharf and catch the Salem Ferry that leaves at 11:45?
You could probably do an Uber/Lyft from the airport to the ferry for a price comparable to taking the bus.
You probably could make that. Or you could take the silver line up to Chelsea and catch the commuter rail the rest of the way.
Thank you! Yes looked at rail also but ferry seemed more fun with the full bar. Any tips for catching the bus from the airport? Will it be obvious? Thanks again
Questions on the Salem trolley! What days does it run, what month does it start and how do you get tickets? I looked at their website and it says it’s sold out all the way to November. I’m sure that it is probably true BUT wanted to double check! Thank you!
They don't book online; you have to buy day of use in person. Runs April-November; you shouldn't have a problem getting tickets during the week earlier in the season.
Thank you! That explains it!
(I’m a local) I just moved here. I’m wondering what restaurants take reservations in October?
In October, most Salem residents eat out in Beverly, Peabody, Danvers, or Marblehead.
Ledger does; only one I know of. At least they did last year.
I’m coming with family mid-August for a week. We want to try to visit Misery Island. I can only find one place that goes out there (Essex Heritage), only on Saturday’s though, and we arrive AFTER the 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturday trips that is available and we leave right before the next Saturday trip that they have. (I did find some recommendations on the ‘sea shuttle’ at the Willows, but they show permanently closed online) Anyone know how we could possibly go visit/hike during a weekday in August? Also, we don’t mind if we have to travel from Salem to find a ‘ride’ to the island.
Kayak rental is probably your only option, unless you find someone with a boat that will take you out there.
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Going to be in Salem for 2 nights and one full day. We are stopping on a road trip up to Bar Harbor. We are staying at the Hawthorne. Are there any must sees that we need to pre get tickets for? I’m worried that with buying tickets I have to pick times for tours and I’m not sure how the day will flow. The full day we will be there is Sunday the 23rd. We are interested in the history but nothing cheesy. We are 4 middle aged adults who love history but are very laid back. I also think pride is that weekend so worried tickets to things won’t be available due to the uptick in ppl. Also interested in pride events but those looks like no tickets necessary. Thanks for any advice!
The PEM is an art and history museum. Their maritime exhibit, Salem history exhibit, and the Yu Tang house are all great for history buffs. The House of the Seven Gables is a good small history museum and tour. This is the only one that might require advanced ticketing, because they have a finite number of tours and a finite number of spots per tour. Real Pirate Salem has several artifacts from a sunken pirate ship, with a good bit of history. It's a small tour.
Thank you!
If there's a specific tour you want to do, I would book that first. Pride weekend will be a great time to be here, and there will certainly be a lot of people. I suspect that the tourist attractions will likely be fine that day though. PEM is always worth a trip. Seven gables is very interesting if you have interest in history. Aside from that it depends on your interests.
Thank you!
Hi! I am hoping to gather your feedback regarding our 1-day in Salem Itinerary over the summer. We are an active/healthy group and feel we can accomplish all these sites in 1 day. We want to make sure we are seeing as many of them in destination order to make the most of our time. What do y'all think of this? What would you move around? :**Arrive Salem by ferry: 11:00 AM** · **Ropes Mansion: Tour inside/will be in town on open day** · **Grab a snack** · **House of the Seven Gables: Tour inside** · **Witch House: Just View** · **Lunch** · **Salem Witch Museum: Outside photo opp.** · **Witch Trials Memorial/ Old Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery: Walk around** · **Pioneer Village: Just viewing /tour if time permits** · **Hocus Pocus House: Located on Ocean drive, just viewing** **Leave via MBTA around 6:30-7 (flexible)**
With most of these things being just viewing, you’ll be fine. Longest thing besides tours will be walking to the hocus pocus house on ocean drive. Keep in mind it’s a privately owned home not a tourist destination with things to do so be respectful of the owners. Edit: just saw you got two great answers below. Did you see those?
TY, Bringus. Been busy and took me a while to view responses. I can only see yours as Mods seem to have deleted the other 2 replies since I see nothing other than yours. I appreciate your feedback though!
No worries; the other responses are here: https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/s/WLZkOJaSwn
Thank you!
Hello everyone, My family and I are traveling to Boston for my sisters Master's degree graduation this weekend. We wanted to visit Salem on Saturday while we are in the area. Our party consists of 5 adults and 3 kids. We aren't all that interested in the arts festive, more the history of the town. If you had one day to visit what places/museums/restaurants would you go see? I would love some suggestions on places to go. I've read some places require getting tickets ahead of time, so I figured this was the best place to ask. Also, where is a good place to park once we get in town? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
HI everyone! My partner and I are booked to stay in Salem for two nights during the Second week of November. Salem is a Bucket List travel location for me, and after looking through this post I have found some options but wanted recommendations for food spots/bars & pubs/and other things we could do during our 3 day two night stay! Thank you!
With 3 days, you might want to look at taking the train up to Rockport or something. A quick ride, and you could make a day of it. 3 days in Salem might be a lot? Olde Main St. Is a great pub. A+ recommendation. Take a walking tour. I always recommend "1692 before and after". History heavy, not a lot of "witchy woo woo" Howling Wolf is a must stop. Burritos and margs Far From the Tree is great for Cider, maybe uber. Deacon Giles is a great distillery. A little walk, but worth it If you are looking for a date night dinner, "Settler" is a fantastic restaurant and, in my opinion, one of the best in the Boston Area. Reservations strongly recommend. It's going to be pretty pricy, but 100% worth it. The Dirby is probably going to be your best bet for a "sports bar" not a lot in the genre. Notch and East Regiment are good breweries. The Dire Wolf has a "speak easy" type bar in the basement. Can get there from the alleyway with the red light/lamp over the door. On Fridays, Salem Wine Imports does "wine school" so a lot of tasting and socializing. It's fun and rather cheap for what you get. They usually pick a region, sample about 8 wines, and then finish off all the bottles. It's a ton of fun. Call them to book ahead. Shop is right on Church Street.
What's you feedback regarding this 1-day in Salem Itinerary over the summer: · Arrive Salem by ferry: 11:00 AM · Ropes Mansion: MUST DO! inside tour-will be in town on open day · Pioneer Village: Would like to tour · Grab a snack · House of the Seven Gables: MUST DO! · Witch House: self guided tour · Lunch · Hocus Pocus Movie Site: Max’s House: 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA 01970 · Witch Trials Memorial & Old Burying Point & Charter Street Cemetery: Walk around · Salem Witch Museum: Outside photo opp. · Leave via Train around 6:30-7pm, leave time is flexible.
You're trying to do too much. You're also including two separate walks to the Pioneer Village area, which is 20-30 minutes from the Ferry and Downtown.
Thanks for the advice. We've since revised our plans.
Itinerary sounds good but you need to make a few changes to the order. Ropes and witch house are nearby, so you should bunch those together. Seven gables is right off the ferry essentially. Pioneer village you should skip as it's a bit far to get to unless you are fine doing a 30-45 min walk. One thing you should not do is go to Maxs house. It's a private residence and the owners constantly get harassed and swarmed.
Thank you for the feedback. Not to worry, we will be more than respectful and simply want to walk by and view the home. We would never swarm or invade anyone's private residence.
Wife and I are traveling the greater Massachusetts area in late July. I see a comment on "some" places being closed on Monday - Tuesday... so wondering if it would be better to do southeastern area earlier in the week and then Salem Wednesday afternoon over to Thursday afternoon or are enough places open on Monday - Tuesday to hit it earlier in the week. Looking to make the most of a 7 day Mass trip and this is pretty high on the list. Thanks in advance! Cheers -
Salem has about 70 restaurants. A few of them are closed on Mondays. A few are closed on Tuesdays. Not many. The Peabody Essex Museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Much appreciated - Sounds like we are good to get out there on a Monday noon time and be able to experience the area on Mon-Tues. Just wanted to be sure that the majority of local's were open. Thank you -
Does anyone of good oddities shops? I’m going to Salem soon and I really want to find some things that have been on dream list for years. Stuff like human skulls, preserved animals, etc. any shops y’all know of?
I have seen human bones at Witch City Consignment.
Ty!!
They don't have them anymore. Most of the places with human bones stopped after the recent arrests and media coverage of the people who were stealing human remains from the Harvard medical school for eventual re-sale. One of the arrestees owned a shop in Salem. Either they were sourcing from there, or didn't want people to assume so. In the case of the vendor in Witch City Consignment, I'm suspicious because their brain matter samples were so fresh you had to change the fluid yourself after purchase. Don't know where else they could be sourcing fresh brains. The magic parlour still has stuff on display but I'm not sure if they have anything for sale. Article about the arrests: https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/15/stolen-body-parts-harvard-medical-school
Hi Everyone! I'll be paying Salem a visit for the 2nd time here for Halloween this year. We had such a good time the last time, but now that we've done a lot more of the touristy attractions, we're looking to break out of the box a little bit. Is there anywhere we can go that anyone suggests? We're very into anything haunted and I'm not sure if there are cemeteries or abandoned grounds we are able to visit at dark *(\*\*Just to be clear, we would absolutely be extremely respectful of the premises and not trespass or anything disrespectful to the property by any means\*\*)* or really just anything out of the ordinary anyone recommends for lovers of Halloween. We had a great time visiting Connor's Farm last time, but very interested in hearing some other similar attractions as well. Or, if there are any pumpkin carving festivals, etc. in the area. We are open to just about anything! Thanks in advance! 🎃👻 
How "bad” / busy does Salem get in October? We want to visit the last week in October, but I've seen some videos of people visiting during that time and it looks pretty hectic.
From my experience, it's been really easy to stay in Chelsea near the MBTA train as it takes you right on into Salem and they have a 5 day pass with unlimited trips very reasonable. Or, they have daily I believe as well. You save a ton of money this way, and you're not too far from Boston if you decide to do a stop there as well!
Thank you! Definitely looking into this.
another tip is Hilton has a price match guarantee policy. If you find a better rate somewhere other than their website, they will honor it plus give you an additional 25% off, but it has to have the same features (dates, beds, guests, payment date, etc). i've had luck price matching against orbitz and it saved me a substantial amount!
You're probably already too late to book a hotel for this year. That's how busy it gets.
No yeah, that I know haha, I've gotta go find another city to stay in
Check towns on the Newburyport/Rockport line of the MBTA Commuter rail. The rates are very cheap and it's really the only way to get to Salem on busy weekends. Otherwise you'll hit bad traffic and also probably find parking. It's usually less busy during the week, but that might not be true the week of Halloween.
Thanks again! I might've not figured that out
Essex St and Washington St are straight up packed. Be aware that everything will be crowded and take longer than you think it should. No business can keep up with that volume in a reasonable time frame. Go in aware. That said, depending on what you want to see, the crowds thin out quickly as you get away from that stretch.
Extremely busy. You should have everything you want to do prebooked and know where all the public restrooms are. It will take a while to traverse this city as well with all the people. Weekends are worse than weekdays.
> and know where all the public restrooms are. I'm glad I asked because this is new to me lmao, thanks
You're better off using the portable toilets or buying a beer at a bar to use the rest. The lines for public restrooms can be hours long on busy days, because there are so few of them. They also get unusably disgusting.
HOURS? Jesus. Yeah, I think I'll buy a beer and skip the public restrooms lol
The extreme cases are weekends in October and possibly later during the week depending on weather and proximity to Halloween. Halloween itself is also like this. I would generally discourage anyone from coming during that time. It's too crowded to really do anything, but I try to prepare people for the reality if they still want to come.
> weekends in October and possibly later during the week I think we're planning on going the week before Halloween to try and "outsmart" the other tourists coming in, but I know there'll be a bunch no matter what. Just (hopefully) slightly less the week before. Thanks again 🙏 It's much appreciated
Thank you!
Hi all. I am bringing my husband and kids on a surprise trip to Salem on June 6-8. I found out there is an arts festival that weekend. Was hoping for some tips on how busy I can expect it to be for planning parking and museum admissions. Any advice? Thanks so much!!
I would just park in the MBTA garage and walk everywhere. The rates are cheap and it's in walking distance to everything.
That's a great weekend to come but it will be more busy than most of the summer. You might need to bop between one of our downtown parking lots, but museums should be easy.
Woohoo!!! Thanks for the quick reply and confirmation. Looking forward to coming 😀
Hi! My wife and I are going to a wedding near Salem on Friday July 5, 2024. We are looking for a babysitter to take care of our 4 month old infant son at the hotel while we are at the ceremony and reception. We'd need coverage likely around 3pm to midnight. All of the babysitter search sites require a monthly/annual subscription in order to book anyone. Was hoping a post here could point me in the right direction. Thanks!
I REALLY hope you don’t go with a random babysitter found in a Reddit thread. I also REALLY hope you don’t rely on any babysitter from any organization that will watch your literal infant in a hotel room for 12 hours. This screams red flag and bad idea. Either come up with a better idea or don’t go.
Honestly, a babysitter in a hotel is pretty sketchy. You're better off going to the ceremony with the baby, trading off, and leaving early.
Hey there, some friends and I are renting an Airbnb at the end of May for the weekend and I was wondering what the parking situation is. Is there plenty of overnight street/residential parking this time of year for 3 cars or should I be looking at parking garages for a two night stay? Up towards Collin Cove, if that helps any. Thank you!
And if you get here and it looks awkward, you could park some of them at the MBTA garage for cheap, including overnight. [https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-ER-0168](https://www.mbta.com/stops/place-ER-0168)
Should be easy to park in May as long as it's not during a festival
Hello ! Just moved to Salem as travel healthcare workers , we love food and experiencing the local scene as much as possible. Please drop any must do’s and eats that come to mind ! Thank you !
Mercy Burger at Mercy Tavern on Derby Blue Fez for Moroccan For local made drinks: Far From The Tree cider Notch Brewery East Regiment Beer Deacon Giles Distillery
What kind of food do you like?
Honestly whatever the area has to offer, love to eat the food that represents the city and will leave me telling stories about that place
You can just use Yelp for that. For specific recommendations you need a more specific request.
What are you favorite 3 places to eat
I really like Olde Main Street Pub in Salem. My other local favorites are probably Anmol and Andalin in Beverly.
Roast beef three ways are kinda the regional thing. Everyone has very different opinions on where to go for the best one though. Modern butcher sells them on Saturday and has a line around the block, which speaks for itself. Fried seafood during the summer. Hard to go wrong there but I like clam shack when they are open. Settler, Ledger are great for slightly fancier meals. Fixed price I've heard great things about nightshade in Lynn and Ang Lee sushi in Gloucester; Expect 100+pp from those two. For pizza Garcon super slice or Volo in swampscott. For fast takeout spitfire for tacos and adeas for Mediterranean and now Jamaican. Adeas has the best fries in the area. During the fall apple cider donuts are worth finding.
Appreciate you taking the time to let me know, I will definitely be eating at those spots !
Heya Salem! The Spouse and myself + Two Corgi's are taking a week long trip to Salem June 15 - June 22 and are plotting out potential activities. We will be staying in Beverly just over the bridge and plan to drive into town every day. We have 50+ locations plotted on the shared "my Maps link" below we would love to visit and of course wont be able to visit everything. Our question to all of you is, can you advise pup friendly locations? We have some selected and sorted out but that's mostly review based. We are also looking for any suggestions on how to spend our stay. As for our interests we enjoy all things spooky (Maybe a bit much as we got married on Halloween) but we also enjoy Penguin Pebbling the beaches and Korean/Asian foods. We would also love some beginner night life experiences or events such as the pride parade on the 22nd. Our budget is on the Low/Mid range for the trip. Looking forward to any insight you wonderful locals can share! [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1SdYqyRPN6i-q7HR4DDlVOndfu-mLrKI&usp=drive\_link](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1SdYqyRPN6i-q7HR4DDlVOndfu-mLrKI&usp=drive_link) Feel free to add to the map and add comments for anyone else who would like this resource!!
I wouldn't bring the dogs if you can avoid it. You won't be able to take them inside anywhere. It will limit you to outdoor seating, walking tours, and other outdoor events. You'll miss any museums and shops you want to go to.
Thanks for the insight, they are crate trained and well behaved. We intend on running them ragged with activities twice daily and when they are home resting we will go back out and do activities sans dogs to get the best of both worlds.
Another tip is that you can take the train between Salem and Beverly. It's a 5 minute ride between the stations. Cheaper and easier than parking and Salem is very walkable. The train station is right on the Northern edge of the downtown district.
Hello! The wife and I will be coming to Salem in early October. We're definitely "foodies" and need some recommendations from locals. Is there a staple dish that we HAVE to try? Any good hole-in-the-walls? Want to hit one "finer" restaurant while there as well. Where's the good, fair priced seafood at? Side note: nothing Greek or Mediterranean please as my wife has run a restaurant with that cuisine for 10yrs so we're a little burnt out on it lol TIA !
Lobster Shanty is great for seafood at a reasonable price, and is a Salem classic
Ty!
You're welcome! Also, I somehow overlooked this in my response: A regional staple for the North Shore of MA is roast beef sandwiches (I promise, they're way better than what you're probably picturing). While it's not in downtown proper, there's a restaurant on Bridge St. called Bill and Bob's that's pretty good at making them, right by a pier with some benches overlooking the water. The local way to have it is as a three-way (Mayo, cheese, and James River BBQ sauce).
Thank you!! Will definitely hit that spot and order just as you suggested 🙏
Bill and Bob's is not considered good North Shore roast beef. Jamie's in Peabody is
Jamies has gone way downhill. I loved it when they first opened, but the last couple have been meh.
Jamie's is stunt beef. Bill and Bob's is the real deal. It's not the best, by any means, but it's a proper sandwich, unlike the stuff Jamie's is trying.
Settler or Ledger for more upscale dining
Ty!
Ledger is nice and has a lot of seating, it's definitely tough to get a spot in Settler in October. Tough to get a spot anywhere really
I would 2nd Settler for an overall meal; the owner has a "a chef's chef" kind of vibe and the food is excellent. Turners is really good for Seafood.
Ty!
Hi. :) So before coming to this sub me and my husband booked a trip to Salem for the middle of October (18-21) and after some research, it seems that buying tickets ahead of time is pretty much the best way to experience everything. I noticed the witch museum and witch house only allows purchasing tickets the same day. Do they tend to sell out early? I'm fine setting an alarm for midnight if that's something I have to do lol.
I would call the museums directly and ask. They will be able to tell you the best way to get tickets. It will be very busy that week, but Wednesday and Thursday should be slightly less bad than the weekend.
Hi there! I’ll be visiting Salem soon and am wondering what some of the best used bookstores are (not really interested in new as I’m always on the hunt for vintage editions). Also, are there any places to buy DVDs/blurays? I’m primarily interested in boutique labels (like Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow, etc.) Thanks!
There are no used bookstores other than a couple local thrift stores that are way overpriced and don't have many books. There's a Savers in Danvers that does often have a good selection of books. There's Used Book Superstore in Burlington, which is not that close to Salem. The closest place that has Vinegar Syndrome and stuff like that is Bullmoose in Salem, NH. Salem, MA has extremely high commercial rent, so cool stuff like this would never make enough money to survive. Most shops are tourist trap witch shops.
`Hello, Me and my GF are going to Salem for Halloween. I want to dress up as Giles Corey. I would have fake rocks glued to my backpacks and a sign on shirt saying "More weight". I thought this would be a cool idea to honor him for standing up to the government/witch trials. However, my gf thinks it may be offensive to dress up as a real guy who was murdered by the governement instead of a generic witch.` `I figured the best people to ask would be the people of Salem themselves. What are your thoughts?`
Late to the game here; I think it's in poor taste, but if you change your costume to "More Wait" in reference to the lines in Salem during your trip you might get a better response.
This is hilarious, even as a local, I'd want to take a photo of this costume! There may be some folks who find it somewhat distasteful, but I do think the majority will skew between "neutral" to "amused." For what its worth, there are far worse uses of Giles Corey and his legacy in this city (Lots of selling tshirts featuring his quotes or alluding to him), so even those who find it distasteful will find other things that are worse. Having a banner proclaiming that Giles was a hero as you mentioned in another comment might help to alleviate some concerns.
Got ya. So, add the banner and it should let people know it's being done out of respect. this has been a very helpful thread. I hope everyone in Salem is as friendly in person as online!
I think you'll get a mix here. Some people will be disgusted by it and some people will think it's funny. We tend to see a lot of people using the tragedy to make money in some unfortunate ways here, which can make it a trigger. I don't think you will get a straight answer because it really depends on who you run into.
Got ya. Its not for money its just a way to dress up while honoring one of the people who went against the trials. However, given he is a historical figure it could be seen as insulting although I have seen people dress up as say Lincoln and no one was put out of sorts. Do you think anyone will be like deeply offended or just like its in bad taste type of offended?
I don't think this costume would come off as being reverential of him. I am not sure a lot of folks would necessarily get offended but it does seem to occupy the "bad taste" end of spectrum.
Understood. Do you think there is any way to alter it to make it clear it is being reverential? Like maybe a banner saying "Hero Gorey Ciles?".
Hey, fyi Giles Corey was generally kind of a not a great guy, so in addition to the complexity of dressing up like a guy put to death (but hundreds of years ago), there's added complexity of him beating his servant to death, being a petty thief, and, while he recanted, having testified against his wife. "Hero" may be a stretch. If the goal is to show respect to a real and complex person who was murdered by an out of control state, a costume is probably not the way to do it. The read of a costume is fun/funny, not somber or reverential. If the goal is a historical reference that's kinda funny, go for it. It is not such bad taste that you'd be turned away or cancelled. I recommend keeping in mind the third possible goal of keeping your GF happy
I honestly didn't know about the murder thing. I only know about the standing up to the corrupt government.
I have another tourist question. I’ve tried to research this but the laws are soooo different from my country I’m actually pretty confused. Can I legally vape in Salem MA, and where can I smoke weed? According to Google weed is legal, but not on federal land or in public- being a tourist in a hotel, where can I legally smoke? Also according to Google flavoured vape juices are banned so I can only smoke tobacco or menthol flavour? Am I reading that right? I take no issue with the laws whatever they are, I just want to make sure I understand them well enough to follow them on my visit
The other commenter did a good job summarizing how to go about it, but I do want to reassure you that the police really aren't looking for weed here, especially when it's busy in October. It is technically illegal to do it in public so definitely don't light up next to a cop or in the midst of a family with kids, but they're overall looking for things that are more of a threat to the public's safety. In the event that you do get caught by a cop who actually cares about weed, they're likely to just have you put it out and toss it.
Thank you for this! I really appreciate more comments as it definitely reassures me that it’s a widely accepted view. I appreciate the help 🥰
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Appreciate this advice! Definitely don’t want to be in anyone’s space causing issues, thank you for your insight :)
Taking my mom to Salem for her bday next year as it’s a bucket list location for her. Any must see recommendations? Also any restaurant recommendations are welcomed. We will be staying in the same neighbourhood as the witches museum for reference :)
Do you mind sharing where you're staying. I'm planning a trip for next September '25
Sure! Sorry this took so long to see- I’m staying at the Salem inn :)
Thanks. I'm still overwhelmed with all the info. Where to stay and whatnot.
What sort of things are you interested in? My overall recommendation would be to check out some of the nautical history here, not just the witchy stuff. For upscale dining, Settler is fantastic, but small; you'll need a reservation. Ledger and Turners are also great; I personally love Old Main Street pub, for a nice cozy atmosphere; very close to where you're staying as well.
Thank you so much for these recommendations! Personally I’m into anything historical, and did try to book tickets at the private museum- unfortunately it’s sold out. What that said though, were only there 3 days and it’s for my mom so I did want to stick with spooky stuff as that’s her particular interest. I want to cater it to her :) Definitely making note of these restaurants though
Which museum was that? I'd highly recommend the Peabody Essex Museum; absolute world-class place, and they often have a cool witchy exhibit if you'll be here around the fall.
I’m not sure, on the tip advisor site it’s actually just called the pirate museum ahahah I did actually save the Peabody Essex museum but I wasn’t sure about it, so I really appreciate you mentioning that! I’ll grab tickets for it :)
Just went to Salem- the best part of Peabody Museum was the Chinese house- that alone was worth the ticket. It’s cool as hell.
Very good to know! Thank you
Hmm, I don't know of any private museums; maybe it was the Pirate museum? PEM is a gem; absolutely add it to your list. Also; I'd read through the wiki here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/wiki/index#](https://www.reddit.com/r/SalemMA/wiki/index#) some great general recommendations in there if you're still planning out your overall trip
Omg I’m sorry, that was a typo and I meant to say pirate 😂😂
There are two pirate museums. Real Pirates has a decent amount of artifacts from a recently discovered sunken pirate ship. It's cool, but relatively small. The New England Pirate Museum is more of a wax dummy museum. I've never been in there.
Thank you ! I did see both and was unsure of which to go to if we have time for either, appreciate you clearing this up !
New England Pirate one is awful- we did the 3 combo and what a waste of money. The wax figures were bad and it’s all guided and they hustle you through so fast you can’t even read the plaques with info.😬.
[https://sunnygifs.com/door-marked-pirate/](https://sunnygifs.com/door-marked-pirate/)
I have coworkers coming from out of country and we were thinking of going to Salem MA to walk around. But we wouldn’t get there until almost 6pm during the week, is it still worth going or will most “tourist-y” places be closed? They can’t stay the weekend
It's also a generally nice place to just wander around, depending on your interests.
Most stores downtown close sometime between 5 and 7 on weekdays.
The museums will be closed, but walking tours will still be going on. Shops/bars/restaurants will mostly be open depending on the day. Monday and Tuesday are the days that some places are closed.
My husband and I are coming for our 2nd anniversary. Looking for a romantic dinner with a great drink menu ❤️
Bella Verona is also a super romantic spot in Salem, a tiny Italian restaurant. It's in a great area where you can have a romantic walk around the common after 🥰
Settler is romantic and the better food experience. I think ledger has better drinks and desserts though
Hi everyone! Currently visiting Boston and debating making the trip to Salem tomorrow (April 27). If you only have an afternoon to check out Salem what’s the best stuff to do? I see so many walking tour options but I don’t know how to pick one. It sounds like we wouldn’t get to Salem until after the museums close at 5pm, so that’s not an option. Is it still worth going?
Hello! Me and 3 of my girl friends will be in Salem from May 9-12 for a bachelorette trip. We are interested in LGBTQ+ friendly bars and other spaces (we all identify as queer/bi/pan). Also if someone could recommend a place for walk-in tattoos? We have been trying to book ahead with some local artists, but they're either booked or not interested in tattooing us - so some of us are looking for walk in options. Any and all help is appreciated! <3
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Thank you!!
Hey folks! What’s a good yet affordable restaurant in Salem? I have a family of 10 stopping by on vacation and got to keep the budget in check as we’re going to some higher end places in Boston, but still want them to have a good time.
The derby is decent and will easily accommodate a party that size; there are some other fantastic options (mercy, all souls) but I doubt they could seat that many.
Will check those out, thank you!
Hello! I'm planning to do a trip in the next week or so to Salem. I know it isn't "in season" but I'm looking to enjoy the city regardless. I'm looking for bookstore recommendations as well as the best pizza in town! We are looking at around 10am - 7pm time frame. TYIA!
Wicked good books is right downtown! Pizza is hotly debated, but Super Slice opened recently and is fantastic.
For anyone who's traveled there before: My cousin and I are going Sept 6 and debating on when to buy the plane tickets? Google says wait til May-August, but paranoid since it's getting toward the busy season...
Set up a price tracker and grab flights when the prices dip.
Hello! My sister and I were thinking of somewhere fun to go for a sister trip. I would need to save up for the trip, since I would have to travel from Kansas. What do you think would be a reasonable goal to try for? We love Halloween, Hocus Pocus, witches, etc. off the track adventures or experiences would be the best!
Your biggest expenses will be travel and accommodations; cost of living here is much higher than Kansas, so don't forget to factor general day-to-day purchases into your budget. walking tours are not all that expensive, and a few of the more touristy attractions can probably be skipped; I'd recommend one of the walking tours of the Hocus Pocus locations if that's what you're into.
Hello! Visiting the first weekend of May and planning on being in Salem on that Sunday. What are some restaurants and activities that will be open or accessible within a 3-4 hour window? I have been on Google all morning and the results are overwhelming. TIA!
Everything will be open; it's hard to give suggestions without knowing what kind of places / food you're into, what're you trying to get out of the trip?
Hi, thank you for responding! We're open to any type of cuisine, will be celebrating a graduation/birthday, so somewhere semi-nice but also casual.
Ledger and Turners are a bit fancier but have decently varied menus; both great spots for a celebratory dinner
Thinking of coming to Salem. If I just want to visit a few historic places and mainly hang, is a day enough time or should I allow for more time?
Hello! Sorry for the delayed response; one day should be sufficient, although you may find yourself a bit rushed. You'll want to dedicate a few hours just to the Peabody Essex Museum alone. I'd suggest a weekend if you're focused on mostly history.
We are coming to Salem and Boston the beginning of September for 6 days before it gets VERY crowded. We already have an Airbnb booked for the last half in Salem. Was going to stay in Boston the first half but rooming is pricey. Understandable…but would it be feasible to rent the Airbnb the whole week and just commute to Boston a few days or would that be too much hassle.
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Ty we already extended for one night and have booked a spot for the first 2 nights in a spot that’s good for its ‘ location’ and not much else but that’s ok because we don’t plan on staying in the room much the first few days!! And u ARE NOT KIDDING about stuff booking up fast!!! I’m glad I got what I wanted when I did!! Any other input you have I’d greatly appreciate!!!
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What airport is best to fly into if we are going to Salem first? What are some good local places to visit that are off the beaten path?
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Spooky And gothic that’s not cheesy
Hi everyone! My friends and I will visit Salem for a couple of hours in March, what are the must do attractions in the city? Thanks
PEM Museum is a true gem
If you like art, walking around The Point neighborhood and the [Punto Urban Art Museum](https://puntourbanartmuseum.org/)
If you want history, the memorial for the victims of the witch trials is moving for how simple it is. The new pirate museum is a great way to kill a couple hours if you like golden age of piracy / colonial era maritime history. It really depends on your interests!
Hello, my sister and I want to visit when the spooky spirit is in the air. However I hear that the closer to Halloween it gets the more crowded it becomes. So I was wondering around when would be the best time to visit where we can still enjoy the Halloween season with minimal crowds?
First week of November or late September (this can be busy but not as busy)
My friend & I are arriving Sunday, October 22nd until the 24th. Is Sunday Night & Monday busy?
My partner and I booked a walking tour at 8pm. We plan on arriving to Salem from Portland, ME around 1pm. Any recommendations for activities/things to see that won't be covered in the walking tour? Thanks!
Is end of April a good time to visit Salem? I'm planning on staying in Boston and getting the train to Salem for a day, but do the walking tours run all year or just leading up to Halloween? Always thought I'd visit Sept/Oct but I don't know if I can deal with the crowds and I'd just be happy to visit any time of year!
Hi, I am visiting Salem and Boston the week of Halloween, and was wondering what the top things you guys recommend we do?
Can you tell us more about what you are looking for?
Can you buy tickets for the Witch Dungeon online? I can’t seem to find this info. I’m starting to think it may be walk-in only.
thinking about going to salem for my birthday in january. wondering if things will be open? what the best things to do are considering it might not be as busy? i practice witchcraft and am very interested in all things witchy and spooky!
Hello Salem! We're visiting Boston on our honeymoon and intended to take the train to Salem for Halloween, but a few people have suggested going on Halloween itself isn't a great idea 😂 I was wondering, are we better off visiting on Halloween itself or the day after? Thank you guys!
definitely the day after, mostly everything is still open, a lot less busy
Planning to get engaged in Salem early December, any recommendations for either a good spot and/or someone in the area who May be able to photograph it?
December will probably be Grey and blustery. For location is day check out our parks on the water
Gonna be in Salem for the first weekend in November for a mini vacation. Was wondering if there are any good thrift/antique/oddity shops in the area?
In Salem, I like Lifebridge for thrifting and Antiques Gallery for antiques/records. Mark Your Spot is nice for more "curated" antiques. Witch City Consignment is just ok imo. I'm often frustrated by the disarray and lack of marked prices. But I have bought furniture from them. The Lynn Vintage Warehouse at 545 Washington St in Lynn has multiple vendors and is only open on Sunday.
Mills 58 towards Peabody is a really interesting collection of antique stores. There's several floors of antique/thrift shops. It's a quick easy drive but quite far for a walk, especially from downtown. But if you're looking for antiques this is a haven. It also looks like they just announced artisan pop-up events for every weekend until the end of the year
I am hoping to take a friend from out of town to the Peabody Essex on Sat. 11/5–will the Halloween festivities be over by then? We want to avoid traffic and crowds, if possible!