Grab your broomsticks and spell books, break out the witch hats and the scary stories, we’re going to Salem, Massachusetts. I’m bringing you the perfect Salem travel guide for one day in Salem.
On my recent trip to Maine, we had to fly out of the Boston airport, and of course we jumped at the opportunity to make a pit stop in Salem. October was the perfect time to visit the spooky town known for its touristy charm. We only had a little over a half day, but we tried to cram in as many sights as possible.
Where to Park:
We parked on the cross roads of Chestnut and Pickering street just a few blocks from the Witch House and a quick walk to Maine Street. Parking here was the easier and much cheaper option than the $30 parking garage.
Stroll Down Chestnut Street
We walked up and down Chestnut Street searching taking in the foliage and the gorgeous houses. If you’re looking for beautiful mansions as your photo backdrops this is your street. Walking along this street will lead you right to the iconic Witch House.
Visit the Witch House
This is the only standing structure with known ties to the Salem Witch Trials. We didn’t have time to do a tour, so we just snapped some photos from the outside. If you do want to take a tour I would definitely recommend scheduling ahead. With Covid they are limiting the tours and the spots fill up fast.
Explore Downtown Salem Historic District
A quick walk down Essex street you’ll run right into the Downtown Salem Historic District. There are tons of spooky shops, cliche souvenir stands, and even a Witch City Mall. Along the walk you’ll see the Bewitched Statue, the Witch City Mall, and my personal favorite the wand shop (Harry Potter Fans) will love this one.
Grab a roof top drink at Hotel Salem
The Hotel Salem is home to the only rooftop bar in Salem. We grabbed a seasonal ginger drink, and some delicious tacos, the sweet potato ones were amazing. You can take in the view of Salem while you eat and drink, and the weather in October was absolutely perfect! I was so happy to meet up with one of my closest work friends who lives nearby in Boston. We talk virtually every day, but never get to see each other in person! (Steph if you’re reading this, Hi!)
Visit the Oldest Candy Company in the United States
After you’ve eaten, head towards the Pepper Candy Co and grab a chocolate, or two…. or five. Around the shop are the cutest homes, made even cuter by the spooky halloween decorations. While you walk you can make your way to the House of the Seven Gables known for its ties to Nathanial Hawthorne’s famous novel.
Visit the Hocus Pocus Sets
Next you can visit two spots where Hocus Pocus was filmed. The first we sadly didn’t make it to is the Salem Pioneer Village where they filmed the early scenes of the Movie. We did get to make it to Alison’s House aka the Ropes Mansion. You can walk around the outside grounds in both the front and back of the house. We snapped a few photos up front of course!
After we stopped by Alison’s House we had to quickly head to the airport, but I think we did a pretty good job of cramming in a ton of sights in just a short half day!
I hope you enjoyed this salem travel guide, but for those of you that follow for the fashion, I’ve linked everything below!
