If you’re planning a visit to Salem, Massachusetts, you’re probably wondering if this town actually lives up to the Hollywood hype. If we haven’t met, I’m Gina, and I’m an aesthetic traveler who happens to love spooky things just as much as I love pink and glitter. Visiting Salem during October was a bucket-list trip for me for years. After finally making it happen, I walked away with a lot of pro-tips to share with fellow Halloween lovers. If you have any questions after reading, feel free to use the Contact Me form at the bottom or message me on Instagram.
How To Do a Halloween Smoke Bomb Photoshoot (+ Smoking Pumpkin!)
Knowing Your Way Around Salem
The main street running through Salem is Essex Street. This is where you’ll find a lot of shops, bars, and restaurants. Other notable streets include Derby Street and Charter Street. Check out Chestnut Street for some colonial homes or if you need a break from all the witch hysteria.
For the most part, Salem is very walkable, and parking in the city is very hard to find. I would recommend flying into Boston and taking an Uber into Salem (about 30-40 minutes).
What Happened During The Salem Witch Trials?
In January 1692, 2 young girls living in Salem, Massachusetts began suffering fits, including violent contortions and uncontrollable outbursts of screaming. Upon investigation, they claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft.
After further investigation, a local doctor, William Griggs, diagnosed the girls with “bewitchment.” Soon after, other young girls in the community began to exhibit similar symptoms, and hysteria spread throughout Salem. Eventually, a total of 19 victims were convicted and hanged, and many more were accused.
By September, public consensus turned against the trials, and the court later annulled guilty verdicts granted against the witches and their families. The trials remain one of the most terrifying legacies in the United States and will forever haunt the city of Salem.
Source: www.history.com
7 Things To Know Before Visiting Salem, Massachusetts
1. Don’t Be Shy About Dressing Up
If you like dressing up for Halloween, you will love Salem. Of course, most people dress up as witches, but I saw all sorts of costumes as I was galavanting about. If you can’t find your perfect witch costume, fear not – there are a ton of shops that sell witch hats, clothes, and other accessories. If dressing up in a costume isn’t really your thing but you still want to embrace the “Salem vibe,” wear all black! This is what I did most of the trip because I didn’t have enough time to throw a costume together. You can even pose with street performers to give your photos some context:
On a personal note, every time I dress like this, it reminds me of the time a man told me that “wearing all black is like walking around with both your middle fingers up.” I like to interpret that as a symbol of confidence…but here in Salem, let’s just say it’s a quiet nod to standing strong in the face of judgment 😉.
2. Some People Get REALLY Emotional Over the Witch Trials
While Salem is best known today for its festive Halloween spirit, don’t be surprised if certain parts of the city stir up some uncomfortable emotions. In fact, I had some people tell me they “did not have fun at all” on their trip because it really hit them how real and horrible the witch trials were. Areas like the Witch Trials Memorial or the Old Burying Point Cemetery are somber places where people stop to reflect and mourn over the tragedies that occurred. Even if you come to Salem for the “witchy” fun, this part of the story deserves a pause. Be respectful, take your time, and let the history speak for itself.
3. The Vibe is More Festive Than Frightening
If you’re expecting Salem to feel like walking straight onto a spooky movie set, you might be a little disappointed. In reality, it’s a charming New England town with a mix of history, tourism. and a few cheesy attractions thrown in. Don’t get me wrong, I loved visiting Salem…but I think in my head I expected it to feel a little more…scary?!
To piggyback off the last section: while some people told me they didn’t enjoy their Salem trip because of the witch trials, others mentioned being overall disappointed in the vibe and attractions. To be fair, a lot of the witch museums can feel more kitschy than creepy, but there are definitely things to do that are fun and will put you in the Halloween spirit. While I can understand where some of these people are coming from, I still loved my visit here.
Related post: 13 Witch Tours & Activities To Do in Salem, MA
4. The City Shuts Down When It Gets Dark
I can’t even lie – this is one of the things I was the most disappointed about. A lot of the shops on Essex St close around 7:00 or 8:00 pm. This was surprising to me. When I think of Halloween, I think of spooky things in the dark, and just kind of assumed that this town would pop off once the sun went down. But the reality is, Salem is not a late-night city. In terms of food, a few restaurants are open late, but not many.
In a way, I get it. With the amount of tourists and crowds coming in and out of the shops and restaurants, the employees are probably done AF. However, I do think there’s a missed opportunity here in the form of aesthetics once it gets dark. I was expecting to see the shops lit up with purple and orange colored lights or some type of decor…but instead, there was…nothing. It looks like a ghost town (pun intended). Is this the worst thing in the world? No. But if you work in Salem and you’re reading this, just know that I think you have some untapped potential…😉.
- Pro Tip: A lot of shops and restaurants are closed on Monday and/or Tuesday and/or Wednesday
Explore some of these haunted guided walking tours if you want to stay out late in Salem:
5. There Aren’t Many Public Bathrooms
Most women will agree that nothing induces our anxiety quite like having to pee with nowhere to go. While there aren’t a ton of public bathrooms in Salem, there ARE signs throughout the town directing you to where they’re located. Of course, most are porta-potties, so carry a pack of tissues and some hand sanitizer, just in case.
6. Some of The Shops Have a Lot of Satanic Merchandise
I felt the need to include this section because I know some people can be extra-sensitive to this sort of thing. Let me start by saying I enjoyed browsing through the shops in Salem. A lot of them had a dark, spooky aesthetic, along with witchy-themed artifacts and gifts. Having said that, I was a little surprised by how much some of the shop merchandise leaned into satanic imagery: pentagrams, goat heads, etc. For what it’s worth, the employees selling this stuff were so nice…but I can see where some people would find this a little off-putting if this isn’t your vibe.
7. Book Your Trip A Year in Advance
You can’t imagine how much I panicked when I went to book a Salem hotel on July 5th only to see “95% of properties are sold out for your current dates.” Not only that, but a lot of what was available was going for hundreds or even thousands of dollars per night. I lucked out and found an AirBNB that was relatively affordable, but damn. They weren’t kidding when they said this place was popular!
Having said that, I recommend booking your Salem trip as far in advance as you can to get the best choice of accommodations. Some top-rated places on or near Essex St. include:
Also, this goes without saying, but Salem is crowded during this time of year. I took the photo below while on Essex St. to give you an idea of what to expect. Thankfully, Essex St. is pretty wide, so you don’t feel like you’re bumping into people as you’re moving about. However, expect to have to wait at some of the restaurants, especially ones that don’t take reservations.
Speaking of restaurants, I listed some of my favorites below.
- Settler
- Ledger Restaurant
- The Babe
- Gulu-Gulu Cafe
- Turner’s Seafood
- Dire Wolf (there’s also a speakeasy in here called Hallowed Ground, but for me, it didn’t pass the vibe check)
The Bottom Line:
Although some things about Salem were different than I expected, I’m still so glad I went. I had a great time during my trip and have zero regrets. If you’re someone who loves Halloween, I definitely think you should make it a point to visit at least once in your life. Come, dress up, drink some pumpkin beer, take a few tours, stay in a colonial B&B, and really just make the most of it.
