Salem Tours
History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour
5
BEST SELLER

History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour

By Witch City Walking Tours
Recommended by 97% of travelers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
There are many Salem tours out there but few are as compelling as this one, led by a local historian who brings alive the city's history at the time of day you choose. For spookier experience, pick a nighttime tour led by lantern light. Visit the Burying Point Cemetery, Witch House, and Ropes Mansion garden as your guide tells stories of the haunted history of Salem, Massachusetts.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 6-95, max of 39 per group
Duration: 120–135 minutes
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • A guide brings the history of Salem to life through storytelling
  • Choose a nighttime tour for a spookier setting as you're guided through Salem
  • Pick from multiple tour times, including a night tour led by lantern light
  • Visit the Burying Point Cemetery and Witch House and pass through Salem's historic McIntire District
Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024

  • 2-hour Hauntings & History Salem Walking Tour
  • Listen to 400 years of Salem history from a local historian
  • Walk the cobblestone streets of Salem's historic McIntire District
  • Professional/Local Guide
  • See top Salem sites such as Witch Trials Memorial, Witch House, and Ropes Mansion.
  • We do not enter any buildings on this tour. This is an outdoor activity only.
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Entry/Admission - The Witch House at Salem

This Salem walking tour meets in Derby Square. Get acquainted with your passionate guide, and from the beginning, feel the excitement for this subject just as much as they do. Your guide takes you to some of the most historic places in the city, including a home that has direct ties to the Witch Trials and ends at one of the oldest cemeteries in Massachusetts: the Burying Point. Also pass through the historic McIntire District and the garden at Ropes Mansion. Your guide tells you tales of the Salem witch trials as well as popular historic and haunting stories. Your tour ends on Charter Street by the Burying Point. Note: Book the nighttime tour for an even spookier experience; be led around Salem by lantern light.

Start:
  • Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970, USA
    Old Town Hall *Please meet on the side with the THREE staircases We do not have an office
End:
  • Salem Witch Trials Memorial, 24 Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
    Return point: Witch Trials Memorial. Charter St, Salem, MA 01970

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37124P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Children must be accompanied by ticketed adult
  • Our Tours run rain or shine, we do not cancel for weather. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress accordingly.
  • By choosing to purchase a ticket, you and your ticketed guests will be agreeing to our liability waiver which includes a release of liability on our tours as well as a photo release.
  • Dog friendly!
  • Wheelchairs and scooters are welcome, however, be aware that Salem has brick sidewalks, uneven surfaces and narrow areas. Visitors assume all responsibility with wheelchairs and WCWT will not be held liable.
  • We do not enter any buildings or cemeteries on this tour, this is an outdoor activity only.
  • Tour group size may be up to 39 guests per group
  • There are no public restrooms on the tour route. Please plan accordingly.
  • The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all tours.
  • Smoking and vaping is prohibited on all tours.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 39 travelers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 37124P1

From
$32.94
per adult
Select date and travelers

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970, USA
    Old Town Hall *Please meet on the side with the THREE staircases We do not have an office
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 24 Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
    Return point: Witch Trials Memorial. Charter St, Salem, MA 01970
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Witch City Walking Tours
    7,600
    Salem, Massachusetts
    Joined in February 2016
  • I2236SSrichards
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    See a spirit
    Violet knows it all. great guide. The tour was great, expect to capture a ghost on your phone. At least 1 person did in our group
    Written September 14, 2024
  • mindyoroscowitt
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Right mix of Spooky and History
    Really interesting way to tour Salem with a good mix of history and spooky. Danielle did and amazing job telling these stories but also bringing her vibrant energy to some pretty heavy subject matter. We learned a ton and the way Danielle story tells it’s like you jump around in time!
    Written September 13, 2024
  • Z9777ZPannaf
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice tour
    Our Guide Violet was very nice. Open to all questions we might have and giving time to take pictures. The tour is nice if you want to see all the movie locations at once. We enjoyed pioneer village. You certainly walk a lot but we did now it in advance.
    Written September 13, 2024
  • G6951IMvanessam
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Greatest tour guide
    Our tour guide Samantha was funny, knowledgeable, and graciously answered all my questions. Not only did she have the local tales, she also had photos and video. We had a great time and highly recommend the tour.
    Written September 12, 2024
  • mariepagios
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun tour
    Daniella was an incredible guide! Knowledgeable and fun! Learned so much about Salem’s murder history with some ghost stories added in! Overall great experience and would recommend.
    Written September 11, 2024
  • H8975EWtheresaw
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A night to remember
    Big shout out thank you Danielle, definitely was a fun experience had a great time catching spirits and goats kitty! Blessed be! Lots of love from the pagan witch
    Written September 10, 2024
  • B9736FAjoelg
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome!!!!!!
    Samantha was awesome!!!! Very knowledgeable!!! And has so much to share with us and even has photo and video proof of some encounters with some of the people she talks about along the tour... Some stuff she mentions is absolutely crazy!!! Leave the kids at home for this one!!!!
    Written September 10, 2024
  • B9736FAjoelg
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Loved it!!!!!!
    Violet was awesome and very knowledgeable and brang candy and even made us goodie bags at the end of the tour..try and book on the weekend so you can enter pioneer village which they give you 5 bucks back as well to enter..if you book on a weekday pioneer village will be closed. Loved it!!!
    Written September 10, 2024
  • Katie I
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour for adult couples or friends!
    Violet was amazing! She was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us as much information as she could when anyone asked a random question. This was a good walking tour and gave us some historical information, spooky vibes and stories.
    Written September 9, 2024
  • Sherpa36333549912
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great day trip
    Our guide Josh was great. From the start Josh was interested in where people were from and what brought them to Salem. We enjoyed the mix of history and folklore tales. The walking was very easy and gave us a better feel for what we wanted to see after the tour.
    Written September 9, 2024
  • 703kristenc
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun and spooky time!!
    The tour guide was amazing and really informative. The tour was a little spooky and had a lot of history of Salem. This is also a nice walk around the town at night. This was such a fun way to explore the town and the tour guide gave us a show for sure!!! The main office was also helpful and kind. We missed our connecting flight to Salem so we had to reschedule our tour and unfortunately we couldn't do the tour we originally wanted to but they found a tour that would be comparable. I can't remember the names of the staff but everyone was great!
    Written September 9, 2024
  • amberv541
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Tour
    I took my daughter to Salem for her 16th birthday and this was the one tour she was interested in, it did not disappoint! Henry was an amazing tour guide. If you are a true crime lover, this is the tour for you!
    Written September 9, 2024
  • Q2969KGmelanies
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Night Tour with Henry
    I recently went on the Murder and Mystery Tour in Salem, and it was a fantastic experience! Our guide, Henry, was absolutely top-notch. He was not only thoroughly engaging but also incredibly knowledgeable about Salem’s dark history. His storytelling skills kept everyone on the edge of their seats, weaving in fascinating facts with eerie tales of mystery and intrigue. You could tell he truly knew his stuff and was passionate about sharing it with us. The tour was both chilling and educational, and Henry’s enthusiasm made it all the more memorable. Highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting Salem!"
    Written September 9, 2024
  • kimeM6552QV
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour!
    Henry was great for our tour! He was funny, had a great pace, and kept everything very interesting. I lived in Salem for a few years and learned a lot of new information! Definitely recommending to friends.
    Written September 8, 2024
  • 567deliaw
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Outstanding tour and guide: HENRY
    Our guide Henry was outstanding. So knowledgeable and very humorous. Best nighttime tour I've ever taken. Will highly recommend this tour to my friends.
    Written September 7, 2024
See all 7,600 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles6,531 reviews
Excellent
6,196
Very good
193
Average
82
Poor
37
Terrible
23

juliet a
29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
April was our tour guide and she was AWESOME!!! We were running a bit behind due to the traffic (surprise) and I reached out to April giving her a heads up and she was kind enough to give suggestions on where to park. She gave such a vivid representation of telling these historic stories with such detail that it impacted the way I looked at certain landmarks now. This tour hit all of the major must see sites in Salem. April also had a fun/quirky approach that made it easy to digest a lot of the history and information she was giving us. She would stop at certain points and quiz us on what we may or may not know. She also gave us the opportunity to stop and take pictures, which was appreciated. This was our first tour throughout Salem and this did not disappoint to say the least! You definitely get the money’s worth getting the opportunity to learn enriched information about such a special place that Salem is. At the end of the tour April was so kind to also give recommendations on what to do in Salem, where to shop, eat, etc. If you’re looking for a tour to go on in Salem I would HIGHLY recommend booking this tour!
Written October 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time with April on our tour. She is a phenomenal storyteller and historian. Thank you!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth and April
Written October 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Miranda
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Couples
This was an awesome experience. I’ve been to Boston/Salem a few times, but never was able to take any sort of tour here. My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of being toured around town by Justine, who was absolutely wonderful. She kept the entire group engaged, she was very sweet, kind, and funny. She answered everyone’s questions well and was a really great storyteller. Even with all the COVID limitations, Justine really managed to make this a wonderful experience. We had such a good time. Toward the end of tour, another passing tour guide made a few rude comments to Justine for quite literally no reason, and she handled the situation well without making her guests uncomfortable. She was so professional, knowledgeable, and obviously cared a lot about our experience. We were so happy with this tour and would gladly take it again.

The tour focuses on Salem history with ghost/witch trial dialogue throughout. This tour wasn’t at all corny or trying too hard to be a novelty. It was genuine and very interesting. The walk in manageable, being mostly flat, and not too far. A couple in our group had a stroller they pushed during the tour, which didn’t seem to be too much of an issue either. Definitely be sure to bring a jacket if you are visiting after dark. The wind off the water can get quite chilly. We’re from PA so we’re used to chilly weather, but even on a day that was 75, once the sun went down, it got quite chilly and windy. Bring a jacket and be sure to use a restroom beforehand since there is not a place to stop along the route. Also, tip your guides if you have the means! They REALLY do an amazing job and deserve the recognition.
Written September 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our tour. We strive to make our tours fun and enjoyable for everyone! We definitely appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Byanka Campos
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
Vanessa was our tour guide and she was wonderful. There were 5 of us in our group, two moms and 3 children ( 12 y/o, 4 y/o & 3 y/o). Others had smaller children in strollers. I would consider it a family-friendly tour. We booked the 8 AM tour which we would do again due to securing our parking for the rest of the day and the ability to see certain sites within the tour due to no/little crowds. The tour is entirely outdoors so you have a lot of room to socially distance yourselves. There was a bit of walking but nothing uncomfortable. Vanessa's overview of the Salem's History and the witch hysteria was detailed and she provided wonderful viewpoints and some unknown tidbits that had us researching on our own soon after the tour was over. Vanessa was wonderful, patient, and answered any questions we had, and asked the group questions creating a more engaging experience.
Written October 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time with Vanessa on our tour. She is definitely a phenomenal storyteller and historian. We strive to make our tours family friendly. Thank you for such a thorough review!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth and Vanessa
Written October 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Elizabeth M
Oswego, NY48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Friends
I've done every walking tour if Salem at least once, but this was my first time with Witch City Walking Tours. I was very impressed by April, our guide. I learned many things about a city that I've visited countless times over the years and April's sense of humor added a light tough to tragic events. I'd recommend the tour to anyone, but wear comfortable shoes, because it covers a lot of ground and lasts a little over two hours.
Great job, April!
Written October 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our tour. We strive to make our tours fun and enjoyable for everyone! We definitely appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Elise M
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Friends
I would recommend this tour to anyone coming to Salem. Our local tour guide, April, did an amazing job showing our group around Salem. April is a great story teller and really incorporates the history of the Witch Trials with the marvelous wonders of the city.

Anyone looking to take a weekend trip to Salem, I highly recommend taking this relaxing two hour tour that lets you experience the magic of Salem.
Written October 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our tour. We strive to make our tours fun and enjoyable for everyone! We definitely appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dave J
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Family
My wife and I took two of our daughters to Salem for the long Labor Day Weekend. We booked 2 walking tours through Trip Advisor before we drove up from Long Island. The “History & Hauntings” tour was our second and by far the better of the 2. We met our tour guide, April, at The Old Town Hall, which was convenient and easy to find. Our tour was scheduled for 12:30 and April was there well ahead of time for a speedy check in and a friendly greeting. We had, what I considered, a very large group, April greeted everyone with a smile and explained exactly what was in store for us. We started out promptly at 12:30 for our scheduled 2 hour walking tour.
April is extremely well informed and kept all the historic stories interesting and educational. She had visual aids and a hands free microphone saw all could hear and see. She knew the easiest routes to each point of interest and took control of the group to guide all of us across busy intersections. We felt safe on the entire tour. The tour ended close to where it began so it was easy to keep our bearings as tourists in an unfamiliar town.
April answered all our questions along the tour and gave us recommendations when asked where the best places to eat or grab a beer…etc.
My family and I highly recommend this tour for people of all ages…and we especially recommend April. She was outstanding.
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there! Thank you so much taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time with April on our tour. She is an outstanding tour guide and extremely knowledgeable of all things Salem. We think taking a nighttime tour definitely adds an element of spookiness to Salem!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth and April
Written September 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

LakynDanielle24
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2020 • Couples
My husband and I were in Salem, MA for our honeymoon. We booked two tours with Beth and her company. We loved every second of both tours. My husband and I are major history buffs, so we booked the History and Hauntings Tour (we also booked the Mystery and Murders Tour) I highly recommend this tour. My husband’s favorite was the History and Hauntings Tour with Ryan, he truly loved learning the history of the buildings around Salem and the trade history of the city, itself. I couldn’t recommend this tour company more!! Definitely check them out!
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our tour. We strive to make our tours fun and enjoyable for everyone! We definitely appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tom & Linda
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
We loved the tour overall, and the best part was Beth's vast knowledge of detailed historical information about all things Salem! She has a clear passion for Salem's rich history and loves to share it. She covered Salem's founding, maritime, Puritan, witch trials, and architectural history as well as including some cool pop culture references in the jam-packed walking tour we did with her and their newest tour guide, Nick. Also, we recommend the 8am time slot because the city was still waking up, on-street parking was easy, and we had more of downtown Salem to ourselves before most shops open at 10am.
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time on our tour. We strive to make our tours fun and enjoyable for everyone! We definitely appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Voyager52562598459
87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I originally booked another tour that was cancelled and so I booked this one a little last minute. I had done a quick search of some companies and this one sounded reputable so I went with them. I have seen the owner, Beth, on some Facebook groups talking about Salem and so I knew she was invested. I hear there are now some outside companies who do these tours. I was afraid that during Halloween they would have hired a lot of inexperienced people as tour guides. That was not the case here.

I was afraid I was running late do yo inclement weather and so when I responded to the text reminder- Beth herself replied and ensured I would meet up with my tour guide. It was very reassuring and put me at ease. I do suggest trying to arrive 15 minutes early because you never know what may get in the way (no uber drivers, freak flooding).

My guide Seàn was wonderful. He was loud enough to hear the whole time and did not use an obnoxious microphone (I wish the city would ban those). During my tour we obviously passed others- in comparison I think my guide was doing a better job. Other guides, for example, were losing the attention of their group.

I actually really wanted to do a night lantern tour because I thought it would make everyone else look at the group like we were more special but in hindsight I’m glad that we were not accountable to hold onto a stupid lantern all night.

All in all my experience with the company and the guide was excellent and I would 100% recommend them and use them in the future. I know that there was so much more to talk about than what one 2 hour tour could manage so I intend to do another if I return. You could tell they really cared about their city, their guests, their reputation, and history.
Written November 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi! Thank you so much taking the time to leave a review. I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful time with Seán on our tour. He is definitely a phenomenal storyteller and historian. We appreciate your feedback and 5 star review. We do have a Mysteries & Murder tour so when you find yourself in Salem again, check it out! We love to share fun stories and facts about our beautiful 400 year old city!! Please come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth and Seán
Written November 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tony L
Baltimore, MD19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Couples
This tour is the most outstanding tour we have ever taken on a vacation. We expected the standard which trial information but had no idea about Salems rich maritime history. We learned so much! Our tour guide April was witty and extremely knowledgeable, going into great detail about things on the tour when we asked questions. She had deep knowledge of the city, the buildings and architecture, as well as a great understanding of the Salem witch trials and what motivated it. There were only two of us on this particular early morning tour so she took a little extra time to point out other things as we walked along. I highly recommend this tour above all the others we’ve taken, it gave us a greater and wider appreciation for Salem. We can’t wait to come back and take one of those other tours. Be sure to ask for April! :-)
Written June 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. We are thrilled that you had such a wonderful time with April! She is absolutely amazing and a wealth of knowledge. Thank you for sharing your kind words. We do hope that you will come back and see us again soon! All the best, Beth
Written June 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 6,513

History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour provided by Witch City Walking Tours

All Salem HotelsSalem Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Salem
All things to do in Salem
Spas & Wellness in Salem
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars