Old Burying Point Cemetery
Old Burying Point Cemetery
4.5
About
Salem’s oldest cemetery, founded in 1637, and final resting place for several notable Salem residents. Located directly behind this cemetery is the Witch Trials Memorial. The cemetery is currently closed for restoration work.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
1,542 reviews
Excellent
901
Very good
446
Average
161
Poor
26
Terrible
8
jv50
Beloit, WI819 contributions
Oct 2020
I'm handicapped so getting to the Old Burying Point was a bit difficult with no parking very near. We went early in the morning on a Tuesday so there weren't a lot of people there. It was surreal to stand there and see these centuries old graves and know what some of them partook in.
Written November 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.
Christina O
11 contributions
Sep 2020
The variety of engravings on the headstones in the Old Burying Point Cemetery is amazing. Considering its age, the grounds are in very good repair. Restoration work is currently underway, but friendly workers let us enter and have a good look around. Given the number of October visitors Salem attracts though, I think it is smart that they restrict access to the cemetery as old stones are very fragile. We were there in September and this was one of the highlights of our trip.
Written September 18, 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.
HeavnsLily
Rochester, NY37 contributions
May 2023
Fascinating place! Opens to the public at 11 am, no admission fee needed. Entrance is just down the street a little from the Witch Trials Memorial. Upon entering, look for the bronze map on a stone at the front of the cemetery before you venture in to give yourself a "whos who" of who is buried there so you can be on the lookout as you walk the pathways.
Written June 1, 2023
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.
Abbie H
Chesapeake, VA19 contributions
Oct 2022
So apparently you have to buy tickets to go to the cemetery, but I could not find a place to buy them? The one spot I found for tickets was a bit fishy, charging $30/person, on a sketchy website. I believe you can buy first thing in the morning in person, but they sell out QUICK! Something I definitely wish we could've seen, but it just didn't work out. From the fence, the property seemed very well maintained, and the tombstones are in great shape! Glad to see that they are all taken care of!
Written November 4, 2022
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.
Lucas K
Amherst, MA23 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Normally, I love visiting old cemeteries. Reading the inscriptions, trying to make a little sense of what I’m taking in, even though it’s all but impossible to know anything about anyone based on the few words on their tombstones.
Unfortunately, because of the wear and tear of the throngs of tourists that descend on the cemetery every day, every month, every year, the powers that be have decided that we (visitors) must use the paths that they’ve created to navigate through. I get it, the cemetery must be preserved, but still found it disappointing.
Unfortunately, because of the wear and tear of the throngs of tourists that descend on the cemetery every day, every month, every year, the powers that be have decided that we (visitors) must use the paths that they’ve created to navigate through. I get it, the cemetery must be preserved, but still found it disappointing.
Written July 11, 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.
txhawk36
Henderson, TX151 contributions
Oct 2021
The cemetery is open now and visitors are allowed to peruse the headstones. It is fascinating to think that some of these are 300 years old. Having gone to Salem to seek the history of the Salem Witch Trials, this is one of the few historical sites from that time frame. There was a gatekeeper that allowed only a certain amount of visitors in at a time, and you must stay on the walkways. In the visitor center, there is some information about tombstones and how they started to be made. It is interesting to think about why they were made in such a shape, and how they have evolved over the many years.
Written October 31, 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.
Colleen
5 contributions
Aug 2022
I loved it, it was amazing to see the different tomb stones and the names and such of the different people there from the salem witch trials. It wasn't to crowded, and you can take pictures and the tour guide there was wonderful with answering any and all questions we might have about the cemetery. I would so go again with my friends.
Written August 1, 2022
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.
Caroline B
Knoxville, TN11 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
This cemetery is really cool to look at, I just wish we would have been able to go inside to actually walk around. Currently it is under some much needed renovation so it you can’t go inside but the sign says it should be open in the next few months. We will have to come back to check it out when it is done.
Written May 15, 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.
766Stinkeye766
Salem, MA20 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
Salem is many things: a city steeped in literary and marine history, an emerging Mecca for foodies and pub crawlers, a sea side oasis with parks and beaches to visit, swim, picnic and relax in. It possesses one of the most unique and visited museums in the USA—PEM, as well as museums and specialized theatrical experiences chronicling its rich history. Yet, even though it is Ground Zero for Halloween, it’s darkest chapter is the Salem Witch Trials and the subsequent and tragic suffering and murder of those falsely accused of witchcraft. This particular cemetery is the most relevant and sobering place to visit in Salem. Erected as a memorial adjacent to some of the very perpetrators of this hysteria, this is a solemn place to visit. The victims are memorialized by granite slabs jutting out from a granite wall, with the names, dates, and manner of execution these unfortunate, innocent souls suffered. Salem is a jubilant city, for sure; but this is a necessary reminder to us all of the consequence of hysteria and scapegoating.This is a destination that gives us pause and should stir in us a solemn remembrance of the past.
Written March 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.
PandyPandora
Harpenden, UK913 contributions
Aug 2022
Be sure to check the opening times for the cemetery before you visit and pick up a leaflet so you know what you are looking at and where to find the graves connected to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. There is also interesting information about the symbols on the headstones. There are strict rules to stay on the paths so to protect the graves. Some of the older headstones have been placed inside a modern frame to help preserve them.
Written January 27, 2023
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.
Faith N
Walterboro, SC2,283 contributions
Does anyone know when this cemetery will re-open? I checked reviews and the website but cannot find a re-opening guestimate or date. Thanks!
Brandalee W
Allport, PA
are leashed dogs allowed in the cemetery and are there any benches (traveling with a person with bad knees that needs to sit often while walking)
cesejs
Norristown, PA95 contributions
I don't think dogs are allowed. The cemetery is very small and there are places to sit right outside the actual burial area, including the adjacent Salem Witch Memorial.
kierra bouwman
Montebello, CA
do I need to book a tour?
Marshall B
Ferney-Voltaire, France3,632 contributions
There is really no need to book a tour to see the Old Burying Point Cemetery, and there is a very useful map/chart at one end (check the photo I attached to my review). And do not miss the small memorial area for the Salem "witches" right beside the cemetery. But there are several walking tours that would include this cemetery that might be interesting to take.
Biffette16
Palm Coast, Florida1 contribution
Is there onsite parking? and if so how much?
Marshall B
Ferney-Voltaire, France3,632 contributions
The town of Salem public parking garage - high rise type - is a real deal - 25 cents per hour - and it is close by most of what you want to see in the area, including the cemetery. So, rather than trying to find free parking in town, which is almost impossible, just go to the public garage. Nice view from the top floor as well. It is on the corner of Derby and Congress, just before the bridge over the harbor..
Old Burying Point Cemetery, Salem
Frequently Asked Questions about Old Burying Point Cemetery
- We recommend booking Old Burying Point Cemetery tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 22 Old Burying Point Cemetery tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Old Burying Point Cemetery:
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- (0.19 mi) Hampton Inn Salem Boston
- Restaurants near Old Burying Point Cemetery:
- (0.04 mi) Back Alley Bacon
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- (0.05 mi) Red's Sandwich Shop
- (0.06 mi) A&J King Artisan Bakers
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