Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
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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
4.0
114 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
32
Average
22
Poor
2
Terrible
5
Have Camera, Will Travel
South Bend, IN3,808 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
We arrived in Salem at 7:00AM on a Wednesday in October. We parked right in the Museum Place Garage on the first level. We were on Essex 7:05AM with NOBODY around. It was excellent for pictures. In the afternoon, it was decently busy, but not uncomfortably busy. I'm not a person that like a big crowd and I wasn't bothered. We did have to wait in line to enter a few stores, but that was fine. After going in a few that were not limiting people inside, I found I'd rather wait in line and have room to wander around the stores. The people that were dressed up added to the atmosphere. It was fun!
After seeing the pictures from the weekends, I am so glad we did a Wednesday.
After seeing the pictures from the weekends, I am so glad we did a Wednesday.
Written November 22, 2024
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.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,712 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
One of the great things about Salem is how easy it is to walk around it. A large part of it is that the main commercial street in the downtown district is Essex Street and it is pedestrian. There is a combination of larger historic homes, restaurants, shops and many touristy attractions focused on witches. While it is a little gimmicky, it is a nice that it is all pedestrian.
I will say this is also the section of the town where it feels like Halloween every day. I do feel that you will have to get off Essex to find the authentic Salem. Still it is a great walkable feature for visitors.
I will say this is also the section of the town where it feels like Halloween every day. I do feel that you will have to get off Essex to find the authentic Salem. Still it is a great walkable feature for visitors.
Written September 20, 2024
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.
Kelli
Keller, TX1,379 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
We had a lot of fun shopping up and down Essex St. It’s super crowded in October, but it was festive and I’m glad we did it once. I’m hoping we come back off-season and can shop without all the lines and people someday. Lots of unique shops and we didn’t get to see them all since standing in line ate up a good chunk of the day.
Written October 27, 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.
Melissa N
Chester, NY190 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Salem was on our bucket list forever. Finally made it into a school trip with my teen daughters. The ONLY thing worth the money was the trolley tour! The stores were run down and lines very long. Nothing special. Crossed it off the list but won’t be coming back.
Written October 10, 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.
Natalie M
4 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
The history alone was amazing, the historic sites fabulous. Awesome shops! Very friendly personnel at most places. So much fun. Loved ghost tour and can't wait to go back!
Written February 10, 2024
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.
Hgtravl
Marlton, NJ3,358 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
This place is THE spot in Salem! A beautiful outdoor pedestrian mall with ALL the shops, bakeries, coffee shops, places to eat, bars & historical buildings in Salem to enjoy! Beautiful buildings line the street & is really clean! We loved that the town / shops decorate during the Halloween season! Such a fun vibe! This is the spot to check out & hit up all the fun spots in one walkable area!
Written September 30, 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.
🥳 🎉 🥳 Keep Life Simple 🥳🎉🥳
Pittsburgh, PA132,042 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
The Essex street pedestrian mall is the main street with many shops and attractions in the witch city of Salem Massachusetts. You can easily spend a few hours on this pedestrian mall alone.
Written October 24, 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.
Stefan L
697 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Long pedestrian mall with restaurants, shops and museums. From bookstores to ice cream, occult to pharmacies it is all there.
Written August 18, 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.
Guest654321
Massachusetts249 contributions
Apr 2016 • Solo
If you are a fan of old buildings and little shops this a good place for you. No cars to disturb your walk and a fairly pleasant place to wonder around (except the fall). September and October are quite hectic in Salem. It is a very popular tourist destination around that time of the year. In the beginning of October is the Salem parade and the beginning of the Halloween Happenings, so plan accordingly. The pedestrian mall is not far form the train station.
Written April 12, 2016
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.
frqentravlr
Santa Barbara, CA129 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
We stretched our legs along this bit of Essex Street after a nice Italian meal at a nearby restaurant.The architecture and shops are varied and fun to poke around. There's a bit of everything from a candy store to a witch shop. For those interested in architecture stop and look up at the building details and fenestration.
Written June 30, 2015
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.
Is this where most of the touristy/halloween salem type shops are located? Or is this something different?
Written August 17, 2017
Very big on Witches, Halloween, some
New Age and very touristy. This is the place one should visit, with out a doubt.
Written August 18, 2017
Anyone know of a shop in pedestrian mall on Essex st that has a Salem shirt that says "Salem" but the A is a pentacle or baphomet?
Written August 11, 2017
There's lots of places to buy touristy things. I apologize I didn't go into many shops because we had our dog.
I can say having been there in both October and May that you'll probably have better luck the closer to mid- late October.
Written August 12, 2017
worked in a store near Almy Bigalow and Washburn on Essex near 182 Essex st. and the movie pictures and Eaton's Drug store over 65 years ago, and wondering what Essex Street looked like today?
Written May 20, 2016
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