If you’re looking for the best things to do in Salem during a day trip, you’re in the right place! Salem, Massachusetts is infamously known for the Salem Witch Trials. In this period between 1692 and 1693, many innocent people were accused and put on trial for practicing witchcraft. 25 innocent people were killed, most by hanging.
Today, there are multiple ways to learn about the Salem Witch Trial history during a visit, whether it be at a museum, a walking tour or at the memorial. But there are also other things to do and see in Salem.
The word “witch” used to be a term that silenced women, but today it has been reclaimed in Salem. Salem attracts a large community of people who identify as witches, among them there are tarot readers, mystics, herbalists, activists, spiritual healers and more.
This melding of a historic tragedy with modern witchcraft makes for a unique atmosphere in Salem. It’s no wonder that millions visit each year, especially around Halloween.
Keep reading to learn how to spend a day in Salem, which makes for a fantastic day trip from Boston. This is based on my experience visiting Salem in November 2022.
How to Spend One Day in Salem
This action-packed Salem one day itinerary is perfect for a first-time visit! This guide includes a mix of history, food, art and more for a day full of variety.
If you’re taking a day trip to Salem from Boston, it’s located about 40 minutes or 25 miles away.
First, Coffee!
Brew Box is a cute coffee shop in Salem that offers all of the classics, plus some unique options such as a cereal milk latte.
They also have a breakfast and lunch menu that includes vegan and vegetarian options. You can enjoy avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches.
Brew Box doesn’t have seating, so take your items to go and enjoy them while walking a bit of downtown Salem.
Explore the Peabody Essex Museum
If you enjoy art museums at all, a visit to the impressive Peabody Essex Museum is a must during your day trip to Salem. It is the oldest continuously operating museum in the United States, with its roots dating back to 1799.
The museum is huge and features many rotating exhibits. I was moved by photographs of polar bears in Northern Alaska and fascinated by Yin Yu Tang, a house from China that has been re-erected inside the museum. Advanced timed entry is required to enter the house, and I highly recommend it.
It’s easy to spend a few hours exploring this massive museum. At this writing, admission costs $25 per adult.
Take a Historic Walking Tour
Learn about the interesting history of Salem on a walking tour! I had a great experience taking the History & Hauntings tour with Witch City Walking Tours. The 2-hour tour took us by haunted hotels, the famous Witch House and iconic sights in Salem.
I learned so much about the history of the area, and loved that the tour included a whole variety of topics, from ghost stories to discussions about modern Salem.
A few things I learned:
- There is a network of tunnels below Salem
- Salem receives over a million visitors in October
- Several episodes of Bewitched were filmed in Salem
- In its early days, Salem was bigger than Boston and New York City and was a major port city
I highly recommend doing a walking tour during your day trip to Salem! It’s a great way to get a lot of historical context about the city.
Visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial
It’s very much worth a stop at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial during your trip to Salem. My walking tour ended here after explaining a lot of the history and context of this spot.
The Memorial features stone benches and honors all of the victims that died during the Salem Witch Trials. It’s free to visit and open from dawn to dusk.
Right next to the memorial, you’ll see the Old Burying Point Cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in Salem. Notable figures such as John Hathorne (one of the witchcraft trial judges) and Simon Bradstreet (the last governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony) are buried here. Reservations are required to enter the cemetery, but they’re free to make.
Check out the Shops in Salem
Downtown Salem has several cute shops to check out! HausWitch Home + Healing was my favorite. It’s a shop with beautiful home decor, plus crystals, books, candles and more. They offer a mix of handmade products from independent makers, vintage items and more. Plus, they are an inclusive space that is open to all.
If you’re interested in modern witchcraft, be sure to stop at Pentagram. The shop was created by Tim Reagan and Leanne Marrama, who have both been practicing witchcraft for more than two decades. They sell books, candles, charm bags and more, plus they offer psychic readings.
And if you’d like to get your very own wand, check out Wynott's Wands. This gift shop has hand carved wooden wanders, along with all kinds of other gifts (this is a great place to get a gift for a Harry Potter lover!).
One more shop to check out is Witch City Wicks, a candle store whose candles are made with 100% natural soy wax.
Visit the Punto Urban Art Museum
Take a stroll through past some vibrant murals at the Punto Urban Art Museum. The museum is a non-profit with a mission for social justice. The open air museum has over 70 large murals that have been created by over 40 global artists and 25 local New England artists.
It’s free to visit and you can walk down various pathways to admire the art up close. Some of the large murals extend up multiple stories and it’s amazing to see their scale.
Eat and Drink at Notch Brewing
If you enjoy breweries, Notch Brewing is a great place to stop during your visit to Salem. It’s located on the water and has both indoor and outdoor spaces to spread out. They serve a mix of German, Austrian and Czech beers, plus a selection of bar snacks. I enjoyed a radler and some pierogies.
Visit the House of Seven Gables
The House of Seven Gables is a historic Salem home best known for being the setting of The House of Seven Gables written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The home was declared a National Historic Landmark District in 2007.
During a visit, you can explore the main house and various surrounding buildings, and enjoy the grounds. It’s a beautiful property. They also have a great audio tour so you can learn all about the property on your own.
Indulge in a Treat at Goodnight Fatty
End your day in Salem with an indulgent treat at Goodnight Fatty, which is open late. They are well known for their ‘fatties,’ which are thick, juicy cookies. The flavors change weekly and are kept secret. You also get to watch them make each cookie to order, they are made fresh and meant to be eaten warm. You have the options to order a flight of all of the cookie flavors and to get them served over ice cream.
The atmosphere is also really fun - it feels a bit like a nightclub with neon colors contrasted against black walls. I had the wildberry cookie with cream cheese icing, and it was sweet and delicious.
More Things To Do in Salem
Here are a couple of other things you may want to add to your Salem itinerary:
- Visit the Salem Maritime National Historic Site
- Visit the Salem Witch Museum, the Witch Dungeon Museum or the Witch History Museum
When to Visit Salem
Millions of people visit Salem every October to partake in Halloween celebrations. So if that’s a dream of yours, October is a great time to visit. However, it will likely mean high crowds, more expensive accommodations, long lines and tours selling out early. If you do want to visit for Halloween festivities, consider going for the Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, which takes place on the first Thursday of October.
Personally, I went in mid-November and thought it was a great time to visit. There was still some Halloween decor so I got a bit of that vibe. It was still pretty crowded, but not unmanageable.
Salem experiences all four seasons, so you can’t go wrong with visiting at any time. You could visit for a cozy winter trip, a spring trip to see the fresh blooms or a summer getaway to enjoy the warm weather.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you plan a fun day trip to Salem! From historic walking tours to one of the oldest art museums in the country, this historic city has a ton to do. Salem makes for the perfect day trip from Boston or is a fantastic stop on a New England fall road trip.
More New England and New York Guides:
- How to Spend One Day in Boston
- An Epic 10 Day New England Road Trip
- The Best Hiking near Ithaca, New York
- 7 Day Vermont and New Hampshire Fall Itinerary
- The Best Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park
- The Ultimate Fall Guide to Acadia National Park
- The Perfect Day Trip to Connecticut
- The Best Things To Do in North Adams, MA
Thanks for Reading!
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