Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour
Badge of Excellence
Salem, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Delve into Salem’s past beyond the notorious witch trials on a walking tour that ties four centuries of history into the context of this modern Massachusetts town. Stop at important landmarks in the historic center and learn about Salem's seaport origins, early colonial culture, and illustrious former residents from a guide who knows all the details.
- Get oriented to Boston's most famous suburb on a Salem history tour
- Learn about the city's early settlement and role in the American Revolution
- Hear how the tragic 1692 witch trials shook the city's conscience
- Great introduction for history buffs and first-time Salem visitors
What's Included
- 90 minute Historic Salem Walking Tour
- Local and Professional Guide
- Guide uses an amplifier so everyone can hear the Salem History
- We visit locations that have compelling history unknown to many locals
- Hear tales of Maritime and Revolutionary significance.
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- No food and drink offered, but snacks available for purchase
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 8 Central St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
We are part of the pedestrian walkway downtown at the corner of Essex and Central Streets. We are next to Emporium 32 and across from the New England Dog Biscuit Company. Look for our purple sign.
End point
- Salem, MA, USA
Return Location: Returns to downtown Salem area. Tour Guide can help direct you to where you want to go.
Itinerary
1
Salem Historical Tours & Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Red's Sandwich Shop
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Old Burying Point Cemetery
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall, Salem, MA
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Salem Old Town Hall
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
The Merchant
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
8
Rockafellas Restaurant
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
9
Bewitched Sculpture
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
10
Salem YMCA
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
11
The Witch House at Salem
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
12
Wesley United Methodist Church
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Parking available in garages on New Liberty, Bridge, and Congress Streets
- Parking available in lots at Church Street, Front Street, and Klopp Alley. Metered parking near us. Use Passport Smart Phone App for meters. Bus parking available on New Derby Street and Hawthorne Boulevard.
- Tour departs at 12 pm. Check in 15-20 minutes before your tour time at Salem Historical Tours office, located at 8 Central Street
- Traffic and parking can be very difficult and October is much worse with "LA Level" traffic.
- Our public walking tours can pose challenges for participants with mobility and accessibility concerns. Tours are 90 minutes long and about one mile in length. Each participant must be able to complete the one-mile tour within 90 minutes, providing for frequent stops to view sites and for information from the tour guide. As Salem is a historical city, there are narrow and uneven sidewalks, bricks, cobblestones, and stairs. During events and festivals (and particularly October), with crowds and street vendors, the streets can become difficult to navigate.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 106 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Karen_F, Jul 2026
Interesting and memorable! Our tour guide, Bob, had plenty of anecdotes and historical references to share. We definitely left with a greater understanding of the breadth of the experiences that made Salem famous in the 17th century and beyond. I wasn't after a polished and sanitized Salem tour, and while I was interested in hearing about the witch trials, I wanted to hear about other historical periods too, and this fit the bill. Bob is a local Salem artist/creative, and a kind and memorable character besides. We were glad we chose this tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Bob is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
cheryl_m, Jul 2026
It was entertaining and had a lot of historical history! It just was not the kind of history. I was thinking of the town. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello and Thank you for the review! Please be sure to come back and visit us and Salem Again soon!
Frank_L, Jul 2026
Knowledgeable about the history of Boston and the causes of the revolution. I am deaf and find listening to people in public noisy places difficult. However, Mike spoke in a loud voice (not shouting) that meant I was able to hear what he said, very clearly. Despite background noises and even other tour operators close by. So Mike is definitely recommended if you struggle to hear.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Mike is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Gwen_W, Jul 2026
The Tour was very informative, our guide was very knowledgeable. I would highly suggest taking this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
DONALD_L, Jun 2026
Knowledgable guide.
Funny but full of history
Moved at a good pace for seniors.
Wish more of the tour dialogue was in the shade
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back
and visit again soon!
Carmon_G, May 2026
The tour gave a good overall of Salem but I think it would have been better to focus on sites that are still there, versus sites where there is just a plaque (replacing those on the tour).
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello, many of the buildings are no longer around from that time period. We know the locations of many of the events. Every tour in Salem has the same issue, but at least our tour shows pictures we've found from old books of people's homes and locations where events happened that are too far to walk. We walk about a mile because many locations were centered in the downtown area.
Marie_M, Mar 2026
Great historical information including the witch trials, trade and the development of the city. We appreciated the tour guides knowledge of Salem
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back
and visit again soon!
Jon_H, Dec 2025
Information given was good but you need to know history of the area in order for it all to fit together. More background needs to be given for non history buffs.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you found the information interesting and appreciate your comments about providing more background context. Your input helps us continue improving the tour experience for all guests.
Egan_P, Nov 2025
It was a fun experience and it was a good time and I would Recommend to people who are traveling aboard
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Patti_K, Oct 2025
Not worth the money. Everyone in the group was looking at one another like, ‘is this guy for real?’ Learned a couple new things but wouldn’t pay $5 for what I learned.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We understand that not every guide’s presentation style connects with every guest, but the reaction you described isn’t something we typically see from our groups. Most of our visitors leave with great reviews and often comment on how much they learned and enjoyed the experience.
Jennifer_H, Oct 2025
this was so informative & with a fun twist! OUR TOUR GUIDE WAS VERY NICE. There was a lot to learn and they did a good job of giving enough information without overloading us.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back
and visit again soon!
Laurie_H, Oct 2025
Had a great time. Guide was knowledgeable and passionate. Had lots of cute stories and little tidbits not found in history books. Very enjoyable.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the fantastic review! Please be sure to come back and visit us and Salem Again soon!
Sally_R, Oct 2025
Guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Salem. Unfortunately, he spoke very quickly, and due to a lot of noise in the surrounding area, it was often difficult to hear him. He did not use an amplifier, as was advertised.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We understand that not every guide’s presentation style connects with every guest, but the reaction you described isn’t something we typically see from our groups. Most of our visitors leave with great reviews and often comment on how much they learned and enjoyed the experience.
Mirevic_C, Oct 2025
It was interesting to learn about the different historical buildings and the merchant abilities and how it collapsed. He also gave good pointers to other places we could visit around Salem
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
MaryRae_N, Oct 2025
Very interesting, Salem 101 wasn’t just about the witches, highly recommend if you’re looking for this rich history of Salem!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the fantastic review! Please be sure to come back and visit us and Salem Again soon!
Nancy_R, Oct 2025
An amazing Victorian Mansion with a unique, original to house inventory, first of its kind inventions in state, and best ever tour guide!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back
and visit again soon!
Teresa_W, Oct 2025
We didn't have alot of time in Salem. Glenn our guide, showed us the important sights, covering the maritime history as well as the witch trails in 90 minutes. Perfect for the time we had.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Glenn is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Tanishan_S, Oct 2025
Our tour guide was Anna and she was absolutely wonderful. She is very knowledgeable and clearly loves what she does. She was very energetic and provided some heat history of Salem. She was able to answer all questions and provided options on what we as the group wanted to see. I definitely recommend this tour and tour guide Anna.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Anna is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Sandra_V, Oct 2025
Learned a lot about the city of Salem’s history, and not just about the witch trials. Guide was very informative and funny!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
DENISE_S, Sep 2025
The tour guide took pride in researching for this tour and being accurate. Interesting facts!
and great recommendations for lunch!
Tammy_S, Sep 2025
Bob was very informative engaging and funny. He know his history and a lot about hawthorn. Highly recommend
Rita_B, Oct 2024
Our guide was knowledgeable and tried to give history about the people and happenings of the time period but it was kind of hard to follow and didn’t really include much about the witch trials. Maybe that was on purpose just wasn’t what I thought.
Kathleen_C, Oct 2024
Enjoyed the whole experience thanks to a guide with a dry sense of humour who was knowledgeable and clearly proud of his town and its history.
Dan_N, Oct 2024
too much standing and trivia info. only a few stops. need just historical info only not all the back stories
Michele_G, Oct 2024
We were very disappointed in the walking tour. Our tour guide – otherwise no the Stanley did not seem to be very into the tour. Telling us we’re not going to places because it was too busy. And then we really didn’t see anything any kept telling us after the tour you can go see it and we felt that that was the whole point of the tour. I would give it a zero. We actually left early because we are so unhappy.
Rachael_A, Sep 2024
Was very entertaining educational! Tour Guide Bob was fantastic! Would recommend. Do this if you go to Salem!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Elizabeth_W, Sep 2024
We had Bob as our guide and he was so awesome!! It was an exciting history lesson and to learn about Salem other than just the witches. Definitely recommend and to ask for Bob.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Bob is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Miriam_M, Sep 2024
Great storytelling and engaging guide. It was a well paced and historically fact based tour. Interest background to not just the actual stops but general Salem antecedents that made this location what it is.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Maya_C, Jun 2024
Very interesting tour providing a lot of the history surrounding Salem. Bob was very knowledgeable and kept the tour interesting.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Hello and Thank you for the amazing review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great time with us! Bob is one of the best guides in town! Please be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Kitty_K, Jun 2024
Guide was knowledgeable about the subject but presumed we were, too. She was rude to a lady who asked for directions (not with our tour)—unacceptable. Tour felt somewhat disjointed. I didn’t enjoy the tour much, and I love history.
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