Things to do in Salem MA in October
Here is the Ultimate Guide to things to do in Salem MA in October. We went to Salem and adored the charming and spooky witch town.
Looking for a spooky destination to celebrate Halloween in style? Head to a town shaped from the famous Witch Trials, Salem Massachusetts. Salem is a little sinister, intriguing, and just the right amount of ghoulish fun! You’ll find museums, shops, and even tours centered around all things scary and mystic.
How to Get to Salem?
First you need to fly into Boston airport and I would recommend staying in Boston either before or after you go to Salem. It is such a great city, check out our Boston Guide.
From Boston take the North Station, take the Rockport/Ipswich Line (a 30 minute ride). At the Salem Depot, exit up the stairs. It’s a 5* minute walk to the Visitor Center. It is a very walkable time and easy to navigate.
If you are driving check out the Roadtrippers site to help you plan your trip and all the best stops along your way. If you are needing to rent a car to make it to Salem, Turo is a great option for an affordable rental car option. Turo is an app that is basically the airbnb for cars, you are renting a car from someone. You can still have insurance to feel protected and ready to go.
Hotels in Salem and Other Accomodations
I would recommend staying near the main area of Salem so you can walk to most things to do in Salem MA in October.
As big proponents of ethical tourism I always recommend staying at local accommodations so you are supporting the local community.
Some recommendations are the Hawthorne Hotel which is a beautiful historic hotel and the Salem Waterfront Hotel located on the wharf. They both book up early so be aware of that. It tends to be on the pricier side and more luxury travel prices.
Check out our complete list of Salem Accommodations.
For a more budget friendly option check out airbnb and vrbo. If you book vrbo be sure to make a one key account to get points. One key is the blending of hotels.com, vrbo, and expedia and you can earn points for bookings for any of those sites. For one that is supports local residents be sure to look at the host. We tend to try to look for a host that just has 1-3 properties and is located locally. Work the points and credit cards game to help pay for your travel and make lots of it free.
Most importantly start looking sooo early and book! Salem is a very popular place to be in October.
What to do in Salem?
There are a ton of fun spooky things to do in Salem MA in October and you will have plenty of Halloween fun to keep you busy! From museums, plays, tours, and lots of fun to be had in the Witch Town.
The Salem Witch Museum is a self guided tour that is a bit cheesy but so fun at the same time. There are robot versions of the people from the Salem Witch Trials telling the story and history of the Witch Trials.
Another part of the museum goes into the history of the Wicca which is the modern pagan religion or modern witchcraft. There is also a gift shop which is a great stop for a souvenir to take home! We got a postcard we framed for our Halloween decor at home.
Be sure to buy tickets online the day of your visit.
The tickets are 16.50 for adults, 15.00 for seniors, and 13.50 for kids under 13.
Open: 10:00-5:00 with extended hours in October and in July and August
Cry Innocent a show run by a small theater depicting the Salem Witch Trials. We did not make it to this but it sounds like a fun way to learn about the witch Trials.
The Witch House also known as the Jonathon Corwin House. This has the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and is the only surviving building from the time of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The house is now a museum you can tour that teaches you about daily life of 1692 as well as the events of the Salem Witch Trials.
Open: 10:00-5:00 Daily
Admission: Adults (9.00), Seniors (7.00), children (5.00)
Salem Heritage Trail is the red line that goes through the town and it is a great guide to all the best spots in salem. You will hear it being called,
“The Red Line” for obvious reasons. The trail is meant to be a self guided tour through all of Salem historic sites and navigate to the downtown district. It will cover over 400 years of Salem’s history including Indigenous Peoples, Colonial Salem, Witch Trials, Abolitionist and African American Stories, Immigrant Experiences, Religion, and so much more. Download the app to learn as you walk the trail.
Check out the Bewitched Sculpture of Samantha the famous TV witch from the iconic show, “Bewitched”. If you have no idea what I’m talking about WATCH IT NOW! This is a perfect place to stop and take a photo.
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
This funky monster cinematic wax museum has over 60 life size monsters from your favorite horror movies. It is a great stop to enjoy viewing life like monsters in a fun unique museum perfect for a trip to Salem in October.
Historic New England’s Phillips House
This historic mansion will let you experience over 200 years of Salem history through a tour of a beautiful historic home, antique cars, and carriages. This is a great stop for the history buffs out there.
Come to the Halloween Museum and experience all things Halloween and view exhibits in ten different rooms where you can wear 3D glasses. With fun vintage halloween decor galore while also learning about Salem’s history.
Costs: Adults are 10.00 and kids are 5.00. Tickets here.
Hours: Daily from 11AM- 7PM
Charter Street Cemetery/Old Burying Point and Witch Memorial
What is more spooky than walking through a cemetery with the fall leaves crunching beneath your feet. The Charter Street Cemetery Welcome Center is now open in the 17th century Pickman House right next to the witch memorial. The cemetery is founded in 1637 and is Salem’s oldest museum.
The House of Seven Gables is famous from the novel, “The House of the Seven Gables: A Romance”. This seems so straightforward but I had only vaguely heard of this book but it is one of the famous houses in the world. So if you are like me or are a huge fan of the novel, be sure to make this stop. The House of Seven Gables is available for mansion tours and grounds tours (up to 45 min.) either led by a tour guide or (30 min.) self guided through headphones if that’s more your thing. Tickets are non refundable so be sure of your date before buying.
Cost: The Mansion tour is 25.00 for adults, 20 for seniors, and 17 for kids. The grounds pass is an additional 6-12.00 depending on when you are visiting. Tickets here.
Hours: Daily from 10 AM- 6 PM
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
The Famous Hocus Pocus movie was filmed in Salem with lots of Hocus Pocus Filming locations. Max and Dani’s House is located on 10 Ocean Avenue and looks just like it does in the movie. Be sure to snap a quick photo but be respectful as it is someone’s home.
Allison’s House is also a great stop. It is located close to the famous witch house. Allison’s house is known at the Ropes Mansion is owned by the Pea Essex Museum, you can walk through the garden which is open to the public and free. For more Hocus Pocus Locations check out this post.
There is a really neat Hocus Pocus Tour that will take you to all the 5 Hocus Pocus locations and teach you about Salem history and the film along the way.
Here are some great Salem Tours to pick tours that fit your interests from ghost tours, Salem Witch Trial tours, pirate tours, photo shoots, and so many other unique and fun tours!
If you are a fan of haunted houses you are in luck, there are a ton of Haunted Houses to visit in Salem. Check out the haunted houses in Salem to pick just the right one!
Trolley Tours (Normal and Haunted)
Salem has an adorable trolley that does an hour guided tour teaching you about Salem’s history including the witch trials as well as the maritime history and more. This is one of the best things to do in Salem MA in October.
The Red Trolley is a great way to get a lay of the land of Salem and see where all the main attractions are located while learning about them.
Night time trolley tour Tales and Tombstones Tour is available July & August and of course in October. The tour includes visiting scenes of murders, executions, ghost stories, stories of curses, haunted houses, ghost ships, haunted islands, and more spooky fun.
Book your tour today! Tickets become available in June.
Location: Essex Street Side of the National Park Service Visitors Center, 2 New Liberty Street, near the bell
In October the trolley isn’t guaranteed to be hop on or hop off because of the large number of visitors in Salem. Tickets can only be bought on the day of. Purchase tickets from the seller outside the Visitors Center.
Hours: 10 AM- 5 PM for the day tours. 6:00-8:30 PM for night tours in October (Check site for exact dates of tours)
Cost:
Day Trolley Tour: Adults 22.00, Seniors 21.00, Children 12.00
Night Haunted Tour: Adults 25.00, Children 10.00
Visit all the Salem Witch Shops
The Main area of shopping is going to be located on Essex Street, the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall. This is where most of the witch shops will be located, my favorites were Wynott’s Wands, Coven Cottage (Salem’s oldest witch shop), Crow Haven Corner are great picks for shopping in the witch shops of Salem.
Wynott’s Wands, Coven Cottage (Salem’s oldest witch shop, Crow Haven Corner are great picks for shopping in the witch shops of Salem.
Wynott’s is like walking into Hogwarts and picking out your very own wand or letting the wand choose you. A locally made wand from Salem, does it get better than that?
Coven Cottage is your spot for all your spell making needs. Or if you want some herbs, crystals, ritual tools, balms, handcrafted items, decor, and so much more. It is such a fun place to walk around and explore.
Crow Haven Corner is another great pick for a witch store, complete with crystals, spell kits, voodoo dolls, candles, jewelry, gifts, and even psychic readings.
Check out the Ultimate Witch Shop Guide to all the best witch shops in Salem including a great witch shop for kids as well as a candle shop and modern witch shop.
Events in Salem in October
If you are visiting in Salem, Massachusetts in October you will find tons of things to do in Salem MA in October and tours such as a Jack O Lantern festival, food festivals, ghost tours, haunted houses, and Halloween themed markets.
Haunted Happenings is one of the main events in Salem in October. There will be venders, live music, performances and so much more! It is located in Salem Commons every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM- 6 PM.
Halloween on the Hill is located on Long Hill which is a fun event to celebrate the fall and Halloween season. Halloween on the Hill is occurring from September 29th- October 29th from 5:30-9:30 with Sensory Friendly Hour on Fridays 4-5.
Hollowed Harvest: Wicked Labyrinth is Salem’s Jack-O-Lantern festival.
The festival goes from Thursday (5-9:00), Friday (3-10:00), Saturday (3-9:00), Sunday (3-9:00) in October. Check out their page for more information and September dates.
It is located at 1 Sewall Street, Salem, MA.
The Incredible Naumkeag Pumpkin Show
The Pumpkin show is a festival with over 1,500 Jack- O- Lanterns in the gardens, cider and hot cocoa, and enjoy all the fall festivities. Expect to spend about an hour walking around.
The Pumpkin Show runs September 29 – October 29
Wednesday – Sunday, 5-8:30pm
Early Hours 4-5pm
Tickets: 27.00 for adults and 10.00 for kids.
Enjoy a craft fair where venders will be selling handmade art, crafts, gifts, apparel, and more!
The fair will be going on October 7th, 8th from 10 am- 7 pm.
Address: N Washington Square, Salem MA
Tickets are on sale for most events starting September 11th this year.
Haunted Happenings Market Place– The Biggest Halloween Market with hundreds of venders to buy your perfect souvenir!
Haunted Happenings Grand Parade– theme is yet to be announced this year but there will be a parade going right through downtown. The parade starts at Shetland Parade and ends at Salem Common. The parade is on October 5th from 6:30-8:00.
For more events check out Salem’s Special Events page.
Tip- Follow the red line that runs through the town of Salem. This will lead you to all the must do places to visit in Salem.
Restaurants in Salem
We were recommended by locals to check out Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall and it was delicious. We had crab cakes and oysters. Although it was a bit pricey it was very fresh and delicious, money well spent.
Another pick in Salem we heard was good was the Lobster Shanty, another great choice for seafood in a coastal town in Massachusetts.
Flying Saucer Pizza Co. is a great pick for all the pizza lovers. It is a sci-fi themed pizza place with funky decor and fresh delicious pizza.
Coffee in Salem
There are so many adorable coffee shops in Salem. My top picks at Odd Meter Coffee Co, Spells Coffee Shop & Market, and Brew Box on Essex. Odd Meter has such funky decor and great coffee. Spells Coffee Shop is a great stop for delicious breakfast and coffee with a witch theme. Brew Box has such vibrant fun decor and mural with great unique coffee drinks and such good food and is located in the main shopping area on Essex street. Check out the 5 Best Coffee Shops in Salem for more information!
We hope you enjoy Salem as much as we did. We found it to be just the right amount of spooky, mysterious and maybe a little sinister as well as charming and quaint. It has an eerie vibe for sure but in the best way. There are so many spooky and wonderful things to do in Salem MA in October and you will be sure to have a witchy good time!
If you are extending your adventure to Boston, check out our complete Boston Travel Guide
Looking for other Salem Travel Guides? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Salem, Salem Coffee Shops, Witch Shops in Salem, and Best Salem Accommodations.
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