4 Hours in Salem, Massachusetts

Hello, dear readers! I’m back with another short and sweet trip. This time, I flew to Boston for an extended weekend. I ended up hopping on a train and taking a mini-side trip to the witchiest city in the USA. That right! I’m sharing 4 Hours in Salem, Massachusetts.

---

4 Hours in Salem, Massachusetts

Alright, you’ve decided to go to Salem! # excitement

However, you only have 4 hours. That’s okay!

When to go

If you take anything away from this blog post, I hope it’s this, do not go during the tourist season. Which is September through mid-November. My trip was the second weekend in November and it was PACKED. It was so bad the main road was constantly congested due to pedestrians.

If you plan to visit the home of the Sanderson sisters, I recommend going in either Spring or Summer! I know Autumn is ideal, especially aesthetically. However, it’s nearly impossible to get great photos unless you get there at the crack of dawn.

If you don’t mind standing on the main street, where you can see 12 different tour groups going at once, then maybe you won’t hate being there in October. I’m 5’3 and a little claustrophobic. It was too much for me.

I thought the busy season would have been done. Boy, was I wrong!

---

How to get there

• The Commuter Train – As mentioned above, I was in Boston for the weekend and found a commuter train to Salem for $10 round trip! I couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was. Absolutely worth it, if you’re planning from Boston. Just hop on the Newburyport/Rockport Line.
• Ferry – Boston Harbor Cruises has a ferry you can hop on for $25.
• Drive – Though driving is a quick 32 minutes away, ye be warned… driving to Salem and finding parking during peak is near impossible.

---

What to do

I was surprised at how small Salem is. It’s not big at all. I was fully expecting it to look like a combination of 1692 & 1993 (based on Hocus Pocus). Alas, no, it was entirely built up with a mix of old homes throughout the last 3 centuries. Plus the addition of brand new homes, townhomes, and apartments from the past 10-15 years.

So, when you’re walking around, don’t be as surprised as I was!

See the main attractions

• The Witch House – Get there early to avoid crowds
• Salem Common – the most beautiful park with a dark history
• Ropes Mansion and Garden – Also known as Allison’s House from Hocus Pocus! A beautiful garden in the back during Spring & Summer.
• Old Town Hall – where the Halloween dance was filmed for Hocus Pocus.
• Bewitched Sculpture – donated by TV Land in 2005 of Elizabeth Montgomery.
• Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center – Free and great for kids. Also has bathrooms!
• Salem Witch Trials Memorials – very sad but interesting.
• The Burying Point – a cemetery of literally everyone who passed away during the trials.

Take a tour

There must have been 10 tours at one point during my own walk. I had considered booking a tour but I decided to pay for a tour I found through the Freedom Trail app (supported by action tour guide). I used this app when visiting Boston (more on that soon!). They happened to have a walking tour of Salem’s city and since the price was a mere $6.99, I jumped.

The tour was perfect for me because I was feeling introverted that day. I didn’t want to have to participate, wait for other people, or be on someone else’s watch. So, this tour was great and was only about 45 minutes. I stuck in my noise-canceling headphones and strolled. I love a walking tour and it felt great to be out in the fresh air while learning.

Museums

I didn’t do this because the line for the Salem Witch Museum was around the corner and down the block. Again, I really advise going during the spring. I heard it was worth it and I would have had enough time to go in if I had gone at a different time.

Here are some of the museums to consider…

• Salem Witch Museum – tickets are only sold online so book in advance!
• Peabody Essex Museum – a modern museum with American/Asian art.
• New England Pirate Museum
• Salem Wax Museum

Go shopping for witchy things and/or get your fortune told

These shops were all so clever and every single one of them felt authentically local. So, definitely support them while you’re in town. You can’t miss the main square with all the tourist shops because almost all of the tours start in the same area.

---

Final thoughts on spending 4 Hours in Salem, Massachusetts…

If you find that you are at all susceptible to negative energy, or even empathic, be aware that this spooky little town has a profound dark history. I didn’t consider before going. It felt eerie and heavy, and I felt uneasy in parts of it. Despite it being an absolutely beautiful day!

Other than that, I truly hope you have a lovely time exploring this tiny little national treasure. I would love to hear what your favorite parts of Salem are, in the comments!

Happy and safe travels! 💕

Other posts you might enjoy:

• 3 Hours in Solvang California
• 9 Reasons Traveling Alone is the Best Way To Travel
• 13 Easy Hobbies to Travel With