Salem Witch Trials, Ghosts and History Walking Tour
Description
Walk Salem's most haunted streets and uncover the devastating true story of the 1692 witch trials — told the way only a lifelong local of old Salem can tell it. Named one of the best Salem walking tours by TripAdvisor in the Top 10 Salem Walking Tours of 2026. step into 400 years of mesmerizing ghost stories and Salem history. Enjoy Hocus Pocus filming locations. Be shocked by Salem's lesser known witch trial history, and the question nobody thinks to ask: Why are there no Sheriffs in Salem anymore? Discover Salem's Revolutionary War history, maritime past, and pirate tales. Tours end with dining, shopping and exploring recommendations on request. Perfect for families, couples, day trips from Boston, solo travelers, haunted history tours, friends, bachelorette parties, bridal parties, and curious kids. Meeting point: East India Fountain, 158 Essex St, Salem MA 01970. About 75 mins. Outdoors only, no entry. See you in Salem!
Tour Options
Itinerary
The East India Fountain. This will be our meeting point! Get to know your guide, enjoy an introduction to Salem. Why is Salem known for Witch Trials? Why does the East India Fountain look so unique? What is the significance of the giant building you'll be standing in front of? This is an outdoor only stop.
What kind of people were accused of witchcraft? What was done with them? How is Saint Peter's Church tied into the Witch Trials? What happened on nearby property and why do so many people get chills and strange photos here? This is an outdoor only stop.
Did you know Salem looked very different in 1692? We will traverse a large piece of property with special Witchcraft Trial history. Today, many believe it to be haunted by an executed victim. You'll also hear a few other surprising chapters of Salem's history here...this is an outdoor only stop.
The famous Hocus Pocus stop! We discuss the movie's filming and the true history of the building. The founding of Salem and those here before the Puritans are also explored. This is an outdoor only stop.
So much history in one stop! This site is tied to the Witch Trials as well as our rich Maritime history. It's also famous for one of the most famous hauntings in Salem. This is an outdoor only stop.
A very iconic stop, great for photos! How are Salem's Witch Trials connected to the classic Bewitched TV show? What sensitive legacy does the statue have today? This is an outdoor only stop
The Witch House is the only thing left standing in modern Salem with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials! What happened here? Further explore how everything went so wrong in 1692
Marvel at Salem's historic residential neighborhood, both spooky and breathtaking!
Stroll down Historic Essex St and learn it's history - is it haunted? How old are the buildings in Salem? Better understand where the Witchcraft Trial sites are. Hear about Puritans, Pirates, Patriots and more! What is the hidden secret about Central Street? This is an outdoor only stop.
Enjoy a sumptuous mansion from Salem's maritime era and another Hocus Pocus filming stop! Who lived here? What happened to them? And why do people get strange photos in the beautiful historic garden?
The Old Burying Point. Famous as one of the oldest maintained burial sites in the country. The final resting place of several people involved in the Salem Witch trials and other significant chapters of history. What ghosts are famous for walking the grounds? This is an outdoor only stop.
How do we honor the victims of the Salem Witchcraft Trials? What is the symbolism built into it's design? This is an outside memorial, access is free and depends on the amount of people utilizing the memorial (such as October crowds).
This federalist era hall has a captivating and amusing history!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Many people take this tour with mobility scooters or wheelchairs, BUT PLEASE, keep in mind, we are an old historic city so the terrain is going to be uneven sometimes. Use your own discretion. We are very happy to have people with mobility devices on our tour! We will always accommodate you the best we can but visitors assume all responsibility and Witch City Walkabout will not be held liable.
- The tour requires walking and standing.
Reviews(34)
I had a wonderful time. April’s knowledge and passion combined with personal and generational history was key to making the experience outstanding. She wove the history of Salem and the tumultuous times of the witch trials with important legal and historical information. The tour flowed smoothly and culminated at the Memorial tying the tour together. Highly recommend!
April was our guide for this tour. She was amazing at explaining the history of Salem. I highly recommend this tour.
April was very knowledgeable and brought a ton of local history to the experience. Great pace, lots of interesting stops, you should take this tour!
Very knowledgeable. Presentation was historical with legal details. Enjoyed the facts. Highly recommend April.
April was great! Gave lots of interesting facts and history with a little bit of spooky.. 😉 100% recommend!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review — Salem, Massachusetts has a way of getting under your skin — one moment you're standing on the cobblestones of historic Witch City learning about the devastating 1692 witch trials, and the next you're wondering what's lurking in the shadows of Charter Street Cemetery. That balance of fascinating history and just the right amount of spooky is exactly what our Salem ghost tour and haunted walking tour is designed to deliver. Whether you're a serious history buff curious about the real stories behind the Salem witch trials, a ghost hunter hoping to feel something unexplained on Salem's most haunted streets, or simply someone who loves a good spine-tingling story told by someone who grew up in the shadows of this extraordinary city — our Salem haunted history tour has something to uncover for everyone. Salem's stories don't need to be exaggerated to be extraordinary — and the true history of this city is spookier than any fiction. We are so grateful for your recommendation and hope the ghost stories and witch trial history stay with you long after you've left Witch City. Come back and see us on Salem's haunted streets again soon! 🖤🧡
Our mother is a travel agent and we told her to send all her clients to this tour. Absolutely phenomenal guides!
April said she really enjoyed showing Salem to the both of you and your girlfriends! We are so grateful that your experience on our Salem walking tour was phenomenal enough to share with others. The fact that you would recommend our Salem witch trials walking tour and Salem history experience to your mother's travel clients means more to us than we can express — word of mouth from guests who truly connected with Salem's history, ghost stories, and lesser known witch trial stories is how small local tour operators like us grow and thrive in Witch City. We would absolutely love to connect with your mother directly about her travel clients visiting Salem, Massachusetts. We offer private Salem tours, custom historical experiences, and group Salem walking tours tailored specifically for travel agents and their clients — and we would be delighted to discuss how we can make every one of her clients' Salem experiences truly extraordinary. If she ever would ever like to reach out, she can find us at 781-799-4129 or witchcitywalkabout@gmail.com — we would love to build a relationship and make sure every traveler she sends to Salem has a genuinely unforgettable experience with a lifelong local of old Salem. Thank you again for recommending our Salem ghost tour and historic Salem walking tour — we hope to see you and your family back in Salem very soon! 🧡
To: April of "Witch City walkabout" Mia and I enjoyed the tour of the salem witch sites. We had read books on the witch trials and local history prior to taking your tour, therefore we came prepared to participate and ask questions. You were a wealth of knowledge. As a local who has lived in Salem for generations you were able to convey your tremendous knowledge in an engaging and fun presentation. I particularly was impressed that you studied the old English trial records after which you were able to make several corrections to errors published in various books on the subject of the Salem witch trials. I would suggest you offer a second level more indepth tour for people like us who have toured with you once before. When we return Witch City Walkabout will be our choice for a tour guide company. Best wishes. Jim and Mia Vermont
Jim and Mia — thank you so much for this extraordinarily generous review. It genuinely means the world to us. Guests like you who arrive having already read the history — Baker, Roach, Messner and others — are exactly who our Salem walking tour is designed for, and your questions and engagement made the tour richer for everyone. You've touched on something we're genuinely proud of: as a lifelong local of old Salem whose family has been part of this community for generations, the depth of knowledge we bring to our Salem witch trials walking tour goes beyond what most Salem ghost tours and history tours offer. Studying the original 1692 Court of Oyer and Terminer records and primary source documents directly — rather than relying solely on published accounts — is what allows us to share Salem's true history with accuracy and nuance that simply isn't available elsewhere in Witch City. Your suggestion for a deeper second level Salem witch trials tour for returning guests and serious history enthusiasts is one we take very seriously — watch this space. We cannot wait to welcome you back to Salem and to Witch City Walkabout for another historic Salem experience. Thank you for recommending our Salem history tour to others — reviews like yours help serious history travelers find us among the many Salem walking tours available. See you next time in Salem, Massachusetts. 🧡
It was a great time! The guide was a true local and incredibly kind, passionate, and knowledgeable. Great experience for those that love history and/or ghost stories. Highly recommend this experience!!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are so glad you had a great time exploring Salem with us. You are absolutely right that our guide is a true lifelong local of old Salem — and that passion for Salem's history, ghost stories, and lesser known witch trial stories truly comes through on every tour. Whether you love history, haunted tales, or simply want to discover the real Salem beyond the tourist surface, our Salem walking tour is designed to deliver an experience that stays with you long after you leave Witch City. We hope to welcome you back to Salem again soon — there are always more stories to uncover on the streets of one of America's most extraordinary historic cities. Thank you for recommending our Salem ghost tour and witch trials walking tour to others! 🧡
This tour was absolutely amazing! April is hands down the best guide in Salem. She made everything so engaging and easy to follow and you can tell she truly loves what she does !!I learned so many fascinating details I would’ve never discovered on my own Highly recommend
Thank you so much — this completely made our day! Salem has a way of rewarding the curious ones who stay to discover it properly. We are so glad the witch trials history, the ghost stories, and the lesser known details of this extraordinary city landed the way they did — there truly is nothing quite like walking these haunted streets and uncovering 400 years of Salem Massachusetts history in the exact locations where it all happened. We hope your travels bring you back to Salem again soon — there is always more to discover. Thank you for choosing our Salem walking tour!
April was very knowledgeable tour guide who was happy to answer all our questions! And even though there was a spooky element, she kept it light for our kids! Highlight of our trip to Salem!
Thank you so much — this made April's day! We love welcoming families on our Salem walking tours, and finding that balance between the spooky history and keeping it fun and accessible for kids is something we take real pride in. Salem's story is so rich and fascinating that there's plenty to captivate little ones without it ever feeling too scary. Knowing it was a highlight of your trip to Salem means the world to us. We hope the whole family comes back to explore more of Witch City someday! And thank you for supporting a small business!
