As a local, there are 9 things I wish tourists knew before visiting Salem, Massachusetts

The first clip I knowledgeable Salem, Massachusetts, complete 15 years ago, I came arsenic a tourist. The 45,000-person municipality became truthful adjacent and beloved to maine that I ne'er stopped returning. 

It didn't return agelong for my hubby to fall successful emotion pinch Salem arsenic well, truthful we decided to get a Witch City reside of our ain successful 2021.

The town, champion known arsenic the backdrop of the 1692 witch trials, draws a immense influx of visitors each October, erstwhile it hosts its yearly monthlong Haunted Happenings Festival. 

As a Salem resident, I spot galore newcomers get fresh to dive into witchcraft and research the historic streets without doing due research.

Here's what I deliberation visitors should cognize earlier coming to Salem during the busiest clip of year.

Hotels and activities waste retired months successful advance, truthful book your itinerary arsenic early arsenic possible

Haunting Happenings Festival is 1 of the largest Halloween celebrations successful the world, making October the busiest clip successful Salem. Sometimes, complete 100,000 group flood the streets connected a azygous day.

Given the size of the crowds, this is not the champion clip to whip retired the aged broomstick and alert successful connected a whim. If you person a database of things you'd for illustration to do and spot during your visit, you must scheme measurement ahead. 

Most ticketed attractions, tours, and events waste retired months successful advance, agelong earlier October begins.

Hotels tin besides get wholly booked a twelvemonth successful advance, truthful you whitethorn request to enactment a fewer towns complete aliases look into alternate, pricey rentals if you're planning a last-minute trip.

The upwind tin beryllium unpredictable successful October, truthful expect the unexpected and battalion layers

Visitors often inquire what to battalion for a travel to Salem successful October, but Massachusetts' upwind tin beryllium very unpredictable successful the fall.

Don't beryllium put disconnected by the extended forecast. The somesthesia tin beryllium 74 degrees Fahrenheit 1 time and 47 degrees Fahrenheit the next. We've had immoderate Octobers pinch beach-worthy days and others pinch snowstorms.

Nothing is impossible, but Salem is gorgeous successful immoderate weather, particularly successful October.

Pack your chicest witchy attire, autumn flannels, fun costumes, layers, and umbrellas. If you hide an item, don't interest — location are plentifulness of places to shop successful town.

Wear the correct footwear for navigating cobblestone streets

You'll beryllium stepping a batch connected Salem's beautiful ceramic and cobblestone streets, truthful sloppy of the forecast, the astir important point to retrieve is comfortable footwear.

Your shoes person the imaginable to make aliases break your acquisition (and your ankles).

Respect section guides who activity difficult to stock Salem's history pinch outsiders

Salem has a rich | and devastating history, pinch its main declare to fame being the witch tests hundreds of years ago. In my opinion, the champion measurement to study arsenic overmuch arsenic you tin successful 1 sojourn is to return a stepping tour.

Sign up for a circuit from a reputable, Salem-based company. We person truthful galore knowledgeable circuit guides successful municipality who person chosen to study and stock a wealthiness of accusation pinch visitors.

Please beryllium respectful toward them and our beloved city. Remember to extremity and don't show up drunk aliases clang a circuit connected the streets.

It's already difficult capable for guides to navigate done the herds of group pinch a ample group pursuing them, truthful don't make it immoderate much difficult for them aliases the group engaged and listening.

Avoid driving into Salem unless you already person a guaranteed spot to time off your car

It's astir intolerable to find unfastened parking this clip of year, truthful I propose you debar driving present unless you person already secured a spot for your vehicle.

Salem is an aged city, and astir of the streets weren't built to accommodate immoderate automobiles astatine all. The downtown territory has very constricted metered spots, garages, and lots, and immoderate that are disposable get claimed very early each October morning. 

If you do determine to drive, beryllium alert that bumper-to-bumper October postulation tin move a elemental travel to the shop into an hourslong ordeal.

Instead of circling astir for a spot and wasting your precious clip successful Witch City, look into replacement transportation. You tin usage rideshare apps aliases return the bus, train, aliases ferry into town.

Also, don't disregard the parking signs each complete the metropolis noting areas reserved for residents. You tin (and will) get ticketed and towed.

Street performers are moving professionals, truthful extremity them if you for illustration what you see

In downtown Salem, particularly during the fall, you'll travel crossed buskers dressed successful astonishing costumes who airs for photos pinch tourists.

Many of the performers person different full-time jobs and activity agelong play days to support themselves and their loved ones — each while making america smile.

They supply an astonishing work to Salem, truthful don't skip the extremity jars. If you don't transportation cash, you tin find astir of them connected Venmo.

Support the section businesses while you're present

Many of the stores and businesses located downtown are locally owned, and 1 of my favourite parts of living successful Salem has been building relationships pinch business owners and their staff. 

Go into arsenic galore arsenic you tin while you're here. You whitethorn person to guidelines successful statement to participate for a bit, arsenic immoderate of the stores are small, but they're worthy the wait. 

Within the stores are pieces of Salem's magic that you tin return location — and you person the chance to support our section system arsenic you do it.

Respect the locals and their spot

Some visitors dainty Salem for illustration a movie set, but group unrecorded present year-round. Many homes you spot are occupied by existent humans. Please beryllium respectful of their property. 

The pumpkins successful beforehand of homes aren't up for grabs, and backstage patios aren't for your sitting pleasure. I besides erstwhile learned astir a visitant who entered a Salem resident's hallway to airs for photos … please don't do that.

Instead, locomotion extracurricular of the downtown area and into immoderate breathtaking broadside streets, stepping done crunchy leaves the full way.

Some of the astir gorgeous homes I've seen seldom person galore group nearby. So, return a break from the crowds and soak successful Salem's architecture from a respectful distance.

Do your champion to stay calm and benignant done the crowds and agelong hold times

You're going to request patience if you determine to brave the October crowds.

So, get comfortable waiting for your move to participate a section shop aliases commencement a tour. Put your sanction successful astatine your edifice of choice, spell locomotion around, and travel backmost erstwhile it's your turn. It's not uncommon to hold an hr aliases 2 for a array during highest luncheon and meal times. (Luckily, immoderate section eateries person online systems that fto you cheque the lines from your telephone while you wander.)

Remember that we're not a seasonal amusement park. We're a mini metropolis wherever group unrecorded year-round.

Please beryllium benignant to those astir you, person fun, beryllium safe, show our metropolis respect, and astir of all, beryllium patient.

This communicative was astir precocious updated connected September 15, 2026.