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Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour

124 Reviews 4.50 out of 5 stars Based on 124 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Salem, USA
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from $30 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Maritime History
Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour Image 2
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour Image 4
Custom House 1819
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 14 (4.89) days in advance.
1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

The witch trials made Salem infamous, but there’s so much more. Explore Salem’s critical role in the American Revolution, how it led the great Age of Sail, and all about the many important and famous people who’ve called Salem home. Experience as much of Salem's history as possible in our 90 minute tour. We'll discuss a little bit of everything, including the 1692 Witchcraft Trials, the Great Age of Sail, revolutionary history, inventors, famous visitors, TV & Movies shot here and more.The United States just wouldn’t be the same without Salem.

What's Included

  • 90 minute Historic Salem Walking Tour
  • Hear tales of Maritime and Revolutionary significance.
  • We visit locations that have compelling history unknown to many locals
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
  • No food and drink offered, but snacks available for purchase
See 2 moreSee 3 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

8 Central Street
Salem, MA 01970, USA

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Salem
MA, USA

Return Location: Returns to downtown Salem area. Tour Guide can help direct you to where you want to go.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Salem Historical Tours & Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour

Discover why Salem is the true birthplace of the United States of America with the best history tour in the city. Explore over four centuries of Salem’s remarkable history from its illustrious founding in 1626, to its place as a thriving 21st Century city. The witch trials made Salem infamous, but there’s so much more. Explore Salem’s critical role in the American Revolution, how it led the great Age of Sail, and all about the many important and famous people who’ve called Salem home. The United States just wouldn’t be the same without Salem. The guide will go to as many locations as possible.
Read more

5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Red's Sandwich Shop

Salem has plenty of revolutionary history. You'll visit the location where local revolutionaries met to discuss plans for a potential war with England.
Read more

5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Old Burying Point Cemetery

Visit the oldest cemetery in Salem and one of the oldest in the country. Dating back to 1637, the cemetery is the resting place of many of the Puritans, including judges John Hathorne and Bartholomew Gedney, Nathaniel Mather, Samuel McIntire, Simon Forrester, Richard Derby and more
Read more

10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Salem Witch Trials Memorial

Visit the Salem Witchcraft Trials memorial dedicated to the 20 people executed during the hysteria in 1692. THe memorial has a bench for each person that includes name, date of execution and form of execution. The memorial has a lot of symbolism.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall

Lyceum Hall, home to Turner's Seafood, has significance to the witchcraft trials and additional history. Bridget Bishop, the first woman executed for witchcraft in 1692, lived on the grounds. In 1877, Alexander Graham Bell performed the first public demonstration of the telephone here.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Salem Old Town Hall

We will discuss Salem's incredible maritime history that began right after the American Revolution. From 1790-1812, Salem was the richest port in the country. Elias Haskett Derby became America's first millionaire in 1793. Portions of Hocus Pocus were filmed at the site as well. And Harry Houdini was put in the jail across the street. He wasn't under arrest, but the police chief wanted to see if Harry could break out of the new jail cell.
Read more

10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

The Merchant

Hear a story about George Corwin, the high sheriff of the 1692 Witchcraft Trials, who lived on the grounds where the building now sits. In addition, George Washington visited Salem and stayed in a room in the hotel that is today called the Washington Room. And Amelia Earhart taught English in the Salem Commercial School just one block away.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Rockafellas Restaurant

Rockafellas is in a building that was the fourth location of the first church. The second location was there too. In addition, the Town House Square building was on that spot and that has revolutionary history. Massachusetts was basically declared a state on those grounds. A local congress of representatives met there before going to Ipswich, Concord and finally the continental congress in Philadelphia.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Bewitched Sculpture

Samantha Stevens of the TV Show Bewitched is in Lappin Park. A handful of episodes of the show were shot here in Salem. The best part is that her statue sits on land that was owned by the hanging Judge John Hathorne. How ironic that a witch sits on his former property.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Salem YMCA

Before the YMCA was here, Mrs. Brown had a home here with a famous border. That was Alexander Graham Bell. He lived at the home, educated her grandson and then would take the train to Boston to teach at Boston University. He also had an attic laboratory where he worked on the telephone.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

The Witch House at Salem

The Witch House is the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. It was built in the 1660s and Corwin bought it in 1675. No witches lived here but it is the last home in Salem with direct ties to the 1692 Witchcraft Trials.
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5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Wesley United Methodist Church

Leslie's Retreat happened here at the North Bridge as 140 redcoats led by Colonel Leslie tried to cross the river to take weapons and cannons on the other side. Several colonists stopped them by pulling up the draw bridge. No shots were fired, but the British left empty handed. This preceded Lexington and Concord by two months.
Read more

5 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Show 11 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-40866P23

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.50
124 reviews

Average 4.50 out of 5 stars based on 124 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
95
4 stars
13
3 stars
5
2 stars
5
1 star
6
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 14 (4.89) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • 90 minute Historic Salem Walking Tour.
  • Hear tales of Maritime and Revolutionary significance.
  • We visit locations that have compelling history unknown to many locals.
  • Local and Professional Guide.
  • Guide uses an amplifier so everyone can hear the Salem History.
The following is NOT included:
  • Gratuities.
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off.
  • No food and drink offered, but snacks available for purchase.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour is as follows:

  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Best Historic Overview of Salem Walking Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • 90 minute Historic Salem Walking Tour
  • Hear tales of Maritime and Revolutionary significance.
  • We visit locations that have compelling history unknown to many locals
  • Local and Professional Guide
  • Guide uses an amplifier so everyone can hear the Salem History
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
  • No food and drink offered, but snacks available for purchase

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • 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

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