History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Come and explore the rich, mysterious history of one of New England's most loved destinations Salem, Massachusetts. This ~2 hour walking tour brings to life the true story of Salem's storied past. We are a diverse groups of historians, teachers, professional artists whose passion for Salem's history is truly engaging. You will learn about Salem's rich past as a world-class seaport, hear hauntedly chilling tales of the supernatural, visit one of the most beautiful streets in America and learn of three hundred years of architecture, and find out the truth about the 1692 Salem Witch Trials hysteria. You will leave Salem wanting to plan your next trip back! Come and see why this the *only* tour you need while in Salem.
Dog friendly! Handicap accessible!
Tours run RAIN or SHINE. We do NOT cancel for weather. No refunds for no-shows or for weather.
***Please note, we book up to 40 people per tour***
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by ticketed adult
Our Tours run rain or shine, we do not cancel for weather. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress accordingly.
By choosing to purchase a ticket, you and your ticketed guests will be agreeing to our liability waiver which includes a release of liability on our tours as well as a photo release.
Dog friendly!
Wheelchairs and scooters are welcome, however, be aware that Salem has brick sidewalks, uneven surfaces and narrow areas. Visitors assume all responsibility with wheelchairs and WCWT will not be held liable.
We do not enter any buildings or cemeteries on this tour, this is an outdoor activity only.
Tour group size may be up to 40 guests per group during busy times
There are no public restrooms on the tour route. Please plan accordingly.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all tours.
Smoking and vaping is prohibited on all tours.
Please allow at least 2 hours for this tour. Some tours run up to 2 hours and 15 minutes
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Salem Old Town Hall
All tours depart from Salem's Old Town Hall, on the three steps. A local historian guides you through the cobblestone-lined streets of this 17th century city by the glow of lantern light. Explore the driving factors behind the infamous Witch Trials Hysteria of 1692, meeting real practicing witches along the way. Learn about the rise of Salem as a world-class haunted seaport, creating some of the wealthiest families in its history.
Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
We will be strolling the cobblestoned streets of the Essex St Pedestrian walking mall. This is the very heart of Salem, which once was a Native American trading path. You will visit the site of the First Church of Salem and hear the haunting tale of the Lady in Blue.
What‘s Included
2-hour Hauntings & History Salem Walking Tour
We do not enter any buildings on this tour. This is an outdoor activity only.
See top Salem sites such as Witch Trials Memorial, Witch House, and Ropes Mansion.
Professional/Local Guide
Listen to 400 years of Salem history from a local historian
Walk the cobblestone streets of Salem's historic McIntire District
Gratuities
Options
English Version Only
English Language Only
Spanish Version Only
Spanish Language Only
Reviews
14,806 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We had a great tour and...
Eric R,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great tour and Justin was excellent! The night tour seemed like the absolute best way to go to have a good guide of the town at dark!
Spooktacular
parisg938,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful time with Lisa! Great time with good history, sights and spooky stories!
Great tour!
825janinah,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ty was a great tour guide! Very knowledgeable, fun and friendly. We learned a lot of history and spooky happenings about Salem; even things Ive never heard before. He was also very respectful of the lives lost while telling the stories which I always appreciate. And he provided umbrellas and offered to take pictures of each group in front of the most iconic stops…very thoughtful!
Yep...the crowd got it right! 5 Stars 5 circles or even brooms...this tour is great!
tidbitsmov,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shawn the Ginger was awesome! The tour was informative and we both agreed it makes us want to return to the area again and learn more. He was just a fountain of knowledge and the delivery was great. His pace and willingness to teach us as a group from children to senior citizens was remarkable. The tour covered too much to review it here, but suffice it to say that all of the 5 star reviews are well earned...I hate to be part of the crowd, but in this case the crowd is spot on. Thanks for a great experience!
Informative Tour
karenrS8884FC,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The tour was extremely interesting and the guides presentation kept me engaged. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star rating is because I was expecting it to be more about haunts based on the title.
Super informative tour
T1785PYamandal,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My group had a fantastic time! It was a perfect mix of an accurate and well researched history tour with a couple of spooky ghost stories! Our guide Aurelia was fantastic! She was knowledgeable and very funny! Would recommend!
We loved William!
Erin K,May 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We loved William! He was entertaining, informative and gave a perspective on history that was both inspiring and intelligent
We had a lovely time! We...
Alex M,May 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a lovely time! We were only able to stop in Salem for a few hours but we learned a lot from our knowledgeable and charming guide Grace.
Plenty of History, but Not Much Haunting
Corgimom828,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Our group did the nighttime offering of this tour. Our guide was enthusiastic and seemed like a knowledgable local who enjoyed sharing the stories of her town. We overall enjoyed the stops and historical information shared, but we found that it lacked much of the "haunting" side of things. There were maybe two mentions of ghosts throughout the entire two hour tour. We didn't want ghost stories to dominate the tour (which is why we chose this one over some other options), but we were expecting a little more of a balance between historical and spooky given the name and description.
Incredible Experience
961jazmynep,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great time! Dawn was amazing, very personable, gave us spooky stories along with great history about Salem. This is a must do tour! Ask for Dawn.
From US$36.00
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