“The streets look charming.
The story underneath them is not.”
Salem, Massachusetts may look like a Halloween postcard, but its fame comes from something far more serious than costumes and cauldrons. In 1692, fear and suspicion turned this small New England town into the center of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, where over 200 people were accused and 25 lost their lives. This Salem Witch Trials self-guided walking tour lets you explore that history at your own pace, turning the streets, gravestones, and waterfront into a living case file.
With the audio guide in your ears and historic Salem around you, you will hear how the panic began, who was targeted, and why it spiraled so quickly. At the 1692 Memorial and nearby Charter Street Cemetery, the names and dates on stone benches and headstones ground the story in real people instead of legend. Here, figures like Bridget Bishop, Giles Corey, and Sarah Good become more than just names from a history book.
As you walk through downtown Salem, the narration points out historic sites, old meeting places, and buildings with reputations that still feel a little uneasy after dark. You will pass locations tied to old jails, court sessions, and the legacy of the trials, as well as later landmarks like the Salem Witch Museum and Hawthorne Hotel that keep the story in the public eye. Modern Salem blends witch-trial history with maritime trade, architecture, and literature, and the tour leans into all of those layers.
The route continues toward the waterfront and the House of the Seven Gables, where Nathaniel Hawthorne’s family connections and Gothic imagination helped turn Salem’s past into classic American fiction. Along the way, you will also hear about other local spots with reputations for hauntings, speakeasy secrets, and grim colonial stories that still echo through today’s restaurants and taverns.
This Salem walking tour is fully self-guided, so you decide when to linger, when to detour for a café stop, and when to circle back to a site that caught your attention. The audio simply keeps the story moving whenever you are ready.
Usual post-tour behavior
Googling more about 1692, realizing how many films and shows got the details wrong, and looking at Salem with a new mix of respect, sadness, and curiosity every time you see a witch hat in a shop window.
Hello, Bonjour, Bonjour, and Hola – Explore Salem Witch Trials in English, French, German, and Spanish!
All languages are available to you when you purchase the tour.
Looking for a restroom?
Click here for a list of all of the local restrooms.
2025 Update
- The Old Burying Point (Charter Street Cemetery) in Salem, Massachusetts, does require a free timed entry reservation. Due to its historical significance and popularity, the City of Salem implemented this system to manage crowd sizes and protect the site. You can easily reserve your entry slot online ahead of your visit. It’s recommended to book in advance, especially during busy seasons like October, when Salem experiences high visitor traffic.
Note: The NPS Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center is now open, with information and restrooms available for visitors.
Note:
Important! Do not tour at night!
- This is a daytime-only tour. Do not begin after dusk.
- Cemeteries are off-limits after dusk.
- Use crosswalks and cross only when safe to do so.
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Salem Witch Trials Map
Where To Start?
Starting Address: 5 New Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970
(The tour begins on New Liberty Street, with the Salem Armory Visitor Center on your left and a multi-story parking lot on your right. Please note that while this is the recommended starting point, we are not affiliated with the Visitor Center, the parking lot, or any of the businesses nearby. Their staff won’t have any information about this tour.)
How Does It Work?
- Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
- Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. If multiple versions or entry points are available for your tour, be sure to download all the audio guides.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux, and bring headphones on walking tours. CarPlay and Android Auto are currently not supported; we’re working toward a solution with Apple.
- To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
- The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route and speed limit for the best experience.
- Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
Audio Story Highlights
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Welcome to Salem Witch Trials
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Salem Armory: The Bell
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Salem Armory: The Arch
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Samuel Pickman House
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The 1692 Memorial
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Bridget Bishop
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Sarah Good
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Rebecca Nurse
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George Burroughs
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Giles Cory
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Old Burying Point
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The Peabody Sisters and the Grimshawe House
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Do What Is Right
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Old Town Hall
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Joshua Ward House
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Hollywood in Salem
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Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall
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St Peter's Episcopal Church
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Old Witch Gaol
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Old Salem Jail
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Martha Corey
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Howard Street Cemetery
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Roger Conant & Witch Museum
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The Girls
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Ann Pudeator
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Aftermath of the Trials
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Hawthorne Hotel
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Nathaniel Hawthorne Statue
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Bunghole
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Mercy Tavern
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Nathaniel Hawthorne's Birthplace
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The House of the Seven Gables
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
The Salem Witch Trials, also known as the Salem Witch Panic, were a series of bogus trials resulting in the conviction and execution of 20 men and women during the late 1600s. These trials were fueled by a mass panic about witchcraft in the village, despite no concrete evidence ever being presented.
The 20 victims executed as part of the Salem Witch Trials ranged in age from 30 to 77, and included 14 women and six men. Five others died in prison. One of the most famous victims was Giles Corey, who famously refused to plead guilty to witchcraft and was crushed to death via a torture method known as “pressing.”
Over 200 men and women were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Most were able to beat the accusations, but those without social influence or who had angered those in power were not so fortunate.
The Salem Witch Trials ended as abruptly as they began. When someone accused the wife of Massachusetts Governor William Phips of witchcraft, the governor himself intervened and put an end to the madness. He ordered a halt to the trials, demanded an end to the admission of so-called “spectral evidence,” and brought the nightmare to an abrupt conclusion.
The Salem Witch Trials ended in October of 1692, the same year they began. Some trials would continue, but this time under the watchful gaze of Governor Phips, and they would result in no further executions.
Official numbers put the total death toll at 25. 19 were executed, five died in jail, and one was tortured to death in an attempt to elicit a confession.
Salem is an excellent town to walk around. The town center is quite compact, having been built well before the invention of the automobile, and there’s plenty to see and do as you stroll through this historic district.
The first thing to do during any visit to Salem is to go to the cemetery where the Witch Trial victims are memorialized. After that, perhaps visit the Witch Museum, stop by one of the many cafes for a pick-me-up, and admire the historic architecture. Plus, visit important landmarks like the site of the jail where accused witches were once held. And be sure to end your day at one of Salem’s many excellent restaurants!
Five years after the trials, a day of fasting was called to honor the victims. In 1702, the trials were officially declared unlawful, and in 1711 some of the victims’ families received £600 as compensation for their suffering. But it wasn’t until 2001 that the last of the victims were finally exonerated of their supposed crimes.
Besides the Witch Trials themselves, Salem has huge historical importance as one of the earliest settlements in New England. It was incorporated in 1626 and was at one time the home of Roger Williams, who later went on to found the state of Rhode Island.
Salem’s infamous witch trials started in February 1692 and ended quite suddenly in May of the following year.
The witch trials of Salem, MA, began in February of 1692. It all started with two young girls: Abigail Williams and Betty Parris. The two children suffered from fits of screaming and convulsions. Nobody knows for sure what the reason for their behavior was; it could have been food poisoning, sleep paralysis, or any number of other psychosomatic disorders. But the pious townsfolk of Salem immediately suspected the devil was involved.
Modern historians might point to any number of medical conditions, but at the time, there was only one explanation: the girls were possessed by the devil. Nobody can say for sure, but the prevailing theory is that paranoia and mob mentality are to blame.
A trip to Salem wouldn’t be complete without taking in its haunted history. A Salem walking tour is the ideal way to experience the witch trials.
One hundred percent yes! Salem, Massachusetts, home to the infamous witch trials of the 17th century, is a spooky place to visit any time of year. But Halloween is when Salem truly comes to life!
Despite popular conception, none of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials died by fire. How did they die instead? Mostly by hanging.
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Inclusions and Exclusions
App on your phone: A link to download the Action Tour Guide App and Password for your tours.
Easy to use: Stories play automatically via GPS, hands‑free. Assistance available all day via call, chat, or email.
Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Valid for multiple visits up to 1 year after purchase.
Interactive audio stories: Experience local history and culture through clear, concise narratives from experienced narrators.
At your own pace: No group. Take breaks for photos, snacks, hikes. Go at your own pace.
Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
Don’t miss a thing: Enjoy a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated videos, text guides, and hidden gems.
Transportation, parking fees, food, and drinks.
Entry tickets or reservations for any attractions along the route.
Car Rental: Please arrange a rental car at the closest airport or train station.
