How to Visit Salem, MA in October
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What is the first location you think of when you hear October, Halloween, Fall, history, and Hocus Pocus? Salem, Massachusetts of course! If you are fond of all these things and the famous Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus, then you will love this small New England town, which was also the main filming location. Read below for my itinerary and tips on how to visit during the most popular time of year, and when to start planning your trip. It’s much earlier than you think.
Summary
Hotel Recommendations
Parking
Things to Do & Map
Where to Eat
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
Hotel Recommendations
I don’t usually start my travel itineraries with hotels right off the bat, however, in this case, this task is important to do well in advance. Hotels in Salem sell out for the month of October months beforehand.
Where to Stay in Salem
Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites
225 Derby St, Salem, 01970, MA
This hotel is in an excellent location near Salem city center. It is along the waterfront and a short walk from many restaurants and the main pedestrian walking street on Essex. Great choice if you want a more modern hotel.
The Hotel Salem
209 Essex Street, Salem, 01970, MA
Hotel Salem is right in the heart of Salem downtown. The front door walks right out onto the pedestrian street on Essex and features the only rooftop bar in Salem. This hotel is also newer and features stylish mid-century modern décor.
The Salem Inn
7 Summer St, Salem, 01970, MA
The Salem Inn is a great hotel with lots of charm. It is within walking distance of Essex Street and many other attractions. I stayed here the first time I ever visited and I swear some haunted things happened during my time there. They personally claim room 17 as the ‘the Haunted Room.’
The Merchant
148 Washington Street, Salem, 01970, MA
Fun fact! George Washington once slept here! The Merchant is the perfect hotel if you prefer one with lots of history.
Is this hotel also haunted? The hotel personally commented on this. The Joshua Ward House (The Merchant) “…was where Sheriff George Corwin lived and maintained his jail in the 1680s. It was Corwin’s self-appointed duty to interrogate anyone suspected of witchcraft, as well as carry out the accused’s death sentence. For this reason, our building has a reputation of its own for ghosts and mystery — even in a town full of intrigue and hauntings. Local legend has it that perhaps the spirits of a few innocent victims of Sheriff Corwin still roam our halls.” Spooky? Go stay there and find out!
Where to Stay Outside of Salem
HYATT House Boston/Waltham
54 4th Ave, Waltham, 02451, MA
Personally, I have stayed here one October when I couldn’t find one within Salem. It is about 35 minutes away from Salem city center and using an Uber wasn’t terrible. I was with a larger group and their suites are very accommodating at a great price.
Parking
Parking can be really tough this time of year. Many streets even get shut down to accommodate the large influx of people. If you didn’t snag a hotel in the center of town, you’ll want to get in early to beat the crowds. The closer you are to the walking portion of Essex Street, the better, but all of the downtown attractions are within a 10-15 minute walk from any parking area. My favorite is the parking lot and garage on Church Street. You will find that below highlighted as dark purple and dark green. If you are having trouble finding a spot in this area, I would next recommend checking out the Waterfront Garage on the corner of Derby Street and Congress Street. This garage is highlighted in red on the map below.
Note: During October, most on-street non-metered parking is enforced as resident only. Steer clear to avoid fines and being towed.
Credit https://www.salem.org/travel-info/parking/
Things to Do
Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
The heart of Salem downtown! This pedestrian only walkway is filled with small shops, museums, galleries, restaurants, and a CVS if you need one. There’s even a haunted house! This is a great place to start, even if you just go for a walk to check out the area and hold off on shopping for later.
Image Source: newengland.com
Peabody Essex Museum
While walking along Essex’s pedestrian street, you won’t be able to miss the Peabody Essex Museum. Founded in 1799, it is the country’s oldest continuously operating museum. It is also one of the largest and fastest growing.
For more information on current exhibits and tickets visit here.
Salem Common and Salem Witch Museum
Sitting across the street from each other are the Salem Witch Museum and Salem Common. The Salem Common is a beautiful green space surrounded by stately Federal-style homes that date back to the 1700s. Many events are held here, especially in October. Right across the street, you’ll find the Witch Museum. This museum gives you a quick, but thorough walk through of the events during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 using life-size state sets and walk through exhibits. I highly recommend this museum to anyone visiting. It is a great learning experience for children before visiting the rest of the city and definitely a refresher for adults with many facts you haven’t heard since school.
Tip: Make sure you grab a ticket. They usually go on sale for the day starting at midnight and sell out quickly.
Also, the Salem Common is actually one of the filming locations for the movie Hocus Pocus! (More on that below.)
Image Source: salemwitchmuseum.com
Salem Maritime National Historic Site & Wharf Street
If you found yourself parking at the Waterfront Garage or staying at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, then you’re already in the area! Wharf Street is a small, looped road lined with shops and plenty of places to find great seafood.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site is America’s first national historic site and was established on March 17, 1938. The area stretches over nine acres of land and preserves over 600 years of New England’s maritime history and global connections. Within the area, there are two historic houses you have to visit. The House of the Seven Gables, a restored mansion and garden from 1668 that inspired Nathanial Hawthorne to write his novel of the same name, and Salem Custom House, a historic landmark from 1815.
Liberty Street
So much history and so many things to do on such a small street! During the month of October, there are usually combination tickets you can buy on site for the Wax Museum and the Witch Village along with two haunted houses. I have never had a problem purchasing these tickets the day of. This street is usually extremely crowded.
Salem Wax Museum and Salem Witch Village – Click here for information and prices.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial – A small memorial that consists of 20 granite benches inscribed with the names of the accused along with how and when they were executed.
The Buying Point – A historic graveyard that was founded in 1637. It is the burial ground of many important people from the Witch Trials of the 1690s and the Revolutionary war, a Mayflower passenger, and architect Samuel McIntire. Extremely interesting to walk through and look at the old headstones.
Image Source: salemwaxmuseum.com
Chestnut Street
If you have some extra time, take a walk down beautiful Chestnut Street that sits within the McIntire Historic District. This was actually the first planned street in America and showcases four centuries of architectural styles ranging from the mid-17th century through the early 20th century. As you stroll down make sure to check out the house plaques and learn about the people who built and lived in these beautiful Federal style mansions. Have some more time? The McIntire Historic District also consists of Broad, Essex, Federal, and the connecting streets.
Image Source: pem.org
Ropes Mansion and Garden
318 Essex Street
Just a block from the historic Chestnut Street you will find the Ropes Mansion Garden. Come and enjoy the vibrant garden, which is free to the public, and make sure to also take a peek inside. The mansion was built in 1727 and was renovated from its original Georgian style to a Colonial Revival style in 1894 and was home to three generations of the Ropes Family. The Ropes Mansion is a part of the Peabody Essex Museum.
The Ropes Mansion is also a filming location for the movie Hocus Pocus!
The Witch House
Just a few doors down from the Ropes Mansion is the Jonathan Corwin House, also known as The Witch House. This was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and is the only structure you can visit in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692. Both guided and self-guided tours are available.
Salem Heritage Trail
While you’re walking throughout the area you may notice a red line painted on the sidewalk. This line is the Salem Heritage Trail, and it will help you navigate your way through Salem and American history by connecting all of Salem’s main sites.
Read about the Salem Heritage Trail here.
Image Source: salem.org
Where to Eat
Ugly Mug Diner – “Hopping daytime cafe dispensing inventive American diner fare & specialty drinks in buzzy surrounds.”
Brothers Taverna – “Casual American eatery with a huge menu of breakfast platters, sandwiches, wraps & seafood.”
Rockafellas – “Upbeat restaurant & bar providing modern American cuisine & live entertainment in a historic building.”
Finz Seafood and Grill – “Upscale-casual seafood, steak & cocktail destination situated on the harbor with deck & ocean views.”
Goodnight Fatty – Cookies, dessert, and breakfast “chubbies”. Menu changes weekly!
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
Many know and have seen the 1993 Hocus Pocus movie. Even me and I’m completely the opposite of a movie buff! Its popularity has made visiting its filming locations in Salem and the surrounding areas one of the top things to do. I compiled below a list of locations to visit and how to find them. Looking for an already planned trip? Visit my self-guided tour here!
Image Source: Disney “Hocus Pocus” 1993
Filming Locations Map
Halloween Party / Old Town Hall
161 Essex Street, Salem, MA
After spending time hanging out in Downtown Salem I bet you didn’t even realize that you visited one of the filming locations! Sitting in the middle of Essex’s walking street is the Old Town Hall. Here is where the scenes for the Halloween Party were filmed and Bette Midler’s performance of “I Put a Spell on You”. It is also one of the oldest surviving municipal buildings in the city dating back to 1816-1817. Now, the building still functions as a public hall along with being a space for other local events. It also doubles as the Salem Museum. Make sure to visit this super easy stop while shopping on Essex Street!
Salem Common
N Washington Square, Salem, MA
Salem Common is not only a pretty and quiet place to relax but there were also a bunch of scenes filmed here. One of them is the initial flirting scene between Allison and Max. Even more exciting, Salem plans a showing of the movie here every year! Click here to find the next planned event. Just look for Salem Common Family Movie Night on the calendar.
Salem Village / Pioneer Village
98 West Avenue, Salem, MA
The opening scenes of the film take place in the 1600s and feature Thackery Binx as a human, prior to his curse to live as a cat, were filmed in Pioneer Village, a living history museum located at Salem’s Forest River Park. Pioneer Village was built in 1930 and is America’s first living history museum, and is a reconstruction of what the village may have originally looked like centuries ago.
Max and Dani Dennison's House
4 Ocean Avenue, Salem, MA
Max and Dani’s residence in the movie is exactly how you would picture a New England house. There are a couple of iconic scenes showcasing the house and when you come to visit you’ll feel like you’re in the movie! However, keep in mind, this is a private residence and not a movie set. You can stop by and admire the outside but please be respectful. Take your photos from across the street while enjoying the waterfront and park in safe areas. Surrounding streets may be closed to non-residents during October. Expect to walk 5-10 minutes to the house.
Max and Allison’s School / Phillips Elementary School on Salem Common
86 Essex Street, Salem, MA
Phillips Elementary School, or Jacob Baily High School/prison for children as known in the movie, actually stopped functioning as a school in 1992, conveniently in time for the filming of the movie. The inside of the building, which is now a condo complex, is not open to the public but the exterior can be seen from the common. The exterior of the school is immediately recognizable, including the tower, or “chimney” which is a large part of the scene that was filmed here.
Allison’s House / The Ropes Mansion
318 Essex Street, Salem, MA
The Ropes Mansion is a gorgeous historic home in the heart of Salem, MA, and a part of the Peabody Essex Museum. It also happens to be Allison’s home in the movie! You can see the first shot of this house in the film as Max and Dani go trick-or-treating and find out that Allison happens to live here. The Ropes Mansion is a beautiful place to visit and even has a great garden to walk around in outside that is open to the public.
Cemetery / Old Burial Hill
Orne Street, Marblehead, MA
Early on in the film, Max rides his bike through a cemetery and meets his new, not so much, friends and is given the nickname “Hollywood.” This scene was not actually shot in Salem but in a neighboring town called Marblehead. The cemetery is called Old Burial Hill and is one of New England’s oldest cemeteries, some graves dating back to the 17th century. It is actually a beautiful area with impressive views of the ocean and surrounding homes. Take some time to wander around and see what old dates you can make out in the headstones.
Note: There is street parking along the street below Old Burial Hill. Make sure to park in a safe location not blocking traffic or any of the homes in the area.
October in Salem is a magical time of year and something fans of everything Halloween should do at least once. If the crowds just aren’t your thing, anytime to her time of year is still great, and I would highly recommend still visiting. Most stores and attractions are open all year long, minus the crazy long lines. Enjoy and have the best time ever!
Hi, I’m Karen!Travel Blogger & Photographer + Founder of The Everyday Adventure
Here I share travel tips, packing guides, planning help, and photography from many different parts of the world. I help other working 9-5 adventurers get out into the world and see as much as they can with the little time they have available.
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