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(Updated July 2025)
Salem is a city located on the north shore of Massachusetts, in New England, and is most famous for the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. However, the trials lasted for less than a year and over 400 years ago. Not to diminish the horrors, importance and significance of this time, but there is so much more to Salem than the witch trials! Taking a ride with the Salem Trolley Tour means you get to learn about all the fascinating things that have occurred in this part of New England!
When to visit Salem
Undoubtedly, your first instinct will be to want to visit the city in October, and it will be a fascinating time to go, with lots going on in the city. But, it will also be SUPER crowded, making hotels expensive and finding places to park and eat tricky. Instead, consider visiting off-season. Or, if you still want the fall vibes, consider the shoulder month of September. No matter what time of year you visit, Salem Trolley Tours will be the perfect way to see the best of the city, ensuring you have a fab trip.
Salem is perfect for a long weekend or short break, as it is small but packed with things to do. It’s walkable, so start with a Salem Trolley Tour and work out the places you want to return to.
You can also include Salem as a stop on a larger New England road trip – I highly recommend Kennebunkport, Maine and Vermont, with Salem being a final stop before flying home from Boston.
How to get to Salem
If you are coming from Boston, there are numerous ways to arrive:
- By car, although driving in Boston might be something you want to avoid. There are multi-storey car parks in Salem which are easy to navigate. It would be advised to get there early, particularly on weekends, as they do get very busy. Located right next to the National Park Service Visitor Centre is a car park. Handily, this is where the Salem Trolley Tour starts.
- You can catch a bus, which takes approximately an hour.
- Alternatively, there are ferries from the city. Which, while exciting, is also a tad expensive.
- The final option from Boston is the train, which leaves from Boston North Station to Salem on the Rockport line. A standard ticket costs around $8.
Salem Trolley Tour
If you are limited on time in Salem, this is a fantastic way to see much of the city. It has 14 places of interest along the way, each shows one of the highlights of the city.
The Salem Trolley tour starts and ends at the National Park Visitor Centre. Tickets are available to buy at this location. Tickets are only available in person on the day of the tour.
How long does the Salem Trolley Tour take?
The tour takes one hour. Tours are run daily from April through to October, with the last tour leaving the visitor centre at 4 pm. The first tour leaves at 10 am, so get there early to make sure you can make a full day of it.
What information will the Salem Trolley Tour give?
Each trolley has a very knowledgeable guide on board to give you all the information you might need as you make your way through the city. Skip was the guide on the Salem trolley tour I took, and despite the on-board PA system not working and traffic jams we encountered, he worked so hard to keep us informed for the entire tour. Plus – such a sweetheart!
Where does the tour visit?
There are 14 places of interest along the 8-mile route, each showcasing a different part of Salem’s history. These include the Witch Trial Memorial, Salem Maritime Site, the House of the Seven Gables, Philips House, Hamilton Hall and Chestnut Street. Just to name a few!
You learn so many interesting facts about Salem along the way. Such as seeing the oldest sweet shop in Salem, the building that now sits on the wharf, which was moved there after being purchased for $1! And the site of the original monopoly factory.
How much does a Salem Trolley Tour cost?
Tickets for adults are $25 and seniors (60+) are $24. There are also tickets available for children (6-14) at $15, and children 5 and under are free (when accompanied by an Adult).
After the tour ends, make sure to go back and visit the bits that interested you most! And, as you will soon discover, there is so much more to Salem than a single year’s worth of history. Despite what tourism might say!
Blogger transparency: I was offered my tour on the Salem Trolley tour with compliments but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
Useful travel tools and links
To help you plan your trip, here are some of my favourite useful travel tools and links I use on a daily basis to travel:
- Hostelworld: The place to book hostels and cheaper accommodation. Perfect for backpacking trips. With 24 hour cancellation options, and easy to manage from your account.
- Booking.com: One of the largest places to search for hotels around the world. Often with free cancellation options.
- Hotels.com: Also a fantastic place to source hotels, and they offer a loyalty programme.
- Expedia: Another option for hotels as well as a great place to search for flights, car hire and more.
- Skyscanner: The best place to search for flights to find the best rates.
- GetYourGuide: Easy access to book a wide range of curated tours, activities, and experiences around the world.
- Viator: A great place to search for group tours and day trips. Part of the TripAdvisor brand.
- KnowRoaming: eSIMs are a game changer for travel. Purchase before you go and be connected as soon as you land. KnowRoaming eSIM plans keep you and your devices seamlessly connected in 200+ international destinations.
- G Adventures: The ‘go to’ for all group travel tour adventures. Perfect for solo travellers.
- Amazon: Link to my storefront with ALL the useful gadgets and items I couldn’t travel without.
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