If you’re into all things spooky, supernatural, mystical, and magical, Salem, Massachusetts MUST be at the top of your bucket list. And when in Salem? You’ll need to book one of the best ghost tours in Salem MA.
A ghost tour is such an essential Salem activity, particularly if you’re visiting in October around Halloween. There’s perhaps no better way to get an inside look at the haunted places and goings-on in and around this historically rich, mysterious town!
Don’t have time to read the whole post? Book the History & Hauntings of Salem Tour, which has over 5,000 5-star reviews!!
I’ve visited Salem many times, so I know that no matter what time of year you visit, a Salem MA ghost tour is a must-do activity.
I’ve dont the research and put together a list of all the top Salem ghost tours 2023 has to offer.
Which of these scary tours in Salem is for you?
PS: Don’t forget to scope out some of the Hocus Pocus filming locations while in town, too, and if you’re very brave, book one of these haunted Salem hotels for your stay!
Table of Contents
My Top 3 Picks: Salem Ghost Tours
🍁 Day + nighttime tour options
🍁 2 hour tour
🍁 Led by a local historian
Salem Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
This is one of the most well-known and popular Salem Massachusetts ghost tours. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you for 1.5 hours throughout the streets of Salem to cemeteries, historical points, and homes where paranormal activity has been reported.
Starting at 8pm, this tour is chock full of creepy tales, and the storytellers just might have some spooky stories of their own to share.
“The tour guide was phenomenal!!!” -Catherine (Read more reviews)
Candlelit Ghostly Tour
| ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1+ hours | ✅ Book it!
This Candlelit Ghostly Tour is one I have personally taken and can recommend. My husband and I took the tour on a visit to Salem and it is short with some great, creepy stories and visits to cool sites.
Armed with tiny lanterns, we followed our tour guide to notable sites around the town of Salem and learned a bit of the “hidden” history. It was just the right level of spooky for me (who is a bit of a baby!)
The tour guides also show you some haunted buildings and offer tips to help you have the best chance at grabbing a ghostly photo!
The Candlelit Ghostly Tour is run by the Salem Wax Museum, and begins there.
During the busy month of October, ghost tours run daily every hour beginning at noon, and ending around 10pm. In the summer, tours are nightly at 7 pm.
Salem Ghosts: Witches Warlocks & Hauntings
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hour | ✅ Book it!
Looking for a short ghost tour in Salem that packs a punch? You’ll see up to 10 of Salem’s most famous sites on this 1-hour Salem ghost tour.
From your learn about the paranormal, dark, and deadly of sites including the Salem Athenaeum and Ropes Mansion. Lots of positive reviews for this tour; many rave that the tour guides are amazing story-tellers.
“We learned there is much more to Salem than the witch trials.” -Jeff_P (Read more reviews)
Mysteries & Murders of Salem Guided Walking Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✅ Book it!
Perhaps slightly different from your everyday spooky ghost tour, this Salem walking tour focuses on tales of death and murder. These terrifying tales can get a bit grisly, so this is an adults-only tour.
Spend around 2 hours exploring the spooky nighttime streets of Salem with your expert guide.
This tour meets at Old Town Hall in Salem, an iconic spot all its own.
“10/10 would go again!” – Cody_G (Read more reviews)
Ghosts of Salem Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
Looking for a family-friendly Salem MA ghost tour? Even kids (and pets!) can enjoy this spooky tour of Salem.
Ghost City Tours takes pride in the historical accuracy of this tour and guests are taken to haunted and historic points of Salem, including some that have been featured on popular ghostly reality shows!
One nice bonus of this tour is that you can cancel or reschedule up to 48 hours before your tour. Great for those with flexible travel plans.
Tours begin at 8pm at Old Town Hall.
Salem Night Ghost Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1 hr. 15 min | ✅ Book it!
This popular Salem ghost tour has almost 3,000 reviews on Viator, with an overall 4.5-5 star rating.
A concise 75 minute tour, reviewers claim this tour is an excellent introduction to Salem, both in terms of historical information, Witch Trials lore, and scary tales.
A professional/licensed City of Salem tour guide will lead you through the dimly lit streets of Salem during your nighttime walking tour.
This tour also states that it is wheelchair accessible.
“Definitely recommend doing this tour to get the know the infamous history.” -Maida_F(Read more reviews)
Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour in Salem
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️| ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 40-50 minutes/flexible | ✅ Book it!
Want to go at your own pace? Consider a DIY ghost tour. Although this will be a very different experience than a guided Salem ghost tour, it’s an affordable option for those on a budget or who want to wander more slowly through the town.
All you have to do is download the touring app to your phone and a pre-recorded narrator shares the history of sites as you go.
“Narration on the tour was fun and walking directions were excellent.” -Heidi_T (Read more reviews)
PS: Looking for more things to do on a budget in Salem? You can’t beat our list of free things to do in Salem MA!
Salem Voodoo Vampires and Ghosts Walking Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 1.5 hours | ✅ Book it!
Are you looking for Salem’s scariest ghost tour? This popular ghost tour of Salem has tons of high reviews! Reputed to be a ghost tour that “escapes the gimmicks” you will dive into historic Salem with your guides, who are actual historians and paranormal investigators!
Ready to hear the local legends of witchcraft, voodoo, vampires, and—of course—ghosts? This is probably the tour for you.
” My adult daughter caught an energy orb in one of her photos. We loved this tour!” – Alison_S (Read more reviews)
History & Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✅ Book it!
This is one of the top-rated and most well-loved ghost tours in Salem, Massachusetts. There’s a reason there are nearly 6,000 reviews on Viator.
Explore 400 years of fascinating history on this 2-hour experience. The longer tour time gives you the chance to really dive in to the area’s past and mysteries. Guides are frequently cited as knowledgeable and entertaining.
If you want to have fun and learn something about spooky Salem, from the Witchcraft Trials to present day supernatural phenomenon, book this tour!
“…historical facts intertwined with stories and legends that kept us interested for a full 2 hours” -Cheryl_R (Read more reviews)
Black Cat Tours Guided Walking Tour
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 75 minutes | ✅ Book it!
Voted one of the 10 best ghost tours in the USA, Black Cat Tours are always a great choice when you’re looking for a Salem ghosts tour.
With an option for a Ghostly Night Tour or an adults only extra scary late night haunted Salem tour called The Moonlight Prowl… guess it just depends on how much of a scare you’re up for!
This walking tour begins at 8pm and meets at the Bewitched statue.
“We did quite a few tours while in Salem, and it’s clear to see why this one is ranked nationally as a Top 10 Ghost Tour” -Rebecca_H (Read more reviews)
Inside the Daniels House
⭐️ RATING: #/5 Stars | 📍 LOCATION: | ✅ Book it!
If you’re looking for a Salem haunted house tour that you can actually go inside, check out the day tour Inside the 1667 Daniels House, where you get to see for yourself what the fuss is about.
You’ll enjoy coffee and tea refreshments as you learn more about this preserved 17th century mansion, which predates the Salem Witch Trials. In fact, it is one of the first 10 homes built in Salem.
It should be noted this is not a true Salem ghost tour, however, and is focused far more on history. But it still represents a great opportunity to go inside a period home.
This historical Salem home does reportedly have some haunted happenings, so consider booking a room and stay the night if you dare! Check it out in our list of the best places to stay in Salem.
“Absolutely the best tour guide ever!!” -Melissa_D (Read more reviews)
Salem’s Dark History: Witchcraft Hysteria
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 90 minutes | ✅ Book it!
In search of great haunted Salem historical tours where you leave feeling like you gained new information you hadn’t heard elsewhere? Dark History: Witchcraft Hysteria walking tour might be exactly what you’re looking for.
This 90-minute walking tour in Salem covers popular spots like Burying Point Cemetery as well as some lesser known haunted historical Salem sites.
“Our tour guide really dug deep into the history of Salem which is what I loved so much about it.” -Nicole_P (Read more reviews)
Salem Kids Slightly Spooky Tour
⭐️ RATING: #/5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: hours | ✅ Book it!
Visiting Salem with kids? This one is for the kiddos! The majority of Salem ghost tours are waaaaay too scary for most kids, but the Salem Kids Slightly Spooky Tour offers just the right amount of witchy history, lore, and ghost stories to make for a fun family-friendly tour!
This tour is recommended for kids 6 and above and brings guests to sites including the Broad Street Cemetery, the First Church in Salem, and the Ropes Mansion (one of the Hocus Pocus film sites!)
“I had a blast with my 8 year old. It was a great review of the last 400 years, not just the Salem witch trials.” -A TripAdvisor Reviewer (Read more reviews)
👻 Check Prices and Availability!
Salem: Ghosts of the Witch City Ultimate Extended Tour
⭐️ RATING: N/A | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✅ Book it!
This is a newly offered tour by US Ghost Adventures! A dramatic, 2-hour tour, this sounds like it will be a fantastic option for visitors to Salem.
Starting at 9pm at 210 Essex Street, your guide will take you through 10 historic, haunted locations, including the John Ward House, Rockafella’s, and the famous Hawthorne Hotel.
Salem: Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2 hours | ✅ Book it!
Last but not least, why not consider a not-so-typical ghost tour of Salem? This is part ghost walk part pub crawl, taking participants through 8 historic spots, including 4 haunted pubs.
While your drinks are not included, you can opt to purchase what you like along the way, and I’m sure the guides and bartenders can recommend some hair-raising cocktails.
“We learned a little about Salem’s haunted history, visited some nice pubs/restaurants and had lots of laughs.” -Reviewer (Read more reviews)
You might also like:
- 5 Most Haunted Places in Salem MA
- 17 Best Bars & Breweries in Salem MA: Where to Drink in Salem
- 10 of the Best Restaurants in Salem MA
- 11 of the Spookiest Ghost Tours in New England
- 9 Spookiest Ghost Tours in Boston
- How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Salem, Massachusetts
- Ghost Towns MA: 7 You Have to Know About
- 10 Abandoned Places in Massachusetts
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Amy Hartle is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of New England With Love, a comprehensive resource for travel in the New England region. Amy has been exploring New England since 2001. She lived in Vermont for many years and is a graduate of Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Amy has been writing about travel for over a decade. On this site, Amy aims to share her love of New England and help you to have the best possible adventures!
Amy has been a full time blogger since 2012, and is also the publisher of Two Drifters, where she writes about couples travel and relationships, as well as Let’s Adventure Baby, a family travel site. When not traveling the world or creating epic blog content, Amy can be found cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.