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Is Salem, Massachusetts Actually Worth Visiting?

Unlocking The Magic

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Is Salem, Massachusetts actually worth visiting?

We spent the day exploring Witch City to find out what’s actually worth seeing, eating and doing in Salem.

We visit some of Salem’s historic landmarks, including the House of the Seven Gables, check out shops and witchy attractions, try candy from America’s oldest candy company, grab coffee, pizza and cookies, and even stop by the historic Hawthorne Hotel.

But Salem is an interesting mix. There’s the very real and sometimes dark history of the Salem Witch Trials, mixed with the spooky Halloween side of the city, tourist attractions, shops and food.

So is Salem worth visiting? Is it good for kids? And what would we do, or skip, on our next trip?

Come along as we Unlock Salem, Massachusetts.

Let us know in the comments: What’s one place in Salem we missed that we HAVE to visit next time?

Chapters:
00:00 Is Salem Worth Visiting?
00:14 Exploring Historic Salem
01:44 Witch Dungeon Museum
02:14 America’s Oldest Candy Company
04:22 House of the Seven Gables
06:24 Salem’s Witchy Shops
08:40 A Magical Wand Shop
10:13 Coffee in Salem
10:44 Pizza & Food in Salem
12:00 Goodnight Fatty
13:22 Is Salem Worth It for Kids?
14:03 Salem Tourist Traps
14:46 Staying at the Hawthorne Hotel
16:04 Our Final Thoughts on Salem

20 Comments

@UnlockingTheMagic Creator 2 weeks ago Pinned

For those who've been: did Salem live up to the hype, or did you find it a bit too touristy? What was your favorite spot?

@charmedviewer6508 13 days ago (edited)

I‘m from Germany and have been to Salem twice since discovering it in 2024. It is my most favourite city ever. I want to come back annually!

@SandraP-u4e 2 weeks ago (edited)

My sister & I were visiting Boston & took the Amtrak for a day in Salem right after Hurricane Sandy scary landfall. (She spent entire time saying my name was Sandy to see if we could get free drinks or free desserts at restaurants....it never worked. Lol) We went on Halloween day & the train was packed full of adults dressed up in costumes which was fun. Definitely wished we had more time because so much to see & do. They have a great art museum right in the middle of Salem & so much historic architecture that has been lovingly maintained. You dont need a car as everything is walkable right off the train. I wished we had spent the night in Salem. My sister has passed from cancer a few years ago so revisiting Salem in this video has been bittersweet. Thanks for the memories.⭐️😂

@LaudyVisits 11 days ago

Spooky! I’ve been thinking of planning a trip to Salem over the last few weeks & here you are!

Thanks for this. I want to visit even more now!

@moonglow630 5 days ago (edited)

My birthday is 10 days before Halloween. I’m going to Salem for my fifth time this year to celebrate my b-day. Just love the city. And a couple years after going, I found out that my ancestors were one of the families that settled Salem. My ancestor’s name even appears on one of the monuments at Rebecca nurses farm. In fact, one of my ancestors married the daughter of Roger Conant, the man whose statue is next to the Witch Museum & overlooks Salem.

@jakehalljokes 13 days ago

Great video, Salem is absolutely worth vising. Its an interesting mix of history and fun. The tragedy of the Witch Trials can be learned about in many different ways and there are historic locations to visit but it has also leaned into being a Halloween town so it has become a fun place for people to express themselves and enjoy things that are usually considered strange in most places. I am from here and I have lived and traveled all over the world. I started my own tour business this year called North Shore Tours and I specialize in small group tours. The city max is 40 people per group and I find that its very difficult to move around the historical sights with that many people and I wanted to offer a more personal experience. We get a lot of travelers from the South because they enjoyed the seasonal changes and mild temperatures that they don't have in Texas and Florida. Safe travels.

@wendyplewa9205 7 days ago

Yes a tour in Salem is definitely worth it!!!

@friendlykiwi384 8 days ago

I went there in July 2025. There is definitely a vibe there and the people were lovely. Want to go back!

@AllisonFields-s7m 6 days ago

Witch Dungeon Museum is a must see for the history.

@dennisszejman6390 10 days ago

I remember getting lost with my buddy there in front of the house of seven gables back in the 90s. We spent a bit too much time in the Witches brew cafe that day. 😊

@canaldeautoayuda6089 9 days ago

There is a very strong sense of time and place like nothing I have seen anywhere else . Meaning it feels the town has been around for centuries😉😉😉 And it is spooky 😂😂😂 which is perfect for Halloween .

@michaelreeney81 2 weeks ago

Yes, it is worth visiting.

@MarleyHartley 7 days ago

You got me bought! It's a dream for me to experience that magic one day, I hope to see in the future travel from Canada to the States will float back down. Would love to see with my partner.

@isaiahmcclure8894 6 days ago

This was my first time watching one of your videos and I love the sense of humor. It matches mine a lot! I loved the

“does it taste like….*lists all the
ingredients”

And then again when your husband pointed to the old historical guy saying

“Age 27” 😂😂

@darceyborden2084 10 days ago

Yes its so worth the visit!

@allyip5777 9 days ago

I grew up around Boston and Salem is my favorite town in the state of Massachusetts. I say it’s tourist friendly, and not too touristy like Santa Fe, New Mexico.