Salem's Witch Trials on Foot, Ghost Stories on the Side
Downtown Salem and the McIntire District's mansions on foot, with 1692 as the thread and Hocus Pocus filming stops along the way.
This is a history walk with some ghost stories in it, in that order. The listing describes it as "a historical tour enriched with some beloved ghost stories," and the 2026 reviews read the same way. One guest wrote in August that it "focused on the area's history, with just a sprinkle of ghost and Hocus Pocus stories."
Come for what happened in 1692 and where it happened; the ghost stories are the seasoning. The booking page puts it at 120 to 135 minutes over about two miles, outdoors the whole way. It ends at the memorial to the trials' victims on Liberty Street, not back at the fountain where it starts.
The calendar runs year-round, with start times from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM plus an 8:30 AM walk the operator offers in October only. As of October 22, 2026, Tuesday through Thursday walks cost less than Friday through Monday ones, and children 5 and under go free. Every booking needs at least one adult.
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Salem Witch Trials, Ghosts and History Walking TourA guided walk of about two hours by Witch City Walkabout, in English, from the East India Fountain on Essex Street to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial on Liberty Street. Outdoors only; no building entry included.www.viator.comWhat Is Left of 1692, Seen From the Sidewalk
Not much of the trials' Salem still stands, and the reviews say so. A guest in July 2026 put it plainly: "most of the witch trials sites were torn down long ago," adding that the guide "made up for the missing buildings."
The walk works from what remains. It stops at St. Peter's Church, which the listing ties to the trials, and at The Witch House, which the listing calls the only thing left standing in modern Salem with direct ties to the trials. It stops at the Old Burying Point, where the listing says several people involved in the trials are buried, and it ends at the Salem Witch Trials Memorial on Liberty Street.
Every stop is outdoors, and entry to The Witch House or any other building is not part of the booking.
The Old Burying Point keeps its own hours. Its welcome center says that in October the cemetery closes at 5 PM, and going in on your own takes a free reservation for the same day; it adds that anyone who charges you to enter is not affiliated with the City of Salem. Salem's rules for licensed guides also bar tours inside a public cemetery after dusk, which matters if you book the 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM walk.
Hocus Pocus, Bewitched and the Ghost Stories
The screen stops come in around the history. Old Town Hall is what the listing calls "the famous Hocus Pocus stop," covered alongside the building's real history. The Ropes Mansion is a second Hocus Pocus filming stop, with a story about the strange photos people take in its garden. The Peabody Essex Museum says only the outside of its Ropes Mansion appears in the film. It lists the garden as free and open to the public every day from dawn to dusk, and the house as closed for the season, with tours resuming in May 2027. The Bewitched statue of Elizabeth Montgomery is on the route too.
The ghost stories attach to places: a property the listing says many believe is haunted by an executed victim, and the ghosts said to walk the Old Burying Point. The listing also promises Revolutionary War, maritime and pirate tales, plus a stretch through the historic homes of the McIntire District.
Families who brought children aged 10 to 14 wrote that the kids enjoyed it, and one parent wrote that the guide "kept it light" for the children.
Two Miles, Mostly Standing, No Restroom Stop
The listing marks the walk as suitable for all fitness levels, but its own health note is stricter. You need to cover about two miles in around two hours at a walking pace, on foot or with your own mobility device, over brick and cobblestone. Most stops have no seating, so you stand for one to several minutes at each. The operator says it cannot slow the pace much or add rest stops.
There is no bathroom break in those two hours, so use one before you reach the fountain.
The operator welcomes guests on their own scooters and in their own wheelchairs and says many take the walk that way. It also warns that the old city's terrain is uneven in places, and it provides no mobility devices. The walk runs rain or shine, so dress for that day's Salem weather.
Getting to the Fountain on Time
The walk starts at the East India Fountain, 158 Essex Street, the fountain between The Village Tavern and the Peabody Essex Museum. Tours leave on time and cannot wait for late guests. If you are running behind, the operator's advice is to check the itinerary's next stops and catch the group there.
For October, the operator's own visitor guide strongly recommends the train over driving. It says the MBTA Commuter Rail runs from Boston's North Station to Salem in about 30 minutes, and warns that on some October days drivers cannot find parking for an hour or more. The same guide says Tuesday through Thursday tend to be calmer. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early either way.
📍 Start: East India Fountain, 158 Essex Street. Finish: Salem Witch Trials Memorial, 24 Liberty Street.
- Narration is in English only.
- Tips are not included.
- Date and time changes go through the booking site, not the operator.
- Bring a printed or on-screen copy of your ticket.
Save your questions for the end. The operator says guides build in a few minutes at the close to answer them, and every walk finishes with dining, shopping and exploring tips from the guide.