Salem Witch and Ghost Tours: The 1692 Trials by Day or Ghosts After Dark

Two guided tours of Salem are listed online on WizardTrip. The history tour tells the story of the 1692 witch trials in about 2 hours. The night tour tells the city’s ghost stories in 1 hour 20 minutes. Both are on foot.

The history tour has 16,255 reviews, rated 4.9 out of 5. The night tour has 4,600, rated 4.6 out of 5 (as of 18 October 2026). This article compares them, then decides by schedule, weather and refund policy.

Guided tour of Salem: witches and ghosts, what you need to know

Both walks tell the story of the 1692 trials. They pass the Witch Trials Memorial, the Old Town Hall, the pedestrian street of Essex Street and the Charter Street cemetery. The history tour goes inside neither the buildings nor the cemetery. The night tour views the cemetery from its iron gates.

Parking can be difficult in Salem. The history tour listing advises allowing at least an hour to find a space. It recommends, for example, the MBTA garage at 252 Bridge Street. It also mentions the Passport Parking app for paid parking.

The 2-hour history tour: the 1692 trials and the McIntire district

The history tour lasts about 2 hours, up to 2 hours 15 minutes, with up to 40 people in busy periods. A local historian guides it, in English or Spanish: the listing offers an English-only version and a Spanish-only version.

The start is at the Old Town Hall, at 32 Derby Square, not Derby Street. The guide waits on the side of the building with three staircases, facing Front Street. The operator has no physical office.

The stops last 2 to 30 minutes. On the pedestrian stretch of Essex Street, the guide tells the legend of the Lady in Blue. Next come the Elizabeth Montgomery statue from “Bewitched” and the memorial. The route also takes in the Ropes Mansion garden, the McIntire district, the Witch House and Hamilton Hall.

Admission to the Witch House and the Ropes Mansion is not included. The Witch House is seen from the outside, the Ropes Mansion through its garden. The tour ends at the memorial, on Charter Street. Cathy sums it up in October 2026: “a broad overview of Salem’s history, with a touch of the supernatural.”

History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour4.9(16,278 reviews)From €33From€33View activity

The night ghost tour: 1 hour 20 minutes at the haunted sites

The night tour lasts 1 hour 20 minutes according to the listing, which also states 75 minutes in its list of inclusions. It brings together 40 people at most, with an English-speaking guide. The meeting point is at 127 Essex Street, at Remember Salem Gifts, near Wynott’s Wands, the Ouija Board Museum and the Halloween Museum.

The stops include the Witch Trials Memorial, the Charter Street cemetery, the Old Town Hall and Essex Street. According to the listing, the Old Town Hall served as a filming location for the movie “Hocus Pocus.”

The following stops last 5 to 10 minutes and tell tales of hauntings. The listing mentions Bridget Bishop, the first witch executed in Salem, and Dorothy Good, imprisoned at age 4. It also names Giles Corey, pressed to death in 1692 near the old Essex County jail. The route also passes St. Peter’s Church and the Gardner-Pingree House, where Captain Joseph White was murdered in 1830.

Megan writes in September 2026: “Fewer people in the evening compared to the daytime tours.” The listing specifies that the content may frighten very young children.

Salem's Best Ghost Tour4.6(4,600 reviews)From €22From€22View activity

The two Salem tours compared

What happens if it rains, and can you get a refund?

Both tours run in all weather. The history tour listing puts it bluntly: it is not canceled because of the weather, and all sales are final. No refund is provided in case of cancellation, no-show or weather. A 1-out-of-5 review, dated October 2026, shows the effect. A group that arrived late could neither take the tour, reschedule it, nor get a refund.

The night tour is more flexible. A full refund is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. The listing asks you to dress for the forecast.

Should you arrive early, especially in October?

Yes, for the night tour. In October, show up at 127 Essex Street 30 minutes before the ticket time; from November to September, 15 minutes before. Join the line only when your whole group is there. In October, being even one minute late means you can’t check in, with no rescheduling or refund.

Also check the number of tickets: it is impossible to buy any at check-in. For the history tour, the listing asks for 5 to 10 minutes of lead time in its instructions and 10 to 15 minutes in its advice.

Can you come with children, a dog or a wheelchair?

The history tour welcomes children accompanied by a paying adult. It accepts dogs and service animals. Wheelchairs and scooters are welcome. The listing warns, however, that the brick sidewalks are uneven and the passages narrow. Users assume all responsibility.

The night tour generally suits all ages, but its content may frighten very young children. Strollers and service animals are accepted. People in wheelchairs or with mobility equipment need to arrange their own assistance, as there is walking between several sites.

Which one should you choose in Salem?

• You want to understand the 1692 trials: the history tour, led by a local historian.
• You like ghost stories after dark: the night tour, 1 hour 20 minutes.
• You speak Spanish: the history tour, offered in a Spanish version.
• You want to be able to cancel: the night tour, refundable up to 24 hours before.
• You are traveling with a dog: the history tour.

For the rest of your stay, the city’s tours and excursions are gathered on the Things to do in Salem page. Other cities in the country are on the United States page.