Salem Witch Trials Walk
Self-Guided Walking Tour Of Salem, MA
What to Expect
Step into Salem’s most consequential year with a self-guided audio walk that brings the witch trials into clear focus. From Howard Street Cemetery and the Old Salem Jail to the Witch Trials Memorial and The Burying Point, you’ll follow an immersive path through places tied to accusation, fear, and hard-won remembrance. Along the way, hear context around figures like Judge John Hathorne, stand at Proctor’s Ledge—the confirmed execution site—and explore how the community confronts its past today. Navigate easily with GPS-triggered audio, pausing for museums, gardens, and quiet reflection. Experience Salem’s history with care, accuracy, and the space to take it in.
Ready to go? Book below or download our app and purchase directly from your phone.
📍 Location: Salem, MA
🚶♂️ Type: Walking tour
⏱ Duration: Approx. 3 hours (flexible)
✅ Includes: App download, GPS-triggered audio, No expiration
📶 Works Offline: Download ahead of time - no cell service required
🎧 Multiple Languages: English
Get Ready for Your Salem Self-Guided Tour
Trace the legacy of 1692 on a thoughtful walk through Salem, where familiar streets still carry echoes of fear, belief, and confusion from the witch trials.
This Salem self-guided tour leads you to the authentic locations connected to the crisis and the people whose lives were permanently altered.
As you move through the historic district, you’ll see how a close-knit Puritan settlement—shaped by strict doctrine and harsh conditions—became the stage for one of the most troubling episodes in American history.
Each stop sheds light on the individuals involved, from magistrates and ministers to the accused and their neighbors.
Along the way, you’ll also encounter the Salem that followed—a prosperous seaport, a literary touchstone, and a modern city where history, memory, and legend overlap.
The experience blends place, context, and reflection to offer a deeper perspective on how these events reshaped the town.
What You’ll See on Your Salem Walking Tour
Broad Street Cemetery / Jonathan & George Corwin Graves
Among Salem’s earliest graveyards, this peaceful site contains the burial places of Jonathan and George Corwin, both linked to the trials. The aging markers reflect the families and authority figures who influenced the town in 1692.
John Ward House
Constructed in 1684, this preserved First Period dwelling shows how residents of early Salem lived day to day. Its timber-frame construction and modest design speak to a community grounded in faith and endurance.
Proctor’s Ledge Memorial
This understated memorial identifies the verified execution site of 19 victims of the trials. The simple layout invites visitors to pause and consider the consequences of panic and accusation.
Salem Witch Museum
Engaging displays and narrated scenes outline the timeline and aftermath of the witch trials. It offers a clear, visitor-friendly introduction to the people and pressures behind the events.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
Located beside a historic cemetery, this open-air memorial commemorates those who were executed. Inscribed benches and stone walls create a quiet space for remembrance.
Old Town Hall
Completed in 1816, this Federal-style building has long hosted civic meetings and public events. It represents Salem’s continued growth and changing identity after the colonial era.
Bewitched Sculpture
This playful tribute to the TV character Samantha highlights Salem’s connection to modern pop culture. It provides a cheerful counterpoint to the city’s more somber historic sites.
The Witch House at Salem / Jonathan Corwin House
Once the residence of Judge Jonathan Corwin, this is the only surviving building in Salem directly associated with the trials. Its preserved exterior and rooms evoke the atmosphere of late 17th-century life.
Ropes Mansion & Garden
This refined Georgian home reflects Salem’s later prosperity during its maritime peak. The landscaped garden offers a calm retreat just steps from busy streets.
The Burying Point / Judge John Hathorne Grave
Established in 1637, this burial ground is among the oldest in the country. It includes the grave of Judge John Hathorne, a central figure in the trial proceedings.
Meetinghouse of the First Church in Salem
With roots reaching back to 1629, this congregation represents some of the earliest organized worship in New England. The site underscores how deeply religion shaped community decisions and values.
Howard Street Cemetery & Old Salem Jail / Site of Giles Corey’s Death
Near this cemetery stood the jail that held many of the accused, and Giles Corey was pressed to death nearby. The area connects to some of the trials’ most tragic moments.
Nathaniel Hawthorne Statue
This statue honors the author whose stories often wrestled with inherited guilt and moral complexity. Its setting near the waterfront recalls the environment that influenced his work.
Joshua Ward House
This grand 18th-century house stands on land once owned by Sheriff George Corwin. Its layered past ties together Salem’s later elegance and its earlier controversies.
Gedney House
Dating to 1665, this home reveals multiple phases of construction and expansion over centuries. Its visible structural changes mirror Salem’s broader development.
Cross Brown Street
Now a quiet residential stretch, this roadway once connected important parts of early Salem. Walking the street offers a sense of the town’s original neighborhood layout and daily rhythms.
Meeting Point
Your Salem walking tour begins at 28 Howard St.
28 Howard Street is opposite the entrance to Howard Street Cemetery. It is a narrow street, lined on one side with wooden houses. The entrance to the street from Brown Street is close to the Salem Witch Museum and opposite the John Ward House.
FAQs About Our Salem Audio Walking Tour
-
Entrance to the Salem Witch Museum costs the following:
Adult: $19.00
Senior Citizen (62+): $17.50
Children (6–14): $16.00
-
Entrance to the Witch House at Salem costs the following:
Adult: $10.25
Senior: $8.25
Child (7–14): $6.25
Children (Under 6): Free
-
Entrance to Gedney House costs the following:
Adults: $10
Seniors and Students: $9
Children: $5
Admission to Gedney House is free for Historic New England members and Salem residents.
Visit the Historic New England website for more information.
-
Tours are fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
If it’s within 24 hours or you had an issue during your tour, email support@drivesanddetours.com. We review all requests individually and will always do our best to make things right.
Our goal is to ensure every traveler has a great experience exploring with Drives & Detours.
-
The Drives & Detours Salem tour is flat and about 2.5 miles. You'll want to allow 2 to 3 hours to give yourself time at some of the stops.
-
Yes, downloading the Drives & Detours app will give you full access to the tour you have purchased, as well as many other self-guided tours.
-
Download the tour before you go. Some areas have poor signal, which can make downloading the tour difficult. Once the tour is downloaded, it will work without any cell signal
The tour audio plays automatically as you approach each stop
Want to see more? Tap “View Stop” to see photos and bonus content
To return to the map, tap the small down arrow between the “previous” and “next” buttons
Follow the blue line and audio directions to stay on route
Use audio controls to pause, rewind, or skip—just like a podcast
Safety first: Keep your eyes on the road or sidewalk, follow traffic laws, and stay aware of your surroundings
-
No—download your Salem tour before you go, and you won't need a cell signal. Drives & Detours’ tours work without any cell signal once they are downloaded to your device.
-
Once you have purchased your Salem walking tour from Drives & Detours, you can use it whenever you want. You can always take the tour another day if the weather is bad on the day you plan to take it.
-
Unfortunately, Dives & Detours cannot guarantee that the Salem self-guided tour is accessible. People with wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility impairments are very welcome, but we recommend checking the Destination Salem website for detailed information.
Pro Tips for Your Drives & Detours Salem Self-Guided Tour
Download before you go.
Enable location services—GPS triggers the audio.
Use earbuds, headphones, or your car speakers.
Pause and resume anytime. If you take a break, just reopen the app and head back toward your last stop.
Lost your way? Tap any pin on the map, then tap the right-turn-arrow icon to open your default maps app for turn-by-turn directions to that spot.
Drives & Detours' New England Tours
Nantucket Essentials Combo
Enjoy Nantucket your way with this two-part self-guided audio tour bundle. Begin with a walking route through the historic downtown, where cobblestone lanes, signature landmarks, and location-based narration reveal the island’s whaling-era story. Then continue by bike or car from Madaket to Sconset, discovering shoreline views, lighthouses, and lesser-known stops across the island.
Discover New England: Complete 7 Tour Collection!
Experience some of New England’s best-known places with this collection of seven self-guided tours. Follow Boston’s Freedom Trail, dive into Salem’s witch trial history, and take in the coastal drama of Newport’s mansions and Cliff Walk, plus Portland’s Old Port, Nantucket, and Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. Each tour includes GPS-activated audio, maps, and images.
Beyond the Cobblestones: Self-Guided Walking Tour of Nantucket
Explore Nantucket on this self-guided walking tour. Wander along Main Street’s cobblestones, pass beautifully preserved 18th-century buildings, and encounter landmarks such as the Atheneum, the Hadwen House, and Straight Wharf. Stories and context along the way reveal how the island grew from a remote settlement into a whaling powerhouse.
Nantucket Coast to Coast Driving or Biking Tour
See Nantucket from end to end on a self-guided tour designed for driving or biking. The route connects beaches, historic districts, lighthouse views, and scenic overlooks into one continuous island journey. As you travel from Madaket to Sconset, audio narration shares the people, events, and traditions that shaped Nantucket’s identity.
Newport Cliff Walk Audio Tour
Follow Newport’s celebrated Cliff Walk on a self-paced audio tour where Atlantic surf and Gilded Age estates share the spotlight. Along the mansion-lined shoreline, hear stories of wealth, social rivalry, and changing times. The result is a coastal walk that pairs sweeping scenery with layered history and human drama.
Discover More Drives & Detours
