Boston: Salem by Boat – Witch Trials & Walking Tour

Highlights

• Sun-Thurs tours: Visit the famous Salem Witch Museum.
• Fri & Sat tours: Visit the fascinating Real Pirates Museum.
• Learn about the 1692 Witch Trials where it all happened.
• Honor the legacy at two commemorative spots.
• Enjoy free time to explore Salem on your own.

Description

Begin your voyage in the same way early settlers did: by boat! Board the Salem Ferry in Boston and enjoy the scenery as you pass the Boston Harbor Islands and head up the coast of the North Shore before docking in Salem.

Depending on the day of your tour, your experience includes either the Salem Witch Museum (Sunday-Thursday tours) or Real Pirate Museum (Friday & Saturday tours). At the Salem Witch Museum, you'll be transported back to 1692 and experience the history of the Salem Witch Trials. Take away important lessons from how the events played out, meet the key figures who drove the witchcraft panic, and examine how these themes are applicable to modern culture.

Meanwhile, at the Real Pirate Museum, you'll explore Salem's maritime past. Originally a fishing village, the town prospered as a major seaport. You'll hear the surprising ways piracy and trade shaped Salem's history—even before and after the Witch Trials.

Throughout the day, you'll also retrace the footsteps of Salem’s famous history with a walk through town. Honor the innocent victims at the Salem Witch Trial Memorial, hear of the lasting impact the Witch Trials left on the town, and learn how the present-day community continues to respect its legacy. As a bustling seaport, the town was home to merchants, sailors, and even pirates. Some of these figures played surprising roles in the town’s history, both before and after the trials. Moving onto the Burying Point, your small group will visit the final resting place of notable Salem residents and some important figures from the Witch Trials.

Now that you’ve learned about the history, time to turn your attention to modern times and discover some seemingly out-of-place marks left behind by popular culture. Enjoy curious storefronts, historic homes, and more as you roam Salem’s streets. Take some photos at the Bewitched Statue, and then walk up a historic street to the setting of Hocus Pocus: Ropes Mansion. Wrap up your guided tour with a visit to the First Church in Salem and the Witch House, both of which were significant to the Salem Witch Trials.

After your guided stroll through Salem, you'll have some free time to grab lunch and go shopping on your own before returning to Boston.

Please Note: On Halloween, October 31st, we will visit the Salem Witch Museum instead of the Real Pirates Museum.