Salem, Massachusetts is an iconic fall/Halloween destination. Everyone wants to visit Salem in the fall, it’s on a lot of bucket lists. Check out: Salem Fall Bucket List for more ideas for your upcoming fall trip. If you are thinking about visiting in October, also check out: 9 Things To Know Before Visiting Salem In October. Salem in October in one word: crazy! But it’s also a lot of fun. It’s something you should expereince at least once to see all Salem has to offer in the fall. What should you do with one call day in Salem?
The Perfect Fall Day in Salem
Salem in fall is all about crip air, warm sunshine, and a nip in the air! It’s best to start your day in Salem with a hearty breakfast or a warm delicious coffee.
Breakfast/Coffee Options –
Red’s Sandwich Shop
- Where: 15 Central Street
- Hours: Mon-Sat: 5 am – 3 pm, Sun: 6 am – 1 pm
- Find menu HERE
Red’s is one of my favorite places to eat in Salem and I always take everyone there for breakfast. Red’s has been serving up award-winning breakfasts for over 50 years and it doesn’t hurt that it’s located in a really cool historic building. The building dates back to the 1700s when it was known as the Old London Coffee House. It was a gathering place of Patriots before the American Revolution. Try the Lobster Benedict, mimosa, or the coffee (the BEST diner coffee).
Ugly Mug Diner
- Where: 122 Washington Street
- Hours: Daily –
8AM –2PM - Open for indoor, outdoor, takeout, curbside pickup
- Find menu HERE
Whether you are looking for something light and a coffee or a big breakfast and a cup of tea this place has you covered. Try the espresso and enjoy it in a crazy mug!
Jaho Coffee Roaster and Wine Bar
- Where: 197 Derby Street
- Hours: Mon – Fri: 7 am – 11 pm, Sat & Sun: 8 am – 11 pm (10 pm on Sun)
- Open for pickup/takeout and delivery from Uber Eats.
- Find menu HERE
Jaho has so many options from a plethora of coffee options, soft serve ice cream and quick bites. If you end up here later in the day, they have an impressive menu of specialty drinks, craft beer, and wine.
Gula Gula Café
- Where: 247 Essex Street
- Hours: Daily – 8 am – 10 pm
- Indoor dining is by reservation, Outdoor dining is first come first serve
- Accepting no indoor reservations for October, which will be first come, first serve
- Find menu HERE
Known for its coffee, hard to come by craft beer and light food it’s the perfect place to stop for a quick bite. Pick something off of the specialty lattes list or if you are a coffee purist check out their house coffee!
For Fellow 90’s Kids:
Find the Self-Guided Hocus Pocus Tour here.
If you are a fan of Hocus Pocus, I suggest that you take my Self-Guided Hocus Pocus tour next! It’s easy to visit the most iconic filming locations from this classic Halloween film. And what better time than when visiting Salem in fall.
If you are NOT a huge fan of the cult classic 90’s Halloween flick there are plenty of other options for you…
Historical Sites Of Salem:
Salem Witch Trial Memorial
- Where: 24 Liberty Street
If you want to brush up on the history of the Salem Witch Trails click here. This a somber memorial featuring 20 stacked inscribed granite stones. The benches are inscribed with the names of the accused and the means and dates of their executions. It’s located right next to the Old Burying Point Cemetery.
Old Burying Point Cemetery
- Where: 51 Charter Street
- Hours: Open 24 hours
I swear I don’t just hang out in cemeteries! This one is cool because it’s the oldest in Salem and among the oldest cemeteries in the United States. Opened in 1637 it is the final resting place of some of Salem’s most notable citizens through the ages. Such as Judge John Hathorne one of the witchcraft trial magistrates, as well as, Bartholomew Gedney, another of the witchcraft trial magistrates.
The Witch House
- Where: 310 Essex Street
- Daily 10 am – 5 pm
- Cost: Guided Tours: Adults $10.25, Seniors $8.25, Children (7-14) $6.25.
- Self-Guided Tours: Adults $8.25, Seniors $6.25, Children (7-14) $4.25
- Children under 6 free admission
The Witch House, or the Johnathan Corwin House, was the home of Judge Johnathan Corwin and is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692. It’s cool to walk through this house and definitely worth a visit. Although, I have to admit that I don’t typically visit historical places during the month of October in Salem.
If you skipped breakfast and just grabbed a coffee, you may want to grab some lunch…
Check Out: The Best History Spots In Salem, Massachusetts
Grab Lunch:
Lobster Shanty
- Where: 25 Front Street
- Hours: Dining Hours – 12 – 10 pm, 5 days a week, 12 – 9 pm on Sunday, Closed Tuesday
- Takeout Hours: 12 – 9 pm Sun, Mon, Wed & Thurs, 12 – 7 pm Fri-Sat
- Currently open for outdoor dining and takeout
This a busy and informal place that serves classic seafood and has live music on weekends. The outdoor dining is fantastic (although it may be a bit chilly or not available in Oct). They have a great craft beer selection and a fun creative drink menu! Try some Far from the Tree Cider and the lobster roll for a classic New England fall meal.
Or for more traditional New England faire –
Turner’s Seafood
- Where: 43 Chruch Street, Salem, MA 01970
- Hours: Tues – Thurs 4-9pm, Fri-Sun 12 – 9 pm
- Currently offering outside patio and curbside takeout only
- Call 978-745-7665 for takeout
Fellow Harry Potter Nerds:
You may want to check out my 9 Tips To An Adult Only Trip To Wizarding World OR my Ultimate Guide to Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
But while in Salem you HAVE to visit
Wynott’s Wands
- Where: 127 Essex Street
- Hours: Daily – 11 am – 6 pm
Wynott’s provides the finest magical tools for Witches and Wizards. While Wynott’s is not affiliated with Warner Brothers or JK Rowling they do have some Harry Potter merchandise. They also have some awesome hand carved wands!! The shop is insanely cute and if you are a fellow Potter nerd you will love it!
Remember Salem
- Where: 127 Essex Street (next door to Wynott’s Wands)
- Hours: Sun – Thurs 11 am – 6 pm, Fri – Sat 11 am – 8 pm
If you are a fan of Harry Potter you have to visit Remember Salem. If it’s warm get yourself a butterbeer! But check out all of the awesome Harry Potter merchandise inside!
Some Kitschy Witchy Salem In Fall Fun:
Bewitched Sculpture
- Where: Essex and Washington Street
It’s not hard to find the Bewitched Sculpture in town! You can take your picture with it before/after you stop at Gula Gula Café!
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
- Where: 217 Essex Street
- Hours: Mon – Sat 10 am – 6 pm, Sun 10 am – 5 pm
Count Orlok’s is a cinematic monster museum! It’s a fun and kitsch way to experience monsters (wax figures) that have entertained in the genres of Horror, Fantasy, and Sci-Fi. It’s rumored that one of the Sanderson Sister’s is featured (wink wink).
Witch Pix
- Where: 172 Essex Street
- Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 am – 6:30 pm, Fri & Sat 10 am – 7 pm, Sun 11 am – 5 pm
- Offering a 15% off Social Distance Promo (Valid through Sept 30)
This is one of those, dress up as witches and get your photos taken riding on a broom with your friends, places. Super fun, super kitsch and oh, so Salem!
If I’m being completely honest, I am not a fan of any of the Salem Witch Trial Museums. All the ones I’ve visited are a bit dated and I just didn’t find that they were worth the price of admission! But, hey, that’s just me and there are plenty to choose from!
Witch Specific Shops:
The Coven’s Cottage
- Where: 190 Essex Street
- Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10 am – 6 pm, Fri and Sun: 10 am – 7 pm, Sat: 10 am – 8 pm
I love the Coven’s Cottage and visit pretty much every time I go to Salem. It’s definitely a shop I recommend checking out.
Hex Old World Witchery
- Where: 246 Essex Street
- Hours: Daily 11 am – 7 pm
Hex is no joke! They have Voodoo Dolls, potions and any other magical thing you can think of! Not only do they have a shop in Salem, but they also have one in New Orleans. Their website suggests their shop is for both Witches and the curious alike. Check them out!
Crow Haven
- Where: 125 Essex Street
- Hours: Daily: 10 am – 9 pm
This is the oldest witch shop in Salem and worth a visit!
Check Out: The Best Shops In Salem, Massachusetts
You are probably starving by now if you didn’t stop for lunch so check out this place for dinner or drinks…
Dinner and Drinks:
The Bit Bar
- Where: 50 St Peter Street
- Hours: Phase 3 reopening hours, Mon-Wed Closed, Thurs – Sun 4 – 11 pm
- Open for dining, outdoor patio seating, takeout, and delivery
- The patio is now dog friendly (how awesome?)
The Bit Bar is so much fun! From their game inspired drink menu to their yummy elk burger this place did not disappoint. It’s been open for 3 years and gets incredibly busy during October. You see, Bit Bar features classic arcade and pinball machines!
Try your hand at Addams Family pinball (I used to be good at pinball but sucked SO hard when I visited the Bit Bar). Or test your skills with the most classic arcade games Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man and Q*Bert (which I also really sucked at haha). Food wise I can suggest the mac & cheese bites (the siracha ranch was amazing), elk burger, fried chicken BLT and Tetris tots! I also loved their drink menu and the Butterbeer was my favorite (uh, hello, Potter Nerd here).
Or have a drive at:
Far From The Tree Cider
- Where: 108 Jackson St, Salem, MA 01970
- Hours: Wed-Thur 4-7 pm TO GO ONLY, Fri (3-8 pm); Sat (12-8 pm); Sun (12-6 pm) Dining In and To Go
- Food Options offered Fri – Sun
Night Tours Of Salem:
Salem Haunted History Tour
- Where: Depart from 127 Essex Street
- Length: 90 minutes
- Cost: $16 per adult
The tour runs rain or shine and explores reportedly haunted locations in Salem.
Salem ‘Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts’ History Walking Tour
- Where: Depart from 2 New Liberty Street
- Length: 1 hour and 30 mins
- Cost: $16 per adult
This one has been on my list for a few years and I haven’t had a chance to do it yet. Not only is it a historical tour but it’s also a ghost tour. The tour then takes a turn into horror territory with some good ole’ New England vampire folklore. It sounds awesome!
It’s pretty easy to have the perfect fall day in Salem, Massachusetts! It’s a dream Halloween destination and one that you shouldn’t skip! You can have an amazing time without Haunted Happenings and, honestly, if you usually avoid Salem in October, this might just be the perfect year to check it out!
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