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The simplest Boston to Salem tour is one you assemble yourself: take the Salem Ferry from Long Wharf (50 to 60 minutes, spring through the Halloween season) or the Commuter Rail from North Station (about 30 to 35 minutes), then join a tour in Salem, either the one-hour narrated Salem Trolley or a guided walking tour of about 90 minutes. Packaged day tours from Boston by coach or van also exist; they cost more but handle the transport and timing for you.
This page compares those options. For the sights themselves, see things to do in Salem; for every way to make the trip, see how to get to Salem from Boston.
Salem tours and the ferry: top-rated on Viator
History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour★ 4.9 (16,107 reviews)From $36 per personCheck dates on Viator
Salem Witch Trials, Ghosts and History Walking Tour★ 5.0 (70 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $28 per personCheck dates on Viator
City Cruises Salem High Speed Ferry to/from Boston★ 4.5 (785 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $42 per personCheck dates on ViatorPrices, ratings and review counts are from Viator as of Oct 11, 2026 and can change.
Boston to Salem tour options compared
| Option | Travel time from Boston | When it runs | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry plus a tour in Salem | 50 to 60 minutes each way | Seasonal, spring through the Halloween season | Ferry booking recommended in peak season |
| Train plus a tour in Salem | About 30 to 35 minutes each way | Year-round; special weekend schedule in October | No reservation for the train |
| Salem Trolley (in Salem) | One-hour narrated loop | Daily April to October; Fridays to Sundays in November | Tickets in person on the day only |
| Guided walking tour (in Salem) | About 1.5 hours on foot | Year-round, plus seasonal tours | Book ahead, especially in October |
| Packaged day tour from Boston | Transport included | Varies by operator | Through the operator or a booking site |
The ferry and a walking tour: the scenic way
The Salem Ferry crosses from Long Wharf in Boston, beside the New England Aquarium, to the Salem Wharf on Blaney Street. The ride takes 50 to 60 minutes and runs seasonally from spring through the Halloween season; reservations are not required, but Destination Salem recommends booking ahead at busy times. The terminal is within walking distance of downtown Salem and the House of the Seven Gables, so you can walk straight into a tour. Fares and the current season are in the Boston to Salem ferry guide.
Witch City Walking Tours leads walks with licensed guides through the history of the 1692 trials, Salem's architecture and its maritime past, with ghost and true-crime walks for evening. Most of its tours run about an hour and a half; its seasonal Hocus Pocus film tour is a 3-mile walk of about two hours.
The train and the Salem Trolley: the year-round way
The Newburyport/Rockport Line leaves from North Station, and weekday trains reach Salem in about 30 to 35 minutes, which makes this the faster and more flexible choice outside ferry season. The station is downtown.
The Salem Trolley has run narrated sightseeing tours since 1982. Its one-hour, 8-mile loop covers the witch trials of 1692 and Salem's literary and maritime history. It runs daily from April through October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last full tour at 4 p.m., and Friday to Sunday in November. Tickets are sold only in person on the day, at the start on the Essex Street side of the National Park Service Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street; in October the starting point moves on some days, so check the trolley's site before you go.
Packaged day tours from Boston: what to check
Several operators sell guided day trips from Boston to Salem by coach or minibus, some combined with nearby towns. Before you book, check four things: where the pickup is, how much free time you get in Salem, whether admission to the Salem Witch Museum or the Witch House is included, and what happens to the schedule in October, when traffic and parking in Salem are difficult. A self-assembled day by train or ferry is usually cheaper; a packaged tour suits visitors who want one ticket and no planning.
What to see on a Salem tour
Whichever tour you choose, leave time to go inside. The Salem Witch Museum's presentation on the trials runs every half hour from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and adult tickets are $19. The Witch House, home of trial judge Jonathan Corwin, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. between April 15 and November 15. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial on Liberty Street is outdoors and free.
Taking a Salem tour in October
October is Salem's busiest month, with more than a million visitors expected for Haunted Happenings. On October weekends in 2026 the MBTA runs extra trains between Beverly and North Station and bans bikes on weekend trains. The Witch House sells October tickets online only, released at 8 a.m. for that day, and takes no group bookings that month. Book walking tours ahead and allow extra time for every connection. If you stay in the city instead, see spooky things to do in Boston.
Sources: Salem Ferry; MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Line; Salem Trolley; Witch City Walking Tours; Salem Witch Museum; Witch House; Witch House in October; Haunted Happenings. Checked October 1, 2026.