StayAreasHalloween in Boston: a day trip to Salem and where to stay
Salem, home of the 1692 witch trials, turns October into a month-long Halloween festival, bigger than ever for its 400th anniversary.
Where to stay for Halloween
Stay in Downtown
Most of Boston's Halloween happens in Salem, and Downtown is where you leave from: the train from North Station takes about 30 minutes and the ferry from Long Wharf about 50. Salem's parking fills by mid-morning in October, so a Boston base is the easy way to do it.
- Mid-range hotel
- ~$310
- To Boston Common
- 5 min
- To the airport
- 15 min
Prefer somewhere else? Compare all areas in Boston
What's on
Salem Haunted Happenings 2026
Halloween night in Salem
Live music from noon and 400 drones over the river at 10pm. Leave prop weapons at home.
Sat 31 Oct, from noon · Free
Weekdays are the secret
Go on a weekday in early October for tickets and room to breathe.
Early and mid Oct
What to see in Salem, and what to book
Salem Witch Museum
The classic intro to the trials. October tickets go on sale online at 10pm the night before.
Book online the night before · Mildly spooky
The Witch House
Judge Corwin's home, Salem's only building tied directly to the trials.
· Mildly spooky
Peabody Essex Museum
A great museum with a witch-trials exhibition. Open Thursday to Monday.
Thu–Mon in October · All ages
House of the Seven Gables
The mansion behind Hawthorne's novel. Book ahead.
Daily, 10am–6pm
Old Burying Point and the Witch Trials Memorial
Salem's oldest cemetery, beside the memorial to the 20 people executed in 1692.
Daily · Mildly spooky
Getting there from Boston
Commuter rail
North Station to Salem in about 30 minutes, with extra weekend trains.
About 30 min
Ferry
Long Wharf to Salem in about 50 minutes, the nicest way to arrive.
About 50 min
Don't drive
Salem's parking fills by mid-morning on October Saturdays.
Halloween in Boston itself
Ghost and true-crime walks
Evening tours of Boston's burying grounds and Beacon Hill.
Evenings through Oct · Mildly spooky
Granary Burying Ground
The graves of Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, with carved skulls on the headstones.
Daily · Mildly spooky
Written by the StayAreas editorial team · Updated Oct 2026 · How we research our guides
FAQs
How do you get from Boston to Salem for Halloween?
Take the MBTA Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail from North Station, about 30 minutes, or the seasonal ferry from Long Wharf, about 50 minutes. Don't drive: parking fills up early.
What happens in Salem on Halloween night 2026?
Live music on downtown stages from noon on Saturday 31 October and a 400-drone show over the North River at 10pm. The town is extremely crowded, so arrive early and plan your train back.
Do you need to book the Salem Witch Museum?
Yes. In October tickets are sold online only, released at 10pm the night before, and the museum doesn't sell any at the door.
When is the best time to visit Salem in October?
A weekday in early or mid October. Weekends and Halloween itself are extremely crowded, and the popular sights sell out.
Should I stay in Salem or Boston for Halloween?
Boston. Salem has few hotels and they fill up early for October; Boston has far more choice and is only half an hour away by train.