08/08/2025
Check out this helpful advice for visiting in October.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN OCTOBER.
Salem is an incredible city that is nearly 400 years old which is steeped in history that attracts over two million people a year. More than half of them come the whole month of October for the Halloween vibe and it spills into September (aka Septober) and November (aka Octember). This is in addition to the 44,000 people who live here year-round.
There is a lot to enjoy in Salem as there are many events, a Halloween parade, weekend festivals, plays, street buskers, night fairs and so much more. It is a great time to visit but all these people visiting creates logistical problems and puts a strain on the city infrastructure.
We want to prepare you on what to except in October and also provide many tips so you can maximize your enjoyment.
PLAN AHEAD
Plan ahead! Don’t wing it. You can go to the Haunted Happenings website to plan your visit.
AVOID DRIVING
There are two ways in and out of Salem so the traffic gets really crazy and the parking is very difficult. If you must drive, please check out our Parking and Transportation blog. If you take an Uber/Lyft, have them drop you off outside of the downtown area and just walk in from there. It will save you money and time because it is quicker to walk from one mile than to drive it.
YOUR GPS IS WRONG!
If you do drive to Salem, give yourself plenty of time to get here. If the GPS reads one hour, add a few hours because many other people are coming here and you have to park. And if there is a car accident on the way, you might just go insane with frustration. Boston area traffic can be a nightmare. We are worse than Los Angeles and New York City. Imagine the worst traffic you ever experienced and then driving on rows designed by cows.
Heed this warning, mortals!!!
TAKE THE TRAIN
We are very fortunate that we have a train that runs from Boston to Newburyport and Rockport with a stop in Salem. If you didn’t get a room at a Salem hotel, Air BnB or BnB, you can find them along the train line and just get to Salem that way. It will save you quite a bit of hassle and frustration.
The train line is the Newburyport/Rockport line. Click on the link for the schedule. Remember that all trains heading inbound and outbound stop in Salem. However, not all outbound trains go to Newburyport or Rockport. If you are staying in a city/town beyond Beverly, you MUST be on the correct train.
If a train stop is too far from where you are staying, you can drive to a train stop but just remember that many other people have the same idea. You can find a list of the train stops and available parking spaces at the Parking and Transportation link above.
RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS
Many restaurants will not take reservations in October because they cannot hold tables while there are people waiting it line. It is first come, first served. We have heard of some restaurants taking reservations but it is extremely rare. Be prepared to wait an hour for a table. If it only takes 45 minutes, that is a win.
The WAITSTAFF, COOKS and STAFF at our restaurants are working very hard to keep up with the demand. They are doing the best they can so please be patient with them. Many of them live locally and have expenses to pay so please tip them well.
You can always try a restaurant outside of the downtown area. There are several on Bridge Street, North Salem, Canal Street, Lafayette Street, Congress Street and a few hidden places right near the witchcraft memorial. And there are street vendors on the weekends.
A good tip is to bring SNACKS and WATER with you when you are in Salem. This is very helpful when you are waiting in line at a restaurant, an attraction or are just “starving.” It is also very helpful if you only have 10 minutes in between your itinerary stops and don’t have time to grab something at a convenience store.
BATHROOMS AND TOILETS
None of the businesses have public restrooms. The restaurants will not allow you to use their bathroom unless you have eaten there. If you eat at a restaurant, use their facilities before you leave.
Public Restrooms are located at the Visitor Center at 2 New Liberty Street, the Destination Salem Visitor Center at 245 Derby Street, the National Park Service at Derby and Central Wharfs, Salem Willows, Salem Ferry, Winter Island and Forest River Park. These restrooms are open during the day but plan accordingly because there are no bathrooms available in the city in the evening.
In October, there are port-a-potties in the Front Street Lot, Sewall Street lot, Federal Visitor Center (2 New Liberty St), Maritime National Park and the Salem Common. You may find a few more dispersed throughout the city.
Bring your own TOILET PAPER or paper towels/napkins because the port-a-potties run out. Restaurants will not have any napkins out so don’t expect you can go in and grab a few. We do have a CVS and Walgreens and other little markets, but they will get cleaned out of toilet paper. Bring a mini roll or you can by “camping” packs of toilet paper.
ADVANCE TICKETS
Many places will sell advance tickets to their attractions or tours. Many will leave room for walk-ins also. But there are many attractions that will do “same day” ticketing. This means you have to buy tickets when you are here in Salem. They want to make sure you are here before they sell you a ticket. Refunds are not available at many places and they cannot switch you to another time slot because they are likely sold out.
Some attractions will announce when tickets go on sale for October to give everyone a fair chance. It is like a hot concert ticket. We will try to re-post those sale events on our page when we find out.
SHOPS, ATTRACTIONS & BUSINESSES
Be prepared to experience long wait times for everything. Many places will limit capacity and will have lines outside the door. Many have rules against strollers and backpacks in the store so you might have to take turns going in to shop.
Again, be patient with the staff at all of these places because they are trying very hard to make your visit great and are doing the best they can in trying conditions.
WALKING TOURS
There are many walking tour companies so it can be very confusing. Make sure you get your confirmation and go to the correct meeting location. If you are not sure, ask the guide at the meeting spot. Many tour companies have NO REFUND policies so make sure you are arrive before the tour start time. Early means 15 minutes before the tour starts, not five minutes after the tour begins. You need to factor in traffic and parking. Remember, early is paramount and on time is late. And by all means, tip your hard-working tour guides.
DESTINATION SALEM APP
The city has a tourism office called Destination Salem. They run a visitor center at 245 Derby Street where you can have a lot of questions answered. You can also ask them to send you a brochure in advance of your visit. We advise you to download their app to your phone. It provides all sorts of information about Salem and will also provide updates and alerts. Check out their website at Salem.org
CITY OF SALEM ALERTS
You can sign up for alerts and be notified in the event of road closures, emergencies and other updates. You can sign up for many of them, but you likely just want the alerts (emergency and parks & recreation) and the news flashes (police and the mayor’s office). We’re guessing you don’t want the calendar schedule from the weights and measurements department. Sign up for the notifications.
RESPECT OUR RESIDENTS
Salem is a working city with about 44,000 people who live here every day. Those who live here welcome you and are grateful that tourism supports our city and its infrastructure, but please remember that it is a working city and residents need their down time.
Please do not go onto anyone’s property, walk down a residential street after midnight, throw your trash on our streets, vandalize city or resident property or go in the cemetery at night (illegal in Massachusetts).
Enjoy your visit to Salem and discover why we love it so much too.
Thank You
