Free & Cheap Things to Do in Salem

History & Culture

A 1.7-mile self-guided walking trail marked by a red line on the sidewalk — similar in spirit to Boston's Freedom Trail — the Salem Heritage Trail connects 30 of Salem's most historically significant sites, from the Salem Common and the Witch Trials Memorial to the Peabody Essex Museum exterior, the Derby Wharf National Historic Site, the Charter Street Cemetery (one of the oldest in New England), and the Old Town Hall. The entire trail is free to walk, with informational signs at each stop telling the story of Salem's complex history from Puritan settlement through the maritime era to the present.

Address: Salem Heritage Trail, Salem, MA (start at Salem Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty St)

Tip: Pick up a free map at the Salem Visitor Center on New Liberty Street. The Charter Street Cemetery is one of the oldest burying grounds in America — the Witch Trials Memorial is adjacent and deeply moving. Allow 2 hours for the full trail. October is Salem's peak season — crowds are intense and prices spike. Visit in spring or fall (outside October) for the same atmosphere with far fewer people.

History & Culture

Opened in 1992 on the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, this small but profoundly affecting memorial designed by James Cutler honors the 20 people executed during the hysteria of 1692. Twenty stone benches protrude from a granite wall — each inscribed with a victim's name, the date of their death, and their manner of execution — set within a simple enclosed space of grass and locust trees. The memorial is free to visit and open year-round. The adjacent Charter Street Cemetery, dating to 1637, holds the graves of several prominent figures connected to the trials, including Judge John Hathorne.

Address: Salem Witch Trials Memorial, 24 Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970

Tip: The memorial is open 24 hours — visiting at dawn or dusk adds a somber atmosphere that feels appropriate. The adjacent Charter Street Cemetery closes at sunset. The Peabody Essex Museum is just a short walk away (paid admission but one of the finest art and culture museums in New England). Derby Street nearby has excellent cheap restaurants and the waterfront is a pleasant walk.

History & Culture

Salem was once one of the wealthiest cities in America, its fortunes built on a global maritime trade network that stretched from the Caribbean to the Far East. The Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves that legacy along the Derby Street waterfront, with the historic Derby Wharf — a 2,100-foot granite pier extending into Salem Harbor — free to walk, along with historic warehouses, the Custom House where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked, and the tall ship Friendship of Salem (small boarding fee when docked). The NPS Visitor Center has excellent free exhibits on Salem's maritime history.

Address: Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 160 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970

Tip: Walk to the end of Derby Wharf for beautiful views of Salem Harbor — it's one of the most peaceful spots in the city. The Custom House where Hawthorne worked is free to enter and has informative NPS ranger programs. The Friendship of Salem tall ship completed major repairs in 2025 and should be returning to Derby Wharf — check the NPS site before your visit to confirm it's back in port. When docked, boarding is free. Pickering Wharf just west has waterfront restaurants good for a cheap lunch.

Parks & Nature

Salem Common — one of the oldest public parks in America, used since the early 1600s for militia training and public gatherings — is a beautiful six-acre green space at the heart of Salem's historic district, surrounded by Federal and Greek Revival architecture on Washington Square. Free to enjoy year-round, the common hosts summer concerts, fall festivals, and winter events, and serves as a peaceful gathering place at the center of the Heritage Trail. The surrounding Washington Square neighborhood features some of the finest preserved early American architecture in New England.

Address: Salem Common, Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970

Tip: Washington Square North and East along the perimeter of the Common have some of the best-preserved Federal-period architecture in Massachusetts — worth a slow walk to appreciate the details. The Common is about a 10-minute walk from the train station, making Salem an easy day trip from Boston on the MBTA Commuter Rail ($8.50 each way). In October the Common hosts the Haunted Happenings festival.