Where to Stay in Salem: 6 Best Areas & Neighborhoods
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Written by Christy Articola
Are you looking for options on where to stay in Salem, Massachusetts, for an exciting and memorable New England getaway? Well, we’ve got you covered!
In this post, we’ll cover some of the best spots to stay while you discover this historic town full of charm. But that charm also comes with a bit of a dark twist. You most likely already know that the town of Salem has an exciting past full of witches and witchcraft.
For some, such an intriguing and dark past is enough of a draw to visit! But even if you’re not into witches and folklore, it’s still a great place to spend a weekend.
We recommend visiting any time other than in October. During the Halloween season, the crowds aren’t worth it – but you can still enjoy the spooky lore any other time of year.
Salem has old-world charm and sits in an idyllic setting by the ocean. It’s full of shops and restaurants, and it’s very walkable. It’s lovely year-round and will likely become a quick favorite after your visit.
TL;DR: Best Places to Stay in Salem
| Category | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Place to stay Overall | Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites |
| Best Budget Option | Hampton Inn Salem |
| Best Bed and Breakfast | Daniels House |
| Best Luxury Option | The Marblehead Inn |
Accommodations in and Around Salem, Massachusetts
Stay within Salem for easy accessibility to all the attractions within the area. However, hotels in Salem are limited due to the town’s small size.
Planning far ahead for a stay is mandatory if you hope to book a more central hotel in the city. Because of the limited options available, prices of the best hotels in Salem can run fairly high.
If you’re traveling on a budget or don’t mind staying a little out of the way, opt to remain outside Salem. Doing so will give you many more accommodation options at varying price points, some proving much more agreeable.
Salem is just a short drive from Peabody, Marblehead, Danvers, Beverly, and Lynn. The reasonable distance between Salem and these towns is worth it for the money saved. We’ve included accommodation options in each of these additional towns to easily compare the variety of options at your disposal.
See Related: Most Haunted Hotels in Salem
Accommodations in Central Salam
Hampton Inn Salem Boston – Top Budget Pick
Address: 11 Dodge St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
There aren’t many budget hotels in Salem, especially not in Salem proper, but the Hampton Inn Salem Boston is a fine choice that won’t break the bank. Like most Hampton Inns, this property is clean and comfortable. An indoor pool and fitness center are on-site, and guests get breakfast included.
The Salem Inn – A Delightful Mid-Range Pick
Address: 7 Summer St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
The Salem Inn is right in the heart of Salem and is close to everything you’ll want to see and do.
This unique hotel comprises spacious rooms in three connected historical homes, and some guest rooms even have fireplaces and kitchenettes. Guests also enjoy daily breakfast breakfast and private parking.
Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites – A Mid-Range Pick On The Water
Address: 225 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
Look to the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites as your base when visiting Salem. It’s in an excellent location, only a few minutes’ walk from the Pickering Wharf Marina.
Enjoy the on-site restaurant dishing up classic and American fusion dishes, or branch out to other options just a stone’s throw away. There’s also a fitness center to burn off all that food or a heated indoor pool for leisurely laps to end a day of exploring.
Daniels House Inn – Luxury in the Heart of Town
Address: 1 Daniels St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
If you like bed and breakfast accommodations, you’ll love Daniels House Inn. This beautiful and historic building was built in 1667 by a sea captain and is the oldest bed and breakfast in the area.
You’ll feel like you stepped back when you enter this accommodation. It’s close to many of the attractions in Salem, and you’ll love the food and open fireplaces.
The Hotel Salem – A Gorgeous Luxury Choice
Address: 209 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970, United States
With family rooms available, The Hotel Salem is a convenient option for family getaways to Salem. What’s more, it’s located within a comfortable walking distance of top attractions that can keep the whole family entertained, like the Peabody Essex Museum and the Salem Witch Museum.
All rooms come with home comforts like free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and air conditioning. A brilliant outdoor terrace also serves up stellar city views and delicious bites for a leisurely evening in.
Top Rental: Historic Brick Federal Period Mansion on Fabled Chestnut Street
If you’re traveling with a group, this 6,000-square-foot mansion built in 1810 is perfect. You’ll find six bedrooms, three and a half baths, ten fireplaces, high ceilings, a library, a children’s playroom, a formal dining room, and so much more. This spacious home is ideally located for enjoying everything Salem offers.
Accommodations in Danvers/Beverly
Danvers and Beverly are two suburban areas just north of Salem and across the Crane River inlet. These small towns are charming and historical, but they are primarily residential.
Expect no more than a ten-minute drive into Salem from Danvers on a good day or get the MBTA commuter train from Beverly, which only takes around five minutes. These small towns are a perfect location to visit Salem because they are cheaper and less busy than Salem proper, but you are only a few minutes and a bridge crossing away from the action of downtown.
Best Western Plus North Shore (Danvers) – Top Budget Pick
Address: 50 Dayton St, Danvers, MA 01923, United States
This Best Western Plus is about fifteen minutes from Salem and is near a number of other popular hotels and a few restaurants. Guests love the indoor pool and fitness center. You’ll also be happy to know that popular beaches like Glendale Cove Beach and Dead Horse Beach are about a ten-minute drive away.
The Wylie Inn at Endicott College (Beverly) – Top Mid-Range Pick
Address: 295 Hale St, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
The Wylie Inn is part of Endicott College, but you don’t have to be affiliated with the college in any way to stay as a guest. It’s on ten acres and has direct beach access, elegant rooms, an award-winning conference center, free WiFi, a 1900s fountain on the front lawn, and more. Guests can use the Post Center on campus and enjoy the facility’s gym, rock climbing wall, and racquetball courts.
The Cabot Lodge (Beverly) – Top Luxury Pick
Address: 278 Cabot St, Beverly, MA 01915, United States
The Cabot Lodge is a beautifully decorated accommodation in an old building on a corner in central Beverly. Rooms are small but cozy and come with air conditioning, WiFi, and flat-screen TVs. There’s only street parking available, but many restaurants are within walking distance.
See Related: Do Hotels Take Cash? Things to Know
Charming Historical Property Built in 1839 – Top Rental
This 1,750 square-foot condo in a historic home sleeps four in two bedrooms and has one full bath, a kitchen, a living room, and a dining room. It’s only about 25 minutes from Boston and is even closer to Salem. There are restaurants within walking distance and a beach and playground nearby, too.
Accommodations in Peabody
Peabody is west of Salem and is also a great place to stay if you wish to see and do all the things the Salem area offers. If you want to stretch your legs, Peabody is less than an hour’s walk from Salem, or hop in a cab to get there in under ten minutes.
This suburb of Boston is known for its rich industrial history. Long ago, it was known as the Leather City for all the tanneries located there.
Later, automobile manufacturing took over. Today, it’s mostly just a small community with homes, schools, parks, and shopping. Hotels here are super affordable, and prices don’t tend to go much higher than those fit for a mid-range budget.
See Related: Day Trips from Boston, Massachusetts
Holiday Inn and Suites Boston Peabody – Top Budget Pick
Address: 1 Newbury St, Peabody, MA 01960, United States
This pleasant Holiday Inn and Suites is just off I-95 for easy access to anywhere you wish to go in the area. There’s a fitness center and indoor pool to release excess energy and an outdoor courtyard to relax. The modern hotel is just a short drive to local attractions like Peabody Essex Museum, and it also offers many good restaurants just a quick walk away.
Boston Marriott Peabody – Top Mid-Range Pick
Address: 8A Centennial Dr, Peabody, MA 01960, United States
If you’re looking for a nice hotel between Salem and Boston, Boston Marriott Peabody is a great choice. It has an indoor pool and an on-site restaurant serving continental breakfast and dinner at an extra cost to book. Rooms are large and comfortable and have free WiFi.
Accommodations in Marblehead
Many people who want to visit Salem choose to stay in Marblehead. This town, rich in maritime history, is on a peninsula east of Salem. Marblehead was a shipbuilding center long ago, and it was once the fishing capital of the state.
Marblehead sits under a ten-minute drive away from Salem. Otherwise, get yourself to Swampscott at under an hour’s drive away from Marblehead, and take the MBTA into Salem, which takes under ten minutes if you want to avoid driving within Salem on a busy day.
Today, people are drawn to Marblehead for its quaint streets and homes, kayaking, sailing, and shopping. Attractions in Marblehead include the historic Marblehead Light, Fort Sewall, the Marblehead Neck Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, and Devereaux Beach. You won’t find many budget options in Marblehead compared to other options in this list, but you will get high quality and ultimate comfort!
The Hotel Marblehead – Top Mid-Range Pick
Address: 264 Pleasant St, Marblehead, MA 01945, United States
This is another historic inn that will take your breath away. The Hotel Marblehead was built in 1871 and has been an inn since the early 1920s; in fact, a young Amelia Earhart stayed here with her mother in 1923.
The guest rooms and the terrace and gardens are quite lovely. Be sure to take some time to enjoy this beautiful boutique hotel instead of just stopping in to sleep for the night.
Harbor Light Inn – Top Luxury Pick
Address: 58 Washington St, Marblehead, MA 01945, United States
The Habor Light Inn in Marblehead is a fantastic deal for the price. It’s located in the town center and has an outdoor pool, bar, restaurant, and WiFi, and best of all, it’s just steps away from the ocean. A breakfast buffet is included, as is afternoon tea.
Rooms are beautiful and historic, and many have fireplaces. You’ll love this little inn and want to stay here repeatedly.
See Related: Can You Bring Hairspray on a Plane?
Chestnut Sweet – Top Rental
This small home sleeps three and is in one of Marblehead’s historic neighborhoods. It’s only a block from the ocean and has a kitchenette, laundry, beach chairs, bikes, beach towels, a rain shower, a fireplace, air conditioning, and more. You’ll love this sweet little house.
Accommodations in Lynn
Lynn is the eighth largest city in Massachusetts, so it’s busier and larger than the other towns on this list. However, it’s still a great location to visit Salem because it’s close by and affordable. Further, if you also plan to visit Boston, it puts you in a central location to both destinations.
To get to Salem from Lynn, take the MBTA from Lynn Interim Station, and you’ll be exploring Salem in as little as 12 minutes! History buffs will enjoy visiting and touring local historic homes like the Lucian Newhall House and another Mary Baker Eddy’s home.
Nature lovers will love hiking in the nearby 2,200-acre Lynn Woods Reservation. You won’t find many interestingly historic hotels in Lynn or even modern alternatives, but there are some great vacation rentals in town.
Two-Bedroom Apartment Near Kings Beach – Top Rental
This second-floor, mid-size, two-bedroom apartment has a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. It’s just twelve miles from Salem by train, and you can also get to Boston in 25 minutes.
Amazing Lower Level Loft – Top Rental
This basement loft is open and spacious and sleeps seven guests in two bedrooms with one bathroom to share. It’s located in downtown Lynn near the train station and has a free parking space and a full kitchen.
How to Get Around Salem, Massachusetts
Getting around Salem, Massachusetts, and the surrounding areas is easy. If you stay in Salem, you can easily walk to many top spots. However, if you want to be able to explore a bit more, or if you wish to stay outside of Salem, it helps to have a car.
- Whether you drive your own car or rent a car, this area is easy to navigate, and you can find parking in most places. Just be mindful that Salem and its neighbors are suburbs of Boston. So, depending on the day and time of travel, you might encounter heavy traffic, so plan accordingly.
- You can also take a train to Salem from Boston. Trains depart from Boston’s North Station and only take about 30 minutes. You’ll take the Newburyport/Rockport Line to Salem Station.
- In the summer and fall, you can take the ferry from Long Wharf to Salem, which takes less than 1 hour.
- If you need to get around northeast Massachusetts after arriving by train or ferry, Ubers and cabs are also available at varying rates.
Salem History
Salem is charming, quaint, weird, and wonderful, and it’s not like anywhere else in the United States or anywhere else, for that matter. This small town of just shy of 45,000 residents was first settled by Europeans in 1626, although Native Americans lived in the area for thousands of years prior.
Salem is most famous for being the 1692 Salem Witch Trials site. Due to something we today understand as “mass hysteria,” twenty people (and two dogs) were put to death after being accused of witchcraft.
The city embraces its tragic history; today, witches and the supernatural are celebrated everywhere. Halloween in Salem is an exhilarating time of year.
However, all year-round visitors can visit sites like the Witch House, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, and the Salem Witch Museum. Ghost tours are a popular evening pastime for tourists, and stores sell a variety of witch-themed souvenirs to eager shoppers.
See Related: Best Salem Ghost Tours
Things to Do in Salem
There are many other things to see and do in Salem that also have nothing to do with witches, like visiting the Pirate Museum or The House of the Seven Gables, made famous by the 1851 book of the same name by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Salem Maritime National Historic Site is also an excellent stop for anyone interested in learning about beautiful old sailing ships and 600 years of maritime history.
It’s part of Pickering Wharf, a shopping and dining area that’s a great place to get a meal and relax. Visitors also might enjoy a stop at the Peabody Essex Museum. It has been collecting, preserving, and showing artwork worldwide for over 220 years!
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