Image by Destination Salem
Salem offers a great balance of charm, livability, and amenities. Known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and coastal charm, Salem offers a unique mix of urban amenities with small-town appeal, a walkable, compact downtown area, and year-round festivals and activities. There is always something to do and see in Salem; a strong arts and cultural community, year-round festivals and events, a vibrant restaurant and night-life scene, and numerous shops and experiences provide endless opportunities.
Something for Everyone
A vibrant mixed used downtown with active ground floor businesses that include restaurants and retail shops that make the downtown a destination for dining and shopping.  Magic wands and witches’ robes, custom fragrances and vintage dresses, gourmet cheese, wine, and chocolate, souvenirs, and home décor crafted by local artisans, Salem has a shop to meet not only day-to-day needs, but also any special occasion. The retail community is comprised of dozens of Salem-based or other local area entrepreneurs. These local business owners are truly invested in Salem and committed to providing a diverse range of items and products to meet the needs of the Salem community and visitors alike.
Culture, Creativity, Curiosity
Founded in 1626, Salem is rich in history, with many opportu
nities to learn and immerse yourself in to it. Whether you are interested in Salem’s maritime and merchant history, captivated by the hysteria of the witch trials and its victims, or find modern history more appealing, such as learn
ing about the City’s role in the judicial system or as the birthplace of Parker Brothers (now Hasbro), there are historical sites throughout Salem that appeal to all, bringing visitors from all over the world.
Attractions like the Peabody Essex Museum, the House of Seven Gables, and the Salem Witch Museum present visitors with opportunities to learn about local history and culture. Coupled with historical walking tours, food and drink tours, and art-finding strolls through the open-air Punto Urban Art Museum and Artists’ Row, the City’s artist incubator space, there are countless experiences throughout the community to learn and appreciate Salem’s history and culture.
Getting Outside
Salem is an urban city that is a suburb of the Boston metro area. A compact city of 8 square miles, Salem is a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly community with easy access to outdoor spaces – miles of oceanfront walkways and public beaches, acres of parkland that offers both passive and active recreation, and winding trails through protected conservation land. The opportunity to be outside and access these natural areas that are sprinkled throughout the City – in and around the downtown, nestled among the residential neighborhoods, and even adjacent to Salem’s industrial corridor.
Access to nature and the outdoors brings many benefits and contributes to a well-balanced community. The bustling urban core of Salem is balanced with the pristine vistas over the harbor; the thickly settled neighborhoods are interspersed with parks and playgrounds; the expansive, historic Salem Common is a community space and place of tranquility located in the heart of the lively city. This dichotomy between urban living and the space to enjoy nature makes Salem unique and provides the opportunity for a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Incredible Meals
Salem has established itself as a North Shore dining destination is home to dozens of restaurants from fast, casual take-out, to family-friendly restaurants, to fine dining. Recognition of downtown Salem as a dining destination continues to increase with active publicity, news releases, marketing, and social media. Whether you’re in the mood for fish tacos with a harbor view, authentic Dominican food steps away from the Punto Art Museum, or a craft cocktail and tapas on a downtown hotel rooftop deck. Largely owned by locals, the restaurants are a direct reflection of Salem’s eclectic community.
Salem After 5
Are you looking to relax after a long day at work, a place to take clients when they come to town, or a gathering spot for your staff? Salem is a regional entertainment destination with a variety of live music venues ranging from intimate coffee shops featuring acoustic music, to an open-air concert shell overlooking the harbor that attracts bands of all genres. Salem’s calendar of special events and annual festivals complement the lively entertainment scene.
Salem’s eclectic music scene presents the opportunity to try new sounds or simply celebrate your favorite style. The live music opportunities through the City contribute to the community’s multi-cultural vibe, invigorating Salem, and making it not only a great place to do business, but also a great place to stay and play.
With the lively music and entertainment scene, downtown Salem is bustling from morning until late in the night; the city does not shut down at 5pm when offices close but stays open and active into the evening. The City and its partners have worked hard to activate the downtown ‘after hours’; working with local businesses to stay open later, creating opportunities for outdoor entertainment, and promoting festivals and events to draw people, provide entertainment, and support the business community.
Home Away From Home
Salem welcomes visitors from around the globe throughout the year. Salem’s many types of accommodations attract visitors of all types. Three large hotels located in the downtown, coupled with inns and bed and breakfasts sprinkled throughout the City, provide a variety places for visitors to choose from as they come to town. While Salem is a popular destination in the fall, drawing visitors from around the globe to its Haunted Happenings festivities, over the past few years Salem has transformed into a year-round destination. With hundreds of rooms to choose from, there is a place for everyone.
Let’s hear from the Salem community…
Chris Collins
Resident
When I was young, I was captivated by Salem’s rich history and by its infamous Witch Trials. As I got older, I thought moving to Salem wouldn’t be a reality. I thought that since it’s not a huge city, it would be very difficult to find a job as a social worker. As fate would have it, however, I learned about Salem State University as I was completing my doctorate in 2023. Fast forward to now, my husband and I are happily settled in Salem with my husband working for the City and me at the University.
We love Salem and its walkability. My husband and I regularly walk to our favorite shops, museums, and restaurants. When we first moved here, we developed a tradition of welcoming our guests to Salem with a dinner at Rockafellas.  We love to explore the restaurant scene downtown – the options and variety available rivals that of a much larger city. We also love shopping in Salem and do our best to shop locally. The plants in my office are from Oak and Moss, we burn Witch City Wicks candles at home, and some of my favorite trinkets are from Hive and Forge. Being able to walk to my barber at Bada Bing and massage therapist at Laura Lanes is awesome.
My favorite thing to do in Salem is to walk around and discover new things. My husband and I love to explore the Ropes Mansion, estate gardens, the waterfront and Pickering Wharf. Every day feels special as we walk down historic streets and imagine the rich histories and people who lived in the beautiful historic homes. Our love of walking everywhere makes our trips to Melt for ice cream and Goodnight Fatty for cookies seem less indulgent!
Salem has everything we need to live, work, and play in our backyard. It continues to be the magical place I dreamed of when I was a child.
Rachel Vresilovic
Commuter
I commute to Salem from the Somerville/Cambridge area, taking the Green Line to North Station in Boston where I transfer to the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line that takes me into downtown Salem. Because of its location, I’m able to walk from the train to my office on Washington Street. I’m also fortunate that there is a communal electric vehicle that I can use to travel around the City when my job takes me to various sites and projects.
When I have an opportunity to take a break from work, I like to walk around the downtown. I tend to vary my walking routes so that I can explore new areas and even though I’ve been exploring Salem on foot for more than a year, I feel like there is still so much to see and discover. Some days I bring a book and find a quiet place to read, with my favorites being Salem Common, the Ropes Mansion Garden, and other parks sprinkled throughout the downtown area. I continue to find quiet pockets within the City and, more importantly, love to search for and discover them.
For me, Salem is a place of continuous discovery, whether it’s a new restaurant to try or another coastal park to stroll through, there is always something new to experience. Even outside of the downtown area, as my job takes me around the City, I am lucky to spend my time enjoying Salem’s outdoor spaces like the Forest River Conservation Area and Salem Woods. I love the contrast these quiet places give to the more bustling areas of downtown Salem that shows the diversity of activities available in Salem.
Dana Weeder
Commuter
I am fortunate that I can bike to work. My commute from Marblehead to Salem takes me along the rail trail, which starts about a block from my house and ends a few blocks away from the office. It takes me about 15 minutes, which can oftentimes be faster than driving! The trail is well used, has tons of wildlife, and is much safer and enjoyable than the roads. Winters have been relatively easy as well, with only a handful of snow days – I really could not ask for a better commute.
Once I’m at work I tend to get around on foot. While easy to bike or scooter, the City is pedestrian friendly and scaled for walking. Plus, the interesting urban spaces and diverse businesses and storefronts could be missed while on wheels. I appreciate that I can step out of my office and walk to pick up lunch or stroll along the waterfront.
I love Salem because it realizes and recognizes its history, but it’s not stuck there. There is activity on the streets, specialty stores, and the food scene is good. While October may still be important, it’s the diversity of businesses and people that have made Salem a year-round ‘place’.
Susanna Baird
Resident
My family and I were in search of a community with a bustling downtown and easy, public transit to Boston for work. While affordability was our top priority, coming in a close second was the desire to be near a local coffee shop, a movie theater, and great Indian food. In 2004, we found exactly what we were looking for – an affordable condo within walking distance to the downtown.
Since then, we have been taking advantage of all that Salem has to offer. I love that my day-to-day needs can be met within City bounds; I can drive out to Highland Avenue, the City’s commercial corridor, for groceries and prescriptions, I can walk downtown to a local hardware store for home repair needs, and I can even hunker down in a local coffee shop (Jaho, On the Grind, and Gulu Gulu are favorites) to work or if I need a bit more peace and quiet, I can head to the Salem Athenaeum. Couple all of this with the fact that Salem’s walkable downtown hosts year-round interesting and engaging events, it is home to a variety of restaurant and food options and has a bustling retail scene. I love to explore the fun shops on Pickering Wharf, that offer unique experiences for residents and tourists alike. And when my family and I need to connect with nature, we can head to Salem Woods for a hike or explore Greenlawn Cemetery that features rolling hills and ponds in a serene landscape.
I can’t imagine living and raising my family anywhere else.
Lisl Hacker
Commuter
I commute to Salem from neighboring Beverly by car, though once parked, the car remains, and I am able to walk to where I want to go. I am able to pick up what I need at the local convenience stores, grab a bit to eat or a coffee from one of the local cafes, or just take a walk to Palmer Cove Park or Derby Wharf to enjoy the harbor views.
I love working in Salem since it offers a compact, walkable downtown where I can run errands, pop into a local restaurant for a snack or lunch, or choose to step away from the hustle and bustle of downtown and take a moment and a breath of fresh air along the waterfront. I also appreciate the diversity of Salem residents and visitors and the rich history the city has to offer.