Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf
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September 2026
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Age 13 and over
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Quick answer
Is Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf worth booking?
Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf is a 0.5-hour experience in Salem, United States, from $6 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 0.5 hours
- From
- $6 per person
Salem is one of America’s most storied cities. On this relaxing self-guided audio tour through the city’s historical heart, you’ll discover its enchanting past. You’ll weave past colonial architecture to see the city’s m
What you get
About this experience
Salem is one of America’s most storied cities. On this relaxing self-guided audio tour through the city’s historical heart, you’ll discover its enchanting past. You’ll weave past colonial architecture to see the city’s maritime heritage, and hear about its literary giants. The tour starts at the Washington Arch in Salem Common, the birthplace of the National Guard. You'll explore the city’s charming streets and waterfront before circling back to where the beloved movie Hocus Pocus was filmed. Along the way, you’ll hear fascinating stories about the characters who shaped Salem’s history – from Englishman Roger Conant, who established the settlement in 1626, to novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose legacy lives on in the city’s streets and buildings. As you walk, I’ll tell you all about Samuel McIntire, our most famous architect who was active in the late 1700s and early 1800s. I’ll also point out several examples of his work along the route.
What's included
Included
- Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
- App for Android and iOS
- Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- Transportation
- Food and drink
- Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
What you'll see and do
Salem Common
Stroll into this sprawling green park, one of Salem's most beloved public spaces, where history has unfolded for nearly 400 years. This was the training ground of the first muster of the American National Guard, making it the very birthplace of a national institution.
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Pass beneath this modest but meaningful arch, erected to commemorate President George Washington's visit to Salem in 1789. It marks the starting point of the tour and sets the stage for the stories that follow.
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Roger Conant Statue
Marvel at this striking nine-foot bronze figure of Salem's founder, standing watch near the edge of the Common. Erected in 1913, the statue depicts Conant in a broad-rimmed hat and flowing cape, grasping an oak tree Salempl, a symbol of the resilience that shaped this city from its earliest days.
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Nathanial Hawthorne Statue
Enjoy this thoughtful bronze tribute to Salem's most celebrated author, seated on a moss-covered rock along the boulevard that bears his name. Hawthorne's connection to Salem runs deep, from his childhood here to his time working at the Custom House just down the road.
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Pass this marble statue of the Irish priest and temperance advocate, now amusingly surrounded by some of Salem's liveliest bars. It is a reminder of the waves of Irish immigration that shaped the city's social and religious fabric in the 19th century.
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Pickering Wharf
Walk along this lively waterfront area where Salem's proud maritime heritage meets modern harbour life. It is the perfect place to pause, take in the sea air, and picture the merchant ships that once made this city one of America's wealthiest ports.
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Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Explore this national park site right on the waterfront, preserving the wharves and buildings that drove Salem's extraordinary maritime trade. Derby Wharf stretches out into the harbour here, offering one of the most atmospheric views on the entire tour.
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The Custom House
Pass this handsome Federal-style building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked as a surveyor, an experience that directly inspired the introduction to The Scarlet Letter. The building still stands largely as Hawthorne would have known it, making it one of the most tangible literary landmarks in America.
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The Derby House
Marvel at this elegant brick mansion built for Elias Hasket Derby, the country's first recorded millionaire, whose fortune was built entirely on maritime trade. It is one of the oldest surviving brick buildings in Salem and a quiet testament to the extraordinary wealth the sea once brought to this city.
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Narbonne House
Stroll past this weathered timber-framed house, one of the most quietly remarkable on the tour. A single family occupied it for over 200 years, making it a rare and intimate window into everyday colonial life in Salem.
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Pass this striking Federal-period merchant's house, part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site complex along Derby Street. It stands as one of the finest examples of the architectural style that defined Salem's prosperous merchant class in the late 18th century.
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Enjoy a stop at this award-winning craft brewery, a fitting landmark in a city with deep traditions of local craftsmanship. It makes for an ideal post-tour destination, where Salem's history and hospitality come together in a glass.
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Salem
This tour starts at Salem Common / Washington Arch. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
This tour ends at the National Guard Monument.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 0.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Salem.
How much does Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf cost?
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Prices start at $6 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Salem usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf take?
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Plan for about 0.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Salem is not rushed.
Is Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Salem, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 0.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Salem can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Salem and add a light layer if any part of the 0.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Seeing Salem: Audio Tour from the Common to Pickering Wharf start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Salem within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Salem?
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Salem runs witch trial history tours, ghost and cemetery walks, museum entries and harbour trips, with October turning the whole town into a month-long event. On Outty we rank every Salem experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour, Satanic Salem Walking Tour, Salem Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Guided Walking Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Salem?
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September to October for atmosphere, May to June for smaller crowds. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Salem?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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