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A Mass. cultural and historical tour just ranked No. 1 in the U.S. — for the fourth year in a row
The Salem tour also ranked No. 11 in the world.
A Salem tour is walking all over the competition, ranking the best in the nation for the fourth year in a row.
Needham-based Tripadvisor recently revealed its best travel experiences for 2026, and Salem’s History & Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour by Witch City Walking Tours ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 11 in the world for best cultural and historical tours.
The tour is offered year-round, and participants meet daily at Salem’s Old Town Hall.
Salem, famous for the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, welcomes more than 1 million visitors for its monthlong Haunted Happenings festival every October, billed as the largest celebration of Halloween in the world.
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“What we love about this tour is that it’s a little bit of everything of Salem’s history and the Salem experience,” Beth Crowley, owner and guide, told Boston.com after first securing the No. 1 spot in 2023. “A lot of tours will focus on just the witch trials or just ghost stories. We combine so our travelers will learn about our maritime history. They’ll also do a deep dive into the Salem witch trials of 1692. We’ll also expose them to three centuries of beautiful architecture as well. And, of course, we throw in the spooky ghost stories.”
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The tour also ranked No. 5 for best experiences in the U.S. (No. 1 is Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour with Lunch).
Tripadvisor user Jen R. recently reviewed the tour, writing: “This was such a fantastic walking tour! I did this with my 13-year-old daughter and it was chock full of fascinating history, from Salem’s beginnings as Naumkeg to the Witch Trials to more recent history.”
Another Massachusetts tour, Boston: Freedom Trail History Small Group Walking Tour, ranked No. 9 on the best cultural and historical tours and No. 20 among the best experiences in the U.S.
Check out Tripadvisor’s list of best cultural and historical tours in the U.S.
While in Salem, travelers can also experience another nationally-ranked tour: Schooner Fame Sailing Tour ranked No. 19 on Tripadvisor’s list of America’s best sailing and day cruises. Also on that list: Afternoon Grand Tour in Newport, which ranked No. 20. The No. 1 sailing and day cruise tour is the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard First Lady.
The 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Things To Do Awards were determined by the quality and amount of reviews posted on Tripadvisor between Feb. 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026.
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