The 9 Most Haunted Hotels in Salem Massachusetts
Are you considering staying the night at one of the most haunted hotels in Salem Mass? The Witch City is known for its dark history and haunted locations.
From the witch trials to the history of pirates taking hold of Salem, there are undoubtedly many haunted locations around the city.
Salem is home to more than just haunted hotels and bed and breakfasts. The city is perfect for history lovers who want to sleep in one of Salem’s many historic hotels.
Whether you want ghosts or history, there is a hotel for everyone. Check out the list of the 9 historic and/or most haunted hotels in Salem.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please see my Privacy Policy for more information.
9 Haunted Hotels in Salem Mass
Are you looking at staying the night at one of the most haunted hotels in Salem? The Witch City is known for its dark history and haunted locations.
From the witch trials to the history of pirates taking hold of Salem, there are undoubtedly many haunted locations around the city.
Salem is home to more than just haunted hotels and bed and breakfasts. The city is perfect for history lovers who want to sleep in one of Salem’s many historic hotels.
Whether you want ghosts or history, there is a hotel for everyone. Check out the list of the 9 historic and/or most haunted hotels in Salem.
The Hawthorne Hotel
The Hawthorne Hotel is not only known for being one of the most haunted hotels in Salem, Massachusetts but it is known for being one of the most haunted hotels in the United States.
If you love visiting haunted places in Salem, then a night’s stay at the Hawthorne Hotel should be on your list. There are several resident ghosts, including one of the victims of the Salem witch trials – Bridget Bishop.
Bridget owned an apple orchard that spanned the land between the Hawthorne Hotel and Turner’s Seafood. The sweet smells of apples often waft through the hotel air, which means that Bridget is nearby – also makes the hotel smell amazing.
Lore claims that the two most haunted rooms are Room 325 and Room 612. People have reported seeing the ghost of a woman, while others report seeing eerie mist, missing luggage, lights flickering, water turning on by itself and the sound of a crying baby.
The hotel was built in 1925 and was named after Salem’s most famous author – Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Salem Marine Society once used the building to help the families of men who perished at sea.
There has even been ghostly activity in the nautical basement. Could it be the ghosts of the men who worked at sea that roam the halls of the spooky basement? Could the dead sea captains and mariners’ spirits attach the sea ship décor that lines the hotel’s walls?
If you are staying at the Hawthorne or in Salem in September and October, be sure to attend the Endless Night Salem Vampire Ball, which takes place annually at the Hawthorne Hotel!
Book here: The Hawthorne Hotel
The Salem Inn
Do you want to spend a spooky night in one of the most haunted hotels in Salem? The Salem Inn has a few resident ghosts, including a black cat’s spirit! Who doesn’t want to stay in a hotel that is haunted by a cat?
Not only is the cat often spotted by guests, but one person was using an EVP recording during their stay and heard the faint sounds of meowing when they played it back.
If you want to spend the night in the most haunted room at the hotel, you need to book Room 17. Hotel guests have reported hearing unexplained noises and have discovered their personal belongings going missing or being moved around the room.
During a stay at the hotel, one guest woke up to an orb hovering above her face! Other guests stayed at the hotel for a haunted holiday but experienced no activity – until they were about to leave. They noticed a few items had gone missing, and when they moved their suitcase, they discovered all of the lost items beneath it.
In addition to the ghostly cat, other resident ghosts include a woman named Katherine, who is quite aggressive towards men and a small child who is often heard running up and down the staircase and hallways.
Book here: The Salem Inn
The Merchant
One of the most haunted places in Salem is definitely The Merchant. This haunted hotel was once home to one of the most brutal sheriffs in Salem’s history. Formerly known as the George Corwin House, the hotel is now known to be one of the most haunted hotels in Salem.
The stunningly beautiful and historic hotel has had some famous guests, including George Washington. In fact, you can stay in the room that the first president of the US stayed in when he was visiting Salem.
Several stories of the ghosts haunt The Merchant, including the ghost of George Corwin, who is most well known for being responsible for the pressing of Giles Corey during the witch trials. Corwin was also rumoured to have locked up accused witches and tortured them in the basement prison. To this day, many people believe that the ghosts of former witches also haunt the hotel.
The home also belonged to a post-Revolutionary War sea merchant named Joshua Ward. When he lived in the house, many of his children died, and hotel guests believe that his lost children also haunt a few of the rooms and hallways. People have said they noticed the sounds of running and laughing children throughout the hotel.
Find out more about the ghostly image of a witch that appeared in a photograph when workers were renovating the Merchant in my post about the witch history sites to visit in Salem.
Book here: The Merchant
The Daniels House Inn
If you love staying at historic hotels in Salem, I highly recommend staying at The Daniels House Inn. The bed and breakfast is one of the oldest homes in Salem and was built in the 1600s before the start of the Salem Witch Trials.
The hotel is home to a few friendly ghosts, including the spirit of a gray tabby cat who is often spotted at night. Another ghost, thought to be that of Stephen Daniels, has been seen dressed in Puritan attire while lingering around the Great Room.
The house was built by shipbuilders and mariners and was once used as a day nursery, a boarding house and a tea room filled with antiques.
The history of the Daniels House is incredible! You will hear about how the family lived through the witch trials. You get to explore the historic house. Be on the lookout for a door full of carvings as there is a carving on a door that was used to keep out spirits.
Try to book the room with a fireplace in the bathroom if you want to live a life of luxury.
Not only can you spend the night at The Daniels House, but you can take a guided tour and learn all about the house’s history.
Book here: The Daniels House Guided Tour
Book here: The Daniels House Inn
The Warlock House
Technically, The Warlock House isn’t one of the most haunted hotels in Salem, but it’s cool as hell and perfect for people who love spooky locations. The Warlock House makes you feel like you are experiencing Halloween every day of the year!
The rental house is chock full of Halloween decorations like pumpkin pillows, witch hats and Ouija boards. Plus, it has a haunted hallway that is lit up by the orange glow of candlelight. It’s the perfect place to stay in Salem for Halloween fans.
Book here: The Warlock House
The Morning Glory
Spend the night in an iconic restored Georgian Federal home on a quiet street across from The House of the Seven Gables. The Morning Glory Bed & Breakfast was built in 1808 and features rooms dedicated to some of Salem’s most notable historic residents. Some of the rooms include the Elizabeth Howe Room, the Sarah Good Suite and the Rebecca Nurse Room.
It is an incredible heritage house perfect for history lovers who want to explore Salem while enjoying being away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
While this isn’t known for being one of the most haunted hotels in Salem – a few guests have noted that the house might be home to a spirit or two. However, the bed and breakfast is more for lovers of historic homes in Salem than ghost stories.
Book here: The Morning Glory
Historic Hotels to Stay at in Salem, Massachusetts
Although you came here to find out at the most haunted hotels in Salem – you might not want to spend a night scared of a potential ghost disturbing your sleep. I thought I would include a few historic hotels in Salem for people who want a good night’s sleep.
The Stepping Stone Inn
The Stepping Stone Inn is a Greek revival-style home that was built in 1846 and finished in 1847 by Naval and Customs officer Abraham True. The hotel is one of the best historic hotels in Salem, has loads of history, and even feels slightly eerie.
The inn is located near the Salem Witch Museum and was owned by the True family until Abraham’s wife Francis passed in 1871. Her estate sold the home to Charles Sewall and was used as a single-family home until the 1930s when it was briefly converted into a boarding house.
The house is now the Stepping Stone Inn and is the perfect place to stay in Salem. The inn is home to two friendly and adorable cats and some incredibly gorgeous rooms.
Book here: The Stepping Stone Inn
The Couch House
Spend the night in Salem’s historic hotel, The Coach House. The hotel was built in 1879 and was originally owned by local sea captain Ephraim Augustus Emerton.
The Coach House exudes a Victorian charm and is now one of Salem’s hottest boutique hotels. The rooms are stunning and will make you feel like you are spending the night in the lap of luxury.
The hotel is also located close to the Salem Pioneer Village, which is farther from the more popular localized attractions, but it is just a 20-minute walk (or 5-minute drive) to places like The Witch House.
Book here: The Coach House
Northey Street House
Another fantastic hotel for history lovers in Salem has to go to the Northey Street House. The historic Bed & Breakfast is a 1809 Federal-style home built for Nathaniel Appleton Jr.
The entire bed and breakfast is decked out in nautical-themed decorations, and several of the rooms are dedicated to some of Salem’s former sea captains.
Book here: Northey Street House