A Day Trip to Salem Without a Car 🚆🧙‍♀️

As someone who hates looking for parking, I tried exploring Salem car-free — and it was surprisingly easy! I took the commuter rail from North Station 🚉, and in just about 30 minutes, I arrived in Salem. On weekends, the unlimited one-day pass costs only $10 — such a steal! From the Salem station, it’s less than a 10-minute walk to the main street, Essex Street — the heart of all the action. My main goal was visiting the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) 🏛️. I booked my ticket online in advance, which included access to Yin Yu Tang — the beautifully preserved Chinese Huizhou-style house. ⚠️ Tip: If you want to see Yin Yu Tang, you must reserve a time slot when purchasing your ticket. Note that it’s currently under renovation (until 2026), so parts are covered — but it’s still worth a visit! While much of PEM’s collection focuses on American colonial history (which isn’t really my thing), I absolutely loved the contemporary exhibits on the second floor — especially the geometric light installations and fashion displays 💡👗. I spent about 2.5 hours exploring the entire museum. Essex Street is lined with fun, witchy shops that made me feel like I was at Universal Studios 🎪! There are also several witch-themed museums nearby, with tickets around $15–20. I also strolled down to the harbor — you can even catch a boat ride from there ⛵️. Salem’s dark, mystical vibe is strong even outside Halloween season. I bet it’s even more magical at night! I might just make a return trip for Halloween this year 🎃✨. #Salem #WitchCity #DayTrip #NoCarNeeded #TravelTips #NewEngland