The Best Hotels in Salem, Massachusetts

Sample Salem’s historical past by booking a room in this restored Georgian Federal home, built around 1808. The immaculate B&B sits in a quiet residential area, near the House of the Seven Gables and a short stroll from the harbor. There are three opulent rooms with individual touches, including fireplaces, antique beds and beamed cathedral ceilings, and the B&B offers free transport from the ferry and train station, along with the use of the expansive roof deck with ocean views.

Built by a sea captain in 1667, this quirky property is the oldest B&B in Salem. It has been thoughtfully restored but retains its open hearth fireplaces, exposed beams and paneled walls. The four guest rooms include the shabby chic Marion Room and the popular Great Room, with its large wood-burning fireplace and king-size four-poster bed. Breakfast is available in the old parlor, and the B&B offers regular tours of the house and the city.

Book the very same room a newly elected George Washington once slept in at this stylishly renovated boutique hotel. It might sit inside an 18th-century Federal-style building, but it’s up to date with Apple TV, gas fireplaces, USB chargers, Tivoli Bluetooth radios, waffle kimono robes and heated bathroom floors, making it one of the best places to stay in Salem. You’ll also be treated to breakfast daily, a second-floor deck, snacks and coffee all day, a happy-hour mixer for BYOB cocktails and exclusive discounts at nearby shops and restaurants.

This regal building in the heart of Salem was built for Amelia and Edward Payson in 1845 and is just a stroll away from the acclaimed Peabody Essex Museum and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. There are three bedrooms, a formal dining room, an outside deck with a gas firepit, pristine gardens and a guest lounge with a Keurig coffee maker, complimentary bottled water and snacks. Children are allowed to stay, but they must be over the age of 12.

Once an upmarket clothing shop, this 44-room boutique hotel on the North Shore is inspired by vintage retail stores, with quirky additions from the ’50s and ’60s throughout the interior. There’s an option to suit every traveler, from micro-rooms for anyone watching their budget to lavish loft suites that can sleep four. Don’t miss the cocktails, oysters and tacos at the Roof, the only seasonal rooftop bar and restaurant in Salem.

Sightseers won’t have to go far to explore the top attractions in Salem, as this Hampton Inn is within walking distance of the Salem Witch Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum and the House of the Seven Gables. Shops and restaurants are also nearby, so you can easily head out for the day after a complimentary breakfast. The hotel has a gym, an indoor pool and a business center; valet parking is available for an extra cost.

The Salem Inn – a rival for any of the luxury hotels in Salem – comprises three stately properties featuring 40 rooms in total, and all include a lavish complimentary breakfast and parking. The West House was built in 1834 by Captain Nathaniel West and is resplendent with antiques and fireplaces; it’s also the only pet-friendly inn in Salem. The Curwen House is an Italianate Revival home designed for adults only, offering suites with whirlpool baths and complimentary sherry. If you’re traveling with family, book the Peabody House, which has suites with kitchenettes.

Named after American author Nathaniel Hawthorne and built in the 1920s, this grand hotel has 93 chic guest rooms and is one of Salem’s top hotels. When you’re hungry, you don’t have to go far, as the hotel has two restaurants. The oak-paneled Tavern serves New England pub classics by the wood-burning fireplace, while the light-filled Nathaniel’s Restaurant is more formal and features a baby grand piano, brass gramophone and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s portrait. Don’t miss its legendary jazz brunch with live music, bloody marys and its trademark seafood benedict.

Downtown Salem may be within walking distance, but this contemporary hotel on Pickering Wharf feels like a glamorous waterfront retreat. It has an indoor heated pool, a gift shop and a shuttle service to take you to the wharf; it’s also home to the Regatta Pub, complete with an outdoor firepit. It’s the only hotel in Salem with a private marina, staffed all day in season so that you can sail right in and start your holiday in style.

Make yourself at home in Salem by booking an apartment within a century-old house on Dow Street on the North Shore. All of them have three bedrooms, making them ideal for larger groups or families, and come with full kitchens for keeping costs down during your visit. Parking is also included, and pets are welcome. Attractions such as the Salem Witch Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum are a short walk away.