Salem travel guide
Salem Tourism | Salem Guide
You're Going to Love Salem
With a population of 154,637, Salem is a must-see destination in Oregon, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Salem deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Salem
Where to Eat in Salem
If you’re looking for affordable options, Bentley's Grill - The Grand Hotel in Salem (291 Liberty Street SE) and DaVinci Ristorante & Wine Bar (180 High Street SE) are great picks. For delicious green meals, The Cozy Taberna (249 Liberty St NE #140) and Paradiso at the Grand Theatre (195 High St NE) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Salem.
When to visit Salem
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Salem in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in December, when precipitation is around 6.9″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Salem, with an average rainfall of 0.5″.
How to Get to Salem
Plane
Although Salem doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Portland Airport (PDX), which is located 50 miles from Salem. Portland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Salem departs from Las Vegas and takes around 2h 17m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Salem. The train journey from Salem to Salem takes 1h 24m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Eugene, expect to pay about $18 for a 2h 35m trip. The train station in Salem is called Salem, and is located 0.8 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Salem is to pick up a car rental from Seattle, which is about 187 miles from Salem. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Kyte, among others, in Seattle.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Salem, including FlixBus, Greyhound and Amtrak. From Eugene, the bus ride to Salem takes 175 miles and will cost you around $28. From Seattle, the ticket costs about $53 for a journey of 215 miles.
Airlines serving Salem
Where to stay in Salem
Average rates range from around $246 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $264 and up for a 5-star experience.
Where to stay in popular areas of Salem
Most booked hotels in Salem
Renting a car in Salem
Renting a car in Salem costs $56 per day, on average, or $113 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in Salem.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Salem (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Salem is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chrysler 200 or similar) are, on average, 67% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.