Known as “Virginia’s Championship City,” the city of Salem is an integral part of Virginia’s Blue Ridge.
In addition to its reputation of hosting first-class sporting events, the city features a charming downtown that combines historical elements with exciting new development, delicious food & drink scene, and rich arts & cultural amenities.
Check out the pages below to learn more about the city of Salem.
Framed by mountains, Salem offers a beautiful setting for your next vacation in Virginia’s Blue Ridge, and its convenient access to Interstate 81 enables it to serve as a great spot for an overnight stay while passing through the region. See lodging options in Salem >
In Downtown Salem, visitors can enjoy experiences such as antique shopping, checking out local goods at the Salem Farmers Market, grabbing a craft beer at Olde Salem Brewing Company, or chowing down on the famous calzones at Mac & Bob’s Restaurant.
Download: Map of Downtown Salem >
Salem is also the home of Roanoke College - a four-year liberal arts college that has been named one of the best colleges in America by the Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine.
Salem is the location of some of the region’s most popular annual events, including the Salem Fair, Olde Salem Days, and the Salem Half Marathon.
We hope you’re also ready to cheer when you visit Salem! As Virginia’s Championship City, the city is home to the Salem Red Sox minor league baseball team and also hosts numerous NCAA Championships and amateur sporting events throughout the year.
Find more resources to help you plan a visit to Salem by using the City of Salem's Tourism website - visitsalemva.com >
Population: 25,346 (as of 2020 Census)
Education: 4 Public Elementary Schools, 1 Public Middle School, 1 Public High School - Salem High School
District: 9th Congressional District
Type of Government: City Council & Manger
Land Area: 14.6 square miles
Information about shopping, recreation, events, restaurants, and lodging in the City of Salem in Virginia's Blue Ridge.
Explore the history, culture, and local flavors of Main Street in Downtown Salem!
Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge 101 Shenandoah Avenue NE Roanoke, VA 24016 (540) 342-6025 (800) 635-5535
Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge is committed to cultivating an atmosphere that welcomes and celebrates the unique backgrounds, abilities, passions, and perspectives of our vibrant community. As our region’s only destination marketing organization, we have a responsibility to showcase the best the Roanoke Region has to offer, and those assets and strengths come in varied forms. We embrace differences in race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, language, visible and invisible disabilities, and all the intersecting identities that make Virginians and visitors alike so unique. We believe our differences make us stronger– and better.