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Best New Orleans Tours

There are so many ways to behold new orleans, a city of infinite possibilities.

Whether you want to explore history or haunts, shopping or swamps, food or just have fun, there’s a tour for you with a locals’ perspective.  Pick your passion or simply get to know New Orleans from a new point of view.  Either way, diving a little deeper into the city’s stories and culture will reveal so much more left to discover. So follow your NOLA with one or more of these excursions.

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City Sightseeing New Orleans: Your Gateway to the Best City Vibes!

See you on the top-deck, ticket packages.

3-TOUR UNLIMITED PACKAGE

• 3-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
• Stops Near All Major Sights
• Live Guide in English
• Guided French Quarter Walking Tour
• Guided Garden District Walking Tour

2-TOUR EXPERIENCE PACKAGE

• 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

1-DAY HOP-ON HOP-OFF

• 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

CITY SIGHTSEEING NEW ORLEANS

City Sightseeing New Orleans is the most entertaining, informative, and fun City Tour you can find that offers transportation approximately every 30 minutes on an exhilarating open-top, double-decker bus!

HOP-ON! and in a single 1-hour 30-minute loop, experience a complete City Tour — 3 centuries of history, architecture, and culture narrated live in English by your very own Tour Host – see the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD.

HOP-OFF! at any stop along the way and explore New Orleans most popular neighborhoods, attractions, and shopping districts – or – take advantage of our Guided Walking Tours in the Garden District and French Quarter, included in the 2-Tour and 3-Tour Package or sold separately.

See the city at your own pace, the next bus is less than 30 minutes away!

HOP-ON HOP-OFF NEW ORLEANS TOUR FEATURES

Tour at your own pace, live guided city tour, buses visit each stop, every 25 minutes, daily tours, french quarter walking tours, garden district walking tours, deals and discounts along the way, bus tracking app, group tickets, private tours, sightseeing attractions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Hop-On Hop-Off tour buses operate from 9:30am to 5:30pm, 7-Days a week. First Service at each stop will be between 9:30am and 10:00am. Board by 4:00pm from Any Stop for Full Loop tour.

Tour service closes at 5:30pm – You should board around 4:00pm if wanting to return to a particular stop.

Yes, on a few days each year, city-wide street closures impact our route and we are unable to operate. Here are the upcoming 2022 and 2023 Black Out Dates:

• Mardi Gras – No Tours on the 5 Daytime Parade Days (two Saturdays, two Sundays, and Mardi Gras Tuesday).
• Mardi Gras – Limited Services are provided on the 5 Parade Nights where streets are closed to vehicles between 3pm and 4pm .

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Awesome Adventures

Cemetery bus adventure, beyond the music: treme & congo square, original cajun food tour, french quarter bike tour, manchac magic kayak tour, ghost, voodoo, vampire and french quarter tour, unlocking bourbon street, lee harvey oswald and the jfk conspiracy tour, whitney plantation tour, new orleans sauce class, french quarter breakfast tour, louisiana kayak fishing, new orleans roux class, best chefs of new orleans food tour, french quarter history & cocktail tour, dr. gumbo's cocktail history tour, nola nightlife ride, creole odyssey bicycle tour, garden district & lafayette cemetery walking tour, oak alley plantation tour, magazine street foodie tour, louisiana sauce class, twilight tour, 5 star garden district tour, ghost tour and haunted pub crawl party, breaux bridge food tour, french quarter ghosts & legends tour, french quarter historical tour, dr. gumbo's combo cocktail and food history tour, ghosts of the french quarter tour, highlights of new orleans tour - 5 hours, spooky tour, french quarter hauntings & history, mafia, murder, sex and all that jazz, nola music tour, haunted pub crawl, culinary history tour, pedal bike barge cruise, 3 hour city tour, new orleans swamp tour, new orleans cemetery tour, creole kids tour, nola drunken history tour, cemetery & garden district tour, 5-in-1 new orleans ghost & mystery tour, new orleans traditions cooking class, swamp & plantation tour, dr. gumbo's food history tour, eat like a local - bywater food & art tour, ghost walking tour, heart of the city downtown bicycle tour, new orleans nightlife & live music tour, gondola tour, kayak swamp tour, new orleans plantation tour | 5 hours, american adventure bicycle tour, combo plantation tour, garden district history & food tour, vip city tour, highlights of new orleans tour - 3 hours, around the world in acadiana taste tour, french quarter: drunk & haunted, french quarter photo shoot, louisiana swamp photography tour, paddle & plantation tour, beyond the bayou swamp tour, raven's omen, french quarter and garden district bike tour, new orleans brunch cooking class, laura plantation tour, tours & activities in nola.

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First Timer's Guide to New Orleans First Timer's Guide to New Orleans

Welcome to New Orleans, also known as The Crescent City or The Big Easy. Diverse cultures mix in this Louisiana hub which celebrates life through music, food, and festivals. There’s so much to see—these are our must-do recommendations.

New Orleans is the city of jazz and home to brass bands that play in Jackson Square in the shadow of St. Louis Cathedral. It's also where you’ll also find endless charming cafés, art galleries, and boutiques. Join the party on the neon-lit Bourbon Street, shop the antique stores on Royal Street, or wander down to the banks of the Mississippi River. Buildings that date back two and three centuries can be seen in the city's beautiful and historic French Quarter—the beating heart of New Orleans.

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See world-class musicians every night at the jazz clubs along Frenchmen Street, where it’s easy to bounce between venues. Two recommends? Fritzel’s European Jazz Bar and Preservation Hall, both famous music hot spots in the French Quarter. Good to know: the city’s incredible brass bands often take to the streets but look out for them in the clubs, too.

From simple red beans and rice to high-end tasting menus, no city loves its food like New Orleans. Creole and Cajun dishes are the most popular, and you’ll find gumbo and jambalaya everywhere. Stop at Cafe du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait, grab a muffuletta sandwich from Central Grocery, or find a crawfish boil at a neighborhood bar. Oysters, po’boys, and turtle soup are local classics—consider taking a cooking class to learn how to make them.

New Orleans is best known for its iconic Mardi Gras celebrations, many of which make their way through the French Quarter. From the first week in January until the start of Lent, parades take over the city. However, there are festivals year-round in New Orleans. In spring, Jazz Fest attracts world-famous musicians, or, you can join the locals for food and live music at French Quarter Fest. The city also goes all in for Halloween as New Orleans is known to be haunted.

Exploring downtown New Orleans is easy to do on foot or with a sightseeing bus tour. Also worth exploring is the Marigny neighborhood, filled with cute coffee shops, impressive art at Studio Be, and the tranquil riverside greenery of Crescent Park. And Treme is one of the country’s most historic African-American neighborhoods. Jazz evolved right there in Congo Square, and here you can find authentic Creole restaurants after a relaxing stroll through Louis Armstrong Park.

Bourbon Street is a world-famous party center where you can find cheap drinks, karaoke, live music, and adult entertainment. Join the locals by exploring beyond the neon signs along Saint Claude Avenue, home to lively spots with some outstanding local talent. The AllWays Lounge and HiHo Lounge put on exciting burlesque, drag, variety and comedy shows, and Siberia showcases all kinds of bands. You can also catch touring Broadway shows at the historic Saenger Theater.

The colorful street murals in the Marigny hint at the incredible artistic talent that resides in NOLA. New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) holds its own against any big city gallery, with a collection that includes works by Degas, Picasso, and Renoir. The museum has an outstanding outdoor sculpture garden, too. Discover regional artistic highlights at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the Contemporary Arts Center.

New Orleans is home to the National World War II Museum, largely due to the fact that the vital Higgins Landing Craft was built here. The museum houses an array of comprehensive exhibits, including actual aircraft and weaponry. If you want to travel even further back in time, visit Chalmette Battlefield where you can see canons and monuments to the War of 1812.

New Orleans is built on bayous and swampland, and the natural wetlands just outside the city are easy to explore. The best way to do this is with an expert guide on a Honey Island Swamp tour. You're likely to see a variety of wading birds, turtles, nutria, and of course, the resident alligators. Don’t worry, bayou gators are relatively docile, and your guide can get you up close for the best photo opportunities.

City Park is a sprawling green space, 50% bigger than Central Park in New York. Its most famous attractions are the centuries-old mature live oak trees, including the Dueling Oaks, where men would settle disputes back in the 19th century. You can also enjoy rolling along the Mississippi River on an old-fashioned steamboat cruise for beautiful views and live jazz.

Protect Your Trip »

The 12 best ghost tours in new orleans for 2024.

Hear chilling tales of the city's paranormal activity on one of these guided tours.

Best New Orleans Ghost Tours

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Often referred to as the most haunted city in America, New Orleans is filled with stories of ghosts, Voodoo, magic, pirates, vampires and more. There's no better way to learn about the city's haunted history than on a guided ghost tour, where local experts share their insider knowledge. U.S. News compiled this list of the top New Orleans ghost tours, considering traveler sentiment and expert opinion.

Ghost City Tours – The Ghosts of New Orleans Tour

Price: Adults from $25; kids from $10 Duration: 1.5 hours

During Ghost City Tours' Ghosts of New Orleans Tour, guides lead visitors on a walk to some of the most haunted locations in the French Quarter, including restaurants, hotels and the infamous LaLaurie Mansion. Despite its recounting of the city's gruesome crimes and murders, the tour is considered kid-friendly. And according to reviewers, the experience is both informative and entertaining for all ages.

Tours are offered nightly at 8 p.m.; additional tours at 4 and 6 p.m. may be available as well (offerings vary by day). Other experiences from this tour outfitter include adults-only tours like a haunted pub crawl and a Killers and Thrillers tour, which focuses on the city's most notorious crimes and murders.

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French Quarter Phantoms – Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour

Price: Adults from $22; kids from $5 Duration: 2 hours

Tourists enjoy a double dose of spooky tales regarding local hauntings and vampire lore on this tour with French Quarter Phantoms. Tours are led by licensed guides who revel in talking about disease, disaster, sinister spirits and murder in the city. That said, guides promise the thrills are mixed in with lots of laughs. According to visitors, the guides are excellent, funny and entertaining. What's more, reviewers describe the walking tour as family-friendly.

Tours are offered nightly at 6 and 8 p.m. French Quarter Phantoms runs other tours in New Orleans , including outings to Tremé and the Garden District, among other neighborhoods.

Witches Brew Tours – 3 in 1 French Quarter, Voodoo & Cemetery History Tour

Price: Adults from $33; kids from $20 Duration: 2 hours

If you're on the hunt for a tour that covers the history of the French Quarter, the city's unique above-ground cemeteries and its relationship to Voodoo, reviewers say you can't go wrong with this tour. Along the excursion, your guide will discuss New Orleans customs, traditions, architecture and superstitions, and take you to visit a cemetery, where you'll learn about the city's unique interment process. You'll also hear about the history of Voodoo and visit Congo Square, located in Louis Armstrong Park.

The tour is offered daily at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The tour is capped at 28 people, and reservations are required. For even more spine-chilling tales, consider the company's 4 in 1 tour, which includes stories of vampires in the Crescent City.

Courtesy of Royal Carriages

Royal Carriages – New Orleans History & Haunts Carriage Tour

Price: Adults from $60; kids from $40 Duration: 1 hour

Climb aboard a mule-drawn carriage to clip-clop through the streets of the French Quarter on the New Orleans History & Haunts Carriage Tour. Tourgoers will learn about haunted hotels, Voodoo history, vampires and more as they ride slowly through the quarter. Reviewers appreciate the knowledgeable guides and the relaxed pace of this small group tour, which is capped at eight passengers.

Tours are offered seven days a week at multiple times between 3 and 10:30 p.m. Royal Carriages also offers a daytime history tour of the French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods, as well as private carriage rides.

Haunted History Tours – French Quarter Ghosts & Legends Tour

Price: Adults from $30; kids from $20 Duration: 2 hours

The French Quarter Ghosts & Legends Tour visits sites of documented hauntings found in police records, city archives and the company's own paranormal investigations. Along the way, guides share entertaining tales of the French Quarter's most famous residents. Reviewers praise the guides for their storytelling abilities. They also appreciate the emphasis on history throughout the tour.

Tours are offered daily at 3, 6 and 8 p.m. Ghost tours of the Garden District, haunted pub crawls and cemetery tours are also available.

Free Tours By Foot – New Orleans Voodoo Tour

Price: Free Duration: 1.5 hours

On the New Orleans Voodoo Tour, participants will learn about this mysterious and often misunderstood religion, which is still practiced today. Guides will talk about the history, culture and beliefs of both past and current practitioners, including the famous Voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Highlights include visits to Congo Square, the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum and modern Voodoo shrines, among others. Visitors praise the excellent and informative guides.

Tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Though tourgoers can name their own price, reservations are required. Free Tours By Foot offers a variety of walking tours with ghost, cemetery and food themes.

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New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours – Haunted Pub Crawl

Price: From $32 Duration: 2 hours

Led by New Orleans historians, the Haunted Pub Crawl aims to teach visitors the historical origins of the city's most legendary ghost stories. Tourgoers visit locations investigated by real ghost hunters (as seen on popular TV shows), all with a drink in hand. According to reviewers, this is the perfect way to explore New Orleans thanks to the insightful, humorous guides. Highlights include the LaLaurie Mansion, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and tales of the French Quarter's haunted past.

Tours meet nightly at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Participants must be at least 21 years old to join the tour. The company also offers tours that visit the city's most famous cemeteries, as well as Voodoo and vampire tours.

New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours – Ghost Tour

Price: Adults from $28; kids from $17 Duration: 2 hours

When you wander through the French Quarter with New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours, guides promise to thrill and chill you with tales of haunted buildings, events, legends and true crimes dating back to the Civil War. You'll learn about hauntings at the Andrew Jackson Hotel, the Ursuline Convent and Muriel's Jackson Square, as well as the yellow fever epidemic and Marie Laveau. You'll even hear about the city's present-day paranormal activity. According to visitors, the experience is informative and lots of fun, thanks to the engaging tour guides.

Tours run daily at 5:30 and 8 p.m. For a break from the ghost stories, consider the company's Garden District tour.

New Orleans Secrets – Mysteries of Voodoo Tour

Price: From $39 Duration: 2 hours

On the Mysteries of Voodoo Tour, guides promise to tell you the true history, culture and beliefs of Voodoo and dispel the myths surrounding it. Guides are either Voodoo practitioners or have spent years studying the religion academically, and they'll cover topics related to Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, slavery, spells, dolls, potions and much more. The tour is limited to nine people, so you can ask all the questions you like – an aspect visitors appreciate. In addition, you'll have the chance to see more than a dozen real Voodoo shrines and altars at several locations throughout the French Quarter.

Tours are generally offered Wednesday through Sunday at 1 or 3 p.m., depending on the day. The company also operates several food and history tours.

Courtesy of Gray Line New Orleans

Gray Line – Ghosts & Spirits Walking Tour

Price: Adults from $27; kids from $15 Duration: 2 hours

Explore the French Quarter's most haunted buildings, streets and alleys on this evening walking tour. Between stops, your guide will regale you with stories of local legend and paranormal sightings. Reviewers recommend this tour, praising the informative, personable guides. Travelers also appreciate that guides weave in a fair amount of interesting New Orleans history throughout the tour.

Tours depart nightly at 7 p.m. from the Gray Line ticket office in the French Quarter. The excursion is not recommended for kids younger than 10. Hoping to explore beyond the French Quarter? Gray Line operates a variety of day trips to nearby swamps and plantations .

Unique NOLA Tours – Lewd Spirits Tour

Price: From $37 Duration: 2 hours

Hear risqué tales of adultery, murder and mayhem on this tour of the French Quarter, which stops at three bars, including a former brothel. Reviewers applaud the knowledgeable guides for their humor and storytelling abilities. Travelers also enjoy the bars visited.

Tours, which are restricted to adults 21 and older, depart nightly at 5 and 8 p.m. Note that drinks are not included in the ticket price. If you're traveling with kids and looking for an activity the whole family can enjoy, the company also offers a kid-friendly ghost tour, among other options.

Hottest Hell Tours – Walking the Devil's Empire Tour

Many reviewers called this tour the highlight of their New Orleans trip thanks to the excellent guides, who travelers describe as "master storytellers." Along the stroll, you'll hear stories of true crime, Voodoo, vampires and ghosts, passing landmarks like Congo Square, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and the St. Germain House, one of the city's most photographed homes that was allegedly once home to a vampire. You can also upgrade to "Hell Vision" – a handheld projector that you can use to see historical documents, photos and more while on tour.

Tours depart nightly at 5 and 8 p.m. This is an adults-only experience; children are not allowed. Hottest Hell Tours also operates walking tours of the city's former red-light district (Storyville) and a Voodoo tour, among other options.

You may also be interested in:

• Best Things to Do in New Orleans
• Best Louisiana Swamp Tours
• Best Savannah Ghost Tours
• Hauntingly Abandoned Places You Can Still Visit
• The Most Haunted Hotels in America
• Best Historical Cities to Visit in the USA

Tags: New Orleans , Tours , Vacations , Travel , Louisiana Vacations , US Vacations , Southeast Vacations

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5 of the best New Orleans Airboat Tours

Make your time in New Orleans a whole new kind of thrilling, while getting closer to nature, on these top airboat tours.

(Photo: Getyourguide.com)

New Orleans sits near the Mississippi River delta, where a vast network of bayous, lakes and wetlands crisscross the fringes of America before succumbing to the Gulf of Mexico. With so much water around, sometimes the best, and often the only, way to get from one place to another is by boat. With sea levels on the rise, this method of transport will only become more necessary than ever. Some airboat tours ply the extensive network of waterways around the New Orleans, while others incorporate other sights into the tour. Here are our favorite five.

Swamp Tours South of New Orleans by Airboat

For a chance to spend two hours winding along the cypress-lined waterways of the Lafitte wetlands at Bayou Barataria, check out this popular ride from Airboat Adventures. You’ll see plenty of wildlife along the way, including alligators (two of which are albino), turtles, snakes and plenty of water birds, such as ibis, egrets and herons. These airboats are large, holding up to 30 people. The prices do not include transport to the dock from New Orleans, although this can be added onto your ticket. From $59 per person.

Book at Getyourguide.com

New Orleans High-Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

Get a swampy thrill on a high-speed airboat ride on this two-hour tour. Taking up to 16 passengers, the boat alternates between speeds of up to 35 miles per hour and virtual standstill, once reaching areas where the wilderness becomes particularly fascinating. Professional guides help lend context to the flora and fauna, that’s if the alligators don’t first come and introduce themselves. The fan-propelled boat can get to areas of the swamp that would be inaccessible by any other means. From $63 per person.

New Orleans High Speed 6-9 Passenger Airboat Tour

With passengers limited to only nine people, there is a much more personalized feel to this New Orleans swamp tour. Over the course of two hours the boat will explore varied waterways, including swamp, lake and marshland. The emphasis of this tour is to discover local wildlife, getting nice and close to large reptiles and fascinating birdlife along the way. Although there are no guarantees with the wild, it is highly likely that alligators will appear. From $82 per person.

Small-Group Swamp Tour by Airboat with New Orleans Pickup

For travelers who don’t have any way of getting out to the start points of some of the other tours, this is a great option as downtown hotel pickup in New Orleans is included. The tour itself will last two hours (not including transfers to and from New Orleans). Your guide will help unlock the mysteries of the local flora and fauna, including alligators, which will be clearly abundant on all sides once the airboat gets moving. Group numbers on the boats are kept low. From $102 per person.

Book at Viator.com

Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch from New Orleans

It’s worth remembering that there are plenty of other great sights around New Orleans, and some of them can be combined with an airboat tour. In this example, you can pair a short airboat ride with guided tours of two different plantations. Start the day with a scenic narrated history of New Orleans, before discovering the teeming wildlife of a swamp environment from the comfort of your airboat. Then visit Laura and Houmas House plantations, and enjoy a Cajun lunch served at the latter. From $230 per person.

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13 Absolute Best Food Tours In New Orleans

The city of New Orleans can best be described as a food lover's paradise. Its rich and cultured past has paved the way for an eclectic and diverse food scene to rival all others in the country. In the Big Easy, everything is iconic, from fresh seafood out of the Gulf Coast to delicious drinks that fuel the festivities and sweet treats that many tourists travel far and wide to sample. The city's unique blend of cultures gives rise to exclusive dishes, drawing visitors from across the globe to savor unforgettable cuisine and create lasting memories.

When visiting a new city, it's often wise to let a tour guide tote you around to the most serene, signature spots on your checklist. When New Orleans is the destination, tourists should never leave before booking a food tour to open their eyes to tastes outside the tourist district. We all know to indulge in cajun gumbo and beignets. However, lesser-known New Orleans classics like hearty red beans and rice and yakamein soup are often overlooked by travelers. A food-focused tour ensures a taste of the renowned favorites of the city, while unveiling hidden gems beyond the staples of The French Quarter, where authentic Cajun and Creole flavors come to life. Using personal experience and research methods, this list sums up the best food tours to make your New Orleans vacation unconventional and, therefore, spectacular.

Doctor Gumbo

Ever been on a boring tour? Doctor Gumbo Tours  implore guests to forget their preconceived notions about standard tours, with bored, blasé tour guides reading off lists and going through the motions. Doctor Gumbo boasts "a cure for the common tour" with food-focused walking tours that are designed to be both fun and informative. Meet new friends and explore the ins and outs of the most vibrant city in America. Whether you choose the food history tour or strictly cocktails while you walk along the streets of New Orleans' revered French Quarter, you're in for an experience that will have you swooning over the Big Easy.

Doctor Gumbo's food history tour allows visitors to dine in five iconic New Orleans locations, including some centuries-old establishments that are household names in the city. You'll discover dishes like seafood-rich gumbo, savory boudin balls, and the best muffuletta in Nola . Enjoy your leisurely stroll through the city streets, enjoying jazz performances and exploring various restaurants. There are plenty of opportunities for candy shop stops and hot sauce store tours so that you can pick up some classic New Orleans souvenirs along the way.

Sidewalk Food Tours

Food is the name of the game for Sidewalk Tours . The company specializes in a variety of food-themed tours to accommodate all visitors. Learn about the neighborhoods of The French Quarter and the Lower Garden District while you sample the flavors that put the city on the map as a culinary hotspot. Sidewalk tour guides are friendly and laidback, so instead of feeling like a structured tour with a strict itinerary, this experience is more like a casual stroll through a beautiful city that leaves guests with a full belly and fond memories to last a lifetime.

Choose whether you'd like to explore The French Quarter or the less famous but equally impressive Lower Garden District with Sidewalk tours. For The Quarter tour, choose five locations, including Leah's Pralines — arguably the best place for iconic sweets in New Orleans — and Felix's Oyster Bar, where you can sample freshly shucked oysters fresh from the Mississippi River. Opt for the Garden District tour to explore locations such as the famous sandwich shop Turkey and the Wolf and Juan's Flying Burrito, the world's first Creole taqueria. Sidewalk Tours also offers private and corporate tours.

Let a bona fide local tote you around the Garden District with Bon Moment tours. Whether you'd like a guided bar crawl or a tour that will satiate your appetite, Bon Moment is an ideal choice for a small group looking for an intimate, in-depth New Orleans culinary experience. This tour focuses heavily on small businesses, meaning you might sacrifice stops at some famous chains. Still, in exchange, you'll be supporting the local economy of the city you've been longing to visit.

Bon Moment's tour guide will educate you on the history of the neighborhoods that you're touring before and after you indulge in some iconic NOLA food and beverages. Take the company's Bywater food and drink tour to do New Orleans like a local. Drink in a dive bar and grab po '  boys at the corner deli while you admire street art and listen to live music in this up-and-coming part of town. Bon Moment also offers tours of The Garden District and a nightlife tour on Frenchman Street, where you can party like the locals do.

Guided Underground Donut and Beignet Tour

Those who are unfamiliar with the city may not think of donuts and sweet treats when they think about the culinary scene of New Orleans (usually fishy food and booze are what come to mind). But locals know all too well the addictive nature of New Orleans-style beignets and other soft and sugary NOLA treats. On the  Guided Underground  donut and beignet tour, you'll get to indulge in a different way than everyone else partying in the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday. Guided Underground's tour takes visitors through the neighborhoods of Magazine Street — an area to explore that tourists don't often add to their itinerary. Yet for New Orleans locals, Magazine is the go-to spot for culinary delights, refreshing drinks, lively parties, and an all-encompassing good time.

On the tour, you'll visit four pastry shops, enjoying the best beignets the city has to offer with a cup of chicory-laced café au lait in hand. You'll try the classics as well as seasonal donuts loaded with local ingredients unique to the city. The tour promises to finish with a fun surprise, so book this distinguished food tour on your next New Orleans excursion to enjoy something off the beaten path.

New Orleans Secrets

So you've tried gumbo, beignets, and rum-rich hurricanes — now what? There's a lot more to the New Orleans foodie scene than just the classics that we can all name off the top of our heads. New Orleans Secrets aims to shed some light on the lesser-known delights that the city has to offer and leave the gumbo to the novices. The company's Magazine Street Foodie Tour  includes six stops with seven menu items to enjoy. The experience is anything but a tasting tour and more like a full day of indulgence. You can certainly check this eclectic meal off as one of the best you'll ever have in New Orleans and beyond.

The New Orleans Secrets foodie tour leaves guests in suspense by staying true to its name and keeping the restaurants a surprise until the tour begins. So for an adventurous foodie who loves to throw all caution to the wind and embrace a mouth-watering, savory meal in any and all forms, this tour is a must-experience. Guests will stroll for a half mile down Magazine Street, enjoying the sights, sounds, and — most importantly — flavors of the city.

Destination Kitchen

Considered one of the best in the Crescent City, Destination Kitchen offers tours to suit any group. Whether you're on a cocktail-laden girl's trip or a family-friendly vacation, a culinary tour by Destination Kitchen will please everyone in your group by showcasing the best of the best in New Orleans cuisine. Amble through The French Quarter during Destination Kitchen's walking food tour, perfect for first-time visitors. On this tour, you can sample gumbo and other iconic dishes, as well as "make groceries" (otherwise known as "shop for tasty treats" in New Orleans language). This tour includes a stop at the city's famous French Market, where you can choose any seafood meal you can fathom and grab a cold beverage to ease the sticky Louisiana heat.

For a more intimate and unconventional experience, opt for Destination Kitchen's walking tour and cooking class. At nearly six hours, this tour turns the culinary world of New Orleans into a fun day of gastronomic bliss. Visit the most famous eateries in the city and learn about their impact on New Orleans culture, all while sampling beloved dishes. Then, enjoy an entertaining and informative cooking demonstration at the New Orleans Cooking School, complete with a full lunch.

Taste of Nawlins

Let Taste of Nawlins  take you on an educational epicurean excursion through the French Quarter. Don't let the quirky phonetic spelling in this tour's name fool you — the company promises to take you and your guests on a dignified journey through the famed culinary landscape of New Orleans as it was meant to be experienced. You'll learn the history of iconic dishes like jambalaya and gumbo , as well as the story behind the historical buildings that line the streets of The Quarter. On this tour, you'll meet the locals who keep New Orleans's food scene alive and thriving, providing a hearty dose of sweet Southern culture to accompany the savory meals you'll enjoy.

If you're after a tour that offers a little something beyond the classics, take the Taste of Nawlins breakfast tour. On this excursion, you'll start your day with a full New Orleans-style breakfast in a popular restaurant on Decatur Street before you head out for an early morning educational adventure. You'll learn about food, architecture, and the French history that made this Gulf Coast cuisine among the most revered in the country.

The Premier New Orleans Food Tour

Lead by two New Orleans locals with a fiery passion for The Big Easy's eclectic charm, the Premier New Orleans food tour is sure to impress even the pickiest of palettes. Naif and Sandy — two lifelong Louisiana residents — will be your knowledgeable and quirky guides on the culinary circuit. Both Naif and Sandy are former educators and cooking aficionados, making them the perfect guides for those who want to learn about New Orleans food history with delightful Southern friendliness.

The Premier New Orleans French Quarter tasting tour leads guests along the historical streets to taste the best po' boys in New Orleans — stuffed with meat or seafood and dressed to the nines — all while learning the myriad differences between Cajun and Creole cuisine. Tour five different locations in the French Quarter at a leisurely pace while your guide answers any questions you may have about the food or historical sites that you'll visit. The Premier New Orleans Food Tour offers tours for small and large groups, as well as private tours.

Intrepid Urban Adventures

Intrepid Urban Adventures  employs a network of tour guides all over the world to host food-centric and other themed excursions in cities spanning every continent. In New Orleans, Intrepid Urban Adventures hosts a small tour that brings out the foodie in every Big Easy visitor. Meet your tour guide at Jackson Square, and then stop at four mouth-watering stops in the French Quarter. On this tour, the more famous eateries are cast aside in favor of New Orleans's hidden gem establishments. Enjoy dishes from restaurants that tourists otherwise would overlook if not for a knowledgeable, local guide to show them how to eat like a resident in The Quarter.

Intrepid Urban Adventures tour guides are full of energy and dedication to their city, and their passion is reflected in their tour. You'll learn historical facts about the French Quarter that many locals aren't even aware of. Even if you've lived in NOLA all your life, this tour makes for a worthwhile adventure for anyone who wants to learn about the famous heart of New Orleans while enjoying some unconventional eats.

Tastebud Food Tours

Whether you're on the hunt for a taste of the best seafood in the city, a strong and refreshing cocktail, or the most iconic flavors of Cajun and Creole cuisine, Tastebud Tours has you covered. The company offers seven distinct food tour options, as well as options for private tours and large group tours. Learn to craft three famous New Orleans cocktails and discover the history behind them with Tastebud Tour's cocktail class. Or, tour the famous foods of the French Quarter and enjoy a boozy bourbon brunch followed by a bourbon-focused cocktail class.

We recommend a seafood-centric tour that showcases the best fish dishes in the city. Visit the Court of Two Sisters, famous for its enticing brunch offerings and lively jazz accompaniment. You'll stop at Cornet Restaurant, home of the largest balcony in The Quarter, perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras and treating yourself to some fresh and steamy crawfish étouffée. Next, you'll visit New Orleans Creole Cookery, a NOLA staple offering chargrilled oysters and shrimp remoulade. These restaurants are steeped in history and contribute to the diverse culture that makes New Orleans such an enticing spot for travelers.

Nola Detours

Nola Detours  boasts off-the-beaten-path sightseeing — a tempting option for travelers who want to experience a city in all its glory. The company hosts backstage music tours, sight-seeing drives, haunted tours, and, most importantly, culinary excursions. Embark on a cocktail tour as you take in the view of the centuries-old city from the rooftop bar of the esteemed Royal Orleans Hotel — an experience that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on every newcomer to New Orleans.

Choose Nola Detours' street food tour, where you'll be led to low-key spots that are usually only frequented by locals. Here, you can get the real Nawlins treatment. Experience some of the most authentic cuisine in the city, including a stop where guests can try alligator meat — a Louisiana delicacy . The tour is led by a former New Orleans restaurant owner, so you know you're getting first-hand knowledge and experience on the bayou fare that makes New Orleans a coveted culinary haven. As you scour the streets in anticipation of the next delicious treat, you'll visit the famous St. Louis Cathedral and other historical sites to check off your travel itinerary.

WeVenture Taste of Gumbo

If there's one dish in New Orleans that deserves a tour solely in its honor, it's gumbo. WeVenture  offers tours in top urban destinations around the country, including a New Orleans culinary tour with a heavy focus on the rich, savory, and controversial dish native to the distinctive city. No two gumbos are alike, which is why on this tour, visitors experience several variations of the acclaimed dish. Experience fresh seafood and veggies melded together thanks to an expertly prepared roux accompanied by a hearty scoop of rice, making it filling enough to grant it dinner status. You can then decide for yourself if you're team tomato in gumbo or prefer to pass on the tart flavor, and whether you prefer a light or dark roux .

On The Taste of Gumbo Tour, you'll meet your guide in Jackson Square and stroll through the French Quarter sampling various gumbos, each with a distinct style and made with different meats and seafood. Discover each immigrant culture's contributions to the gumbo recipe that we know and love today, and learn about all of the different styles of the dish throughout history. New Orleans's storied past is reflected in this iconic dish, so let WeVenture be your gourmet gumbo guru on this French Quarter quest.

New Orleans School of Cooking

Our list concludes with an unconventional and compelling tour experience. Learn to cook Louisiana's renowned dishes under the tutelage of skilled chefs. Fueled by a passion for the Cresent City and a love for the bounty of the Gulf Coast, the chefs of the New Orleans School of Cooking  delight in educating and entertaining tourists. You'll be given a brief history of the city as well as a list of fun facts and tidbits about the food before you witness it come to life before your eyes.

New Orleans School of Cooking offers cooking demonstrations where guests can witness first-hand the skill and expertise required for crafting NOLA's favorite dishes. For a more hands-on experience, guests can opt for a cooking demonstration and class. Here, you'll get to prepare from scratch a New Orleans staple meal with a highly skilled chef by your side to guide you through the fun and informative journey. After the class, sit down and enjoy a family-style meal over chatter about the New Orleans experience. This culinary adventure is bound to leave a lasting impression. Now that you've obtained the skill necessary to cook top-tier Louisiana fare, you can prepare the perfect meals for Mardi Gras back home to impress friends at a NOLA-themed party.

Looking for a shorter walking tour? Check out www.shorttoursnola.com!

Lucky Bean Tours

Small groups and great stories, some of the great ways we explore new orleans.

• Most Popular!
• Clock 10AM , 1PM , 4PM
• Hour Glass 2 Hours

French Quarter Tour

New Orleans has grown in 300 years, but its Creole heart still beats in the French Quarter. Explore the oldest, most vibrant neighborhood in the city with your guide.

Garden District Tour

Explore the sights and stories of the elegant Garden District with your expert local guide. Your guide shares recommendations for shopping, dining, and sightseeing in this gracious area of town!

Private Walking Tours in New Orleans, LA

Do you want to customize your New Orleans walking tour? Lucky Bean guides can craft a GREAT private tour for your specific needs.

• Users All Ages

Marigny Triangle Tour

We’ll meet at the lower end of the French Quarter and head downriver to the next neighborhood, the first faubourg (suburb) of New Orleans which was laid out in 1806 by our most famous bon vivant of the time, Bernard de Marigny.

• Users Age 12+

French Quarter Ghosts and True Crime Tour

Explore New Orleans’ “darker side” on a nighttime tour of the French Quarter. THIS is the sacred ground where centuries of unforgettable, intense characters have lived, loved, fought, celebrated, made music, and taken their last breaths.

About Lucky Bean Tours

Lucky Bean Tours was created by passionate New Orleans tour guides who are eager to show off our most beloved aspects of our city. When you are on a Lucky Bean walking tour of New Orleans, there are no scripts. You are being shown around by the creator of that tour, the person who had the passion that produced the idea.

Libby was great and showed us the french quarter alongside stories about the amazing history of New Orleans. That's the way to get to know a city, and in NOLA every house has a story. Would defently recommend this tour to anyone coming to the city as the first thing to do before you decide what to do next. Enjoy!

Libby was everything you would want out of a tour guide: personable, professional, and knowledgeable. The stories she told were both entertaining and informative. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who would like to add a layer of culture and history to their New Orleans trip. Thank you, Libby!

We joined the French Quarter tour on July 5 and it turned out it was just the two of us and our guide, Josh. Josh provided information and shared many stories about New Orleans in general and the French Quarter in particular. He really provided a sense of the city historically and in the present. We could answer questions about lots of topics and were given great answers. We highly recommend this tour and company.

James is the best tour guide ever, he’s hilarious! My husband and I could not stop laughing, we had a wonderful time. We would honestly take this tour again just for James because it felt like we were with a long-time friend, who knew a lot of history!

Our guide Suzanne Stone was absolute wonderful. She was very knowledgeable of the history and identity of buildings where strange things happened in NOLA. We loved hearing her stories and information of the people and development of the French Quarter. We would definitely request her and recommend her to all our friends.

Libby was truly amazing. Her depth and breadth of knowledge about New Orleans history was inspiring, and her passion for sharing it all with us kept us enthusiastically engaged the entire time. Our 10 year old daughter truly loved your storytelling, too! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Never been to New Orleans before and decided to take the family and kids tour. Ms. Libby is a one of a kind lady! She brought the kids little gifts that with their simplicity and the stories they carry open all our hearts. The candy, the food and most of all Ms. Libby's stories made us full in love with New Orleans and we will be coming back for more. Thank you so much Ms. Libby we will never forget you."

Ms. Peak was so kind and informative, the crafts were cute and the kids enjoyed them. She definitely made the best out of a rainy situation and made what could have been a bad thing a good one!! Loved her energy and I will definitely be recommending the tour to my friends with kids! Great job!

Experience A New Side Of Louisiana On This One-Of-A-Kind Adventure

Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.

More by this Author

When you’re thinking about taking a boat tour in Louisiana, you’re probably thinking about swamp tours. After all, it is one of the most popular things to do in Louisiana. If you find yourself in the Crescent City, I encourage you to carve out an evening and spend it on board this unique boat on the Mighty Mississippi. It’s the perfect date night idea, but heck, even the whole family would love this two-hour tour. Let’s check it out:

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Check out the sunset tour on Viator to learn more and reserve your spot. Once you’re back on solid ground, continue the celebration at one of the most unique bars in New Orleans . Or, if you want to lean into the haunted side of the city, this haunted bar in New Orleans is a fabulous place to grab a drink.

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