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The 13 best new orleans walking tours.

Take on the Big Easy with a stroll through its streets.

The 14 Best New Orleans Walking Tours

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Take your time getting to know New Orleans with an easygoing walking tour.

Thanks to its melting pot of cultures, New Orleans has many sides to explore. Choose a walking tour so you'll not only burn calories from all those beignets, but also discover the Big Easy's top attractions along with its history, hauntings and food. Using both traveler sentiment and expert opinion, U.S. News created a list of the top New Orleans walking tours. No matter which one you choose, you're bound to have a rousing good time.

New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours – French Quarter Tour

This approximately two-hour tour not only includes a walk through the French Quarter , but also an extensive overview of the city's centuries-old history. You'll walk past iconic New Orleans homes and see the Mississippi River, among other sights. You'll also learn about the events that led up to the creation of Jackson Square and the importance of music in New Orleans culture. Reviewers say the guides are outstanding and describe the tour as a "must-do," especially for history buffs.

Tours run at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Tickets start at $27.75 for adults and $16.75 for children 4 to 11; children 3 and younger tour free. The company also offers ghost tours and tours of the Garden District .

[ View & Book Tickets .]

New Orleans Secrets – Magazine Street Foodie Tour

Eat your way through Magazine Street – described by New Orleans Secrets as a local foodie paradise – on this three-hour food tour. During your trip, you'll sample six different items from five local restaurants. Plus, the tour is accessible. Reviewers praise their informative guides and say the tour provides just the right amount of food. Tourgoers also say this is a great experience for first-timers and repeat visitors alike.

Tickets start at $85 per person ages 6 and older. The ticket price covers all food and one pint of local beer or soda; additional alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately at each stop. Tours run Thursday through Monday at 11 a.m.; there's an additional 3 p.m. weekday tour. Hungry for more? New Orleans Secrets also offers a French Quarter History and Cocktail tour.

TOURS by Steven – Garden District & Lafayette Cemetery Walking Tour

Admire celebrity homes, famous filming locations and lush landscaping on this two-hour tour of the Garden District. Though you won't walk through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (public access is not allowed), you will stop outside of it, where you'll learn all about the city's unique burial traditions and cemeteries. Reviewers praise guides for their vast knowledge of New Orleans and the Garden District. Tourgoers also appreciate that guides share their recommendations for restaurants and things to do.

Tours are available daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 6 to 11. TOURS by Steven also lead guided walks through the French Quarter, in addition to jogging tours.

Friends of the Cabildo – French Quarter Walking Tours

This tour is run by Friends of the Cabildo, a nonprofit group that supports the Louisiana State Museum, which is partially housed in the Cabildo building. The two-hour tours focus on the history, architecture and folklore of New Orleans. Reviewers say they learned so much while on the tour and describe guides as well-versed in Louisiana history.

Tours run daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and ticket prices start at $25 for adults and $20 for students, seniors and the military.

Two Chicks Walking Tours – Grand Garden District Tour

Admire the Garden District's historic mansions and enjoy a Louisiana history lesson on this two-hour tour. As you meander among the neighborhood's opulent homes, your guide will regale you with stories about the city's role in the Civil War, its famous architecture and the filming locations for a variety of popular movies and TV shows. You'll also pass by Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, where you'll learn about local burial traditions. Reviewers say the tour is paced well and highly educational thanks to the informative guides. Travelers also appreciate that the guides don't whitewash their discussions of New Orleans history.

Tours run daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $30 per person. Two Chicks Walking Tours also operates tours of the French Quarter.

Courtesy of Lucky Bean Tours

Lucky Bean Tours aims to engage kids of all ages on its walking tour of the French Quarter with snacks, crafts and stories.

Ghost City Tours – Killers and Thrillers Tour

Get a look at New Orleans' haunted past, Voodoo practices and infamous crimes on this nighttime tour for adults. You'll stroll through the French Quarter for 90 minutes as guides tell you the real crime story behind ghostly tales. The excursion is pet-friendly, and participants are invited to bring alcohol. Reviewers say the guides are great storytellers, and that the tour is a must-do experience if you're a fan of true crime.

The tour runs nightly at 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $35 per person, and participants must be 16 or older. If you're looking for an experience the whole family can enjoy, consider the company's Ghosts of New Orleans Tour, which is suitable for all ages.

Doctor Gumbo – Cocktail History Walking Tour

New Orleans is a city that knows a thing or two about cocktails. In fact, it's the birthplace of the Sazerac, a whiskey drink. This Doctor Gumbo tour takes visitors through a history of the city's cocktails with stops at up to four restaurants and bars like SoBou, the Bourbon O Bar and Peychaud's. Along the way, travelers will sample the Sazerac, the grasshopper and more. Participants enjoy the tour thanks to the relaxed pace and fun guide, and say they learn a lot about mixology and cocktail history.

Tickets cost approximately $70 per person. Tourgoers must be 21 years or older. Tours run Wednesday through Sunday at 5 p.m. and last about three hours. More interested in eating than drinking? Doctor Gumbo also offers a food history tour.

Free Tours by Foot – Voodoo Tour

Voodoo plays an integral role in New Orleans legends and culture, and this tour highlights that aspect of the city. Free Tours by Foot's 1 1/2-hour Voodoo Tour unveils the religion's origins in West Africa and includes stops at Congo Square and city cemeteries. You'll conclude the tour with a visit to a modern Voodoo temple. Reviewers describe guides as entertaining and knowledgeable and say the tour is educational.

Join the tour Thursday through Monday at 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. Though you name the price of the tickets, reservations are required. The tour is suitable for all ages. The company also offers free food and ghost tours, among others.

Courtesy of New Orleans Architecture Tours

View some of New Orleans' most unique buildings with a tour from New Orleans Architecture Tours.

New Orleans Architecture Tours – Garden District Tour

This two-hour trip offers a close look at the Garden District and its Greek Revival, Victorian and Italianate mansions. As you view these 19th-century homes, you'll learn which ones have historic and celebrity ties. Tourgoers say they are wowed by the guides' architecture savvy and say the experience is well worth the cost.

Tours run daily at 10 a.m.; an additional 1 p.m. tour may also be available. Tickets cost approximately $30 per person, and all ages are welcome. The company also offers tours of Marigny and the French Quarter.

Gray Line – New Orleans Original Cocktail Walking Tour

Discover famous bars and restaurants within the French Quarter on this 2 1/2-hour cocktail walking tour that shares the history of the city's drinks from absinthe to Pimm's Cup. The adventure starts with a complimentary Natchez jazz punch, and you can buy additional drinks at stops along the way. Reviewers say guides are well-educated and praise the quality of the stops and the drinks. They advise taking the tour early in your New Orleans trip as it helps you familiarize yourself with the French Quarter.

Tours depart at 4 p.m. each day, and tickets cost approximately $30 for adults. You must be at least 21 years old to participate. Gray Line also offers swamp tours and plantation tours, among others.

French Quarter Phantoms – Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour of the French Quarter

Hear the spine-chilling details behind some of the city's most famous ghost stories and vampire lore on this approximately two-hour walking tour through the French Quarter. Tourgoers describe guides as entertaining and say they skillfully weave in a fair amount of history to their ghost stories.

Tours are offered nightly at 6 and 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $22 for adults and $5 for children 7 and younger. French Quarter Phantoms also conducts tours that visit several of the city's cemeteries, as well as a Tremé walking tour.

Destination Kitchen – New Orleans Food Walking Tour of French Quarter

Stop by some of the most famous restaurants in the French Quarter on this three-hour walking food tour. Along the way, you'll enjoy up to seven tastings as you visit eateries recommended in popular cookbooks and listen to tales of New Orleans culture and history. Jambalaya, pralines, alligator bites and chargrilled oysters may be among the dishes sampled. Reviewers rave about the food and the guides. Many travelers call this a "must-do" and recommend booking it for your first day in New Orleans to help get your bearings.

Tours operate daily multiple times a day in the morning and afternoon. Tickets start at approximately $70 per person. Destination Kitchen also hosts tours of the Garden District, as well as a combo cocktail and food tour of the French Quarter.

Haunted History Tours – French Quarter Ghosts & Legends Tour

Visit some of the French Quarter's most haunted locations on this approximately two-hour tour. Though this walking tour focuses on New Orleans' paranormal activity, the stories that guides share are rooted in historical fact. Tourgoers say guides are entertaining storytellers who manage to be both humorous and informative at the same time.

Tours operate daily at 3, 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets cost approximately $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 6 to 12. Haunted History Tours also hosts evening pub crawls, as well as tours of the Garden District, among other options.

You may also be interested in:

• Best New Orleans Tours
• Best New Orleans Cemetery Tours
• Best New Orleans Ghost Tours
• Best New Orleans Plantation Tours
• Best New Orleans Swamp Tours
• Best Louisiana Swamp Tours

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

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Private tours, Garden District, French Quarter New Orleans, LA

Two Chicks Walking Tours

Garden district, french quarter tours | new orleans, la.

Garden District, French Quarter and Private Tours in

New orleans, la, public garden district walking tours.

Explore live oak-lined streets in the opulent Garden District and learn of its complex past.

Public French Quarter Tours

Wander the streets of New Orleans accompanied by an expert tour guide.

Private Tours

We curate experiences to align with our guest’s vision of time well spent in our magnificent city.

Brothels, Bordellos and Ladies of the Night Tour

Trace the world’s oldest profession from the founding of New Orleans through the infamous Storyville district during this adult-only French Quarter walking tour.

Garden District Tours

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French Quarter Tours

“The stylish insider’s guide to New Orleans”

-Marie Claire, 2018

“New Orleans: A definitive city guide”

–  Harper’s Bazaar, 2018

“America’s 20 Greatest Cities and how to do them,”

– Sunday Times Travel Magazine, 2019

“Garden District insights on Two Chicks walking tour.”

–  Travel Weekly, 2018

Spring 2024 Tours

Check bubble locally owned, check bubble  tour guide owned, check bubble woman owned.

Small group walking tours specialized in the Garden District and French Quarter

Cancellation Guidelines

Guests may cancel with 24-hour notice and receive a full refund. Book your tour as soon as possible, so you can secure the day and time you desire.

Email us through the website or at  [email protected]  for additional information.

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An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present.

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About Two Chicks Walking Tours

Explore history with a team that’s nerdy by nature. Our talented and sassy NOLA walking tour guides at Two Chicks Walking Tours are storytellers who serve you history with a side of little-known facts and shocking tales. We’re enthusiastic cultural ambassadors standing by on the banks of the Mississippi waiting for your arrival.

Whether you’re interested in booking a corporate event, or you’re in town looking for a fun way to explore this cultural jewel of a city, contact us! We offer both private and public New Orleans tours, and we’re the perfect choice for bachelorette parties, birthdays, anniversaries, and any other celebration you can dream up.

We Love What We Do and it Shows

The Garden District Tour with Betsy was better than we expected. Lots of great, fun facts & history, along with getting to see the magnificent homes. Really appreciated Betsy keeping us in the shade and the bathroom break with air conditioning. Small group was also a bonus. We were booked for the Brothel Tour as well (discount for 2nd booking!), but had to cancel because of flight change. Two Chicks was so gracious. Easy cancellation and refund. Another nice feature was the ability to add tip when booking. Great to not have hassle of finding (or remembering to find) an ATM before the tour.

If I could give a higher review, I would. My friends and I spent the week in New Orleans and booked all the available tours that Two Chicks had to offer: the Brothels, Bordellos, and Ladies of the Night; the French Quarter Stroll; and the Garden District Tour. We had Karen for all three tours, and fantastic wouldn't even begin to describe her. Not only did we have a great time on the tours seeing so much and learning about the history of New Orleans, but she also went out of her way to reach out throughout the week with dining and activities suggestions and she even sent me a message on my birthday. We never felt rushed on our tours and having locals say hi to her & jokingly call her "Mom" as we walked by was a glowing review in and of itself. I wish they had even more tours because if we could have spent the whole week with Karen, we would have! We look forward to going back to New Orleans soon and using Two Chicks again!

We visited NOLA last week and I am so happy I found 2 Chicks Walking Tours! We originally booked the French Quarter tour. Karen was our guide and she is amazing! She took us to areas that we would not have seen on our own. Her knowledge of the area is unmatched! We then booked the Garden Quarter tour for another day with Karen and that was equally as wonderful! She was so informative of the current areas as well as their history. She gave us some lunch and dinner recommendations in both areas and we tried several of them - they were all fantastic as well! I highly recommend, Thank you! Debbi & Ron

I learned a lot. Dannal was very informative and answered all questions. The walk was just the right amount of time. There were many interesting facts learned.

I took the French Quarter and Garden District tours. Both tours were great, as was our tour guide. Highly recommended.

"We had a blast on Christine’s French Quarter tour! She was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, adaptable, and professional. She showed us some real New Orleans magic. I would take any of these tours and recommend them to everyone I know! Truly a wonderful experience, there couldn’t be a better way to see New Orleans. It’s an afternoon I will always treasure. Thank you again!"

"We made this stroll through the French Quarter at our first day in New Orleans. It was a very nice overview for the beginning. The group had only 6 people thought we could ask a lot of questions. Our tour guide was very well informed."

"Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Took time to connect with all of us and answer our questions. Ended at a nice local book shop and gave me a few recommendations. Great way to start your New Orleans trip."

"We had a wonderful tour with Christine at Two Chicks Walking Tours. She is very knowledgeable of New Orleans and it’s history. She was a pleasure to work with. Please support her business. If you're lucky (like us) you might meet a celebrity."

"I recommend this tour to everyone! First timers to been to NO before wanting to see more! Kristine was our tour guide and this is her company! She knows a lot about New Orleans and has a cool map to show you the growth of the city through hundreds of years. The Garden District is a must see. My friends and I loved it and could not stop talking about it. The flowers blooming everywhere were so beautiful as we went end of April/early May. Well worth the money to go with a tour guide who is as passionate as Kristine! (*Covid 19 rules still in play and safety/ social distancing* and we went with a nice small group, Kristine made us feel comfortable getting to know the other couples that went with us)Informative and fun tour of the Garden District. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Took time to connect with all of us and answer our questions. Ended at a nice local book shop and gave me a few recommendations. Great way to start your New Orleans trip."

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New Orleans French Quarter Tour

Nestled in a bend of the Mississippi River, the first New Orleans settlers chose to establish their community in what is now the French Quarter, thanks to its relatively high elevation compared to the surrounding area. Their instincts proved correct, as hundreds of years later, the French Quarter was largely unaffected when Hurricane Katrina devastated the neighboring lower elevation areas.

New Orleans’ French heritage shines through in the military-style grid design, the central green space known as Jackson Square, and in the street names that still reflect the city’s French settlers, including Bienville and Iberville.

But there’s also plenty of evidence of our Spanish heritage: after a fire destroyed many of the French buildings in the late 1700’s, the Spanish rebuilt many parts of the city in a new architectural style, evident in the Cabildo (Town Hall) and the Presbytere (priests’ residence).

As a port city, many immigrants found their way to New Orleans, including refugees from the Haitian and French revolutions, as well as Irish, German, African, and American immigrants looking for a better life. This led to the unique mix of culture, cuisine, language, and religion that to this day sets New Orleans apart from any other city. New Orleans’ many cultural influences will come to light as you hear our story told by a local expert.

Walk the historic streets of the French Quarter, one of the most unique and historic cultural epicenters of the country. In the company of our expert guides. We’ll take you back in time through 300 years of history, and bring to life the most surprising and fascinating stories that led to the present-day New Orleans we know and love.

• Breathtaking views of the Mississippi.
• Walk down the most beautiful, historic streets of the French Quarter
• Learn the rich history that led to present-day Jackson Square.
• See examples of the many architectural styles and features of iconic New Orleans homes.
• Discover the place where jazz was born and learn why music is so important in New Orleans culture.

Book Now , All tours are approximately 2 hours. Tour times: 10:00AM & 1:00PM  Adults:  $29.99 Children under 12:  $18.99

Convenient meeting location in the French Quarter at 941 Decatur Street (adjacent to the French Market and Cafe du Monde)

New Orleans French Quarter Tour Photo Gallery

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.

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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!

Supporting the Louisiana State Museum since 1956

New orleans historic french quarter tours, calendar of foc events, become a member & be a part of history, oral history program, shop online at the 1850 house store.

Who are the FOC?

Friends of the Cabildo is a private non-profit volunteer group that provides financial and volunteer support for the Louisiana State Museum, its projects and its properties.

French Quarter Tour Info & Booking

Experience a memorable two-hour walking tour in one of the oldest communities in the United States: the historic Vieux Carré in New Orleans.

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Click the photo to book our concerts, neighborhood and cultural tours, special events, seminars and more!

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We’re located at 523 St. Ann Street on beautiful Jackson Square. The Museum Shop helps support the Louisiana State Museum through sales of daily  Tours  and merchandise.

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French Quarter Tour? Look No Further…

Two-hour general history tours, beginning at the 1850 House on Jackson Square, are given every day at 10:30 and 1:30.

Happy New Orleans Tourists

I really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was engaging and I learned a lot throughout the tour. I’ve recommended it to others. – Melissa Tranman

What a great walking tour. The interiors were amazing. So much history and so well presented. I’ve taken friends to see it a second time. – Pete Wise

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Friends of the Cabildo 400 North Peters Street, Suite 210 New Orleans, LA 70130

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New Orleans  >  New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour Map

‎ New Orleans Tourist Tips ‎ |  Suggested Itineraries For New Orleans

• New Orleans
• Top 10 Things To Do
• French Quarter Walking Tour
• Garden District Walking Tour
• Plantation Mansions
• Frenchmen Street
• Top 10 Must Eats
• Top Ten Must Drinks
• Other Sights
• Best Day Trips
• Helpful Tourist Advice
• Suggested Itineraries
• Madri Gras Tips

Free Garden District Walking Tour:

Walking Tour Locatio n:  New Orleans Garden District Cost :  Free, Self-Guided ( Optional costs listed below ) Style :  Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour ( Self Guided )  Starting Point :  Third Street Street Car Stop End Of Tour :  Washington Avenue Street Car Stop Walking Distance :  Approximately 2.2 miles Time Required :  1.5 Hours of walking ( +1 hour for the official cemetery tour ) Best Time To Go :  Begin your walk around 9:30am so you can get a coffee at stop #6 and join the 1 hour long SOC Cemetery Tour mentioned at stop #7 which leaves daily at 10:30am. Getting Her e:  The historic Saint Charles Street Car only takes 14 minutes from Common Street the edge of the French Quarter ( see map ).  Cost is $1.25 per ride, or $3 for a 1-Day Jazzy Pass which can be purchased from the driver, must have cash in exact change. Fun Scale :  8.5 out of 10

Historical Overview Of The Garden District:

Our free, self-guided Garden District walking tour is one of the best daytime activities New Orleans has to offer.  You’ll be able to get a relaxing escape from the madness of Bourbon Street and a taste of the wealthy side of early-day New Orleans.  From historic mansions, to beautiful vegetation, and an impressive cemetery, there is a lot to see in the Garden District.

The entire Garden District neighborhood was once the vast  Livaudais Plantation , ( pronounced Lee-Voo-Day ).  In 1826, Jacques Livaudais lost ownership of the plantation to his wife Celeste Marigny ( sister of Bernard de Marigny ) when he failed to show up for a divorce court proceeding.  Celeste later sold the family plantation to a group of businessmen in 1832 for $490,000 who quickly parceled off and gridded the land into 80 city blocks.  The businessmen saw their new neighborhood as  the American answer  to the French & Creole dominated Vieux Carré ( pronounced Vue Ca-Ray ), know today as the French Quarter.

There had been an influx of affluent Americans to New Orleans following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and after 30 years later they finally got their own community outside of the Vieux Carré ( meaning the Old Square in French ).  Originally called the Village of Lafayette, the development efforts paid off immediately as wealthy Americans flocked to build their mansion estates on the edge of New Orleans.   In 1835, the Village of Lafayette got an extra luxury when the steam-powered Saint Charles Street Car started service.  The Saint Charles Street Car, now electric, is currently the  oldest active streetcar line in the World .

With plenty of space and fertile plantation soil, the mansions in the Village of Lafayette were each surrounded by  huge lawns and gardens  that spanned up to a full city block.   Because of the large lawns, the community was fittingly  nicknamed the Garden District .  The Garden District name officially stuck when the neighborhood was annexed in as a part of New Orleans in 1852.  This incorporation also lead to a second building boom, making the community one of the most desirable to live in.

While there are some bigger Antebellum mansions further in the countryside, the Garden District offers a rare chance to see an entire neighborhood of  preserved mansions  from the 1800s.  Strolling past the rod iron fences, Greek Revival facades, and magnolia trees, you’ll fall more in love with the Big Easy.  While the lawns aren’t as big as they originally were, it is impressive that so many mansions have together survived the test of time against war, fire, and a number of devastating hurricanes.  Still today it is easy to see the combination of both wealth and pride that made the stunning Garden District possible.  Hope you enjoy our map and do-it-yourself New Orleans Garden District walking tour.

The Garden District Walking Tour:

1. saint charles streetcar trolley :.

About The Saint Charles Streetcar Line :   Started running in 1835 with steam, horse, & mule powered trains until the line was electrified in 1893.  Formerly called the Carrollton Line, the trolleys running down Saint Charles Street make up the World’s oldest operating streetcar line . The vintage cars are a quick and enjoyable way to get to do our Garden District walking tour when you are staying near the French Quarter.

Cost : $1.25 per ride or $3 for a city-wide bus & trolley day pass called the Jazzy Pass.  Have exact change on you if possible.   Hours :  The Saint Charles Streetcar runs 24 hours a day with trolleys coming every 20-30 minutes at night; every 10 minutes in the early morning & evening; and every 6-7 minutes during daytime hours.

2. Claiborne Cottage ( 2524 St. Charles Avenue ):

About The Claiborne Cottage :   Stepping off the historic Saint Charles Street Car at 3rd Street puts you right in front of the wonderful Claiborne Cottage.  This elegant yellow cottage was built for Sophronie Louise Claiborne in 1857.  Sophronie was extremely well connected in New Orleans as her father was William Claiborne who served as  Louisiana’s 1st Governor  in 1812.  Prior to moving to Louisiana, her father had filled Andrew Jackson’s seat in the US Congress in Tennessee while Jackson served as President of the United States.  After her father’s time Governor, William also served in the US Senate.

Sophronie Claiborne’s husband Antonie Mandeville de Marigny was a US Marshal after serving in the French Army and was also very well connected from his own wealthy family.  His father, Bernard de Marigny, got rich from the  Marigny family sugar mill  and plantation established in 1829 North of Lake Pontchartrain.  With a playboy reputation, Bernard gained hero status in the Creole community after being elected President of the Louisiana Senate.  Bernard’s sister Celeste de Marigny is also the one who sold the Livaudais Plantation in 1832 to create the Garden District neighborhood.  As you can see from connecting all the dots, this was the  ultimate power family .

The Redemptorist Fathers later bought the Claiborne Cottage in 1923 to be a chapel, but ended up converting it into a school instead.  After later being turned back into a home, a 14-year-old  Anne Rice  moved here when her family rented it in 1955.  Just 2 block from her childhood home, the young author Rice was deeply inspired by the cozy Claiborne Cottage during her teenage years.  Forty years later in 1995, Rice bought the Cottage and it became the primary setting for her famous  ghost novel  Violin  published in 1997.  In the book, the main character Triana sees a ghost playing a violin on the street corner in front of the house.  This is just one of the many Anne Rice related stops you will visit on the New Orleans Garden District walking tour.

3. Briggs-Staub House ( 2605 Prytania Street ):

About The Briggs-Staub House :  As you reach the end of the first block on this walking tour, look for the unique windows of the Briggs-Staub House.  When Charles Briggs had this  Gothic Cottage  built in 1849, most of his rich neighbors looked down on the Gothic Style, but Briggs was from London and didn’t care what they thought.  The neighbors’ real reason for not liking the style is because it reminded them, mostly Protestant, of their Catholic Creole counterparts living in The French Quarter.

Even though the cottage isn’t mansion-sized, we really like how it contrasts the other homes in the area with its small,  church-like windows .  The Charles Briggs’ home was also one of the first in the neighborhood to have Irish indentured servants and free men of color as workers  instead of using slaves .  The home is still considered the only Gothic-style mansion in the Garden District.  You will get a better view of the front of the Briggs home when we pass by it again in a few stops.

4. Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel ( 2523 Prytania Street ):

About The Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel :  Built in the mid-1800s by merchant  Henry Lonsdale , the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel is one of the most iconic homes on our New Orleans Garden District walking tour.  Lonsdale had started his career as a 16-year-old burlap trader, then hit it big after the Civil War selling a unique blend of coffee mixed with bitter chicory roots.  The blend was first introduced in the after a French blockage in the early-1800s, but thanks to Lonsdale, is still very popular in New Orleans today.

In 1925 the Redemptorist Fathers bought Lonsdale’s massive Greek Revival-style mansion and  turned it into a Catholic Chapel .  The Redemptorist Fathers were in desperate need of a new chapel at the time as the group’s church had been badly damaged by a hurricane in 1918.  The coolest remaining element from the mansion’s time as a chapel is a vine-covered,  iron cast pavilion  near the fence line which shields a statue of the Virgin Mary.  The pavilion is capped with a dedication to “ Our Mother of Perpetual Help ” in big letters and a large gold cross.

Local writer Anne Rice bought the Chapel as a home in 1996 and used it for some of the scenes in her book  the  Violin .  Even at 13,000 square feet, the Chapel was only a fraction of Rice’s primary home at the huge former Saint Elizabeth Orphanage on the far West side of the Garden District.  Actor  Nicolas Cage  later lived here from 2005 until 2009 before hitting foreclosure and the property is currently part of the Saint George Episcopal School.

The interior of the neighboring Maddox-Mclendon House ( 2507 Prytania Street ) was used in the filming of the hit film Django Unchained , even though you’d never know from the plain exterior.  The mansion was built in 1852 for the owner of the New Orleans Daily Crescent, Joseph Maddox.

5. Women’s Opera Guild Home ( 2504 Prytania Street ):

About The Women’s Opera Guild Home :  This magnificent mansion was built in 1859 for merchant Edward Davis.  It was later purchased in 1944 by Doctor & Mrs. Herman Seebold who then willed it to  Women’s Opera Guild  upon their deaths in 1965.  The mansion was originally filled with European & American furniture, artwork, and antiques from the 1700-1800s, most of which is still on display here today.

The  well-preserved interior  is fitting as the Opera Guild itself has been in New Orleans since 1796.  Because of the strong attention to detail with the furnishings, the mansion has been featured in numerous Hollywood films including Elsa & Peter as well as Django Unchained.  Today the Women’s Opera Guild Home is available to rent for weddings, receptions, dinners, luncheons, coffees, teas and beautiful social events.

As you leave the Opera Guild Home and backtrack down the block , make sure to observe the John Parker House ( 2520 Prytania Street ).  The pink, almost Gothic-style home was built in 1853 by a local merchant and later sold to John Parker in 1882 whose son, John M Parker, went on to be Governor of Lousiana from 1920-24.  We love the horsehead tie posts lining the sidewalk near the house like antebellum horse parking stalls.

Guided Tours :  Mondays from Mid-September-May from 10am-4pm for $15.  Outside of the official tour times, you can also enter for $37 with the Grey Line walking tour company, but it’s the only home they enter so following our free walking tour makes more sense.   Mansion Website :  ( HERE ).

6. Sully Mansion Bed & Breakfast ( 2631 Prytania Street ):

About The Sully Mansion :  Sully Mansion was designed by renowned architect Thomas Sully ( 1855-1937 ) in 1890 for the Rainey Family.  Thomas Sully, was among the first to form the unique architectural look of Uptown New Orleans.

The Mansion is the most intact of the few remaining ‘Sullys’ in the city.  Original stained-glass windows, ornate ceiling medallions, heart-pine floors, grand stairway, 14-foot ceilings, the double entry door, glass transoms throughout the house, turned wood balustrades on the staircase and second floor landing, and fish scale wood shingles on the upper portions of the exterior walls are just a few of the features of this rare three-storied Queen Anne-style home. Descendants of the original owner of the home still live around the corner. From the original carriage stone at the curb to the pocket doors in the foyer, this home has welcomed guests as a bed and breakfast for four decades.

The beautiful fully restored front porch overlooks the luxurious garden and 100-year old oak tree. It provides the perfect spot for breakfast, cocktails, conversation or just taking in all that the Garden District has to offer. Gracious rooms, antique accents, and comfortable furnishings create a casual yet intimate atmosphere.

Hotel Website : Here .  Alternative Options : There are four other Bed & Breakfast Inns nearby with the Grand Victorian ( website ), Hubbard Mansion ( website ), & The Columns ( website ) all on St. Charles Street, plus the Magnolia Mansion Hotel ( website ) on Prytania Street which we will visit later on this Garden District walking tour.

7. “ Cornstalk Fence ” House ( 1448 Fourth Street ):

About The “Cornstalk Fence” House :  The “Cornstalk Fence” House, also known as  Colonel Short’s Villa , is one of the most beautiful homes in New Orleans.  In 1859, merchant Colonel Robert Short bought the empty lot and began work on what is maybe the most popular home on this free Garden District walking tour.

The main draw to the magnolia-lined mansion is the decorative  rod iron cornstalk fence  that circles the entire lawn.  It is said that Short ordered the lavish custom fence for his wife after she started to miss the cornfields of her native Iowa.  The fence itself was cast by the Foundry of Wood all the way in Philadelphia which was a fairly expensive thing to do back then.

During the Civil War in 1863, Short’s Villa was seized by the Federal Army and served as the home to the new  Federal Governor of Louisiana  Michael Hahn.  This arrangement was short-lived however as the US Government returned the home to Colonel Short right after the Civil War and he lived here until his death in 1890.

8. “ The Rink ” Garden District Bookshop ( 2727 Prytania Street ):

About “The Rink” Bookshop :  Originally called the  Crescent City Skating Rink , this historic bookstore started out as a wooden floor roller rink built for the  1884 World’s Fair .  The Rink, as it was nicknamed, became very popular as rollerskating was a huge craze at the time.  After staking died out, the building was later used as a livery stable, a mortuary, a grocery store, and a gas station.

Today the building holds a series of small shops and a popular bookshop which is a favorite of local famous  writer Anne Rice .  Anne often holds book signings at the bookstore, but in case you don’t catch her, they always have signed books on hand that you can buy.  The bookshop always seems to have an event of some kind going on and their selection of novels set in New Orleans are awesome.

If you need a little pick-me-up or snack for your walk stop in the  Still Perkin Cafe  on the street level corner of the Rink building.  One of the local specialty coffees served here is blended with bits of Chicory root which started during a French blockage in the early 1800s and became more widely popular after the Civil War.

Bookshop Hours :  Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm.   Bookshop Website :  ( HERE ).   Cafe Hours :  Monday-Friday 7am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday 8am-6pm.

9. Lafayette Cemetery #1 ( 1400 Washington Avenue ):

About Lafayette Cemetery #1 :  The historic, and spooky, Lafayette Cemetery #1 was  established in 1833  with Spanish-style above ground tombs, the same year a Yellow Fever outbreak hit the city.  The large family tombs were often called  Cities of the Dead  as they followed grids of walkways resembling streets.

While above ground cemeteries were also popular in France and Spain at the time, it became an important way to do things in New Orleans.  Formed off the swampy delta of the Mississippi River, New Orleans has a  very high water table  and large parts of the city sitting below sea level, which made burials difficult.  Placing caskets more than a couple feet under the ground put them into soggy, waterlogged soil which often slowly pushed the below ground caskets back to the surface.

Another reason for using above ground tombs was that bodies didn’t decompose well in the swampy soil, but cremation was still frowned upon.  The large tombs would basically serve as  cement ovens  in the Summer heat, quickly breaking down the bodies and wooden caskets.  After 1 year and 1 day had passed, the bones would be pushed to the back of the tomb and another member of the family could take its place.  When epidemic would hit and a large number of bodies were buried above ground at once, it caused horrible smells so the practice was banned except in existing cemeteries.

Famous figures buried here include Judge Ferguson of the  Plessy vs. Ferguson  separate-but-equal case, Brigadier General Harry T. Hays who led the 1st Louisiana Brigade in the Civil War, and the Brunies family of jazz musicians.  Walking among the shades tombs is and learning the history quite enjoyable and is really great if you like taking photos.  Perhaps the most famous tombs of the cemetery are the fictional ones.  Among the fictional characters to buried here are the family of Mayfair Witches from Anne Rice’s  Witching Hour  book series and the vampire Lestat from the another Rice novel  Interview with a Vampire .  In 1994 Interview with a Vampire was made into a movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and all the cemetery scenes were filmed at Lafayette Cemetery #1.  Numerous other movies have also been filmed here including  Double Jeopardy  in 1999.

Cemetery Hours :  Dawn to Dusk.   Entrance Cost :  Free to walk through and explore.   Guided Tours :  The best tour is run by Save Our Cemeteries.  Their 90-minute tours leave daily at 10:30am & 1pm and costs $15, but is free for kids. Get to the cemetery gates 10-15 minutes early and bring cash.  Tour Overview :  The tours by Save Our Cemeteries goes very in-depth not only into the cemetery itself, but also the time in which it grew, and how it contrasts with cemeteries in the French Quarter.  Other tour companies charge from $30 to $50 per person for pretty much the same tour, however, the money that Save Our Cemeteries makes goes toward the restoration of the tombs.   Save Our Cemeteries Website :  HERE .

Cemetery Safety :  While the other historic cemeteries in the French Quarter can be dangerous to visit alone, even during the day, this one is pretty safe just like the rest of the central Garden District.  We always use caution in any big city, but have had no issues and always felt comfortable in this cemetery.

10. Commander’s Palace Restaurant ( 1403 Washington Avenue ):

About The Commander’s Palace Restaurant :  Emile Commander started a large Saloon here in 1880 which was often visited by famous clients from Jefferson Davis and Mark Twain.  By the 1900s the Commander’s Palace had already turned into one of the top restaurants in the United States. Today the Restaurant is still one of the best and its classic bright blue and white exterior taking up half a city block if a favorite among photographers.  It is one of the most popular places for locals to eat, especially for weekend brunch.

Restaurant Hours :  Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm; Dinner Daily 6:30-10pm; Jazz Brunch Saturday & Sunday 10:30am-1pm.   Dress Code :  No shorts or t-shirts allowed and jackets preferred at dinner.  Men must wear closed toed shoes.   Restaurant Website :  ( HERE ).

11. “ Benjamin Button ” House ( 2705 Coliseum Street ):

About The “Benjamin Button” House :  Built in 1832, this large white house draws in tourists as it served as the main house in the Brad Pitt movie  Benjamin Button .  In the movie, based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald story, the lead character Benjamin Button is raised in this home.  If you’ve seen the movie you can recall many of the scenes which take place on the porch and steps leading up to the home.  Although other homes on this free Garden District walking tour are more impressive, the Benjamin Button House continues to be a tourist favorite.

12. Koch-Mays House ( 2627 Coliseum Street ):

About The Koch-Mays House :  Make sure to check out the facade of the creole-style James McCracken House ( 2601 Coliseum Street ) from 1878 on the way to the enchanting Koch-Mays House.  The postcard-perfect Koch-Mays House was built by US Senator and Ambassador to France James Eustis in 1876.  It’s said that the inspiration for the style of the home came from a plate in a home catalog.  The coolest thing about the home’s layout is how the 3 main sections of the house are staggered to  maximize the sunlight  each area gets no matter what time of day it is.  Later owned by historian Richard Koch, the mansion has been a home of the actress Sandra Bullock  since 2009.

As you leave the Koch-Mays House, make sure to check out the porch and low-profile facade of the  James McCracken “Creole” Home ( 2601 Coliseum Street ).  With a sweeping double staircase, this home was built in 1878 for James McCracken, owner of the Royal Furniture Store, and is one of the only Creole-style homes left in the Garden District neighborhood.

13. Walter Robinson House ( 1415 Third Street ):

About The Walter Robinson House :  As a wealthy banker from Virginia, Walter Robinson was able to build this wonderful mansion from 1857-67 thanks to the fortune he made selling tobacco and cotton.  The mansion is one of the first in the Garden District to have 15-foot-high ceilings and the 1st in New Orleans to have  indoor plumbing  thanks to a water collection roof design.  The mansion itself is over 10,000 square feet with seven large bedrooms and eight-bathroom.  The interior has a lavish ballroom, a grand central staircase below a stained glass window, a gorgeous outdoor pool, and even has an elevator.

After Walter Robinson died, his house became a fancy boarding house in the 1890s, then was the home of the president of the Canal Barge Company (1910-2000), before being bought as a private home again.  The mansion has been featured in many movies over the years including Jason Statham’s  The Mechanic  in 2011.

The neighboring 1,500 square foot carriage house of the Walter Robinson Mansion has been turned into a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom guesthouse.  The carriage house is believed to have been part of the large Livaudais Plantation ( pronounced Lee-Voo-Day ) that covered the neighborhood before it was divided out into the Garden District.

14. Musson-Bell House ( 1331 Third Street ):

About The Musson-Bell House :  This big pink house was originally completed in 1850 for the wealthy tobacco grower, and President of the Cotton Exchange, Michael Musson.  He was  one of the few Creoles  to build mansions in the largely American Garden District.  Musson was also the uncle of  painter Edgar Degas  who stayed a short time before moving back to the Quarter to be closer to the other Creoles.  After the Civil War began to dig into his fortune Musson sold the home to a new owner added the beautiful black cast iron gallery in 1884.

15. Montgomery-Hero House ( 1213 Third Street ):

About The Montgomery-Hero House :  The president of the Crescent City Railroad, Archibald Montgomery, had this large Swiss Chalet-style house built in 1867 to reflect new homes he liked on America’s Northeastern coast.   It’s interesting that the property has retained its large 360-degree lawn over the years as many of the eraly mansions in the Garden District had their lots divided out and now have other homes very close to them.

16. Warwick Manor ( 2427 Camp Street ):

About Warwick Manor :  Built for merchant Hiram Anderson in 1852, this huge pink mansion has served as a home and as a private school for wealthy children.  Since its heyday, Warwick Manor is one of the only mansions in the Garden District that  has been divided  into a multi-unit apartment building.  Knowing that so many different people live here now makes it hard to imagine that it used to only just a single family home when it was built.

Across the road from Warwick Manor is the more modestly sized white “Stained Glass” House ( 1137 Second Street ).  What really stands out on the facade of the mansion is the over the top amount stained glass that lines the doors and portal windows of the entryway.  The home is also very unique to the Garden District walking as the Victorian style was mainly in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans.

17. The “ Jefferson Davis ” House ( 1134 First Street ):

About The “Jefferson Davis” House :  Officially called the Payne-Strachan House, this mansion was built in 1849 for Jacob Payne who got rich marketing and shipping cotton.  Payne was very well connected from is own business and from his son-in-law Charles Fenner who was a local judge.  One of Fenner’s friends was Jefferson Davis, who at the time was the President of the Confederate States of America.  Jefferson Davis was brought to the Payne House after becoming ill and later died in the upstairs of the home on December 6th, 1889.

18. “ Mayfair Manor ” ( 1239 First Street ):

About “Mayfair Manor” :  The eerie Brevard-Rice House was built in 1857 by merchant Albert Hamilton Brevard.  You can tell home wealthy Brevard was as the large section of the home facing Chestnut Street was built as a library wing.

Fans of Anne Rice novels will know this mansion as  Mayfair Manor  as the author bought the home in 1989.  Anne used the home as the setting for her famous book  The Witching Hour  which started a series about the fictional Mayfair family of witches who lived in the home.  Rice was already renown for her other hit series of books at the time called The Vampire Chronicles.

19. Carroll-Crawford House ( 1315 First Street ):

About The Carroll-Crawford House :  In the 1860s,  bricklayer Samuel Jamison  decided to try his hand at building houses on his own.  His successful career began here with a home built for Virginia cotton man Joseph Carroll.  Completed in 1869, the design included one of Jamison’s signatures with his amazing plasterwork which can still be seen throughout the interior.  Author  Mark Twain ( Samuel Clemens )  often came to the huge parties the original owner Joseph Carroll would throw inside.

The exterior of the Carroll-Crawford House just  screams Halloween  with its dark iron accents and gnarly oak trees.  The exterior grounds are truly stunning.  While this is one of the coolest looking homes in New Orleans, it is not the inspiration of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion as some other websites say as they look nothing alike.  Disney used the Shipley-Lydecker House in Baltimore for the mansion in his theme park.

20. Morris-Israel House ( 1331 First Street ):

About The Morris-Israel House :  Along with the mansion you just saw at 1315 1st Street, this was bricklayer Samuel Jamison’s second home project as a new builder.  It was also completed in 1869, but has a little different style to it.  This home looks almost exactly like the Musson-Bell House from stop #11, which Jamison had worked on it with other partners in 1859 before starting his solo career.

Aside from the style, the biggest draw to the Morris-Israel House is that locals tell us that it is haunted .  The biggest scare that happened here was when a skull and bones were found under some floorboards during repairs to the mansion.  It’s not so much that everyone feels there are ghosts that reside inside the house, but that  ghosts are drawn to the home  and try to get in your pictures after dark.

21. Joseph Merrick Jones House ( 2425 Coliseum Street ):

About The Joseph Merrick Jones House :  Built in 1850, this huge mansion became home to lawyer Joseph Merrick Jones in the mid-1900s.  In addition to being an attorney, Jones also served as Secretary for Public Affairs for the US State Department in WW2.  He continued serving the State Department off and on but is best known as the  President of Tulane University  where he had gone to college.  Jones became one of the first school presidents in the country to  allow integration  in 1963, but he and his wife were killed in a house fire near the college shortly after.  A student hall at Tulane was later named in his honor.

In the 1990s, rockstar Trent Reznor from the band  Nine Inch Nails  lived in Jones’ former home and was known for throwing huge parties.  Large parties are fun, unless your neighbor happens to be a local Council Woman ( Peggy Wilson ), so it didn’t take long for a noise ordinance to kick in and drive Trent away.  Celebrities seem to love the house as actor  John Goodman  then became the next owner in 2005.  John’s wife Annabeth even owns a children’s clothing store called Pippen Lane located at 2930 Magazine Street.

22. “ Seven Sisters ” Houses ( 2305-2329 Coliseum Street ):

About The “Seven Sisters” Houses :  Local folklore says that these houses were made for a wealthy man who wanted all 7 of his daughters to live next to each other.  The story is more legend than truth and there are actually 8 houses but they are still very interesting.  What makes them cool is that they were all designed as side-hall  Shotgun Houses .  This means that if you shot a shotgun through the front door of any of the long 1-room-wide houses the pellets would pass untouched through the back of the house.  These skinny houses are still very today popular today mainly in New Orleans’ poor neighborhoods.

23. Pritchard House ( 1407 First Street ):

About The Pritchard House :  In 1858 wealthy cotton farmer Richard Pritchard started building this home, although it took him many years to finish it.  The next owner tried to completely change the style and remove the  Greek columns  in the early-1900s, but did a very poor renovation.  Luckily later in the 1990s Dr. John Piggot bought the Pritchard House and resorted it to its former glory.  With its 4 powerful columns, the Pritchard House is one of the few really great examples of Greek revival in the Garden District.  We have always been a fan of the grand Romanesque columns on mansions as it tends to make them look even bigger than they are.

As you move on from the Richard Pritchard House, make sure to inspect the stone horse carriage step along the sidewalk across the road ( 1408 1st Street ) which dates back to 1846.

24. Archie Manning’s House ( 1420 First Street ):

About Archie Manning’s House :  Since 1982, this has been the home of beloved former NFL Quarterback  Archie Manning  who played for the New Orleans Saints in the 1970s.  Archie is still highly regarded by football fans in New Orleans even he didn’t win a championship because he showed great loyalty by staying with the Saints even when he was the team’s only bright spot.

People who didn’t follow the Saints in the 1970s know Archie better as the father of his Super Bowl-winning sons  Eli & Peyton Manning .  Both of the boys in this stellar football family and their brother older Cooper all grew up in this house.  Cooper is a little lesser known outside of New Orleans as he had to end his very promising football career early due to medical issues with his spine in college.  You can imagine the family all playing catch in the large front yard.  Before leaving make sure to check out the neighbor’s carriage step along the road.

Across the road ( 1423 1st Street ) is a great home to take photos of with a yard jam-packed full of palm trees.

25. The “ Horse ” House ( 2401 Prytania Street ):

About The “Horse” House :  This massive 7,000 square foot pink mansion has a giant relief of two white horses below its First Street facing third story gable.  There are also numerous horse elements throughout the lawn sparking us to call it the Horse House.   We really couldn’t find much verifiable history on the beautiful mansion, but it is one of our favorite in the neighborhood to take photos of.  By far the pink Horse House one of the most memorable stops on our free Garden District walking tour.

Directly across Prytania Street ( at 2406 ) is a Colonial-style brick mansion built in 1905 for local attorney John May.  The home was bought by the Government of France in 1957 and serves as their US Consulate.

26. Bradish Johnson House ( 2343 Prytania Street ):

About The Bradish Johnson House :  This amazing mansion was built in 1872 for Bradish Johnson, who had gotten super rich from his family’s sugar cane plantations.  Bradish’s Whitney Plantation, named after his grandson, opened for tours in 2014 and focuses on the lives of the slaves, ( more info ).  The impressive Garden District home built with the plantation income cost of $100,000 to build which was a huge amount of money back then, equal to over $1.5 million today.

Since 1929 the Mansion has served as the private  Louise S. McGehee School  ( website ) for girls which was founded in 1912.  The move helped the school grow from 30 to over 200 students with classes starting at 5th grade.  The school has since expanded to cover an entire city block with pre-kindergarten through high school buildings, but the Bradish House is still used for academics.  To get an  idea of the scale  of the original Bradish property, the old carriage house is now the school gym and stable is the cafeteria.   Today the McGehee School is very esteemed in not only academics, but also in arts and athletics.  Thinking about sending your daughter here?  Tuition ranged from $11,000-18,000 per year.

27. “ Toby’s Corner ” House ( 2340 Prytania Street ):

About “Toby’s Corner” :  Philadelphia plantation manager Thomas Toby built this timeless home in 1838, making it the  oldest home in the Garden District  still standing today.   Toby’s plantation background is definitely visible as the home is built in a Creole-style much like the famous Laura Plantation just outside of New Orleans.

A series of columns circle the entire house creating a covered wrap around patio and the raised brick foundation not only protects floods, but also helps to circulate air in the mid-Summer heat.  If you look closely, you can even see the fountain with a sugar cane bowl which also ties back to Toby’s roots as a plantation manager.  There used to be a sweeping staircase leading from the 2nd floor into the home’s large garden, but it was removed during a remodel shortly before Toby lost the home to foreclosure in 1858.  Soon after the foreclosure, Thomas Dugan of the  Westfeldt Family  bought it and they still own the mansion today.

We love the heavy foliage which creates almost a jungle of a yard and gives you a great look into why the Garden District got its nickname.  As you round the Northside of the lush property in a few stops, you will great an excellent peek at the front of the house.

28. Buckner Mansion ( 1410 Jackson Street ):

About The Buckner Mansion :  Wealthy cotton grower Henry Sullivan Buckner had this plantation-style mansion built in 1856.  The  22,000 square foot home  has 48 Ionic and Corinthian fluted cypress columns on wraparound double galleries.  In addition to the sure size of the home and number of columns, the mansion also has excellent ironwork and floor-to-ceiling windows.

This is one of the finest examples of  Southern Antebellum architecture  and elegance still standing inside the city of New Orleans.  The huge mansion was home to the prestigious Soule Business School from 1923-1983 before being turned back into a private home.  The Buckner Mansion was also one of the filming locations for the hit TV show  American Horror Story  which filmed its third season in New Orleans.

29. Magnolia Mansion Hotel ( 2127 Prytania Street ):

About The Magnolia Mansion Hotel :  With an eerie history, this mansion was built in 1858 by cotton merchant Alexander Harris for his young bride Elizabeth Thompson.   Nicknamed Lizzie , Elizabeth was still a minor at the time of their marriage.  The mansion was designed by James Calrow who also made the home at 1239 First Street which vampire novelist Anne Rice later used as Mayfair Manor.  That is just the start of the spooky connections as there were also a  series of unlucky events  surrounding Magnolia Mansion.

In 1869 the original owner Alexander Harris and his brother Aaron  both mysteriously died  from yellow fever within 24 hours of each other.  Alexander’s funeral took place right in the mansion.  Following his death, the mansion and family fortune of $200,000 was left to Alexander’s young bride Lizzie.  There were huge  family trust issues  between Lizzie and her family following the deaths.  The cast aside her brother-in-law’s widow and then shortly after remarrying Lizzie sold the mansion and land to cotton miller John Henry Maginnis in 1879 instead of willing it to her own children.

John Maginnis, who was one of the richest men in the deep South, didn’t last long as he was struck by lightning and killed while on vacation in Mississippi on the 4th of July, 1889.  His fortune and 1,000 employee cotton empire were then left to his wife Elizabeth Tweed,  who also nicknamed Lizzie  just like the first widow owner.  Lizzie Maginnis had already had rumors floating around her as her sister had mysteriously died just 2 years before her husband’s lightning strike.  The luck started to change when the Maginnis’ daughter Josephine took over the property.  Josephine was named the Queen of multiple Mardi Gras parades and hosted many social events.  When she died in 1939, Josephine willed the estate to the American Red Cross.

Today the Mansion is not the Widow Maker it started and has served as an  award-winning bed & breakfast  since 2001.  The awards range from Most Romantic B&B in Louisiana to one of the Top Ten Haunted Inns in America.  Even cooler than the hauntings are the  9 uniquely themed rooms  throughout the mansion.  The best ones are the Gone With the Wind room with a grand bed and large draped green blinds, the Moulin Rouge themed room, and Lafitte’s pirate hideaway, not to mention the grand common areas.

Hotel Website :  ( HERE ).

30. House of Broel ( 2220 Saint Charles Avenue ):

About The House of Broel :  In 1851, local merchant George Washington Squires built his home here just before the neighborhood was annexed into the City of New Orleans.  The next owner raised the house up and added the current grand 1st floor to the mansion in 1884.  The Polish Countess, and local dressmaker,  Bonnie Broel  bought the mansion and threw her own wedding here in 1980.  It was such a success that Ms. Broel decided to open her home for tours and other couples weddings.

The first floor is staged in all of its 1800s beauty and has a great intimate feel.  Upstairs is the real treat where you can tour the  collection of antiques  Ms. Broel collected over the decades.  The collection includes a desk made for the Duke of Dresden in 1800, a piece of linen from Egypt that is over 2000 years old, a chandelier with hand-blown grapes cascading from its arms.

Maybe the best area of the house is an extensive  collection of magical dollhouses  that Ms. Broel personally designed and decorated for over 15 years.  The enchanting collection of 60 historically has accurate scale model mansions, houses, and shops filled with elaborately costumed figures from the mind of a dressmaker.  With great decor, our favorite models are the English manor house, an antebellum plantation, a sweet shop, and a 28 room  Russian Palace .

The Russian Palace dollhouse is 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide, covering almost an entire wall of the second-floor hallway.  The display is filled with rich tapestries, romantic paintings, fine wall coverings, ornate furniture, and period-dressed dolls.  The faux Fabergé eggs and spiral staircases of the Russian Palace model remind us of a time before the Russian Revolution, in the early-1900s.  Also featured are charming Victorian homes, an Asian art shop, a Baronial hall and the smallest house of all, a fairy hut complete with lace curtains.

Guided Tours :  Tours available Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, by appointment only.  Call 504-494-2220 for your guided tour.   Tour Cost :  Adults $10, Children $5.   Mansion Website :  ( HERE ).

31. Anne Rice’s Childhood Home ( 2301 Saint Charles Avenue ):

About Anne Rice’s Childhood Home :  Fans of Author Anne Rice will be happy to know that this home on Saint Charles Street is where the famous local author grew up as a child until age 14.  This is where Anne’s stories of Vampires and Witches that so many readers have grown to love got their true start.  After visiting so many homes associated with the author, seeing where the young Anne Rice grew up helps to bring this free New Orleans Garden District walking tour full circle.

32. John Morris House ( 2525 Saint Charles Avenue ):

About The John Morris House :  In the 1860s a small cottage stood here with a lot that spanned an entire block to the North.  The large lot bought in 1888 by the wife of gambler John Morris who built the current home you see today.  After graduating from Harvard, John Morris started a horse race track outside of New York City.  This racing facility  hosted the Belmont Stakes  from 1890-1904 as well as the Preakness Stakes in 1890.  After starting the horse track, Morris moved to New Orleans and invested heavily in stocks of the State Lottery which made him very rich.  His wife sold the home when Morris died in 1895.

Robert Downman later bought the home and quickly became the  King of Mardi Gras , known as the Rex.  Each year he would stop the Mardi Gras parade in front of his house to give a toast which the each year’s Rex still does today during the festival.

33. Alfred Grima House ( 2701 St. Charles Avenue ):

About The Alfred Grima House :  Built by Bicknell Payne in 1859, but drastically remodeled by attorney Alfred Grima in 1890 into an Italianate style.  During the remodeling, the entrance was moved from 2701 Saint Charles Avene to 1604 Forth Street.  When Alfred’s widow Clarisse died in 1981 he donated the property to the Historic Society of New Orleans, but has been a private home since 1987.

Other Nearby Attractions:

34. elms mansion ( 3029 saint charles avenue ):.

About The Elms Mansion :  An amazing large white mansion was built in 1869 for,  “Yankee in Gray”  Watson Van Benthuysen II.  Watson was a relative of Jefferson Davis by marriage and served as an officer in the Confederate Army prior to building this mansion.  His wealth mainly came from wine & tobacco trading, but Watson also served as the President of a Saint Charles streetcar company.

From 1931 until the start of WWII, the mansion served as the German Consulate.  In 1952, John Elms Sr., owner of the largest coin-operated amusement company in the South, purchased the home.  Since Elms’ death in 1968, the family has been using the mansion to host weddings and special events.

Mansion Tours :  Self-guided tours are available Tuesdays-Fridays, 10am-2pm.   Mansion Website :  ( Here ).

35. The Columns Mansion Hotel & Restaurant ( 3811 Saint Charles Avenue ):

About The Columns Mansion Hotel :  This enchanting columned mansion was built in 1883 for  cigar baron  Simon Hernsheim.  By the 1890, Simon’s company sold 39 million La Belle Creole cigars a year.  After Simon’s death in 1898, the mansion switched hands many times before being turned into the Columns Hotel in the 1980s.

Today the mansion is the only survivor out of a group of Italianate-style mansions that famed local architect  Thomas Sully  built nearby in the 1880s.  The interior of the mansion is still considered one of the grandest in any late-nineteenth century Louisiana residence.  One of the most dramatic interior features is the mahogany stairwell which rises to meet an extraordinary square domed, stained glass skylight in a sunburst motif.

The  Hotel’s Victoria Lounge  is one of the most unique places to get a drink in New Orleans as you are transported back into the 1880s.  This is a great place to grab lunch and recharge from our free self-guided Garden District walking tour.  They also have a jazz brunch every Sunday from 11am to 3pm.

Mansion Website :  ( Here ).

36. The Brown Mansion ( 4717 St Charles Ave ):

About The Brown Mansion :  This gigantic 22,000 square foot, 4-story, 9 bed, 9 bath, Richardsonian Romanesque Revival mansion is the largest on St. Charles Street and the most palatial home in New Orleans.  It was built from 1901-04 by Cotton King of New Orleans, W.P. Brown who was one of the richest men in the South at the time.  It has rare and expensive ‘flame’ mahogany covering the inside, antique tapestries, stained glass windows, a chandelier from 1780 and mantels from the mid-1700s.  The stately home even has a bed once owned by Marie Antoinette with her crest on the footboard.  In 2012 the estate was bought and restored by local attorney and businessman John Houghtaling.

It is also worth noting a few of the other amazing buildings that are within a block of the Brown Mansion and are included above on our free Garden District walking tour map.  These include the neighboring ‘Anthemion’ House ( 4631 St. Charles Ave ) which served as the US Consulate To Japan from 1938 to 1941 and another block over the stunning Academy Of The Sacred Heart ( 4631 St. Charles Ave ).  The Academy Of The Sacred Heart is a huge palace of a building built in as a private school 1887 and the academy itself goes back to 1857.  Directly across the street from the school is the Smith House ( 4534 St. Charles Ave ) built for the president of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange William Smith.

37. National World War 2 Museum ( 945 Magazine Street ):

About The National WW2 Museum :  Often considered the best museum in New Orleans.  The museum originally opened as a  D-Day museum  as the amphibious Higgins vehicles used in the beach invasions of WW2 were made and tested in New Orleans.  As the excellent museum expanded, Congress declared it America’s official National World War II Museum in 2003 and it gained association with the  Smithsonian Institution .

Some of the many highlights include aircraft displays, D-Day exhibits, plus interactive areas covering the Road to Berlin and the Road to Tokyo.  The museum does a great job and letting you experience what the war and planning were like in both Europe and the Pacific.  Food is available.

Museum Website :  ( Here ).

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How can it be free, what tours do we offer and when.

You are not allowed to reserve more then six adults on a Free Walking Tour. If you have a large group please be considerate and consider private tour! . We reserve the right to ask large groups of over six adults to leave our free tours.

Learn what makes New Orleans so unique

Take yourself on a tour with our self-guided tours.

Learn more about our tours in this video:

The French Quarter: New Orleans oldest neighborhood . Established in 1718, the French Quarter, is perhaps America’s oldest neighborhood. It should be at the top of everyone that’s visiting New Orleans list. The French Quarter is a place of constant change, settled by the French, ruled by the Spanish, occupied by the Americans, and the second-largest port of entry for Italian immigrants in the 19th century. In the 20th century, it became a haven for artists, musicians, and bohemians. Then one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world. Often looking down on for being so “touristy” The French Quarter might be the oldest neighborhood in the United States. It has been continually occupied since the cities founding in 1718 and it features countless surviving examples of intact 19th century architecture. After our free tour by foot in New Orleans’ French Quarter, it will become apparent why New Orleans is Americas’ Most Interesting City.

Free French Quarter Tour is Daily at 10am book here

Historic Garden District walking tour

Nola Tour Guy is proud to offer a New Orleans Walking Tour of the historic Garden District as a free tour. This unique part of the city is made easily accessible from the French Quarter by use of the famous St Charles Street car as well as an array of other services. A stroll through The Garden District is a must for everyone and anyone who visits New Orleans. Nola Tour Guy presents our Historic Walking Tour of the Garden District at 3pm check out our schedule to find out what days. Book Now !

Free Cemetery Tours in New Orleans

Nola Tour Guy is proud to offer New Orleans’ only FREE! “pay what you feel” cemetery tour . It is the best deal in the city!

T he tour meets outside the cemetery at 3421 Esplanade Avenue

Join us as we traverse Bayou St. John, one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, as well as the mysterious city of the dead, St. Louis Cemetery #3. St Louis Cemetery #3 dates back to 1852 and is one of the best historic cemeteries that is still open to the public. This NOLA walking tour is riddled with unique architectures, histories and landscapes found nowhere else in the world.

We are excited to share this amazing part of New Orleans through our entertaining and comprehensive hour-long tour. Follow us back in history as we walk the city’s oldest road which houses the city’s most historic plantation house, as well as, the site of New Orleans’ largest Voodoo ritual conducted by Marie Laveau II.

We are also excited to share with you a FREE self-guided version of this tour if you can’t join us for our tour.

This is still an active cemetery, please be respectful while visiting any cemetery.

Mark Twain famously referred to New Orleans cemeteries as “cities of the dead” and they are a must see for anyone visiting New Orleans. What Cemeteries are open in New Orleans? We think St Louis #3 is one of the best options and Nola Tour Guy offers Free Walking Tours of New Orleans St Louis #3 at 1pm.

Can’t make it to our 1pm Free Cemetery Tour? Check our our FREE Self-guided St Louis #3 tour .

These Cemeteries are still active and still visited by families of the departed so we ask you to act respectfully while you are in the cemeteries. Learn more about New Orleans Cemetery Etiquette

How can we offer this for Free? We are so sure you will love our tours you will gladly pay what you feel the tour is worth ($15-25 per person is suggested.

Free Self-Guided Tours in New Orleans

We think our free “Pay what you feel” walking tours offer a great way to learn about New Orleans unique history for a price everyone can afford. But we understand that not everyone can join us for our excellent free “pay what you feel like” walking tours. With this in mind, we have created the following self guided versions of our tours that you can take at your own pace anytime you’d like. Scroll down and read about each of these tours, if you seen one you’d like to do click on the button and you’ll be taken to the page. These guides will give you a great way to see some of New Orleans most important neighborhoods, which include the French Quarter, the Garden District and our cemeteries. These can also serve as companion pieces to our free guided NOLA walking tours. Each one includes written directions and a custom Google Map which you can use to follow along.

Our guide to Planning your Trip to New Orleans

Let us help you plan your trip to New Orleans. We are experts of all things New Orleans and we’ve been putting our knowledge together into a guide. This guide is a collection of articles that can act as a free trip planning guide giving you an idea of some of the best things to do, tours that are worth your time and money, places to see and where to eat. So check out our free trip planning guide.

What we are about:

Nola Tour Guy is a collective of passionate guides, both men and women, who are experts in the history of New Orleans. Our goals are to give New Orleans walking tours that are intellectually stimulating, historically accurate and FUN. We only offer walking tours because we believe that walking is the best way to see a city and learn about it and at a price everyone can afford. Nola Tour Guy offers no novelty tours only the real history brought to life by our passionate guides. Join us, you won’t be disappointed..

Contact Nola Tour Guy today to learn more about the options we offer for free walking tours in New Orleans. See the city in a new light when you let our experts guide you through some of the most fascinating and historical parts of New Orleans.

Nola Tour Guy is a proud member of thee Free Tour Community, find out more: https://freetourcommunity.com/.

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INTERNET SPECIAL - ONLY $22.00! 

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No need to print - your tickets will be at our box office inside the Voodoo Lounge. 

TREMÉ WALKING TOUR

Tremé, the cultural heartbeat of new orleans.

French Quarter Phantoms, Tour Tremé was Awarded  National Geographic's GeoTourism Award for our support in sustaining and enhancing the unique geographic character of the region through our commitment to aesthetics, culture, environment, heritage, and the wellbeing of the regions’ residents.

Tour Tremé also Awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence

Tremé (pronounced Tre-May) sits adjacent to the French Quarter and is the oldest African-American neighborhood in the United States. Tremé is a vibrant area steeped in music and culture. Come explore this iconic gem and revel in New Orleans Creole and Black history with its roots in Congo square and Storyville, the birthplace of such Jazz greats as Alphonse Picou and Trombone Shorty.

Tremé was originally settled by Free People of Color; often referred to as Creoles, whose unique experience helped shape the civil rights movement. It is the hallmark of African-American history not to be missed. Today, Tremé is home to artists, musicians, and craftsmen and is a living, breathing, joyful piece of New Orleans history.

Points of Interests

On your  Tremé Walking Tour,  you will spot the following locations: 

WALKING TOUR OF TREMÉ

Our walking tour begins from The Voodoo Lounge, 718 N Rampart Street, then crosses over to Congo Square at Armstrong Park before venturing off the beaten path to see film locations from the HBO Tremé series.

Our sightseeing tour extraodinarre includes architecture, music history, Mardi Gras Indian history, and a trip to the Tomb of the Unknown Slave to discuss the history of slavery in New Orleans.

MARDI GRAS IN THE TREMÉ

Hear the history of Mardi Gras Indian and Skull & Bone Gang traditions in the Tremé.

This is the ORIGINAL walking tour of the Tremé neighborhood!

INTERNET SPECIAL - ONLY $22.00!

Regular $25.00 Adult participants aged 21 years and older will have the chance to purchase one Hurricane drink and receive another one for free, served in a complimentary souvenir cup, prior to the tour.

Tour Information

  WHEN :   10:30 AM Saturday, Sunday and Monday

  LENGTH :   2 hours

  STARTS FROM:  The Voodoo Lounge, 718 N. Rampart Street (On the corner of Orleans Street and Rampart Street)

  ENDS AT:  Vodoo Lounge

  DISTANCE:   1 mile

 INTERNET SPECIAL: $22

Over 20 Years of Excellence!

Worth the trip to new orleans by itself, luke is great, charm, professionalism, knowledge & fun, it was amazing and very informative, great start tge trip, enjoyed it so much we booked another tour, great tour, best walking tour ever.

Not Just Your Ordinary Cheap Thrill!

Fun French Quarter Walking tours led by Master Storytellers. Choose from our Ghost & Vampire walking tour, Garden District walking tour, Tour Tremé or Saints and Sinners: a Dirty little French Quarter History tour. Who knew history could be so much fun? All tours are about one hour forty-five minutes, walking distance is just under one mile. Bring your camera (and your friends), wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared to have fun! Established in 2006. Locally owned and operated. We love entertaining you and it shows. Join us for the best walking tours New Orleans has to offer. Book online for $22 per person and you receive a discount of $3 per ticket! (Regularly $25 per person).

THE VOODOO LOUNGE, 718 N RAMPART STREET, NEW ORLEANS LA 70116 504-666-8300 | PRIVACY POLICY

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New Orleans Voodoo Walking Tour

Tour Information

Voodoo tour, voodoo tour highlights.

• Congo Square
• Slavery and the Code Noir in colonial New Orleans
• The Haitian Rebellions
• Marie Laveau, the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans”  *
• New Orleans Cemeteries and the Spirits of the Dead
• Voodoo Dolls, Vevers, and Gris-Gris Bags
• Saint John’s Eve and other Voodoo holidays
• Depictions of Voodoo in Hollywood popular culture
• Depictions of Voodoo in New Orleans culture
• The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
• Madame John’s Legacy
• Voodoo Authentica and other modern temples
• And much more.

Free Tours by Foot's voodoo tour of the French Quarter is the city's most unique experience, often led by an actual voodoo priest.

Shrouded in mystery and secrecy – and often misrepresented by vampires and nefarious ceremonies in Hollywood depictions – Voodoo has long held reign in New Orleans legends, myths, and history.  

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Click here for our full selection of free New Orleans tours .

Spirituality has been hidden among the slaves of the 1700s, popularized and commercialized by the famous Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in the nineteenth century.

And still functions as an alternative religion in the modern-day city.  

But how do you separate the facts from so much fiction, rumors, and superstitions?

How do you separate the theatrics of a ghost tour from the real thing?

Join Free Tours by Foot on our New Orleans Voodoo Tour as we seek to illuminate one of New Orleans’ most unique subcultures.

And, in the video below, Priest Robi, Sandy, and Andrew, all tour guides with Free Tours by Foot, discuss the myths and legend of Marie Laveau.

From its roots in West Africa to the modern-day temples inside the French Quarter, we will explore the history, culture, and beliefs of both historic and current practitioners.

This tour will also skirt the borders of the Treme neighborhood.

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Along the way, our guides will explain the truth behind the more popular superstitions and the meaning of some of the stranger rituals.  

The tour ends with a stop inside a Voodoo temple and a chance to pick up some New Orleans “gris-gris” to take home!

Sights, people, and topics we cover on the New Orleans Voodoo Tour include:

• Marie Laveau, the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans”  *

* This tour does not visit St. Louis #1 Cemetery. Due to new security regulations put in place by the Archdiocese of New Orleans pilgrimages and offerings to Marie Laveau's tomb are discouraged.

Tour information

Reservations:  REQUIRED.  Click here to reserve .  Groups of 6 or more persons should visit our  group inquiry page .

When: 10 am Wednesdays thru Sundays. 11 am Thursdays thru Sundays.  View our full tour calendar

Where:  The Archway to Armstrong Park -  701 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Duration:  Approximately 1.5 hours.  Approximately 1 mile in length.

Cost:    name-your-own-price tour .  Groups of 6-9  must prepay $10/person.  Groups of 10 or more  must organize a private tour and can read about our  options for groups .

RELATED POSTS

• Voodoo in New Orleans Explained
• Cemetery Tours
• Our Other City Tours
• Things to Do in NOLA
• 5 Top Voodoo Shops in NOLA

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French Quarter Tours

Discover the rich history of one of new orleans' most infamous neighborhoods .

To outsiders the French Quarter can resemble a gorgeous puzzle -- 100 blocks of wrought iron balconies, pastel-colored walls and secret gardens. How to make sense of all its stories and histories? The walking tours of the Vieux Carre bring the neighborhood to life – with specialized guides possessing expert knowledge of all sorts: Creole cuisine, spirited cocktails and antebellum architecture are only a few. They can tell spine-tingling tales of voodoo and vampires and help visitors understand the neighborhood’s colorful past.

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Entertaining and Educating Travelers Since 1995

Tennessee williams walking tour with frank currie.

“Arranged a private tour with the company–and hit the jackpot! Was not interested in other writers for a French Quarter tour, just Tennessee Williams. I was in luck. My tour guide was super-knowledgeable and spent way more with me than the pre-arranged two hours. I got my Tennessee Williams fix in a major way. We visited numerous sites in the Vieux Carre and went inside a few of them when some tour guides might’ve just breezed by. Learned so much and found it all fascinating. Hated for it to end! I will always be grateful for this fabulous tour. Thank you, Frank and also to Rob, the company owner who put together the tour.”

– Rob B

Private New Orleans Literary Tour

• Wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, bring a raincoat
• We do many tours in the rain but reserve the right to cancel if there's lighting or if the rain is too loud to speak over.

• 504.947.2120
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GREAT Garden District Tour The tour moved along to keep it very interesting. I highly recommend this tour!” - baney3, Fairfax, Virginia

From : Did a broken wagon wheel decide the fate of Marksville? Curious Louisiana investigates https://www.theadvocate.com/curious_louisiana/the-city-of-marksville-started-with-a-broken-wagon-wheel/article_44747a3a-d74d-11ee-a7ba-f70465b6288a.html https://www.tourneworleans.com/tours/

From : An immersive exhibit of Banksy's provocative graffiti is promised for New Orleans https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/arts/exhibit-of-graffiti-superstar-banksys-art-coming-to-nola/article_9f847e2a-ebf2-11ee-8849-578e18129a15.html https://www.tourneworleans.com/

NEW ORLEANS MUSIC TOUR Today, 2 PM Buddy Bolden recolled by Jelly Roll Morton: The 3 Recordings of ''Buddy Bolden's Blues''- 1938/1939. https://www.tourneworleans.com/music-tour/

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Join The Cooking Mom in New Orleans-March 2025

Amazing cajun and creole food, jazz clubs and live music, and so much history and charm. New Orleans has it all! Join me for 5 FABULOUS days March 20-25 in the Big Easy next spring!

I’ve planned THE ULTIMATE trip to New Orleans! It’s a great winter getaway! The weather will be warm and perfect! Plus, I’ve timed this trip so we’ll be there on the weekend of the Louisiana Derby! If you’ve always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby, this is the next best thing! We can get dressed up with derby hats and go to the Derby to watch the horses race! What fun!

Ready To Vacation In New Orleans With Amy?

March 20, 2025 – march 25, 2025.

Click the button to get the full Itinerary & pricing details. You can also use this link to book your trip! Spots are limited, and the vacations sell out, so don’t wait!

This trip has it all! And, it’s a GREAT deal!

We’ll fly in Thursday, March 20th and check in to our charming boutique hotel. It’s an historic luxury hotel right in the heart of it all in the French Quarter.

The hotel rooms are so pretty! It’s even got a beautiful courtyard with a pool!

This is my kind of hotel! I’m all about history and charm! You are going to love it!

On our first night in The Big Easy, we’re going all out! I’ve planned a wonderful several course welcome dinner at one of the most famous and best restaurants in New Orleans! It’s going to be a night to remember!

The next morning, you can’t go to New Orleans without going here!

We’ll go to the famous legendary Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets. They are AMAZING!

After breakfast I’ve hired the best guides for a fun, history filled walking tour. We’ll hit the streets to learn all about New Orleans and the French Quarter.

On this trip you’ll have the opportunity to taste so much good food! From muffuletta and poor boy sandwiches to gumbo and jambalaya and lots more!

New Orleans is a city known for it’s incredible food! Bring it on!

This is a culinary trip. That means on my trips we’ll not only eat AMAZING food but on this trip we’ll learn how to make it too!

On this trip we’ll put on an apron and get conn’. We’ll take a cooking class at the VERY BEST cooking school in New Orleans to learn how to make cajun and creole classic dishes. Then, we’ll sit down to enjoy a fabulous dinner with wine after all our hard work! This is gonna be so fun!

On this trip there will also be free to to shop and explore on your own. I’ll also be putting together a list of fun optional add on activities like a walking tour of the beautiful Garden District, Sunday Jazz Brunch, a walking food tour and lot’s more!

I mentioned we’ll be there for the Louisiana Derby on Saturday, March 22. If you’ve always dreamed of going to the Kentucky Derby, this is the next best thing! If you are a Derby fan like me, you can get on our Derby hat and join me at the track live for the horse races!

Or, if you’d prefer to skip the horse racing, you can relax on Saturday you can choose to explore more of New Orleans on your own.

This trip is filled with SO MUCH fun and SO MUCH delicious food! It’s a great value with so much included like our gourmet welcome dinner, first morning’s breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, a New Orleans walking tour and a super fun hands on 3 hour cooking class, followed by an amazing dinner with wine and beer. I work hard to make my trips extra special and different from the rest! I hope you’ll join me for 5 fabulous days in New Orleans! This is gonna full up fast so don’t wait to reserve your spot!

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