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, NatureGuide 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.
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.
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.
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.
