French Quarter Tours in New Orleans

New Orleans is known as the most haunted city in the United States, and much of this is in the city's oldest French Quarter. Vampires, ghosts, voodoo and murder mysteries are all part of the folklore of the neighbourhood, which is one of the most popular places to go when thinking about what to see and do in New Orleans.

In addition to spooky legends, the French Quarter has a rich history and iconic buildings that are very interesting to see. New Orleans is considered the birthplace of jazz, so it is home to many sites that are important to the history of the music. There are many interesting walking tours in the French Quarter, as the distances in the neighbourhood are not very long.

The French Quarter is the oldest quarter of New Orleans and the most visited because of the mysterious stories told in its streets, where ghosts and vampires are the main characters. If you're a fan of mysteries, you can't miss one of the best ghost tours in New Orleans.

It's a walking tour, both day and night, where a guide will tell you stories about the ghostly apparitions that occur in various haunted hotels and bars, secret brothels and the homes of self-confessed vampires.

As the emphasis is not on the more lurid details, children can also take part. It's also an excuse to learn about the architecture, history and culture of New Orleans.

Some of the haunted houses include the Napoleon House, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the LaLaurie Mansion, the Pharmacy Museum, the Sultan's Palace and numerous hotels where you can even stay, such as the Bourbon Hotel, the Maison de Ville or the Monteleone.

The LaLaurie mansion

One of the most famous haunted mansions is the LaLaurie Mansion, whose stories were part of the American Horror Story: Coven series.

Marie Delphine MacCarthy Blanque LaLaurie and her husband Louis LaLaurie built the mansion in 1832 on Royal Street. After a fire destroyed part of the house, mutilated people were found on the site and over a hundred corpses were found in the garden.

Madame LaLaurie allegedly subjected slaves to grisly torture and punishment. Madame LaLaurie fled and those who subsequently lived in the mansion reported hearing footsteps, voices and experiencing feelings of unexplained anger. There was even another murder. Today no one doubts that the mansion is haunted, and it is one of the most visited houses in New Orleans.

Details of interest

• Price: Around 27 EUR.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: You will learn about the most intriguing stories of the French Quarter and the buildings where ghosts have been seen.
• Disadvantages of this option: You are not allowed to enter the LaLaurie mansion.

Many of the ghosts that haunt the streets and buildings in New Orleans' French Quarter are related to violent murders or mysterious suicides.

If you're interested in the spooky details of these stories, don't miss this tour, where a guide will tell you stories of murder, the mafia, brothels, prostitutes, as well as voodoo, witchcraft and ghosts, while you visit the houses where these events occurred.

This is not a tour recommended for children, and is done on foot and in small groups. You may also visit a bar.

Many of these crimes took place when slavery was legal and could be committed with impunity. Such as those that took place at the Museum of Pharmacy, where Dr Dupas conducted many medical experiments on pregnant slaves... horrifying, isn't it?

It is suspected that Dr Dupas also practised voodoo and is said to be one of the ghosts haunting the Museum. It is also said that pregnant women can sense something sinister about the place.

New Orleans was also home to a serial killer who has been compared to Jack the Ripper, the Axeman of New Orleans. This ruthless killer (or "spirit", as he called himself in a letter) killed 12 victims, mostly Italian immigrants. He used to enter their homes at night and kill them in their sleep with a sharp object he found in the house.

Details of interest

• Price: Around 18 EUR.
• Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: You will learn in detail the most gruesome murder stories of the French Quarter, while visiting the places where they happened.
• Disadvantages of this option: Not suitable for children. You cannot enter many of the sites you visit, because they are private properties.

There is no shortage of haunted places in New Orleans and the bars are no exception.

Unlike other haunted places that you can't enter because they are private property, haunted bars have their doors open to all visitors. It is one of the best things to do in New Orleans at night.

The tour takes place after sunset and on foot, in small groups, and is best suited for adults.

Not least of all, you can have a drink while the guide amazes you with his tales of the hauntings that occur in these establishments.

Maybe while you listen carefully, a ghost will decide to show up to disprove them or give you some more details about the things they are telling you... Actually, ghost apparitions are not included in the tour, but who knows, maybe they will show up.

Some of the best known haunted bars in Nola are Laffite's Blacksmith Shop, Tajague's, the Bourbon Hotel and May Bailey's, which was once a brothel.

This tour also includes a walking tour of Pirate's Alley, home to the famous and haunted Pirate's Alley Café, where an old cemetery was once located and apparently moved. Once the scene of duels, executions and shady dealings, this street is also often haunted by ghosts.

William Faulkner is said to have been seen smoking or writing at his desk, although the most named is Jean Lafitte, a pirate who sold stolen goods in an alley (and is apparently still there).

Details of interest

• Price: Around 25 EUR.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: You can enter the haunted bars.
• Disadvantages of this option: Drinks are not included.

The French Quarter of New Orleans has its own history and culture related to voodoo, which was brought to the area by enslaved Africans. On this tour, your guide will tell you about the history of voodoo in the French Quarter and show you key sites related to voodoo and the cemetery where voodoo is still practiced, Saint Louis No. 1.

It's also one of the most interesting cemetery tours in New Orleans. It is a walking tour, both day and night, and is more suitable for adults. Groups are not usually large.

Other sites of interest to voodoo enthusiasts include the New Orleans Voodoo Historical Museum, the Voodoo Authentica shop, where you'll also learn a lot about voodoo, Marie Laveau's house and Louis Armstrong Park, formerly known as Congo Square.

The Voodoo Queen

New Orleans was home to voodoo sorceress Marie Laveau, known as the Voodoo Queen, who is buried in St Louis Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in the city. In her tomb you can see the vestiges of these ceremonies, which are apparently still performed to contact Marie.

Marie Laveau, a free woman of African descent, was very influential in her time. After the mysterious death of her husband and two of her daughters, she opened a hairdressing salon where she also offered her voodoo services.

She soon became respected and feared, and legends began to circulate. One of them tells that her daughter pretended to be her for a long time, so that people would believe that Marie Laveau did not age.

Details of interest

• Price: Around 30 EUR.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: You will learn about the real history of voodoo in New Orleans.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is not always possible to enter St Louis Cemetery.

The French Quarter is the oldest quarter of New Orleans and is home to some of the city's most iconic buildings. This makes it an ideal place for you to take a tour of its history and culture, where architecture and music are also intertwined, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you all the important details.

This tour is done on foot, during the day, and children are welcome to participate. The groups can be a little larger than on other tours, but not too large.

On this tour you will see iconic buildings such as St Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, the French Market (rebuilt in 1812), and Bourbon Street, among others. As you may already know, jazz, voodoo, pirates and intriguing events are part of the history of the neighbourhood and the city.

Most of the buildings in the French Quarter date back to the late 18th century when the Spanish dominated the region. They built the 2 or 3-story colonial-style buildings with the ornate balconies that are now the postcard of New Orleans.

The city, founded in 1718 by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, grew up around the Vieux Carré, as the main square that gave birth to the Quarter was called.

Interesting details

• Price: Around 14 EUR.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: You will get to know the history and the most emblematic buildings of the French Quarter.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour can only be done on foot.

One of the best food tours of New Orleans you can take is this excursion through the French Quarter, as its culinary art has been influenced by influences from around the world.

On this tour, in addition to learning about its gastronomy and tasting the main dishes and a glass of Pimm, you will also learn about its history and the most recommended restaurants, guided by a person with extensive knowledge on the subject.

Itusually takes place at midday, in small groups, and is suitable for children. However, please note that tastings are not necessarily equivalent to lunch.

The tour includes visits to the oldest restaurants in the French Quarter, such as Antoine's (1840) and Tujague's (1856), where you can learn about (and taste) their culinary innovations. Other well-known restaurants, often part of the tour, are Leah's, Broussard, Desire and Arnaud's.

On this tour you will learn about the most characteristic culinary styles of the French Quarter and Louisina: Cajun and Creole. Cajun is a more rustic French tradition with Italian, Spanish and Portuguese influences.

On the other hand, Creole food, also of European tradition, is more sophisticated and elaborate and is distinguished by its spicier flavours. However, the two styles combine to create a very unique cuisine.

Some of the delicious dishes you can try include seafood gumbo, turtle soup, boudin & beignets, shrimp remoudale, red beans and rice, beef brisket with Creole horseradish sauce and muffuletta sandwich. The praline for those with a sweet tooth is also a feature.

Details of interest

• Price: Around 60 EUR.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour can only be done on foot.
• Duration: 3 hours
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: Includes food and drink tastings.
• Disadvantages of this option: Tastings are usually small portions.

New Orleans is known as the city where jazz was born, thanks to its multicultural and port side.

Africans, Americans and Europeans came together here, and their musical mix gave birth to Ragtime, New Orleans style and Dixieland rhythms.

This tour is ideal for getting to know the musical side of the French Quarter and New Orleans, not only jazz but also other styles such as gospel, blues and rock and roll. You can do it in the morning or in the afternoon, in small groups, and children can participate.

This tour will also take you to other emblematic neighbourhoods such as Marigny and Treme. What's interesting is that the guide tells you everything accompanied by sound material, so you can really soak up the music that emerged in the streets of these New Orleans neighbourhoods.

Danny Parker's house, the Place de Armes, the Preservation Jazz Hall, Bourbon Street, J&M Studios and Louis Armstrong Park are some of the places of interest you'll visit during this tour.

If after the tour you feel like listening to good music, the most renowned bars are Fritzel's European Jazz Pub (1969) in the French Quarter and The Spotted Cat Music Club in the Marigny district. Frenchmen Street is also one of the most jazz and live music streets in the city.

Traveller Tip

If you're lucky enough to be in New Orleans in April or May, you can attend the Jazz & Heritage Festival, now in its 50th year.

Details of interest

• Price: Around 30 EUR.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: The tour is accompanied by audio material.
• Disadvantages of this option: It does not offer entry to bars.

In a neighbourhood where ghoulish tales, hauntings and ghosts abound, vampires are a must. For this reason, many have compared New Orleans to Transylvania. It seems that vampires crossed the pond on ships from Europe and came to stay.

On this vampire tour you will walk through the streets of the French Quarter and learn about vampire stories from a knowledgeable guide. It takes place at night, in small groups and usually includes a drink in a bar, so it is more suitable for adults.

On the tour you will also visit the Boutique Du Vampyre, a shop that offers many products of vampire culture, such as skull-shaped sugar cubes, amulets, make-up and many other curiosities.

Some of the vampire legends in the French Quarter and New Orleans originated when a newspaper story announced that 9 bodies of murdered people had been found with their throats torn open and apparently stripped of their blood.

But it' s not all legend: the city is home to the New Orleans Vampire Association and many people have confessed to being vampires, although they prefer to remain anonymous.

Interesting details

• Price: Around 27 EUR.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On foot
• Advantages of this option: The theatrical style of the guide makes you empathise more with the stories about vampires.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour does not include drinks.