Ghost and Mystery Tours in New Orleans

New Orleans' connection to the supernatural is undeniable and has influenced popular culture and the imagination of writers such as Anne Rice, who set her vampire and ghost stories in this mysterious city.

For that reason, a ghost tour is considered one of the things to see and do in New Orleans; trying to discover on your tour the reason for the fascination and its link to the macabre.

In this article I offer you detailed information about the main ghost tours in the city. I'm sure you'll be surprised to learn that there is much more variety than you first imagined.

The spooky stories of New Orleans can be found in every corner of the city. This type of experience takes you with an expert guide through the highlights of the city to learn about its most famous witches, most terrifying ghosts and the sad stories that condemned them to roam the world of the living.

This is one of the best things to do in the city at night and you'll find dozens of local companies offering this experience.

What do these tours include?

The tour usually starts with participants meeting at a pre-arranged meeting point at a certain time.

Details may vary slightly depending on the company you hire for the experience, but the meeting point can be anywhere in historic downtown New Orleans, such as Jackson Square or the surrounding area.

In most cases, this type of experience takes place at the end of the day, making it an ideal experience for travellers who are in the city for short stays, such as three days in New Orleans or less.

The tour group will embark on a walking adventure to learn about the most prominent witch, ghost and mystery stories, as well as the spooky corners of the city that were the source of these stories.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from €28 or €30 per adult traveller; children aged 6-12 pay around €20.
• Duration: You will need to book approximately 2 hours for the experience.
• Recommended yes. You want to do the basic ghost tour of New Orleans in a fun and inexpensive experience that will allow you to meet other curious travellers like yourself; to make it all the more interesting.

Those who want to take the experience to the next level might find it interesting to take an adults-only ghost tour; a minimum age of 17 is required to participate. If you like horror and scary stories, you won't regret it!

Please note that this type of experience is less common than traditional tours with a smaller number of suppliers. I recommend my travelling friends to book in advance weeks before their trip.

What do these tours include?

Like the traditional tour, this type of experience is done in medium sized groups that usually do not exceed 20 travellers per excursion. Seeking to add an extra touch of creepiness, the tours carry such spooky names as Hell Vision or similar.

You meet up with the rest of the group and a native historian guide at a meeting point, which might be Louis Armstrong Park, just outside the French Quarter. The idea is to take the tour group through the spooky highlights of the famous French Quarter and the surrounding area to learn about the tragic history of its most famous ghosts.

These ghost tours take place at night so it's easy to fit the experience in with other highlights, such as a food tour of New Orleans or aplantation tour. Both are highly recommended.

Keep in mind that the tour and the places to see may vary depending on the company you hire, the guide who accompanies you and even the suggestions and questions of the group. However, some highlights include the vampire lair St. Germain House, the home of the famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau or the terrible places like the famous Sultan's Palace.

Useful information

• Price: Available from €28 per traveller.
• Duration: You will need to set aside about 2 hours of your itinerary for this experience and arrive on time at the agreed meeting point.
• Recommended if... You want to experience true horror stories told in a straightforward manner; many of these may be sensitive for very young children, so the age of participants is restricted to 17 years and over.

Now, don't think that if you're visiting New Orleans with children for a family holiday you'll have to rule out a ghost tour from your activities - of course not!

As one of the most sought-after activities in the city, several local companies offer family-friendly experiences that kids can easily join. Other companies offer exclusive tours with the main focus on fun for the youngest members of the household.

As with other exclusive experiences, my recommendation is that, once you find the right provider, you should book in advance as these activities have a limited number of participants.

What do these tours include?

The most valuable element of this experience is the local history expert guide and his or her storytelling ability to entertain children and tourists alike.

Although this is an aspect that can change depending on the company you hire, ghost tours are often offered in English only. If your children are not fluent in English, ask about the availability of guides in Spanish.

The tour usually takes place at an early hour just before sunset and can be complemented by a tour of the French Quarter.

As you walk through the highlights, the expert guide in charge of the tour highlights the city's most haunted places, telling secret details about the spooky events and their unfortunate protagonists.

The narration and stories are entirely appropriate for children; adults are as amused by the stories as they are by the reactions of the little ones.

Useful information

• Price: Adults and children over 13 pay around €35 for the experience while children aged 6-12 pay €18; children under 6 are free with most companies.
• Duration: They take place at 6pm and you'll need to book just under 2 hours to complete the experience.
• Recommended if you're visiting the city as a family and don't want to miss out on a ghost tour of the city.

If personalised experiences are your thing and you want to designa tailor-madeguided tour of New Orleans, consider hiring the services of a totally private sunset ghost tour.

Rated as one of the best things to do in the city, you'll learn a lot about local history and culture in one night.

What do these tours include?

The characteristics of these guided tours may vary slightly depending on the company you hire to carry out the experience.

For example, on a private tour you will pay a fee for the services of a guide who is an expert in the history and legends of New Orleans and you can add members of your group or family to the tour. Depending on the company you hire, the number of participants may be limited to 8, 10 or 15 people.

Another important advantage to consider is that the companies that organise these tours offer local guides who are able to speak several languages including Spanish, English and French. If you're visiting the city in a group and English is not their strongest language, this may be the best way to enjoy the ghost tour experience without the hassle.

Useful information for private groups

• Price: This is a slightly more expensive experience, with the private tour costing approximately €550. However, you can add a large group of friends.
• Duration: You will need to book just over 2 hours to complete the experience.
• Recommended if... You want an immersive experience and a personal guide to design a tailor-made tour. This experience is certainly one of the best ways to get to know New Orleans, highly recommended if you can afford it.

A clever way to combine some of the best things to do in the city at night: an overnight ghost tour combined with a visit to the best pubs in New Orleans.

New Orleans is a city known for its fun nightlife that vibrates to the beat of good jazz and Latin rhythms, so you'll find several local companies offering this kind of experience to travellers.

What do these tours include?

In the city you will find several companies offering this experience and, although certain characteristics may vary, most tours are conducted in small groups with a maximum of 10 people.

An expert guide accompanies the group from the meeting point to the end of the tour.

Please note that prices vary according to the services included by the companies. Most excursions in the cheaper range include a visit to several local bars, but not drinks, which must be paid for by the individual traveller.

However, the recommendation of an expert guide who can offer the group specific guidelines on what to try at each stop is highly valued.

Although it tends to take longer than the typical ghost tour, approximately 3 hours, it is still a short adventure. This allows you to combine it with other experiences such as a boat ride in the city or a tour of the cemeteries of New Orleans on a short trip to the city.

Useful information for private groups

• Price: The price to pay is from €30 per traveller for tours that do not include drinks. You must be at least 21 years of age to drink alcohol in the USA.
• Duration: I recommend booking a full 3 hours for this experience.
• Recommended if you want to experience the best of the city's nightlife in one tour. This type of tour is a great opportunity to get a taste of New Orleans' Jazz culture as you visit the city's most historic pubs, all tinged with ghost stories. Unique!

The New Orleans ghost tour is one of the most popular guided tours in the city and for good reason! The city of New Orleans is often described as the most haunted city in the United States, the fruit of a wild and tumultuous past, with stories to make the skin crawl for the bravest of brave souls.

Do you know in detail the events that took place on December 8, 1984 in the French Quarter? Your guide will tell you the story in detail! These tours will take you through the real neighbourhoods, houses and buildings that provided the backdrop for the most lurid stories.

I believe that an expert guide is essential for this kind of experience. When it comes to the historical past of New Orleans, its inhabitants take things very seriously and feel a special attachment to maintaining the veracity and consistency of the events that marked its history.

As a result, all tour guides in New Orleans are required to obtain a special licence that certifies their historical knowledge and also serves as a criminal background check. Each guide renews his or her licence after two years.