Top New Orleans Bus Tours

When it comes to bus tour options in New Orleans, you’ll find no shortage of guided city tours and hop-on hop-off sightseeing excursions. To help you choose, here are the top tours currently available based on previous travelers’ ratings and reviews.

• Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans
• Three-Hour City Tour of New Orleans by Minibus
• New Orleans City and Cemetery Tour
• New Orleans City Tour: Katrina, French Quarter, Garden District
• New Orleans City and Cemetery 2-Hour Bus Tour

Yes, New Orleans bus tours are certainly worth it. They’re an easy and efficient way to see many of the city’s sights beyond the French Quarter, including the Garden District, Esplanade Avenue, and Treme. Bus tours also provide interesting commentary on area highlights and allow for stress-free transportation between attractions.

Standard bus tour prices in New Orleans start at about US$30 per person for a 1–2-hour sightseeing tour. Hop-on hop-off bus tours start at about US$50, while full-day tours can easily exceed US$100. Expect to pay more for private and small-group bus tours, including plantation sightseeing excursions and airboat tours.

New Orleans bus tours vary in length depending on the tour type and route. Themed bus tours, such as this New Orleans Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Bus Tour, usually take 1.5–2.5 hours, while broader sightseeing tours that include multiple attractions may last a full day. Hop-on hop-off bus tickets are typically valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours.

New Orleans bus tours and hop-on hop-off bus tours generally cover popular attractions such as the French Quarter, Treme, Esplanade Avenue, and the Garden District. However, some tours focus on specific aspects of New Orleans history or culture, such as street art, music, or ghost and cemetery tours. You can also take a day trip by bus to a historic Louisiana plantation, often paired with an airboat swamp tour.

Gratuities aren’t included in the cost of most New Orleans bus tours, and tipping is always recommended in the US. Tipping between 15-20% of the tour cost is customary, depending on the level of service received. But a few dollars should suffice for sightseeing buses like the hop-on hop-off bus.

Yes. Hop-on hop-off bus tours are among the most popular ways to explore New Orleans, combining the benefits of a guided tour with the flexibility of independent travel. Tickets are usually valid for 24–72 hours, during which you can enjoy unlimited transport between the city’s top attractions—and panoramic views along the way. Leave the navigating to the experts, gain insight into New Orleans through on-board commentary, and hop off at attractions such as the French Quarter, the Garden District, and Jackson Square. For added value, opt for a combo package that pairs a hop-on hop-off tour with a walking tour.

Hop-on hop-off bus tours typically run daily year-round from 9:30am to 5:30pm, with buses departing every 30 minutes. A full circuit usually takes 90 minutes, so the last bus of the day will leave at 4pm. Check the tour description and the official timetable to confirm the exact departure times from your chosen stops. Note that departure times may vary during holidays and major festivals and are always subject to traffic.

New Orleans bus tour prices vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now:

• Nola Party Bus Tour
• NOLA Distillery Tour
• New Orleans Haunted History Ghost Tour
• New Orleans Voodoo & French Quarter Cultural Walking Tour
• Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

Start by choosing a tour that matches your interests. From city highlights and food tours to plantation experiences, there are many New Orleans bus tours to choose from. Some tours offer hotel pickup, while others require you to meet at a central location. Tour lengths range from 1.5 hours to more than half a day, so check the duration before booking. If you’re traveling with kids or have mobility needs, confirm whether the tour is suitable, especially for smaller minivans or combo tours that may include boat rides. During the tour, make the most of your local guide and don’t hesitate to ask questions or for recommendations—they often share personal stories and local tips that go beyond the guidebooks.

New Orleans bus tours are fun any time of year, especially in Spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) when the weather is most pleasant. Tours will fill quickly around popular events like Mardi Gras and Halloween, so book early. For fewer crowds, consider a winter trip or, if visiting in summer, choose shorter, air-conditioned tours for a more comfortable experience.

While larger bus tours often offer more competitive prices and better views—especially from the open-air top deck of a double-decker—minibus tours provide a more intimate experience with just a small group of passengers on board. Which to choose depends on your preferences. Opt for a bus tour if you want low-cost transport or the flexibility of a hop-on hop-off tour, or take a minibus tour if you want hotel pickup and the personal touch of a local guide.

It depends. Small-group and minibus tours often include pickup and drop-off at your New Orleans hotel, while larger bus tours typically depart from a central meeting point. Some tours also offer hotel pickup as an optional upgrade. Check the Meeting and Pickup section of the tour description to confirm the departure details and take note of whether hotel pickups begin before the tour departure time.

There’s usually no need to worry if your travel plans change at the last minute, as most New Orleans bus tours offer a full refund for cancellations made up to 24 hours in advance. However, cancellation policies can vary by tour operator, so it’s best to review the details before booking.

Yes. Most New Orleans bus tours are family-friendly, though some may not be suitable for kids. For example, this Party Bus Tour is only for over-18s, and airboat tours usually have a minimum age of 5 years. While coach and hop-on hop-off bus tours can often accommodate large groups, small-group minibus tours have limited seating, so a private tour might be more suitable.