Top New Orleans Cultural Tours

One of New Orleans' most popular tourist attractions, St. Louis Cemetery No.1 is only able to be visited as part of a guided tour, with limited visitors allowed into the City of the Dead each day. This pre-bookable experience ensures you don’t miss out on the chance to visit the impressive cemetery—or the opportunity to learn more about the final resting place of some of the city’s best-known residents.

Explore the rich culinary heritage of New Orleans' French Quarter on this half-day food tour. Sample traditional NOLA dishes such as gumbo, po-boys, jambalaya, and pralines while learning about the area's history. Your expert guide will lead you through local hotspots, offering cultural insights and tips on where to eat next. Upgrade to a small-group tour for a more intimate setting. Food offerings are subject to availability.

Delve into the stories behind the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans during a French Quarter walking tour. Take in famous landmarks including Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Mississippi River, along with lesser-known places of interest. Hear from your guide about the architecture and heritage of the district, and get the inside scoop on recommended places for shopping and dining as well.

On this Garden District walking tour, meander down tree-lined alleys and past grand antebellum homes while learning about the historic neighborhood from your guide. Your guide shares local perspective on the posh 19th-century district and historic Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, the filming location for famous movies. A small-group tour offers a more personalized experience.

Go beyond the guidebooks to immerse yourself in the heart of New Orleans’ music scene on this lively walking tour. Start at Louis Armstrong Park, explore jazz roots in the French Quarter, and stroll through historic spots like Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street. Enjoy live jazz music at a local venue with a complimentary drink, while your guide shares insights into the city’s vibrant musical heritage and neighborhood culture.

Step beyond the wrought iron gates and into the hauntingly beautiful world of New Orleans’ oldest cemeteries. On this unforgettable walking tour, you’ll journey through time with a licensed local guide—the only way to legally access these sacred and storied grounds. Discover the centuries-old burial traditions that make New Orleans unique, and explore the fascinating practice of above-ground interment, shaped by history, culture, and climate. Visit the tombs of legendary figures, learn about the symbolism behind the elaborate vaults, and hear captivating tales of the people laid to rest in these iconic sites. With exclusive access to some of the city's most famous cemeteries, this tour is a must-do for history lovers, curious travelers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Crescent City.

Save money on your New Orleans adventures with this sightseeing package that includes two walking tours and a 3-day, hop-on hop-off bus ticket for a very affordable price. You’ll get a guided tour of the Garden District and the French Quarter with a 3-day bus ticket that lets you explore the city as you wish.

Get a taste of New Orleans' food, history, architecture, and culture on this culinary walking tour. Follow your local guide to historic buildings, local hotels, and several tasting locations in the historic French Quarter.  Along the way, hear anecdotes and legends about the Crescent City's gastronomic culture. Bring walking shoes and your appetite; all tastings are included and provide more than enough food to make up a hearty lunch.

Leave the French Quarter behind and discover other tasty corners of New Orleans during this semi-private food tour of the Garden District. Surrounded by historic mansions and chic shops, the Garden District is your buffet. Your guide will take you to local-favorite restaurants where you’ll sample both classic New Orleans dishes and some modern gastronomy.

Discover the history, traditions, and iconic landmarks of New Orleans with this guided group tour. You can save hours walking between dispersed landmarks and enjoy the perk of having transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle included. Highlights showcased on the route include Congo Square, Treme, the Musicians’ Village, the Civil Rights Trail, and Lower Ninth Ward to learn about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Step back in time on this historic walking tour of New Orleans’ Garden District, led by an experienced guide. Learn about life and death in the city, including its unique above-ground crypts and gravesites. Walk shady avenues lined with antebellum homes, and hear how a small riverside settlement grew into a lavish, wealthy city. See a wide range of architectural styles in the elegant Garden District neighborhood, then get local tips on the city’s best places to enjoy New Orleans' finest music, food, and drink.

Eat your way through the French Quarter on a guided walking tour highlighting New Orleans’ rich culinary heritage. Sample beignets, gumbo, and local Cajun dishes while exploring America’s oldest public market and vibrant streets. Learn about the city’s diverse food culture and history, with stops including Jackson Square and the French Market.

Step aboard an air-conditioned bus to escape the heat for a comfortable, comprehensive tour of New Orleans. This whirlwind tour hits all the most important sights—the French Quarter, the Garden District, Treme, the 9th Ward, and others—in just a couple of hours. Plus, you get a guided tour of the atmospheric cemetery. Have the benefit of in-depth commentary and the chance to ask questions as you travel.

New Orleans is one of the world's great food cities—and this French Quarter tasting tour offers the perfect introduction to its culinary traditions and highlights. Meet your guide right outside the Louisiana Supreme Court Building, and come hungry: you'll visit several local restaurants to taste local specialties. As you go, learn the differences between Creole and Cajun cooking, and soak up the one-of-a-kind atmosphere.

Embark upon an enriching 1.5-hour journey through the captivating history of Treme in New Orleans. Uncover a wealth of culture as you learn stories passed down from traditions and steeped in rich heritage. You'll visit the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Congo Square, St. Augustine Church, and Louis Armstrong Park, the very foundations of New Orleans music, cuisine, architecture and culture.

This tour combines the private Manchac Swamp with Whitney Plantation. A decade ago Whitney Plantation, circa 1752, opened its doors to the public for the first time in its history as the only plantation museum in Louisiana completely dedicated to the history of slavery. The experience at Whitney is a self-paced audio tour. Visitors to Whitney will gain a unique perspective on the enslaved people who lived and worked here through museum exhibits, restored historic outbuildings, and hundreds of first-person narratives. Then it's a short ride to a privately-owned wildlife refuge within the Manchac Swamp, where homegrown Cajun captains will take you on a journey back to the early days of swamp exploration. They'll guide the covered pontoon boat through the mystical cypress swamp while showing off the American Alligator and abundant wildlife. Learn the history of the town of Frenier and the Cajun culture of fishing, hunting, and trapping. Get the camera ready gators leaping up for a snack!

Dive into New Orleans' rich voodoo history on this easy 90-minute walking tour through the French Quarter. Visit an authentic voodoo shop, see a voodoo temple, and learn about the legendary Marie Laveau as you pass her childhood home, final resting place, and the Rampart Treehouse, where her ghost was last seen. Conclude your journey at Congo Square, uncovering its deep ties to voodoo and jazz history.

Discover what makes New Orleans unforgettable on a small-group van tour that combines the city’s most popular experiences in one. Walk the French Quarter, admire Garden District homes, visit historic cemeteries, and learn about Hurricane Katrina’s lasting impact. With a local guide, get an insider’s view on why residents love this vibrant, soulful city. A perfect introduction for first-time visitors and history enthusiasts alike.

Go beyond jazz on this guided walking tour that uncovers the rich and complex musical history of New Orleans. From the West African traditions of enslaved people to the birth of the legendary “New Orleans Sound,” you’ll explore the roots of American music with a passionate local guide. Visit iconic sites like the New Orleans Musicians Tomb, Preservation Hall, and Storyville, while tracing the footsteps of legends such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, and Little Richard. Along the way, experience the city’s vibrant street performers who keep the tradition alive today.

Experience New Orleans’ wild bayou country first-hand on an exciting, family‐friendly airboat ride. This boat tour winds through the mossy cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, named for the 19th-century pirate and smuggler. While onboard, enjoy lively commentary from a local guide as you admire lush, forested shoreline and spot local wildlife. Gators appear most commonly in the summer months, so keep your eyes peeled.

Discover the shady side of the Garden District on this New Orleans walking tour, led by a guide full of stories. Hear all about the neighborhood’s secrets and scandals – you’ll follow in the footsteps of fraudsters, corrupt politicians and other colorful characters as you learn why they became local legends. To cool off, you’ll stop for a refreshment at a historic roller skating rink along the way.

New Orleans is known for its classic cocktails—but for first-timers, it can be hard to know where to go. Leave all the planning to your guide on this craft cocktail walking tour of the French Quarter. Visit historic bars and restaurants, and sample classics such the Sazerac. Hear stories from your guide and mixologists, and learn the sometimes-scandalous history of the city's drinking culture as you sip your way through town.

Take a walk through 300 years of New Orleans’ musical history on this tour led by a local Louisiana record man. Discover how the city became the heart and soul of the American blues scene, and visit legendary music-making haunts including Preservation Jazz Hall, Place de Armes, and several recording studios. Stroll down iconic Bourbon and Frenchmen streets while hearing tales of local jazz and blues legends like Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Louis Armstrong, and more.