New Orleans Music Tour
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
New Orleans, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Stroll the streets of downtown NOLA with an informed and passionate guide
- Learn how the city shaped musical history—and how slavery shaped that music
- Follow in the steps of Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong, Little Richard and more
- See some of the city’s most beloved street musicians in action
What's Included
- Tour Guide
- Visits to music-related landmarks
- A look at current street music and where the hottest live acts
- What to bring: comfortable shoes, water, sunscreen, hat, and rain/sun protection
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Rampart Treehouse740 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Meet the tour guide at the Rampart Treehouse, 740 North Rampart Street
End point
- Preservation Hall726 St Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
The legendary Preservation Hall at 726 St. Peter Street where people will be already lining up for the 5 PM show.
Operating hours.2:00 pm
Itinerary
1
Louis Armstrong Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Basin St. Station
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
May Baily's Place
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Preservation Hall
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Congo Square
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.5
based on 68 reviews
Emma_J, Mar 2026
The tour was enjoyable, and our guide, David (I believe that was his name), was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of music. I found it interesting overall. However, when my friends and I booked the tour, we expected to visit the hotspots where music or jazz is currently happening, along with a bit of its history. Instead, we mainly visited statues of people who played significant roles in the history of music, while David explained who they were and what they accomplished. On the bright side, he also helped take some great pictures for us and told us a little about vampire history.
Cynthia_J, Feb 2026
What a fabulous music tour with the animated and passionate David Higgins! Not only did he have the historical information to share, but his personal stories along with the visuals and audible snippets from his iPad to compliment it! Money and time well spent!
KJudith_M, Jan 2026
What an experience. David is extremely knowledgeable about not only local music but the impact New Orleans musicians had on the national level. David is a gem.
Amy_P, Jan 2026
Great tour. 5 stars. David was very fun and knowledgeable. If you love the history of jazz, this tours for you
Lisa_G, Oct 2025
David was very knowledgeable and entertaining!!!!!!! A must for anyone who comes to New Orleans for the music Thanks
Sherry_S, Oct 2025
David Higgins was awesome. He knew his facts and we just enjoyed him. It was just the 3 of us on the tour so he was free to give us much more attention with the history of the music of NOLA.
Carol_A, Sep 2025
We were the only ones on the tour which made it a very special customized experience Our tour guide, David Higgins, is super knowledgeable about the history of the area and the evolution of jazz and rock. He was fun and engaging and very passionate about the subject matter. We leaned a ton and laughed a lot. Highly recommend.
Cheryl_J, Aug 2025
Eva’s passion and knowledge of New Orleans music and history were apparent. She was friendly and warm and shared facts and stories about the city, the people and history that made the tour and our visit memorable.
Karen_H, Dec 2024
Great tour. David was a wonderful guide so knowledgeable and made the whole tour fun. We talked about so many aspects of music and had a great time. Even playing a little jazz on Royle Street.
David_R, Sep 2024
The tour was different than what we expected, but David did teach us a lot about music history in New Orleans. He could probably show a little less videos on his iPad. We enjoyed Armstrong park and the other places we visited.
Tshai_B, Sep 2024
Our tour guide was amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. He gave us an in-depth history of music and culture in NOLA and its influence on music today. Will recommend this tour
Michaelyn_R, Aug 2024
Mr. Higgins' enthusiasm and incredible knowledge of music. The way he interwove the evolution of music in NOLA with the political and cultural history of the area. That he is a musician himself and came up in a musical family added greatly.
CYNTHIA_A, Apr 2024
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of music in Louis Armstrong Park.
Great time learning history. We got a surprise a private second line parade.
The Best Ever for me!
Diane_K, Apr 2024
This was not a tour, we simply went to Armstrong Park, only one of the several places we were supposed to visit! Our “guide” did nothing but ramble on, often way off topic. We did not get what we paid for and should get our money back. This was a total waste of an afternoon of our vacation and I couldn’t be more upset and disappointed. Do not waste time and money on this “tour”.
Alex_D, Apr 2024
Tour guide was very knowledgeable not only about music, but history as it relates to New Orleans' impact across the globe.
Michelle_L, Dec 2023
We love walking tours and take them wherever we travel, but sadly this was the worst walking tour we have ever experienced.
Although Anna, our guide was quite personable this was a total waste of time and money. If you want a musical heritage tour of New Orleans this is NOT a good choice. We wandered around Armstrong Park for an endless hour looking at sculptures of musical icons while our guide looked for samples of the music on her phone. Total waste of time as we could hear very little.
When we finally left the park we entered a rather decrepit laundromat that used to be a jazz recording studio. Our guide talked to us while we side stepped folks moving their dirty clothes around us. The whole experience was sad and demoralizing.
As for other musical venues there was nothing and in fact we had to look at the historic Presevation Jazz Hall from across the street. We all actually thought it was an abandoned building. We were told we could visit famed Frenchman’s Street on our own but to be careful as it could be dangerous.
The final stop at Jackson Square, which was a National Park site was all closed up and no longer in business as the site had been moved to another location. This was news to our “guide.”
I am sorry to say the tour operators should rethink this itinerary and those wishing to learn about New Orleans’ rich music history should look elsewhere.
Teresa_C, Dec 2023
Knowledgeable tour guide, very passionate about music/music origins. That’s all I have to say, done here.
Charlie_B, Nov 2023
Wonderful tour guide. Very knowledgeable, personable, and informative. He was excellent!
Would highly recommend
kathryn_b, Oct 2023
Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging .. but the tour did not visit preservation hall or the cemetery that were listed in the description of the tour
James_G, Oct 2023
The tour was very informative and enjoyable. David was very knowledgeable and it was easy to see how much he enjoyed sharing music history of New Orleans as well as other history of the city. He brought a tablet and shared pics and recordings related to what he discussed during the tour. He encouraged any question and was able to answer all we could think of. Learned a lot during the tour. Highly recommended!!!
Smadar_L, Oct 2023
Margie was an exceptional guide. We learned so much. I strongly recommend you take the tour. With Margie
Jay_H, Aug 2023
Very informative tour. Learned a lot about the history of music in New orleans. The guide was very nice. He answered all of our questions.
Kathy_D, Jun 2023
Our guide, David, was fantastic - enthusiatic and extremely knowledgeable. It's apparent that he loves the music history of New Orleans. The 2 hours were filled with a very indepth view of the origins of jazz in the city. Very highly recommend.
Amy_R, May 2023
Rob was full of musical and historical knowledge. It was fun to hear the various kinds of music along the way.
Tracy_R, Mar 2023
David was an amazing storyteller and we learned so much about New Orlean’s influence of music throughout our culture and world! Fantastic!
Paulino_A, Mar 2023
We met another family from our home town and our kids had so many commonalities. There is so much history in the French Quarter I had no idea. Great guide and a lot of fun.
Debra_L, Feb 2023
Louis Armstrong park and the Congo area history of music. Mahalia Jackson influence in La. The many sculptures of musicians and the history of Marie Devoe and how many slave came to Congo Park to gather.
Lexie_L, Dec 2022
Everything was memorable I loved the whole tour. To learn history of music or as I call it the arts. It was an wonderful experience.
Diane_H, Nov 2022
David was witty & informative, a great teacher. The tour needs to be an hour longer! It is difficult to get to everything in 2 hours. That is the only reason I gave it 4, not 5, stars.
Lynne_T, Aug 2022
The history that David presented was very informative and important.
He was very animated and excited about history.
From $25.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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