New Orleans Guide

New Orleans French Quarter Tours

Explore historic Vieux Carré with wrought-iron balconies and Bourbon Street!

124+ tours
From $35
2-4 hours
New Orleans French Quarter Tours

Experience the French Quarter (Vieux Carré) - America's most historic and atmospheric neighborhood! French Quarter tours explore iconic Bourbon Street (legendary nightlife and music), Royal Street (antique shops and art galleries), Jackson Square (heart of the Quarter with street performers), St. Louis Cathedral (oldest continuously active cathedral in US), beautiful wrought-iron balconies, hidden courtyards, and historic buildings dating to 1700s. Walk cobblestone streets where Tennessee Williams wrote, pirates once roamed, and jazz was born. Tours include architectural insights, ghost stories, history of French and Spanish colonial periods, and cultural heritage. Learn about Creole culture, voodoo traditions, devastating Hurricane Katrina, and resilience of New Orleans. It's living history!

Featured French Quarter Tours Tours

Discover our top picks for french quarter tours in New Orleans

New Orleans French Quarter and More Carriage Ride
From $65
Free Cancellation🔥Likely to Sell Out

You and your guests are going to love the opportunity to sit back and relax while your carriage driver unfolds 300 years of fun-filled history on your mule-drawn carriage ride. We cover the storied history of New Orleans, discussing everything from our resilient culture to the aging architecture. While our carriage tours cover a ton of history, they aren't boring history lectures. Aside from history, we'll chat about things like food, cocktails, nightclubs, jazz, museums, must-sees, and things to do!

4.9(1,126)
1h
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Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour Of The French Quarter
From $21
Free Cancellation

Master Storytellers guide groups through darkened streets for a historically accurate fun-filled tour full of New Orleans ghost stories and tales of Vampires. Join the only tour in New Orleans to focus specifically on these two top topics of weirdness in our city. You will see the famous LaLaurie Mansion from the American Horror Story Coven TV show and hear the spookiest ghost stories New Orleans has to offer. You will also learn about our real life Vampire culture in New Orleans, see the shop where they buy their fangs, and learn some of their favorite haunts. This is no gimmick. These are real life people who live their lives as self proclaimed Vampires. Who are they? Why do they do what they do? What REALLY is a REAL Vampire? These are the questions we will tackle together as we stroll through one of the oldest and possibly THE most romantic neighborhoods in the United States.

4.7(2,394)
2h
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New Orleans French Quarter Photo Shoot
💸Special Offer
$59From $53.1
Free Cancellation

You will have a chance to see the most famous things in French Quater, New Orleans and have the recognizable city as your background for the shoot. I will make sure you have great pictures to take home—a unique souvenir of your time in New Orleans. We do this for several years and love it! We have several publications about our experience. You can check part of an article about our experience in the Whereyat magazine on the screenshot. Group size is a maximum of 4,5 people to keep this experience as personal as possible, if your booking is for less than 4,5 people you will be paired with other people to share this experience (you will still get your photos severely, not as a group).We will be covering as much spots as possible from the locations mentioned in the list (depending on how fast all the group will be moving).

4.8(455)
1h
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French Quarter Food Walking Tour
From $41.6
Free Cancellation

Explore with us why New Orleans' Cajun and Creole cuisine is one of the most desired in the country. Sample the French Quarter's famously delicious dishes as you learn about the architecture of the buildings and its' 300 year old history. Meet the people behind the scenes that sprinkle local culture with flavors. Learn the historical facts about the city's oldest restaurants and discover the secrets behind New Orleans creole cooking. Include Samples PLEASE NOTE we will NOT be able to accommodate food allergies/special diets. It is the guest’s responsibility to let us know if they have any food allergies or restrictions when they book a tour.

4.5(197)
2h
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French Quarter Shrimp Boil & Live Music
From $109
Free Cancellation🔥Likely to Sell Out

Experience the real French Quarter at Shrimp Boil Cabaret Step away from the tourist crowds and join us for a private dinner party celebrating the flavors and sounds of the Quarter. The Shrimp is sourced from local shrimping families at their boat docks a few hours before your shrimp boil to choose the largest, freshest, wild-caught local shrimp available. Mister Gregory, "The Shrimp Boil King of New Orleans" grew up in the Gulf South shrimping and boiling and advocating for wild-caught Gulf Shrimp and the "eat it to save it" culinary approach. Please join us for live local music and a lovely dinner party, make some new friends and eat the very best shrimp in the world.

4.8(176)
1h 30m
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French Quarter Food Tour
From $89
Free Cancellation

On our 3 hour walking food tour of New Orleans French Quarter, you will savor delicious foods from 5 restaurants, mom-and-pop shops and bakeries. In addition to all the delectable food, your guide will discuss the history, culture and food scene of the neighborhood. Our tours are storytelling through food. We call our French Quarter Food Tour "The Classic Five" because you will be tasting the quintessential New Orleans food staples. Join us on a 3 hour food extravaganza, as we eat our way though The Quarter...

4.9(177)
3h
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Historic French Quarter Segway Tour
From $79
Free CancellationNew

Navigate the vibrant streets of New Orleans on a Segway tour that brings the city’s rich history and culture to life. Offered daily, this exhilarating experience takes you through iconic neighborhoods with certified guides who share captivating stories. Choose from options including the French Quarter Historic Segway Tour and the Haunted Segway Tour for a unique perspective on this lively city. Each tour includes a training session, ensuring you’re comfortable before hitting the road. With a maximum of 100 minutes for the general tour and 2 hours for the historic and haunted options, you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the sights and sounds of New Orleans. - Daily Segway tours - 3 tours to choose from. - Tours include training and are suitable for all experience levels - Led by certified guides with in-depth knowledge of New Orleans history and culture

5.0(13)
2h
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French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans
From $32
Free Cancellation

Step into the ghostly charm of New Orleans with our mesmerizing walking ghost tour! Guided by a local expert who’s both a haunted history aficionado and a storyteller, you’ll explore the city’s most spine-chilling sites. Wander through the atmospheric historic district as your guide recounts eerie tales of spectral residents in iconic locations. From the ghostly figures of Jackson Square to the haunting Old Ursuline Convent, each stop promises a thrilling peek into the past. Over a mile of haunted ground, discover why New Orleans is known as the most haunted city on earth. Visit the Beauregard-Keyes House with its tales of tragic love and restless spirits, and the infamous LaLaurie Mansion, famed for its dark history and chilling voodoo lore. While entry into private buildings isn’t included, the stories and atmosphere will immerse you in the city’s macabre legacy. Join us for a night where history and the supernatural blend, and experience the captivating haunt of New Orleans.

4.8(161)
1h
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The Escape Game at the French Quarter in New Orleans
From $42.99
Free Cancellation

Our New Orleans location is in the famed French Quarter near plenty restaurants and bars, perfect for pairing an escape room with dinner and post-game drinks for a full-fledged night out in New Orleans. You definitely need to go to Cafe Beignet for some authentic New Orleans dessert after your game too. The best part? The area is super walkable so you can just head from one place to the next without having to worry about driving. The Escape Game New Orleans features 4 unbelievable themes including our most difficult escape room, Prison Break. Every family-friendly escape game can hold up to 8 players, except Playground, which can fit 12 players. All of our escape games includes multiple rooms to escape from and are highly immersive experiences. These adventures offer a one-of-a-kind premium experience. Follow clues and solve puzzles to complete your mission together. We offer the best escape rooms and the fastest customer support. Come see why our escape rooms win awards.

5.0(354)
1h 15m
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French Quarter Drunken Ghost and Vampire Tour
💸Special Offer
$35From $19.25
Free Cancellation

Explore the 'dark side' of New Orleans with this drinking tour that is full of ghost and vampire stories. Hear about some of the city's mysteries, including unsolved murders and paranormal activity. Along the tour route guests will be allowed to stop in and grab to go drinks at bars!  Open your mind to the possibility of experiencing paranormal activity during the tour, including cold spots, seeing apparitions, and catching orbs and apparitions in pictures. Adding bar stops to this tour is sure to add to the entertainment for all our guests.  A real EMF Meter - Ghost/Paranormal Detector will be used during this tour. Welcome to the home of the Drunken Tour....  Where learning is intoxicating.

4.1(52)
1h
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Haunted French Quarter Original Cocktail Tour
From $44
Free Cancellation

Experience the heart of New Orleans booming cocktail scene like an insider by visiting the top historical bars in the French Quarter. New Orleans is a true cocktail town, both for classic and cutting-edge libations, and with this tour you can enjoy classic beverages and explore the dynamic neighborhood, learning about where the best restaurants and bars are in the area.

4.9(80)
2h
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French Quarter True Crime Walking Tour
From $30
Free Cancellation

The original walking tour company in New Orleans brings to life the New Orleans True Crime Tour. Many of these stories are not featured on our other tours. This is the most graphic, unedited True Crime Tour ever. We have gone to great lengths to research the most notorious crimes including unsolved deaths, shocking “they almost got away with it” crimes, missing persons and kidnappings, and heinous murders. All stories are documented by police records, newspaper archives, and court records.

4.9(327)
2h
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French Quarter Ghosts and Spirits Tour with Augmented Reality
From $27
Free Cancellation

A Ghost tour with a twist! See haunted sites in the French Quarter on this 2-hour small-group ghost tour of New Orleans (max of 22 per group.) This is the only one that features 2 augmented reality experiences created by artist Marcus Brown. Hear ghostly legends and lore from your entertaining guide, who shares eerie tales featured on the History Channel. With its colorful past and unique traditions, it’s no wonder that so many New Orleans’ homes and taverns have been investigated by paranormal investigators! This walking tour includes 2 augmented reality experiences with more in development. Gray Line commissioned native New Orleanian Marcus Brown, a sculptor, painter, inventor, musician and educator whose work includes national and international exhibits and performances. *The AR exhibits are compatible with iPhone or iPad. It is not necessary to download an app to participate. Guide will offer other viewing options to Android users. Standard data & internet usage required.*

4.5(280)
2h
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French Quarter Tour With Breakfast Included
From $34
Free Cancellation

FRENCH QUARTER TOUR (BREAKFAST INCLUDED) Join us at Taste of Nawlin’s breakfast tour in the French Quarter where we will start the tour with a full breakfast at one of New Orleans’ most popular restaurants. We will then stroll though the French Quarter which is New Orleans’ most famous and most popular area to visit. It's also the city's oldest neighborhood. Learn about our city’s unique French heritage, our world famous architecture, the difference between Creole and Cajun and some of our most colorful historical figures. Breakfast included is the New orleans famous Pain Perdu "Lost Bread" Breakfast can be upgraded by sending us a message after reservation is completed.

4.3(22)
2h
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The French Quarter Haunted Tour
From $35
Free Cancellation

Small Groups ✦ Hauntings ✦ History ✦ Legend Walk the 300-year old streets of the French Quarter, lit by gas lamps, and experience its rich history of real hauntings, true crime, vampire lore, and scandal. We bring the private tour experience to every tour, by limiting it to small groups, and personalizing every your for you. Stops may include the Casket Girls, the Ax Man of New Orleans, some true history about voodoo and Queen Marie Laveau, the St. Germain House, LaLaurie Mansion, Muriel's Restaurant, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, a building from the 1780s -- and much more! Take home a piece of New Orleans you won't forget!

4.8(69)
2h
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Why Choose French Quarter Tours in New Orleans?

Oldest Neighborhood

Founded 1718 - America's most historic urban neighborhood!

Bourbon Street

Legendary street with live music, bars, and NOLA nightlife!

Wrought-Iron Balconies

Iconic Spanish colonial architecture - incredibly photogenic!

Birthplace of Jazz

Where jazz music was born and still thrives!

Types of French Quarter Tours in New Orleans

Classic French Quarter Tour

Walking tour of major landmarks and hidden courtyards.

2-3 hoursMajor sitesExpert guideArchitectureHistory

Ghost & Vampire Tour

Evening tour of haunted sites and voodoo history.

2 hoursGhost storiesHaunted sitesEveningSpooky

Jazz History Tour

Visit jazz birthplace sites and historic music venues.

3 hoursJazz historyMusic sitesLive musicMusical

Food & Culture Tour

Combine French Quarter history with Creole food tastings.

3-4 hoursFood + history6-8 tastingsCulturalDelicious

What to Expect on Your New Orleans French Quarter Tours

Duration

Walking tours: 2-3 hours. Food tours: 3-4 hours. Ghost tours: 2 hours evening.

Jackson Square

Historic plaza with St. Louis Cathedral, street performers, and artists.

Bourbon Street

Walk legendary street with bars, live music, and NOLA party atmosphere.

Balconies

See iconic wrought-iron balconies on Spanish colonial buildings.

Live Music

Hear jazz, blues, and brass bands throughout the Quarter.

Creole History

Learn about French/Spanish colonial era and unique Creole culture.

Expert Tips for the Best Experience

1

Morning tours (9-10 AM) see French Quarter before crowds and heat.

2

Bourbon Street rowdy at night - daytime more family-friendly!

3

Royal Street better for galleries and shopping than touristy Bourbon.

4

Free self-guided walking possible but tours provide stories you'd miss.

5

Jackson Square artists and performers - bring cash for tips/purchases.

6

Café Du Monde (beignets and coffee) is French Quarter institution!

7

Wear comfortable shoes - cobblestones and lots of walking.

8

Evening ghost tours atmospheric but French Quarter safe - very touristy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What is the French Quarter?

A: French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is New Orleans' oldest neighborhood (founded 1718) with French/Spanish colonial architecture, Bourbon Street nightlife, jazz clubs, and Creole culture. It's the heart and soul of NOLA with wrought-iron balconies and cobblestone streets. Essential New Orleans!

Q:Is Bourbon Street worth visiting?

A: Worth experiencing once! It's iconic NOLA - bars, live music, party atmosphere. Daytime tame and touristy. Evening wild and rowdy! Not family-friendly after dark. Royal Street better for culture but Bourbon is legendary. Visit during day for photos!

Q:How long to explore French Quarter?

A: Half-day (3-4 hours) for highlights: Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Café Du Monde. Full day (6-8 hours) for museums, thorough exploration, food. It's compact and walkable - perfect for wandering. Most tours 2-3 hours.

Q:Is the French Quarter safe?

A: Safe daytime in tourist areas! Millions visit safely. Evening: Stick to busy streets (Bourbon, Royal, Decatur). Use normal urban caution - pickpockets exist. Avoid isolated side streets late night. Tours very safe. Don't wander drunk alone!

Q:Can you walk the French Quarter yourself?

A: Absolutely! It's compact (13 blocks by 7 blocks) and pedestrian-friendly. However, tours provide history, ghost stories, and architectural details you'd miss. Free walking tours available (tip-based). Both DIY and guided work!

Q:What should you see in French Quarter?

A: Must-see: Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Bourbon Street, Royal Street galleries, Café Du Monde, wrought-iron balconies, hidden courtyards. All walkable! Plan minimum 3-4 hours. Each corner has history and character. Don't rush!

Q:When is the best time to visit French Quarter?

A: Year-round! Spring (March-May) and fall (Sept-Nov): Perfect weather. Summer: Hot and humid. Winter: Mild, fewer crowds. Mardi Gras (Feb-March): Insane crowds but incredible! Morning visits beat heat and crowds. Evening for nightlife.

Q:How much do French Quarter tours cost?

A: Walking tours: $35-60 (2-3 hours). Ghost tours: $30-50 (2 hours). Food tours: $65-95 (3-4 hours). Free walking tours available (tip-based). Café Du Monde $5 for beignets/coffee. Budget-friendly with free self-guided option!

Don't Miss the Perfect New Orleans Experience

Book your french quarter tours today - 124+ tours with instant confirmation & best price guarantee!

Why Visit New Orleans?

Iconic French Quarter and historic architecture

World-famous jazz music and culture

Authentic Creole and Cajun cuisine

Rich history and cultural heritage

Mardi Gras celebrations and festivals

Perfect blend of music and culture

Best Time to Visit

Weather

New Orleans enjoys a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Average temperatures range from 50°F (10°C) in winter to 90°F (32°C) in summer.

Best Months

February to May and October to December offer the best weather with mild temperatures, fewer crowds, and perfect conditions for sightseeing.

Peak Season

June to August brings peak tourist season with hot, humid weather, larger crowds, and higher prices.

Off Season

January and September offer lower prices and fewer crowds, though with occasional hurricanes.

Plan Your New Orleans Trip

Transportation Tips

Public transportation includes streetcars and buses. Walking is perfect for exploring the French Quarter, and ride-sharing services are widely available.

Car Rental Deals in New Orleans

Rent a car for maximum flexibility and explore at your own pace on Expedia USA.

Where to Stay

Find the perfect accommodation for your New Orleans adventure. From luxury resorts to cozy hotels, we've got you covered.

Best Hotel Deals in New Orleans

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