Famous for its beads and beers on Bourbon Street, the Vieux Carre's reality far surpasses its Mardi Gras reputation.
In a city that dazzles visitors with its remarkable architecture, the French Quarter is certainly a standout, with Spanish, Caribbean, French, and American influences.
This post details our daily guided walking tour of the French Quarter.
We also include information on our self-guided GPS-enabled audio tour and our other tours in the Quarter.
WALKING TOUR OF THE FRENCH QUARTER
It's also a district full of characters: musicians, magicians, and voodoo practitioners.
More than Mardi Gras: French Quarter Tour
Our French Quarter Tour wanders the historic streets and alleys of the Old District, passing by the street theater, peeking into historic churches, and discovering hidden courtyards, all while entertaining you with stories of authors, and artists, priests, and pirates.
We’ll show you the real French Quarter beyond Bourbon Street, but we can’t NOT talk about Mardi Gras!
Our tour ends with tickets for a self-guided visit to the Presbytere and its exhibits for the history and meaning of Mardi Gras and how the city overcame Hurricane Katrina to keep celebrating this centuries-old tradition.
Sights we cover on this walking tour of the French Quarter:
- Jackson Square: Begin your adventure at the iconic Jackson Square, a vibrant hub of activity and artistry that has been the heart of New Orleans since the 18th century.
- St. Louis Cathedral: Marvel at the stunning architecture of the St. Louis Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States and a symbol of the city's deep-rooted Catholic heritage.
- The Cabildo: Explore The Cabildo, where the Louisiana Purchase was signed, and discover fascinating exhibits about the city’s colonial history.
- Pirate Alley: Wander down Pirate Alley, a narrow passageway with tales of pirate lore and literary legends.
- William Faulkner House: Visit the former residence of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, now a charming bookstore filled with rare and classic books.
- Tennessee Williams House: See the house where playwright Tennessee Williams penned some of his greatest works, including "A Streetcar Named Desire."
- Bourbon Street: No tour of the French Quarter would be complete without a stroll down Bourbon Street, famous for its vibrant nightlife and historic charm. Read more about this famous attraction in New Orleans.
- Lafitte Blacksmith Shop: Conclude your tour at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, one of the oldest surviving structures in New Orleans and a former hideout for the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte.
- Presbytere: Delve into the Presbytere, which was built initially as a residence for clergy and is now housing captivating exhibits on Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina.
Or check out our free self-guided tour of the French Quarter.
French Quarter Walking Tour Map
Tour information
- Meet your guide at the Andrew Jackson Statue in the center of Jackson Square (map).
- The tour lasts 2 hours. Total walking is about 1 mile.
- This tour runs on a ticketed basis with ticket prices from $39.00. We aim for small groups of 12-14 people; though you may see "more spots" available, we often run the tour with multiple guides.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Tours are rain or shine. In the event of adverse weather, we will email and text with alternative options or offer a refund.
If you need to cancel, please reply to your confirmation email. We hope you don't have to but if you cannot attend the tour, we can only offer a refund with 24 hours' notice before the start of the tour. After that time frame, we are unable to refund. Guests who booked via a third party ticketing site must cancel via the platform they booked on.
We offer a flexible rescheduling option and are often able to accommodate you on another tour with even short notice if a comparable tour is running during your visit!
FRENCH QUARTER AUDIO TOUR
We also offer a self-guided audio tour for you to use anytime you wish.
The audio tour is GPS-enabled, so you can also follow on your phone. Downloads cost just $2.99.
Here is an audio sample.
We also offer audio tours of the Garden District, Lafayette Cemetery #1, and an audio tour of our Arts, Music, and More Tour.
Here is how it works:
- Purchase an audio tour.
- Get a confirmation email with .mp3, .pdf, and embeddable Google Map
- Enjoy the tour(s).
Even if you don't download any tours, you will still have access to valuable information on sightseeing, eating, and playing in New Orleans.