History Tours in New Orleans: Our 12 Picks

1.New Orleans Garden District History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,879 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $35Our pick

Walk New Orleans’ Garden District with a local guide such as Caroline, Angie, or Sean. In about two hours, you’ll hear stories of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from outside its gates, study antebellum homes and film locations, and get tips for food, music, and drinks. Groups are capped at 15.

“Not a ton of walking, but very informative. Learn and hear about a dozen homes and the different style of architecture. Also lots of other history about the Garden District.”

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2.French Quarter Historical Sights and Stories Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,724 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $35

Walk the French Quarter with a professional English-speaking guide from Lucky Bean Tours. In about two hours, you’ll visit the French Market, St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Royal Street, and the Mississippi River. Guides such as Scott, Tim, Libby, Renee, Lesley, and Yvonne are known for lively stories, local advice, and plenty of time for questions.

“Lovely guide, very amenable - pleasant walk in French quarter. Was flexible as was new years and had to reroute around parade”

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3.New Orleans Small-Group Haunted History Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,289 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $65

Meet opposite Jackson Square for a one-hour, small-group carriage ride through New Orleans’ French Quarter. With no more than eight passengers, your licensed guide may include storytellers such as Matt, Lemen, Trish, or Charles. Expect historic landmarks, fires, floods, epidemics, and haunted tales, including the LaLaurie Mansion.

“We LOVED our tour guide. He told great stories and made sure we were all having fun. It was just a great way to spend an evening. The highlight of our trip for sure.”

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4.New Orleans Haunted History Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,084 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Walk through New Orleans’ French Quarter with guides such as Ariadne, Stella, Arty, and Neo, hearing grim tales tied to LaLaurie Mansion, Jackson Square, Pirate’s Alley, and haunted bars. The two-hour tour costs $30, includes a guided walk, and allows time for a drink at your own expense.

“Artie was amazing. Phenomenal story telling and fun activity. A lot of history and pleasantly interesting.”

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5.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,948 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Spend about 2.5 hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, cruising from downtown New Orleans to Chalmette Battlefield and back. A historian narrates the river trip, while a National Park Ranger explains the 1815 Battle of New Orleans ashore. Food, drinks, restrooms, and multiple departure times make this an easy history outing.

“Well worth it. Nice way to go down the Mississippi and learn some history while doing so. Nice views of the city.”

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6.New Orleans Food and History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,544 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $85

Start at 3rd Block Depot in the French Quarter for a progressive lunch of gumbo, hot sauces, pralines, po-boys, muffulettas, boudin, red beans and rice, and bread pudding. Guides such as Beth, Meg, Dylan, John, and Sarah pair each bite with New Orleans history. The small-group tour runs in morning or afternoon, rain or shine.

“Yummy variety of food, knowledgeable and funny tour guide! Beth is super knowledgeable about the history of New Orleans as well as cuisine history. She answered all of our questions and even shared some recipes with us. She was fabulous!!”

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7.Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,112 reviews · 2h 30m · from $47

Spend 150 minutes aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, cruising from the Riverwalk to Chalmette Battlefield and back. Local narrators such as Charles and Dr. Lauren explain New Orleans, the Mississippi, the Battle of New Orleans, and Hurricane Katrina. Add the buffet for shrimp pasta, jambalaya, po-boys, red beans and rice, and other local dishes.

“It was very informative and comforting to learn about the importance of this place”

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8.New Orleans Cocktail and Food History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 819 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $160

Start with gumbo and a Hurricane at Red Fish Grill, then walk to hot sauce tastings, Napoleon House, Leah’s Pralines, and Cane & Table. You’ll sample classic New Orleans dishes and receive four full-size cocktails while guides such as Meg, Ben, and Gary connect food to Louisiana’s colonial, Caribbean, and immigrant past.

“Ben was an amazing guide, his enthusiasm, knowledge, and ability to engage the group made this an excellent experience. The food tastings and drinks were outstanding and we felt like honored guests at each restaurant location.”

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9.New Orleans Cocktail History Walking Tour in the French Quarter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 604 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $95

Meet your guide at Patrick’s Bar Vin at 5 p.m. for a three-hour French Quarter walk through four cocktail stops. Sip a Rum Punch, Sazerac, Brandy Crusta, historic choice cocktail, and Roffignac while learning about absinthe, local bars, and New Orleans drinking culture. Guides may include Beth, Gary, Meg, John, Kat, or Elizabeth.

“Great paced tour that brings you to places you might not otherwise discover. We hot to try great cocktails and learn history at the same time.”

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10.New Orleans Jazz History and Music Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 477 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Walk about 1.5 miles through Tremé and the French Quarter with a local guide such as Kristi, Adam, or Andre. Learn how Congo Square, Louis Armstrong, Creole culture, and African and Caribbean rhythms shaped jazz, then visit live music venues chosen for the evening. One drink is included, and the group is limited to 12 people.

“If you love jazz and want to learn more about its roots, along with the foundations of New Orleans, book this! We had a wonderful time moving through the streets of the French quarter with our guide, Kristi. Kristi was a wealth of knowledge! Her love and passion for her city and jazz was so apparent as she shared its history. We visited two Jazz clubs and had a great time. My entire group was so impressed with this tour. Thanks Kristi, we are very grateful for our experience.”

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11.New Orleans Historic Cemetery Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 175 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $23Best value

Walk through St. Patrick Cemetery #2, cemeteries near City Park, and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial with a professional storyteller. Guides such as Chris, Robert, William, and Taylor explain above-ground burial customs, Irish New Orleans, yellow fever, hurricanes, and local traditions. The tour lasts about two hours and ends on Canal Street.

“Enlightening—guide was engaging and knowledgeable. I was disappointed in the appearance of the graves. For shame.”

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12.Haunted Drunken History Tour from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 135 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $30

Join guide Raffle for a two-hour, adults-only walk through New Orleans’ French Quarter. You’ll hear true crime, pirate, brothel, ghost, and vampire tales while stopping at historic bars including Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and Tujague’s. The tour costs $30, includes one drink, and is best for adults who want history with their evening drinks.

“Raffle was an amazing guide, and my siblings and I really enjoyed our pub crawl of the French Quarter with him. He made sure to customize the tour based on what we wanted to see (note, we were there in the off-season, and were the only people on the tour, so this may not be possible normally), answered all our questions and was truly such an amazing ambassador for the French Quarter that I wished I had a few more days to stay and explore even more based on all the tips he gave us. He gave us all the history, ghost stories and vampire lore we could have ever…”

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