New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Stroll through historic Garden District
- Explore Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Admire antebellum mansions
- Learn about local history
- Discover unique architecture
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided walking tour of the Garden District
- Visit to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
- Insights into local history and architecture
- Transportation to and from the tour location
Itinerary
Begin your guided walk along oak-shaded streets lined with grand Garden District mansions.
Pass by Lafayette Cemetery, one of New Orleans’ oldest burial grounds. Learn about the city’s unique above-ground tombs and multi-burial traditions, shaped by New Orleans’ low-lying geography. Hear stories of notable individuals laid to rest here.
Pass by: Travel off the beaten path in the Garden District to uncover lesser-known landmarks. Pass by the 1843 Barthelemy Rey House, the 1875 Soria-Creel House, and Fire Station #23. If time allows, see the building where author F. Scott Fitzgerald once lived.
Pass by: Stop outside Commander’s Palace, one of New Orleans’ most iconic restaurants. Admire its Victorian architecture and learn why it’s a beloved venue for weddings and celebrations.
Pass by: Cross Magazine Street into the Irish Channel, a historic New Orleans neighborhood. See classic shotgun-style houses and learn about the Irish immigrants who shaped the area and its vibrant culture.
Pass by: Take a short break at a local New Orleans spot. Buy a refreshing drink before continuing your Garden District tour.
Pass by: End near the St. Charles Streetcar Line after strolling past more Garden District homes. Before you go, your guide will share personal recommendations for New Orleans restaurants, bars, and local sights to explore during your stay.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly, as tours operate rain or shine.
- Confirm the tour time and location upon booking to avoid any confusion.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during the tour.
- Parking is available near the tour starting point; arrive early to secure a spot.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- What happens if it rains? The tour goes ahead rain or shine! Just bring an umbrella or raincoat. If the weather gets dangerous, though, we’ll cancel for safety. Will we visit Lafayette Cemetery during the tour?
- Not quite! The City of New Orleans has temporarily closed Lafayette Cemetery for maintenance and repairs, and there’s no reopening date yet. But don’t worry — we’ll still share its fascinating history and stories from several of the gated entrances nearby.
- Can young kids join the tour? Absolutely! Children under 6 can join for free. Just let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
- What happens if one of the sites is closed? If a planned stop is unexpectedly closed, we’ll do our best to swap it out for a similar alternative so you still get a great experience.
Reviews
We booked this walking tour on our second day in Boston, and am so glad we did. Travelling from Ireland, we were aware of the connections to Boston, but never really appreciated the deep history and importance of Boston. Our tour guide - Bob - was amazing. He is a true font of knowledge on everything from the background to the American revolution, its key players like Samual Adams and Paul Revere, the City as a centre of trade and commerce, and how it became a home for so many immigrants who transformed the City’s commerce, culture and politics. Best of all we learned all of this while strolling around the best parts of Boston and enjoying the most amazing food. Bob delivered with humour and fun. He was engaging and helpful, and has so much passion and deep historic knowledge which came across at every opportunity. The food aspects were incredible. We spent much of the time in the North End, - little Italy - and were introduced to several amazing multi generational family food businesses that we would never have found otherwise - bakeries, coffee shops and delis - with lots of wonderful food to sample. It was a fantastic tour. Genuinely, it completely enriched my knowledge and perspective on the City and was enjoyable from start to finish. There are lots of tours of the city - bus tours. Duck tours, ghoul tours, walking tours etc and some look a bit gimmicky with tour guides dressed is period costumes. If that’s your thing then fine, but you will miss on a tour like this one which so authentic, educational, fun and engaging. Travelling around the city with a guide with such knowledge and history as a guide like Bob, turned out to be a great privilege. I highly recommend this trip. I doubt you could find a better way to four or five hours in this most fascinating city,
Wow!! We would have given this tour 6 stars if we could. Our tour guide, Dave, was so knowledgeable and spun the stories to weave Chicago's history so clearly for these East Coast visitors. Loved the mixture of interior and street landmarks. We learned so much and will be sure to recommend this tour to others. A true highlight activity of our visit to Chicago.
Laura was awesome and really informative. She answered all our questions and had a lot to say about the city. Loved it!
Traveler reviews
Great walking tour
Andre was great! We got to learn a lot about the history and architecture of New Orleans on this tour
Fun facts New Orleans
Kristi was a great guide! We learned more about the history and architecture of New Orleans
Excellent tour of the Garden District
Andre did a wonderful job. My friend and I completely enjoyed our tour. Andre is very knowledgeable, and I learned a lot. The Garden District is beautiful!
Strong local knowledge
Adam was great! Strong local knowledge and architectural history!
A+ tour! Fun and informative
Andre was a fantastic guide! He has such a passion for the architecture and so much knowledge. We learned so much and had a great time. Highly recommend!