New Orleans Jazz History Walking Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the historic French Quarter's jazz roots
- Visit iconic jazz venues like the Spotted Cat Music Club
- Enjoy live performances by local jazz musicians
- Learn about jazz legends and their impact on the city
- Experience the vibrant nightlife of Frenchmen Street
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided walking tour of New Orleans' historic jazz districts
- Live jazz performance at a local venue
- Beverage included during the tour
- Meals and additional beverages not specified in the tour
Itinerary
Step into the birthplace of jazz at Louis Armstrong Park, where the story of New Orleans music begins. Explore the historic Tremé neighborhood and discover how the rhythms, traditions, and cultures that came together here helped shape one of the world's most influential art forms
Stand in legendary Congo Square, where enslaved people and free people of color gathered to share music, dance, and traditions. Hear how these powerful cultural exchanges helped lay the foundations for jazz and shaped the sound of New Orleans.
Explore the historic French Quarter with a local music expert and uncover the people, places, and stories behind New Orleans' musical legacy. Along the way, discover hidden corners and local insights that bring the city's jazz heritage to life.
Go beyond the party scene to discover the musicians, venues, and musical collaborations that helped shape New Orleans' sound. Keep an eye out for spontaneous street performances that make every night in the city unique.
Your evening may lead to Frenchmen Street, New Orleans' legendary live music district. Rather than following a fixed route, your guide chooses the night's music stop based on where the most exciting performances are happening, making every tour a little different.
Settle in with a complimentary drink and experience live music selected by your guide for the night's standout performance. Whether it's a beloved local institution or an unexpected hidden gem, this is your chance to experience New Orleans' living music culture like a local.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates rain or shine; please dress accordingly.
- Gratuities for the guide are not included and are appreciated if you enjoyed the tour.
- This tour is suitable for all ages; however, some venues may have age restrictions for late-night performances.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
- Bring a valid ID if you plan to purchase alcoholic beverages during the tour.
- Arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes early to ensure a timely departure.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Is this tour eco-friendly? This tour is carbon neutral and operated by a B Corp-certified company committed to using travel as a force for good.
- How much walking is involved? This walking tour covers approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through Tremé, Congo Square, and the French Quarter. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Is this tour suitable for children? Participants must be 21 years or older due to venue requirements and the inclusion of an alcoholic beverage. Valid photo ID may be required.
- Will we hear live jazz music? Yes. The tour includes visits to authentic local music venues where you can enjoy live performances by talented New Orleans musicians. Venues and performers may vary.
- Do I need to know jazz to enjoy this tour? Not at all. Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or simply curious about New Orleans culture, your guide will bring the city's music, history, and neighborhoods to life in an engaging and accessible way.
- By joining this tour, you will be helping to contribute to the livelihoods of local musicians in the jazz clubs we visit, allowing them to earn a decent wage and continue doing what they love to do.
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 tour, recommend
Kristi is great tour guide. She's native new orleans and very knowledgeable. Loved visiting different places listening to jazz and learning the history
Worth It!
Awesome! Christie was amazing!! So interesting
New Orleans through new eyes
Christy was an incredible tour guide. You couldn't be in better hands to get to know the history and charm of New Orleans.
Jazz History with a touch of Soul
Kristi was amazing- very knowledgeable and friendly. She escorted us through the streets of New Orleans sharing history, culture and the history of jazz. So worth it!
Great New Orleans Jazz tour
This was an ideal tour to kick start my trip to New Orleans and the origins of Jazz. Adam was so knowledgeable and his passion for the subject obvious. The Jazz bars he chose were a great cross section of music in the city and I came away feeling informed and inspired.