New Orleans Cemetery Walking Tour: Cities of the Dead

Tombs, not headstones: how New Orleans buries its dead above ground

A 2-hour walking tour of New Orleans' cemeteries with a local guide covers tomb architecture, burial history and the city's unique practices. The tour includes stops at the Katrina Memorial, where you'll hear the story of Hurricane Katrina's victims, and the crossroads where multiple cemeteries meet. A live English-speaking guide leads the route. You choose between a 10:15am or 1:15pm departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore New Orleans cemeteries and memorials

• Hear Hurricane Katrina tragic story
• Visit crossroads of multiple cemeteries

The experience

The cemeteries of New Orleans, called Cities of the Dead, look nothing like burial grounds elsewhere in America. Above-ground tombs, many built from brick and plaster, line the narrow paths instead of grass and headstones. A local guide walks you through several of them over two hours, explaining why the water table here made underground burial impossible and how that shaped the architecture you see: the stacked vaults, the family tombs that look like small houses, the way the city solved a practical problem and turned it into something distinctive. You'll learn the customs and practices that grew from this geography, and what each style of tomb says about the people buried there.

One stop is the Katrina Memorial, where you hear the story of those lost in Hurricane Katrina and how an old potter's field (a burial ground for the poor and unclaimed) became a place to remember them. The tour also takes you to the crossroads where numerous cemeteries of the city meet, a spot that shows the scale and layering of New Orleans' burial history. Comfortable shoes matter here. The ground is uneven and the walk covers distance. The route is wheelchair accessible, and the guide speaks English throughout.

Before or after the tour, you can stop at the nearby Morning Call Coffee Stand, an iconic spot where locals have gone for cafe au lait and beignets for generations. It's not included in the tour price, but it's a natural place to sit and process what you've learned, or to ease into the morning if you've booked the earlier departure.

What’s included

• Local guide in English.
• access to multiple cemeteries including the Katrina Memorial and the crossroads where the city's cemeteries meet.
• 2-hour walking route with explanations of tomb architecture, burial history and New Orleans' unique burial customs.

Options for this experience

2 options

10:15 am TourGuide in English · 10:15 and 13:15Tour departing at 10:15 am

1:15pm TourGuide in English · 10:15 and 13:15The tour leaves at 1:15 pm.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day at 10:15 and 13:15, from US$ 30 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:15 and 13:15Another time? ›

GroupUp to 28 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Haunted History Tours

Is this one for you?Pick the 10:15am slot for morning light on the tombs and time to linger at Morning Call. Choose 1:15pm if you're exploring other neighborhoods first.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Katrina Memorial and why is it part of this tour?

The Katrina Memorial is located in an old potter's field (a burial ground for the poor and unclaimed) that became a place to honor those lost in Hurricane Katrina. The guide explains how this site transformed into a memorial and tells the story of the victims, making it a key stop on the tour because it connects the city's burial history to a defining moment in New Orleans' modern past.

Why do New Orleans cemeteries have above-ground tombs instead of graves in the ground?

New Orleans' water table is too high for traditional underground burial. The city solved this practical problem by building above-ground vaults and family tombs, a solution that became so distinctive it shaped the entire character of the cemeteries. The guide explains this history and what the different tomb styles reveal about the people buried there.

How long is the walking tour and what should I wear?

The tour runs 2 hours and covers uneven ground, so comfortable, sturdy shoes are essential. The route is wheelchair accessible, and the tour operates in all weather, so dress for the conditions on the day you go.

Do I need to arrange transportation to the cemetery, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, but public transportation options are available near the meeting point, and those options are wheelchair accessible. You'll need to arrange your own way to the tour start.

What time does the tour depart and can I get coffee and beignets?

You can choose between a 10:15am or 1:15pm departure when you book. The Morning Call Coffee Stand is nearby and open before and after the tour, where you can get cafe au lait and beignets, though food and drinks are not included in the tour price.