New Orleans: French Quarter & St. Louis Cemetery Bus Tour

Two stops, one cemetery, and beignets in a 2.5-hour loop through New Orleans

You ride a small bus through New Orleans' main neighborhoods and historic sites, stop to walk St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 with a licensed guide, and spend 20 to 30 minutes at the sculpture garden in City Park with time for beignets. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the whole thing takes 2.5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

New Orleans city and cemetery tour

• Hotel pick-up in French Quarter
• Relax on bus through historic neighborhoods
• Pass by St. Louis Cathedral
• Stop at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
• Guided tour of cemetery
• Free time to explore cemetery
• Stop at City Park sculpture garden
• Enjoy beignets at Morning Call Cafe
• Explore sculpture garden
• Return to hotel

The experience

Hands grip the bus rail as it pulls away from your hotel, and then you realize the driver is pointing out the St. Louis Cathedral before you've even left the French Quarter. That's the rhythm of this tour: you're moving through the city while someone who actually knows it talks, and then you step off to walk around on your own. The bus holds under 15 people, which means you're not packed in with a crowd, and the whole thing runs 2.5 hours, so it fits into a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day.

The first real stop is St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, the city's third oldest "City of the Dead." Your guide walks you through it for a bit (explaining the above-ground tombs, the history, why New Orleans buries people this way), and then leaves you alone for about 10 minutes to wander and take photos. It's quiet in there, and strange in a way that makes sense once you understand the ground. After that, the bus rolls through Treme, the Faubourgs, Marigny, and the Garden and Warehouse Districts, passing the St. Louis Cathedral and City Park along the way. Your guide is licensed, so they're not just pointing. They're actually telling you something about the architecture, the neighborhoods, what happened where.

The second stop is City Park at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and this is where the tour shifts. You get 20 to 30 minutes to walk around the sculptures, sit on the grass if you want, and grab beignets and coffee at Morning Call Cafe. It's not rushed. The whole thing (the bus ride, the cemetery, the sculpture garden, the beignets) is built so you're not standing still for long, but you're not running either. Hotel pickup happens 30 minutes before the tour time, and drop-off is back where you started.

What’s included

Your tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a licensed local guide who explains the history and architecture as you ride, entry to St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 with a guided introduction and time to explore on your own, access to City Park and the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and time to order beignets and coffee at Morning Call Cafe.

Information

Lasts 2h 15m, runs every day, 4 start times, from US$ 54.98 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by New Orleans Native Tours - Day Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see the main neighborhoods and historic sites of New Orleans without arranging your own transport or timing: the bus, the guide, and the stops are all planned, so you just show up at your hotel.

Traveler reviews

4.74★★★★★★★★★★

473 verified traveler reviews

5 ★399

4 ★46

3 ★13

2 ★8

1 ★7

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): 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 included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the bus ride through multiple neighborhoods, a guided walk through St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, access to City Park and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, and time to get beignets at Morning Call Cafe.

How long do you spend at each stop?

About 10 minutes to walk around St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 on your own after the guide's explanation. Then 20 to 30 minutes at City Park for the sculpture garden and cafe.

What neighborhoods does the tour cover?

The French Quarter, Treme, Faubourgs St. John, Marigny, the Garden District, and the Warehouse District. You also pass the St. Louis Cathedral and City Park.

How big are the groups?

Groups are typically under 15 people and never over 25.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most of the time you're on the bus. The walking portions are short and self-paced.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the bus ride.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

When is hotel pickup?

Pickup happens 30 minutes before the tour start time at hotels within the French Quarter and Business District.