New Orleans: City & Cemetery Tour with French Quarter Drive

Summary

French Quarter colors, Garden District mansions and a walk among New Orleans’ tombs

You’ll ride through New Orleans’ French Quarter and Garden District with a local guide pointing out details you’d never spot alone, then step quietly among centuries-old tombs at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. Expect music in the air, stories about voodoo and family traditions, plus time to just watch city life roll by your window—it lingers after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the first thing I’d notice in New Orleans to be the smell—coffee, fried dough, and something sweet drifting through the open window as our mini-coach pulled up outside the Homewood Suites. Our guide, Darnell, had that kind of voice you want to listen to even if you’re half-asleep (which I was). He pointed out Creole townhouses and shotgun homes while we rolled through the French Quarter—some with paint peeling off in pastel flakes, others so tidy it almost felt staged. I caught a glimpse of a lady sweeping her stoop in slippers; she waved at us like she knew we were all tourists but didn’t mind.

We slowed down at Jackson Square—Darnell said it’s a National Historic Landmark but honestly, what stuck with me was the brass band warming up by the fence and a kid trying to balance on a stone bench. The whole place buzzed, even though it was barely 10am. After that, we passed Tremé (I wish we could’ve stopped longer), then into the Garden District where everything gets quieter and greener. The houses there look like they belong in old movies—huge porches, ironwork curling everywhere. Darnell joked about how some folks still call them “mansions,” but he grew up nearby and said they just felt normal to him.

The main keyword for me—the reason I booked—was getting to walk inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. The air changed as soon as we stepped through the gate; it got cooler somehow, and there was this chalky scent from all those old stones. Our guide told us about above-ground tombs (apparently because of the water table—makes sense now), and shared stories about families buried together for generations. I tried tracing my fingers over one name carved deep into marble—it felt rougher than I expected. Someone left a tiny bottle of rum on one grave; nobody touched it.

I still think about that hush in the cemetery—the way everyone’s voices dropped without anyone saying why. On the drive back, Darnell asked if anyone had questions but most people just stared out at Lake Pontchartrain flashing silver under the bridge. There’s something about seeing New Orleans this way—with someone who grew up here—that stays with you longer than any photo could.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — New Orleans city and cemetery tour

• Board mini-coach outside hotel
• Drive to French Quarter
• See Creole townhouses and shotgun homes
• Pass shops with voodoo items
• Visit Jackson Square park
• Pass Tremé neighborhood and Garden District
• View Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge
• Walk tour of St Louis Cemetery No. 3
• Return to hotel by mini-coach

Top questions

How long is the New Orleans city & cemetery tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2 to 2.5 hours including both driving and walking portions.

Is hotel pickup included for this sightseeing tour?

Pickup and drop-off are included outside Homewood Suites French Quarter at 317 N. Rampart St.

Do you enter St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 during the tour?

Yes, there is a guided walking portion inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 where you learn about burial traditions.

What neighborhoods does the mini-coach drive through?

The route includes the French Quarter, Tremé, Garden District, and passes Jackson Square.

Is this New Orleans tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels as most time is spent on the coach with short walks.

Does this day trip visit Lake Pontchartrain Causeway?

You’ll see Lake Pontchartrain Causeway from the coach during your drive through the Garden District area.

Are public transportation options available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options near the pickup point at Homewood Suites French Quarter.

What’s included

Your morning includes air-conditioned mini-coach transport around New Orleans’ historic neighborhoods with a local guide narrating along the way, hotel pickup and drop-off outside Homewood Suites French Quarter, plus a guided walk inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 before returning downtown together.