New Orleans: Storyville & Bourbon Street History Tour

The women who built New Orleans, told on the streets where they worked

You walk 2 hours through the French Quarter starting at Jackson Square, stopping twice for drinks at actual bars, and learning how sex work shaped New Orleans from its founding through the Civil War and into Storyville. The guide is a professional historian of the city, not a performer, and the tour ends in front of a real brothel in the neighborhood that gave the industry its name.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Jackson Square30m
2. French Market30m
3. Court of Two Sisters10m
4. Bourbon Streetpassing by

Explore French Quarter and Storyville history

• Meet near Cafe Du Monde
• View Mississippi River and Jackson Square
• Discuss sex trade history
• Stop for drink at Tujague's
• Visit French Market and hear port tales
• Walk along Royal Street
• Cross Bourbon Street
• Stop at May Bailey's bar
• End at Storyville brothel

The experience

Hands grip a cocktail in a plastic cup as the group steps onto Bourbon Street, and you realize this isn't a museum tour. It's a walk through the actual geography where the story happened. The guide meets you near Café Du Monde, right by Jackson Square and the Mississippi River, and from there the two hours unfold like a conversation that keeps moving. You're standing in the Vieux Carré, the oldest part of the city, and the first thing you learn is that sex work wasn't a footnote to New Orleans' founding. It was woven into how the port city grew.

The route takes you downriver to Tujague's for a drink stop (you can order whatever you want, not just the classic New Orleans cocktail, and carry it in a to-go cup as you walk), then through the French Market where the guide talks about the Civil War and what happened to the women working the port during that time. Royal Street comes next in the evening light, then you cross the noise and neon of Bourbon Street itself and head toward the back of town. The second bar stop varies (sometimes it's May Bailey's, a place known for the women who worked there), and the tour ends in front of an actual brothel in Storyville's shadows, the neighborhood that gave the world's oldest profession its name in this city.

Two hours is tight enough that you're always moving, loose enough that the guide can answer questions. The walk covers real distance and real history, not a curated highlight reel. You need to be at least 21, and the tour isn't recommended if you have spinal issues, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns. It's a walking tour, not a casual stroll. Public transit is nearby if you need it after.

What’s included

Your tour includes a professional guide leading you through Jackson Square, the French Market, Royal Street, and Bourbon Street, with two bar stops where you can purchase a drink or beverage of your choice in a to-go cup. The route covers the history of sex work in New Orleans from the city's founding through the Civil War and into Storyville, ending at a historic brothel location.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDeparts at 18:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 to 90 years) · Under 21: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Two Chicks Walking Tours

Is this one for you?Right for anyone 21 and older who wants the real history of how women shaped New Orleans, told by someone who knows the streets and the stories, not a sanitized museum version, but the actual places where it happened.

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Top questions

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.

How long is the tour?

Two hours, starting near Café Du Monde and ending in Storyville.

What's included in the price?

A professional guide and the walking route. Drinks at the two bar stops are your own cost.

Can I bring my own drink?

You purchase drinks at the bar stops during the tour and carry them in to-go cups as you walk.

Is this tour appropriate for kids?

No, minimum age is 21 years old.

Do I need to be in good shape?

It's a walking tour covering real distance. Not recommended for people with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular issues.

Where does the tour start and end?

Starts near Café Du Monde at Jackson Square by the river. Ends in Storyville, the back of town.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the start and end points.

What if I don't want to drink alcohol?

You can order any beverage you prefer at the bar stops, including non-alcoholic drinks.