New Orleans: French Quarter & Cemetery Bike Tour with Local Guide

Pedal through New Orleans' oldest neighborhoods and a 19th-century cemetery

You bike through Bywater, Marigny, and the French Quarter with an owner-guide from Paved Paradise Tours, stopping at St Vincent de Paul Cemetery to learn about New Orleans' unique funerary traditions, then continuing past Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and Frenchmen Street's live music venues. The tour includes helmet, water, poncho, and bike. You need moderate fitness for the ride.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. French Quarter1h
2. St. Louis Cathedral5m
3. Jackson Square15m
4. Frenchmen Street10m
5. Court of Two Sisters15m

Bike tour through New Orleans highlights

• Bike through Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods
• Visit St Vincent de Paul Cemetery
• Cruise through the French Quarter
• See Jackson Square and street performers
• Admire St. Louis Cathedral architecture
• Ride along Frenchmen Street music district
• Stop at balconies and hear live music

The experience

The ride starts in Bywater and Marigny, where the streets narrow and the architecture tells you something about who built this city and why they stayed. Your guide (one of the owners at Paved Paradise Tours) points out the details most visitors miss: a particular balcony, a corner where musicians still gather, the way the light hits the old brick. You're on a bike, moving slowly enough to actually see things, which changes what sticks with you. The pace is leisurely, not a race.

St Vincent de Paul Cemetery comes next, established in 1844 and known locally as the city of the dead. The guide walks you through the funerary customs that make New Orleans different from anywhere else: the above-ground tombs, the way families tend to them, the stories attached to the names. It's not morbid. It's how the city remembers itself. After that, you pedal into the French Quarter proper: Jackson Square with its street performers and artists, St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest operating Catholic church in the US), the Court of Two Sisters with its wrought-iron galleries. Frenchmen Street comes later, and your guide will tell you which venues have live music that night, which ones are worth stopping at, what the neighborhood actually sounds like after dark.

The whole thing runs on a broad itinerary (not every tour hits every stop, depending on the day and the group's pace), but the structure is solid. You get a helmet, water, a poncho in case the weather turns (tours run rain or shine), and a bike that fits. The owner-operated model means you're not getting a script. You're getting someone who actually loves the city and wants you to understand why. Small groups, local knowledge, the kind of perspective you can't get from a bus window.

What’s included

• Use of bicycle.
• helmet.
• bottled water.
• poncho.
• local guide who is an owner of Paved Paradise Tours and provides personal recommendations for restaurants, bars, and music venues during your stay.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and SundayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (7 to 13 years) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “LOCATION: This tour begins and end at Dr. Bob's Folk Art, 3027 Chartres St, New Orleans. Our shop is the first building on the left as you enter the gate. Please arrive 10min before your scheduled departure time.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Paved Paradise Bike Tours New Orleans

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the French Quarter, cemetery, and live music district without planning the route yourself or renting a bike separately. The owner-guide's local knowledge is what makes the stops matter.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 13 years). Under 7: they can't be included in the booking.

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 24h before the start.

What's included in the tour?

Bike, helmet, bottled water, poncho, and a local guide. You don't arrange your own transport or entry to the cemetery.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist?

You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The ride is leisurely, but it covers distance across several neighborhoods.

What if the weather is bad?

Tours run rain or shine. If weather becomes dangerous, the company will work with you to reschedule or refund.

Where does the tour start?

In the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods, before moving into the French Quarter and the cemetery.

Will we stop for food or drinks?

The itinerary focuses on sightseeing and neighborhood exploration. Your guide will give personal recommendations for places to visit during your stay.

Is this tour suitable for someone with heart or breathing issues?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Check with the company if you have concerns about fitness level.