New Orleans: French Quarter & Garden District Private Tour

Oak-lined streets and cities of the dead: New Orleans from the ground up

You walk the French Quarter with a guide who explains the geography and architecture that made the neighborhood; drive through the oak-lined Garden District to see historic mansions and learn the political history behind them; view Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from outside the walls and hear about New Orleans' unique burial traditions; and return without arranging transportation or timing it yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. French Quarter1h 25m
2. Garden District1h 25m
3. Lafayette Cemetery No. 110m

Explore French Quarter and Garden District

• Begin tour in French Quarter
• Discuss geography and architecture
• Drive upriver to Garden District
• Walk oak-lined streets and view mansions
• Discuss Garden District political history
• Visit outside Lafayette Cemetery walls
• Discuss unique burial traditions

The experience

The French Quarter sits where the Mississippi bends, and that geography shapes everything: the way the streets grid, the way water moves through them, the reason people built here at all. Your guide starts there, walking you through the neighborhood that made New Orleans what it is, talking about the architecture and the people who arrived in a swamp and decided to stay. It's the kind of detail that doesn't make it into the postcards, but once you know it, you can't unsee it in every building you pass.

After the French Quarter, you head upriver in a minivan to the Garden District, where the oak trees are so old and thick they block out the sky. The mansions here are different: grander, set back from the street, built by people who had money and wanted everyone to know it. Your guide talks about the political landscape that created this neighborhood, the choices that shaped who lived where and why. You stop outside Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, one of New Orleans' famous above-ground "cities of the dead," and learn why the city buries people the way it does: a practical solution to a swamp that won't stay buried, turned into tradition.

The tour mixes walking and driving, so you're not on your feet the whole time, but you do walk through Jackson Square and around the cemetery grounds. It's a private tour, which means it's just you and whoever you came with: no strangers, no group pace you have to match. The whole thing is built around seeing the neighborhoods that matter, hearing the stories that explain them, and understanding why New Orleans looks and feels the way it does.

What’s included

• Private minivan transportation throughout the tour.
• professional guide.
• walking tour of the French Quarter with discussion of geography, architecture, and local history.
• drive through the Garden District with views of historic mansions and gardens.
• viewing of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from outside the cemetery walls with explanation of New Orleans burial traditions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Steps of the Supreme Court buidling”

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 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Soul of Nola

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand New Orleans' neighborhoods and history without arranging your own transportation or timing between stops: the private format and mixed walk-and-drive pace let you absorb the details without managing logistics.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

70 verified traveler reviews

5 ★70

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

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.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the tour.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

Can I go inside Lafayette Cemetery?

No, all cemeteries are currently closed. You'll view and learn about Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from outside the walls.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. It combines walking in areas like Jackson Square and around the cemetery with minivan transportation, so you're not walking the entire time.

What neighborhoods are included?

The tour covers the French Quarter and the Garden District, with a stop at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in the Garden District.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the tour locations.