New Orleans French Quarter: Ghost & Voodoo Walking Tour

Walk the French Quarter at Night: Ghost Stories, Voodoo, and a Real EMF Meter

You meet your guide at a historic bar courtyard on Bourbon Street and walk through the French Quarter for 1–2 hours, stopping at Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and other landmarks while hearing ghost, voodoo, and vampire stories. You can check out a real EMF paranormal detector to use during the walk, grab a drink at bars along the route, and take photos. The tour moves at a moderate pace and includes a local guide. Drinks and gratuities are separate. Arrive a few minutes early to check in at the Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop gates.

Step-by-step itinerary

French Quarter walking tour highlights

• Meet at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop gates
• Begin tour in the heart of French Quarter
• Walk through historic French Quarter streets
• Visit St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square
• See Cabildo, Presbytere, and Ursuline Convent
• Hear history, ghost, vampire, and voodoo stories
• Use EMF meter for paranormal detection

The experience

"So we're actually going to use this thing to detect paranormal activity?" That's the question most people ask when they see the EMF meter at the start of this French Quarter walking tour. Your guide meets you at the gates of the courtyard attached to Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar on Bourbon Street (a National Historic Landmark built between 1772 and 1791), and from there you're walking into the Vieux Carré with a local who knows the neighborhood's real history, not just the postcard version. The tour runs 1 to 2 hours depending on how long you spend at stops along the way, and it covers the French Quarter's layered past: the colonial architecture, the ghost stories, the voodoo traditions, the vampire legends. You'll pass Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Presbytere, and the Ursuline Convent: all of them tied to something darker or stranger than the guidebooks mention.

What makes this different from a standard history walk is the paranormal angle. If you want to use the EMF meter yourself during the tour, you can check one out at the start (just bring your name, phone number, address, and booking reference). It's not a guarantee you'll capture anything (the tour operators are clear about that), but guests have taken paranormal photos here before, and the equipment adds a layer of engagement that keeps the walk from feeling like a lecture. You're actively looking, listening, and moving through the streets at a moderate pace. The bars along the route stay open, so you can stop and grab a drink if you want (not included in the ticket price), and some spots have to-go windows if you'd rather not go inside. Just know that some bars don't allow children, and if you're bringing kids, they need to be with an adult.

The tour departs at the scheduled time from the Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop gates, so arrive a few minutes early to check in with your guide. Late arrivals won't be refunded, and the group moves together: no walking off to take photos on your own. The French Quarter itself has old, uneven streets and walkways, so wear shoes you can walk in for a couple of hours. Tours run rain or shine, and there's no refund for weather. If the tour does get canceled due to low numbers (there's a minimum group size), you'll get a text or email up to an hour before departure, and you can either switch to another time or get your money back.

What’s included

• Local tour guide.
• admission to the walking tour.
• access to paranormal detection equipment (EMF meter) if requested at check-in.
• stops at historic landmarks including Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Cabildo, Presbytere, and Ursuline Convent.
• history, ghost, vampire, and voodoo stories from your guide.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English14:00

Guide in English11:00 and 14:00

Guide in English11:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (under 10)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Tours meet and Depart on the sidewalk in front of the Legendary Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar located at 941 Bourbon Street New Orleans Louisiana 70116. Tours do not meet inside Lafittes Blacksmith Bar.”

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.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 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by New Orleans Drunk History Tours • Show Me New Orleans Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want the French Quarter's history and ghost stories from someone who lives there, without arranging your own route or timing: the local guide and fixed schedule handle both, and the paranormal angle keeps it engaging beyond a standard walk.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (under 10).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

Where exactly do I meet the tour guide?

At the gates of the courtyard attached to Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, located at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Arrive a few minutes early to check in.

How long is the French Quarter walking tour?

The tour lasts 1 to 2 hours, depending on wait times at stops and how busy the bars are along the route.

What landmarks do we visit?

You'll walk past Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Presbytere, and the Ursuline Convent, plus other historic sites and bars in the French Quarter.

Can I use the EMF paranormal detector myself?

Yes, you can check out an EMF meter at the start of the tour if you request it during check-in. You'll need to provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference. There's a $250 fee if the equipment is lost or damaged.

Are drinks included in the tour price?

No. Drinks are available to purchase at bars along the route, but they're not included. Gratuities for your guide are also separate.

What if I arrive late?

Late arrivals are not refunded. If you think you'll be late, contact the tour operator before departure so they can try to reschedule you for another time.

Is the tour canceled if not enough people book?

Yes. If the minimum group size isn't met by one hour before departure, the tour will be canceled. You'll be notified by text, phone, or email and offered an alternate tour or a full refund.

Can I record video during the tour?

No. Video and audio recording are not allowed. Photos are encouraged and welcome.