New Orleans French Quarter: Private Mule Carriage Tour

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  • New Orleans French Quarter: Private Mule Carriage Tour
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1/6
Duration1h
GroupPrivate
LanguagesEN
Mobile ticketAccepted

A Mule-Drawn Carriage Rolls Past the Oldest Cathedral in America

You board a private mule-drawn carriage at 700 St. Louis Street and spend one hour rolling through the French Quarter with a licensed local guide who customizes the route to your interests. You pass St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, the French Market, and historic neighborhoods dating to the 1800s, with no set script and no strangers on board. The carriage holds up to four people and the guide shapes the tour around what you want to see.

1h

Step-by-step itinerary

Private carriage tour of French Quarter

  • Board carriage at 700 St. Louis Street
  • Take group photo with carriage driver
  • Travel through French Quarter for 1 hour
  • Customize tour with carriage driver
  • Explore historic New Orleans neighborhood
  • Pass Louisiana Supreme Court Building
  • Pass Napoleon House
  • Pass Jackson Square
  • See Saint Louis Cathedral
  • Pass French Market
  • Travel along Bourbon Street
  • See Royal Street shops

The Experience

The clip-clop of hooves on brick is the first thing you notice when the carriage pulls up to 700 St. Louis Street, across from the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Your licensed guide is waiting with the mule, and within minutes you're rolling through the French Quarter on a private carriage tour that moves at the pace of the horse, not the clock. This isn't a scripted loop—the guide shapes the route around what you want to see, whether that's the stories behind the Louisiana Supreme Court Building, the Napoleon House, or the way light hits the shutters on Royal Street.

The hour unfolds through neighborhoods that date back to the early 1800s. You'll pass St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continuously active cathedral in the U.S., then roll toward Jackson Square where the architecture shifts and the light changes. Bourbon Street comes next—the guide will point out where the rhythmic sounds of jazz and blues leak into the street, and you can ask to linger or move on. The French Market sits along the Mississippi River, and Faubourg Marigny shows you the quieter side of the Quarter, the part locals actually live in. The carriage holds up to four people, which means no strangers, no competing for the guide's attention, no waiting for a group to gather.

What makes this different from walking is the vantage point—you see the whole street at once, not just the storefront in front of you. The guide is top-rated and licensed through the City of New Orleans, but they're encouraged to let their own knowledge and personality shape what you hear, not read from a script. If you want to know about a specific building or ask about a neighborhood you're passing through, they can pivot. The carriage moves slowly enough that you can take photos without the group stopping, and the driver will snap a picture of your group at the start if you ask.

What’s included

  • Your tour includes a 1-hour private mule-drawn carriage ride through the French Quarter, a fully narrated historic tour with a professional licensed guide, and a private carriage that seats up to 4 people.
  • The guide customizes the route to your interests and will point out landmarks like St.
  • Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, the French Market, and historic neighborhoods.
  • A group photo is available at the start if you request it.
Good to know
Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Royal Carriages

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the French Quarter's main landmarks without walking or joining a group tour, and you'd rather have a guide shape the route around what interests you than follow a fixed script.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long is the carriage tour?

The tour is 1 hour long.

Where do I board the carriage?

Pickup is at 700 St. Louis Street, across the street from the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel.

How many people can ride?

The carriage seats up to 4 people, making it private for couples, families, or small groups.

Is the route fixed or can I customize it?

There are no set routes or scripts. You can ask the guide to focus on specific areas or landmarks you're interested in.

What landmarks do we see?

The tour passes St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, the French Market, Royal Street, and neighborhoods like Faubourg Marigny.

Can I take photos during the tour?

Yes, photos are encouraged. The driver will take a group photo at the start if you ask. Video filming requires permission from the guide first.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in favorable weather conditions, including rain. Tours may be canceled due to severe weather like flooding or lightning, and you'll be notified to reschedule.

Can I drink alcohol on the carriage?

Adults over 21 may consume alcoholic beverages onboard. Passengers who appear intoxicated will not be allowed to ride.

What if I have mobility concerns?

Call (504) 943-8820 in advance. The carriage can board at a different location if needed, and staff can assist passengers with limited mobility.

Are tickets refundable?

Tickets are non-refundable once purchased and cannot be rescheduled. If you miss your tour appointment, no refund is issued.

New Orleans French Quarter: Private Mule Carriage Tour

1h · EN

from US$ 325 per group

★★★★★★★★★★4.92583 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider
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