New Orleans Garden District & Lafayette Cemetery Walking Tour

Walk oak-lined streets hear stories of mansions & old rivalries

You’ll wander beneath ancient oaks in New Orleans’ Garden District, hear local stories about famous residents and old rivalries, and see Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from its historic gates with your expert guide. Expect a mix of architectural details, pop culture trivia, and quiet moments under the southern sun. It lingers with you after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Garden District1h 30m
2. Lafayette Cemetery No. 120m

Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery Tour

• Explore Garden District architecture
• See famous residents' homes
• Learn about Creole vs American history
• View tropical plant life
• Tour Lafayette Cemetery gates

The experience

You step off the streetcar and it’s like you’ve landed in another century: the Garden District just kind of wraps around you, all those live oaks and houses that look straight out of a movie. Our guide, James, grew up nearby (he waved at at least three people he knew before we even started). He had this way of pointing out things I’d never notice: the way the ironwork on one porch curls differently because the family was “Creole, not American,” or how some houses seem to almost glare at each other across the street. There’s a lot more drama in architecture than I expected.

I tried to imagine living in one of those places (Sandra Bullock’s house is actually more understated than you’d think), but mostly I just kept staring at the cornstalk fence. James said it’s famous, but honestly it just made me hungry. We stopped outside Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (the gates are locked these days), and he told us stories about yellow fever and why all these tombs sit above ground. It felt weirdly peaceful out there, with sunlight sliding through the magnolia leaves and someone playing jazz faintly down the block. I still think about that hush.

There was this moment when James pointed out where they filmed “Benjamin Button” and everyone sort of paused: half of us trying to remember if we’d seen it. He laughed and said most people only recognize “American Horror Story.” The whole walk was like that: history mixed with pop culture, old gossip, plants growing everywhere (I didn’t know what half of them were), and little moments where you just stop to breathe in all that humid air. Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy learning about rooflines or why porches face certain ways, but here we are.

What’s included

• Your day includes a guided walk through New Orleans’ Garden District with a professional local guide who shares stories along oak-lined streets.
• you’ll also visit (from outside) Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 for tales of its history before finishing back near public transport options or wherever your curiosity leads next.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day at 11:00 and 14:00, from US$ 25 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 61 years) · Senior (62 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Infant (under 7): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h 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 effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by NOLA Historic Tours

Traveler reviews

4.63★★★★★★★★★★

182 verified traveler reviews

5 ★149

4 ★12

3 ★12

2 ★4

1 ★5

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (7 to 11 years); Infant (under 7): free.

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.

Is entry to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 included?

No, tours view Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 from outside the gates due to city closure since 2019.

How long is the Garden District walking tour?

The tour includes a full walk through the Garden District plus approximately 20 minutes at Lafayette Cemetery gates.

Are guides locals?

Yes, guides are New Orleanians with personal connections to the area’s history.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible and strollers/prams are allowed.

Will I see celebrity homes on this tour?

Yes, you’ll pass former or current homes of celebrities like Sandra Bullock and John Goodman.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are permitted on this walking tour.