New Orleans Garden District: Small-Group Walking Tour & Lafayette Cemetery

Summary

Wander oak-lined streets past storied mansions and faded cemetery gates

You’ll walk shaded streets of New Orleans’ Garden District with a local guide who knows every mansion’s story. Spot famous homes, hear quirky neighborhood tales, peek through Lafayette Cemetery’s gates, and soak up Magazine Street’s everyday buzz. Expect laughter, unexpected details, and small moments that stick with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the way the trees lean over the sidewalks in the Garden District—like they’re trying to eavesdrop. Our guide, Marcus, waved us over to a gate tangled with ironwork and pointed out Buckner Mansion across the street. I’d seen it in American Horror Story but standing there, you catch this faint old-wood smell mixed with something sweet—maybe gardenias? It’s hard to tell in New Orleans. The houses look like they’ve seen everything: Anne Rice’s old place with its pale columns, and then Sandra Bullock’s house just down the block, which honestly made me laugh because our group kept craning for a glimpse like she might pop out with coffee.

We shuffled along Magazine Street, dodging locals with iced coffees and tiny dogs. Marcus told stories about who lived where—John Goodman’s porch apparently hosts Mardi Gras beads year-round—and I tried to imagine what it’d be like to grow up here. The sidewalks are uneven and sometimes you have to watch your step, but that kind of fits. There was this moment outside Colonel Short’s Villa when someone asked about the cast-iron cornstalk fence (I didn’t know that was a thing), and Marcus grinned, “Only in New Orleans.” He had this way of making even the history bits feel like gossip.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 was closed—has been for a while now—but we lingered by the gates anyway. The air felt heavier there; maybe it was just the shade or maybe something else. Marcus explained those above-ground tombs and how families reuse them (which sounds odd until you hear why). We couldn’t go inside but you could still see names carved into stone through the bars, some faded almost white. I caught myself thinking about all those stories stacked together behind one wall, and yeah—I still think about that view sometimes when things go quiet back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Garden District and Cemetery Tour

• Learn history of Garden District homes
• See Buckner Mansion and Anne Rice House
• View McGehee School for Girls
• Visit Colonel Short's Villa and Dolan House
• See Benjamin Button House
• Learn about Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
• View cemetery from outside (no entry)

Top questions

Is entry to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 included?

No, entry is not included as Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is closed to the public. The tour visits outside the gates only.

How long is the Garden District walking tour?

The tour covers key sites in the Garden District including Magazine Street and lasts around 2 hours.

Are children or strollers allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join in a pram or stroller.

Is this Garden District tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible including transportation options nearby.

Will we see any celebrity homes on this tour?

Yes, you’ll pass by homes of Anne Rice, Sandra Bullock, John Goodman, and more during the walk.

Does the tour operate in rainy weather?

Yes, it operates in all weather conditions so dress appropriately for New Orleans’ climate.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided small-group walk through New Orleans’ Garden District with stops at historic mansions along Magazine Street plus time outside Lafayette Cemetery No. 1—all led by a local guide who brings every detail to life as you go.