New Orleans Garden District Architecture Tour Mansions

See how 19th century architects shaped a neighborhood one building at a time.

A two-hour walking tour of New Orleans' Garden District with a licensed local guide covers Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian mansions built in the 1800s, plus a visit to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 to learn the city's distinctive above-ground burial customs. Groups stay under 14 people. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; the tour runs in favorable weather only, with a reschedule or refund if canceled.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Garden District architecture and history

• Start tour with introduction
• Visit Lafayette Cemetery and learn burial customs
• Discuss Commander's Palace architecture and history
• See Italianate house by Samuel Jameson
• Visit Women's Opera Guild House and compare styles
• Learn history of McGehee School library building
• View another Italianate house by Samuel Jameson
• Discover historic skating rink building
• Admire antebellum mansions and hear stories

The Experience

What makes the Garden District worth two hours on foot instead of a drive-by? The architecture itself—Greek Revival, Italianate, Victorian—each style tells you something about who built it and when. A guide who knows the neighborhood walks you through the differences: how to spot an Italianate cornice, why a Greek Revival porch matters, what the Women's Opera Guild House reveals by being built in two different eras in two different styles. Samuel Jameson, an Irish-born architect, designed multiple houses here; seeing them back-to-back shows you his hand. Commander's Palace gets its own moment—the building's architecture, the owners' story, what the kitchen became famous for.

The cemetery stop is the part most visitors skip on their own. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 sits on the tour route, and the guide explains why New Orleans buries people above ground: the water table. You'll see the different styles of tombs, hear how the practice shaped the city. The cemetery is open during the tour, though it closes when services are being held, so timing matters.

Two hours means you move at a pace that lets you actually look—not a sprint through highlights. The group caps at 14 people, which is small enough that you hear the guide without shouting and can ask about the details that catch your eye. The guide is licensed and insured, with deep knowledge of the area. Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably; the neighborhood is flat, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• A licensed, insured local guide with extensive knowledge of the Garden District and its architecture.
• a two-hour walking tour through Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian mansions.
• a stop at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 to learn about above-ground burial customs.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by NOLA Tours

Is this one for you?Your guide teaches you to read architectural styles by standing in front of the actual houses, pointing out what makes Greek Revival different from Italianate and Victorian—the small group means you can ask about the details that catch your eye.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the architecture styles I'll see on this tour?

The Garden District holds Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian mansions built in the 19th century. Greek Revival uses columns and symmetry; Italianate features ornate cornices and brackets; Victorian is more elaborate and varied. The guide points out these differences as you walk past the actual houses, so you learn to spot them yourself.

Why is Lafayette Cemetery part of this tour?

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 shows you how New Orleans handles burial differently than most American cities. The water table is too high for traditional graves, so the city built above-ground tombs in different styles. The guide explains this local custom and the cemetery's history as part of understanding 19th century New Orleans.

How many people go on this tour at once?

Groups are capped at 14 people, which keeps the experience intimate and lets everyone hear the guide without crowding or rushing through the neighborhood.

What if the weather is bad on the day I book?

The tour runs in favorable weather only. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you can reschedule for another date or receive a full refund.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the Garden District?

The tour does not include transportation to or from the neighborhood. Public transportation options are available nearby, so you can get there by bus or streetcar, or arrange a ride separately.