New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: 4 bars & ghost stories

What really happened in the bars where New Orleans keeps its ghosts?

You'll walk four stops through the French Quarter's oldest bars while a guide tells you the real history of Marie Laveau, pirates, and the city's most notorious figures. Drinks are on you, the stories are included, and you can carry your glass as you move: a format that only works in New Orleans. Book ahead. This one fills up fast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Haunted French Quarter pub crawl

• Start with drink and ghost stories
• Visit iconic bar with pirate lore
• Explore atmospheric corner with spirits
• Stop at haunted bar for history

The experience

You're standing in a crowded, well-lit bar on Bourbon Street, and then your guide points you toward a side street where the neon fades and the buildings lean. That's the shift that happens on a haunted pub crawl through New Orleans, from the noise everyone expects to the stories nobody forgets. The French Quarter has bars older than most American cities, and they come with the weight of what happened inside them: Marie Laveau's influence, pirate dealings, murders that went unsolved for decades. Your guide walks you through this history stop by stop, drink by drink, and because of Louisiana's open container laws, you're actually moving through the Quarter with a glass in your hand, which sounds small until you realize it changes how the place feels.

The crawl hits four bars across the night, each one picked for a specific reason: one's genuinely old, one's got the pirate stories attached, one sits in a corner where the atmosphere just works, and one's the one locals talk about when they mention hauntings. You hear about the people who died here, the scandals, the figures who shaped the city's reputation. The guide knows the difference between the legend and what actually happened, which matters because New Orleans has both in equal measure. It's not a theatrical performance. It's more like someone who knows the Quarter's real history taking you through it in the places where it still feels present.

This sells out regularly, so if you're thinking about it, book ahead. You need to be 21 with a valid ID. That's non-negotiable. Drinks aren't included in the price, so you're buying as you go, which means you control how much you spend. The pace is walkable, the group stays manageable, and whether you're going solo, with a partner, or with friends, the social part of it happens naturally because everyone's there for the same reason: to hear the stories and feel the Quarter at night when it's actually interesting.

What’s included

• Your night includes a guided tour through four historic French Quarter bars, stories about Marie Laveau and pirate history, and the freedom to carry drinks as you walk between stops.
• You arrange and pay for your own beverages at each location.
• Public transportation is nearby if you need it to get to the starting point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 19:00, 19:30 and 20:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

GroupUp to 28

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Ghost City Tours in New Orleans

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the French Quarter's real history (the scandals, the figures, the weight of it) told by someone who knows it, and you're comfortable buying your own drinks as you go. The open container setup and the guide's knowledge are what make the difference.

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Top questions

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.

Do drinks come with the tour?

No. You buy drinks at each bar as you go. The tour price covers the guide and the stops. Beverages are separate.

What's the age requirement?

You must be 21 or older with a valid ID. No exceptions.

How many bars do you visit?

Four bars across the French Quarter, each with its own ghost story or historic tie.

Can you carry drinks while walking?

Yes. New Orleans' open container law lets you sip and stroll between bars, which is part of what makes this crawl different.

Is this suitable for solo travelers?

Yes. The guide and group format make it social, and solo travelers are common on these crawls.

What if I'm not into ghost stories?

The tour blends ghost lore with real history and pirate tales, so there's more than just supernatural content. But if you're not interested in the Quarter's darker history at all, this might not be the right fit.

Do I need to book in advance?

It's recommended. This is one of New Orleans' most popular nightlife experiences and often sells out.