New Orleans: Hop-On Hop-Off & Garden District Walking Tour

Two Days on the Bus, One Neighborhood on Foot

You get two days of unlimited bus access across 18 stops in New Orleans, with the freedom to hop off and explore the French Quarter, Arts District, Magazine Street, and Mardi Gras World at your own rhythm. The included Garden District walking tour adds 45 minutes of guided architecture history at one of five daily times. Buses return every 25 minutes, so you're never stranded, and discounts at local restaurants and shops sweeten the deal.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Start Hop-On Hop-Off tour
• Visit French Quarter attractions
• Stop at Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral
• Explore French Market Shopping District
• See National WWII Museum
• Hop off at Garden District Stop #12
• Join 45-minute Garden District walking tour
• Return to Hop-On Hop-Off bus
• Visit Magazine Street Shops and Restaurants
• Continue sightseeing on bus loop
• End Hop-On Hop-Off tour

The Experience

"You can't rush New Orleans," the guide said as we pulled away from Jackson Square, and I understood what she meant about halfway through the first loop. The hop-on hop-off ticket gives you two full days to move through the city at your own pace — the bus circles back to each of the 18 stops every 25 minutes, so you're never stuck waiting long if you want to jump off at the French Market, walk through the Arts District, or spend an hour at the National WWII Museum without losing your seat on the next bus. The 90-minute loop itself covers 300 years of New Orleans history, moving from the French Quarter past the Caesars Superdome, through Magazine Street's shops and restaurants, and out to Mardi Gras World before looping back. You get to choose what matters to you.

The Garden District walking tour is the structured part — you hop off at Stop #12 on Magazine Street and meet a guide for 45 minutes of actual architecture talk, not just pointing. Greek Revival, Italianate, the whole vocabulary of those massive antebellum houses starts making sense when someone who knows the neighborhood is walking you past them. Tours run at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm on any day your ticket is valid, first-come basis, so you can plan around what else you want to see that afternoon. The guide doesn't rush; the pace is steady but not frantic, and you're walking tree-lined streets that feel separate from the tourist crush of the Quarter.

What makes this work is the flexibility. You're not locked into a rigid itinerary — if you want to spend your morning at St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, then catch a bus to the Contemporary Arts Center and the Ogden Museum, then hop off again near Harrah's Casino, you can do that. The ticket includes discounts at restaurants and shops along the route, which adds up if you're eating your way through the city. Infants ride free on an adult's lap, and the buses are wheelchair accessible, so it's genuinely open to different paces and needs. The double-decker design means you get views from the top, and the route hits the major landmarks — St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the Old U.S. Mint, Frenchmen Street — without forcing you into a tour bus with 40 other people all day.

What’s included

• Your ticket includes unlimited hop-on hop-off access to the 18-stop city tour for two days, with buses returning every 25 minutes.
• The Garden District guided walking tour is included, running five times daily at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm.
• You also receive discounts at restaurants, shops, and attractions along the route, plus access to stops at Jackson Square, the French Quarter, the National WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, the Arts District, Magazine Street, and St.
• Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Basin St. Station

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see New Orleans' main landmarks and neighborhoods without committing to a fixed schedule or group pace. The two-day ticket and 25-minute bus frequency mean you control how long you linger at each stop, and the included Garden District walk adds depth without eating up your whole afternoon.

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Top questions

How often do the buses come back to each stop?

Every 25 minutes. You can hop off, spend an hour exploring, and catch the next bus without a long wait.

What is the Garden District walking tour like?

A 45-minute guided walk focusing on Greek Revival and Italianate architecture. You meet the guide at Stop #12 on Magazine Street at one of five daily times: 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, or 3pm.

How long is the full bus loop?

One hour and 30 minutes for the complete circuit, but you can hop off and on as many times as you want over two days.

What attractions are included?

The ticket covers the bus tour past Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the National WWII Museum, Mardi Gras World, the Arts District, and Magazine Street. The Garden District walking tour is also included. Discounts apply at restaurants and shops along the route.

Is the tour accessible for people with mobility issues?

Yes. The buses are wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride on an adult's lap. Strollers are welcome.

Can I use my ticket on different days?

Yes. Your two-day ticket is valid for any two days you choose within your visit, so you can split the bus tour across different days if you prefer.

Do I need to book the Garden District walking tour in advance?

No. Tours are first-come, first-served. You just hop off at Stop #12 and join the next available tour time.

What if I want to spend more time at one attraction?

The hop-on hop-off format is designed for that. Spend as long as you want at any stop, then catch the next bus when you're ready.