New Orleans: French Quarter & Jazz History Bike Tour

Three Hours on a Bike Through Where New Orleans Jazz Started

You ride through the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and past St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 on a 3-hour guided bike tour with a local guide who knows the history and the stories. The tour includes a comfortable bike with basket, bottled water, and stops at Louis Armstrong Park and City Park's ancient live oaks. You return to the shop having seen the neighborhoods that made New Orleans what it is, without arranging transport or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Faubourg Marigny10m
2. St. Louis Cemetery No. 315m
3. Louis Armstrong Park10m

New Orleans history and sightseeing bike tour

• Visit Jackson Square and Mississippi River
• Explore Faubourg Marigny neighborhood
• See St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
• Visit City Park and live Oaks
• Discover original free people of color neighborhood
• Explore Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square
• Ride back through old New Orleans streets

The experience

The bike rental guy hands you a basket and you're already second-guessing the whole thing: your legs feel stiff, the seat's higher than you expected, and the humidity hits different when you're standing still. Then your guide points down the street and starts talking about the Mississippi River and Creole history, and suddenly you're rolling through Jackson Square where it all began, the river smell mixing with beignet powder and old brick. The French Quarter moves slower on a bike. You see the wrought iron, the narrow streets, the way the light falls through the courtyards. It's not a sprint.

After the Quarter, you head into Faubourg Marigny, the oldest neighborhood outside the French Quarter and where the music scene still lives. Your guide knows the stories, the names, which bars matter. Then comes St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, those above-ground tombs in the Bayou St John neighborhood that look like a small city of the dead, and you stop long enough to actually take it in instead of just passing by. City Park comes next, with live oaks that are 400 to 850 years old, massive and draped, the kind of trees that make you understand why people write songs about this place. The whole ride is three hours, which sounds short until you're doing it. It's long enough to see the real New Orleans, not long enough to exhaust you.

Louis Armstrong Park is the last major stop, where jazz was born and the park holds that history like a living thing. You ride through the old streets on the way back to the shop, your legs actually tired now in a good way, water bottle empty. The guide's been talking the whole time, not performing, just knowing the place and letting you in on it. Small groups mean you're not herding with thirty people. You move at a pace that lets you ask questions and actually hear the answers.

What’s included

Your tour includes a comfortable bike with a basket for personal items, bottled water to stay hydrated during the ride, and a knowledgeable local guide who leads the group through the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, City Park with its ancient live oaks, and Louis Armstrong Park before returning to the shop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 13:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 73 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

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

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 nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Buzz Nola Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see the neighborhoods that shaped New Orleans (the French Quarter, the jazz history, the cemeteries and parks) without renting a bike solo or figuring out which streets matter. The small-group format and local guide are what make three hours feel like you actually know the place.

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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.

How long is the New Orleans bike tour?

Three hours total, including stops.

What's included in the bike tour?

A comfortable bike with basket, bottled water, and a local guide. Entry fees to attractions are not mentioned as included.

Is the tour suitable for beginners?

Yes, it's suitable for all fitness levels, though the minimum age is 12 years old.

What neighborhoods do you ride through?

The French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and areas around St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, City Park, and Louis Armstrong Park.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist?

No. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, but you should be comfortable riding a bike on city streets.

What should I wear?

Comfortable, weather-appropriate footwear for biking. New Orleans is hot and humid, so light clothing is recommended.

Is there parking or public transportation nearby?

Public transportation options are available near the tour start point.