The 10 Best Ghost Tours in New Orleans for 2024 (original) (raw)

Often referred to as the most haunted city in America, New Orleans is filled with stories of ghosts, Voodoo, magic, pirates, vampires and more. There's no better way to learn about the city's haunted history than on a guided ghost tour, where local experts share their insider knowledge. U.S. News compiled this list of the top New Orleans ghost tours, considering traveler sentiment and expert opinion.

Best Overall: Haunted History Tours – French Quarter Ghosts & Legends Tour

Price: Adults from 30;kidsfrom30; kids from 30;kidsfrom20
Duration: 2 hours

The French Quarter Ghosts & Legends Tour visits sites of documented hauntings found in police records, city archives and the company's own paranormal investigations. Along the way, guides share entertaining tales of the French Quarter's most famous residents. Reviewers praise the guides for their storytelling abilities. They also appreciate the emphasis on history throughout the tour.

Tours are offered daily at 3, 6 and 8 p.m. Ghost tours of the Garden District, haunted pub crawls and cemetery tours are also available.

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Best Kid-Friendly: Ghost City Tours – The Ghosts of New Orleans Tour

Price: Adults from 25;kidsfrom25; kids from 25;kidsfrom10
Duration: 1.5 hours

During Ghost City Tours' Ghosts of New Orleans Tour, guides lead visitors on a walk to some of the most haunted locations in the French Quarter, including restaurants, hotels and the infamous LaLaurie Mansion. Despite its recounting of the city's gruesome crimes and murders, the tour is considered kid-friendly. And according to reviewers, the experience is both informative and entertaining for all ages.

Tours are offered nightly at 8 p.m.; additional tours at 4 and 6 p.m. may be available as well (offerings vary by day). Other experiences from this tour outfitter include adults-only tours like a haunted pub crawl and a Killers and Thrillers tour, which focuses on the city's most notorious crimes and murders.

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Best Spooky Combo: French Quarter Phantoms – Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour

Price: Adults from 22;kidsfrom22; kids from 22;kidsfrom5
Duration: 2 hours

Tourists enjoy a double dose of spooky tales regarding local hauntings and vampire lore on this tour with French Quarter Phantoms. Tours are led by licensed guides who revel in talking about disease, disaster, sinister spirits and murder in the city. That said, guides promise the thrills are mixed in with lots of laughs. According to visitors, the guides are excellent, funny and entertaining. What's more, reviewers describe the walking tour as family-friendly.

Tours are offered nightly at 6 and 8 p.m. French Quarter Phantoms runs other tours in New Orleans, including outings to Tremé and the Garden District, among other neighborhoods.

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Best New Orleans Ghost Tours

Courtesy of Royal Carriages

Best Carriage: Royal Carriages – New Orleans History & Haunts Carriage Tour

Price: Adults from 60;kidsfrom60; kids from 60;kidsfrom40
Duration: 1 hour

Climb aboard a mule-drawn carriage to clip-clop through the streets of the French Quarter on the New Orleans History & Haunts Carriage Tour. Tourgoers will learn about haunted hotels, Voodoo history, vampires and more as they ride slowly through the quarter. Reviewers appreciate the knowledgeable guides and the relaxed pace of this small group tour, which is capped at eight passengers.

Tours are offered seven days a week at multiple times between 3 and 10:30 p.m. Royal Carriages also offers a daytime history tour of the French Quarter and Marigny neighborhoods, as well as private carriage rides.

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Best Free: Free Tours By Foot – New Orleans Voodoo Tour

Price: Free
Duration: 1.5 hours

On the New Orleans Voodoo Tour, participants will learn about this mysterious and often misunderstood religion, which is still practiced today. Guides will talk about the history, culture and beliefs of both past and current practitioners, including the famous Voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Highlights include visits to Congo Square, the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum and modern Voodoo shrines, among others. Visitors praise the excellent and informative guides.

Tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Though tourgoers can name their own price, reservations are required. Free Tours By Foot offers a variety of walking tours with ghost, cemetery and food themes.

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French Quarter pubs and bars at night

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Best Pub Crawl: New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours – Haunted Pub Crawl

Price: From $32
Duration: 2 hours

Led by New Orleans historians, the Haunted Pub Crawl aims to teach visitors the historical origins of the city's most legendary ghost stories. Tourgoers visit locations investigated by real ghost hunters (as seen on popular TV shows), all with a drink in hand. According to reviewers, this is the perfect way to explore New Orleans thanks to the insightful, humorous guides. Highlights include the LaLaurie Mansion, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and tales of the French Quarter's haunted past.

Tours meet nightly at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Participants must be at least 21 years old to join the tour. The company also offers tours that visit the city's most famous cemeteries, as well as Voodoo and vampire tours.

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Best Voodoo: New Orleans Secrets – Mysteries of Voodoo Tour

Price: From $39
Duration: 2 hours

On the Mysteries of Voodoo Tour, guides promise to tell you the true history, culture and beliefs of Voodoo and dispel the myths surrounding it. Guides are either Voodoo practitioners or have spent years studying the religion academically, and they'll cover topics related to Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, slavery, spells, dolls, potions and much more. The tour is limited to nine people, so you can ask all the questions you like – an aspect visitors appreciate. In addition, you'll have the chance to see more than a dozen real Voodoo shrines and altars at several locations throughout the French Quarter.

Tours are generally offered Wednesday through Sunday at 1 or 3 p.m., depending on the day. The company also operates several food and history tours.

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Best New Orleans Ghost Tours

Courtesy of Gray Line New Orleans

Best for History Buffs: Gray Line – Ghosts & Spirits Walking Tour

Price: Adults from 27;kidsfrom27; kids from 27;kidsfrom15
Duration: 2 hours

Explore the French Quarter's most haunted buildings, streets and alleys on this evening walking tour. Between stops, your guide will regale you with stories of local legend and paranormal sightings. Reviewers recommend this tour, praising the informative, personable guides. Travelers also appreciate that guides weave in a fair amount of interesting New Orleans history throughout the tour.

Tours depart nightly at 7 p.m. from the Gray Line ticket office in the French Quarter. The excursion is not recommended for kids younger than 10. Hoping to explore beyond the French Quarter? Gray Line operates a variety of day trips to nearby swamps and plantations.

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Best Adults-Only: Unique NOLA Tours – Lewd Spirits Tour

Price: From $37
Duration: 2 hours

Hear risqué tales of adultery, murder and mayhem on this tour of the French Quarter, which stops at three bars, including a former brothel. Reviewers applaud the knowledgeable guides for their humor and storytelling abilities. Travelers also enjoy the bars visited.

Tours, which are restricted to adults 21 and older, depart nightly at 5 and 8 p.m. Note that drinks are not included in the ticket price. If you're traveling with kids and looking for an activity the whole family can enjoy, the company also offers a kid-friendly ghost tour, among other options.

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Best High-Tech: Hottest Hell Tours – Walking the Devil's Empire Tour

Price: From $37
Duration: 2 hours

Many reviewers called this tour the highlight of their New Orleans trip thanks to the excellent guides, who travelers describe as "master storytellers." Along the stroll, you'll hear stories of true crime, Voodoo, vampires and ghosts, passing landmarks like Congo Square, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and the St. Germain House, one of the city's most photographed homes that was allegedly once home to a vampire. You can also upgrade to "Hell Vision" – a handheld projector that you can use to see historical documents, photos and more while on tour.

Tours depart nightly at 5 and 8 p.m. This is an adults-only experience; children are not allowed. Hottest Hell Tours also operates walking tours of the city's former red-light district (Storyville) and a Voodoo tour, among other options.

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