10 Best New Orleans Tour Companies
Tourist or not, everyone can benefit from taking a tour around the Big Easy. Whether you're searching for gators, ghosts, or gins, New Orleans is destined to have the perfect tour for you.
Here is a list of the 10 best tour companies you can find in New Orleans. Just don't forget your tennis shoes because this list involves a lot of walking.
1. French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tours
718 N. Rampart St., (504) 666-8300
frenchquarterphantoms.com
The French Quarter holds the reputation of one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the U.S., and French Quarter Phantoms Tours is your best bet for finding out why. The company's popular Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour takes guests around the most haunted sites in the Vieux Carré, including the LaLaurie Mansion and Gallier House. For those who are too skeptical or scared, French Quarter Phantoms offers daytime tours around the Garden District, French Quarter, and Tremé.
French Quarter Phantoms Tours operates seven days a week, with daytime and late-night tours available. Each tours lasts around two hours, and an adult ticket starts at $22.
2. Haunted History Tours
Multiple Locations, (504) 861-2727
hauntedhistorytours.com
New Orleans' macabre history piques the curiosity of tourists and locals alike. Haunted History Tours offers a five-in-one experience that explores the Big Easy's supernatural side, from ghosts to vampires. If you prefer to stay indoors, Haunted History Tours offers nighttime bus tours around New Orleans' above-ground cemeteries. You may even spot a full-body apparition, so keep your cameras ready.
New Orleans Haunted History Tours is open seven days a week, only closing on Mardi Gras Day. Walking tours cost $30, and bus tours start at $55. However, discounts for students, seniors, and veterans are available.
3. New Orleans Secrets
Multiple Locations, (504) 517-5397
nosecretstours.com
New Orleans is a city filled with gems and restaurants that are off the beaten path. That is where New Orleans Secrets comes in, thanks to its 10 different tour offerings. The Beyond the French Quarter Food Tour brings guests away from the French Quarter and into the Audubon area for three hours of food and cocktail tastings. Meanwhile, the Mysteries of Voodoo Tour delves into the history and practices of the Louisiana-based religion, eschewing Hollywood stereotypes for authenticity.
New Orleans Secrets runs tours seven days a week for groups of up to nine people. Food and cocktail tours cost between $119 and $129 and last approximately three hours. History tours last approximately two hours and cost $39 per person.
4. Bayou Swamp Tours
201 St. Charles Ave., (504) 264-9727
bayouswamptours.com
About 30 minutes from downtown New Orleans, Bayou Swamp Tours lets guests discover the beauty of Louisiana's wetlands. The self-proclaimed "#1 Swamp Tour in New Orleans" showcases the stunning scenery of the region's bayous while allowing guests to interact with wildlife. The company offers two types of tours: a thrilling ride on an airboat or a scenic cruise on a pontoon. Whether you prefer to race or relax, an adventure awaits you on the bayou.
Bayou Swamp Tours launches boats at 8 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 12 p.m. , 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. every day. All tours last around an hour and 45 minutes.
5. NOLA DeTours
Multiple Locations, (504) 228-7134
noladetours.com
NOLA DeTours understands that the best trips to New Orleans do not involve spending hundreds of dollars at a tourist trap. The tour company takes pride in delivering authentic yet affordable experiences. The Backstage Music Steps Tour highlights the evolution of New Orleans' music scene, from the arrival of French opera to the birth of jazz. The Blood on Every Brick Tour centers around the catastrophic events that have befallen New Orleans, including the 1788 citywide fire and the 1878 yellow fever epidemic.
Visitors can visit the NOLA DeTours' website to contact the company about scheduling and purchasing a tour through New Orleans.
6. Unique NOLA Tours
815 Toulouse St., (504) 777-7769
uniquenola.com
As its name implies, Unique NOLA Tours specializes in offering tour-goers unique, one-of-a-kind experiences. The company features seven walking tours that highlight forgotten stories from New Orleans' history. The Sinister Criminal Intentions Tour is advertised as "New Orleans' original murder tour," delving into stories about organized crime and the notorious Madam LaLaurie. The laid-back Local's Guide to the French Quarter Tour breaks down the history of New Orleans, so you can finally understand the difference between Creoles and Cajuns.
Unique NOLA Tours operates tours everyday, with tickets at $37. Discounts for seniors and children are available.
7. Gray Line New Orleans
400 Toulouse St., (504) 569-1401
graylineneworleans.com
Gray Line New Orleans offers swamp tours, riverboat cruises, and everything in between. The tour company offers 20 different tours, each tailored to guests' interests. Jazz enthusiasts can enjoy a river cruise aboard the Natchez, New Orleans' most popular steamboat. Anyone who feels a need for speed can hop on an airboat for one of the company's swamp tours. Gray Line also hosts historic tours of Louisiana's plantations, including the Whitney Plantation and Oak Alley.
Ultimately, pricing and scheduling a tour with Gray Line New Orleans depends on the tour type and availability. Walking tours start at around $27 while other experiences can cost up to $126.
8. Tours By Foot
Multiple Locations, (504) 222-2967
freetoursbyfoot.com
Tours By Foot is a walking tour company operating in the world's most popular tourist destinations. Luckily, New Orleans makes that list. With Tours By Foot, you do not necessarily need a tour guide to learn more about the Crescent City. Its free self-guided tours allow guests to explore the French Quarter or Garden District at their own pace. Those who prefer the company of a tour guide can join the daily walking tour through Jackson Square or a ghostly pub crawl around the French Quarter.
Tours by Foot offers two-hour walking tours for $39 per adult, with discounts for seniors and children. Self-guided audio tours cost around $3 per location.
9. Gators & Ghosts
728 St. Louis St., (888) 481-8188
gatorsandghosts.com
Gators and Ghosts wants to help visitors make the most of their trip to New Orleans. The family-owned business collaborates with over 25 local tour companies to fulfill this promise. Through Gators and Ghosts, you can book the best tours that the city has to offer, whether you want to visit the swamp or the cemetery. Gator and Ghosts also provides a free pocket guide to New Orleans, allowing visitors to create and customize their own tour.
Pricing and availability varies at Gator and Ghosts, depending on the partnering tour company and tour length. More information about booking a tour can be found on the company website.
10. 2nd Line Tours
Multiple Locations, (504) 463-4090
2ndline.tours
2nd Line Tours is a tour company dedicated to immersing visitors in New Orleans' rich Afro-Creole culture. Its six tour offerings specifically highlight Black history, with visits to historic locations such as Congo Square and the Lower Ninth Ward. The Soul of New Orleans Tour traces New Orleans' development from an indigenous settlement to a port city, covering events such as the Plessy v. Ferguson decision, Hurricane Katrina, and the Haitian Revolution.
2nd Line Tours operates daily, with adult tickets costing $55 and child tickets costing $35. Most tours last around two hours and 45 minutes.
Sightseeing in NOLA
Get your steps in and take advantage of your time in the Big Easy with one of these 10 tours. Maybe, you will even kiss an alligator.
