Although Halloween is still about four months away, it's never too early to enjoy the spooky sites of New Orleans. Our city has a reputation for being one of the most haunted spots in the country, and our history is rife with stories of murder, ghosts, voodoo, and magic. Sure, it's easy to gather some of this information online, but much more fun to digest it all during one of the city's many ghost tours. If you're like me and need a spooky fix to get you through the months until October, book one of these ghost tours for an evening of fun and frights!
Hottest
Hell Tours
Hottest Hell Tours is the self-proclaimed premiere ghost tour experience in the city. This company prides itself on its highly researched tours, packed tightly with information about the locales the tours visit like the LaLaurie Mansion and the former French Quarter home of a suspected vampire. Its founders and tour guides make it known that this isn't a tour in which a ghost sighting is guaranteed or one in which people will be dressed in scary costumes. Instead, Hottest Hell Tours scares its audiences by relying on the scary history of New Orleans itself. 888-975-4355, hottesthell.com
Witches
Brew Tours
This touring company specializes in all things magical, witchy, and spooky, taking visitors through some of New Orleans's most famous cemeteries. Witches Brew Tours' 3 in 1 tour takes visitors through French Quarter history with a special focus on Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and St. Louis Cemetery #1. Its website even features photographs taken by tour attendees who claim to have captured something paranormal on camera, so you might get lucky and see a ghost as you listen to your guide's stories about the city. For just $35, you can enjoy both of its tour packages. 504-454-3939, witchesbrewtours.com
Free
Tours by Foot
Free Tours by Foot isn't just known for its ghost tours. Patrons of this company can also enjoy a food, swamp, or plantation tour. One of the high points of its ghost tours, besides its knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides, is its affordability. Free Tours by Foot offers free and pay-what-you-can tours, giving anyone and everyone a chance to experience the spooky sights of the city, but be sure to book early as these tours sell out fast. Tour attendees will have the opportunity to visit places like Pirates Alley, The Hotel Monteleone, and locations from American Horror Story: Coven. 504-222-2967, freetoursbyfoot.com/new-orleans-ghost-tour
Royal
Carriage Tours
If you've ever strolled around the French Quarter, chances are you've come across one of the many tours offered by Royal Carriages, one of the oldest touring companies in New Orleans. These tours, not all ooky and spooky, take residents all over the Quarter and through its streets by mule-drawn carriage. If you'd rather sit and hear all of New Orleans's scary lore than walk the streets of the city, try the New Orleans History and Haunts Carriage Tour. This tour will regale attendees with stories of voodoo, pirates, ghosts, and death, as well as take you to some of the city's most haunted hotels, restaurants, homes, and bars. 504-943-8820, neworleanscarriages.com/tours/best-ghost-tour-new-orleans
Haunted
Pub Crawl
Although this ghost tour might take you to some of the same locations as others, you get to do so with a drink in hand! New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tour offers a Haunted Pub Crawl that puts a special focus on all the haunted restaurants and bars of the city. Guests on the tour will get a chance to stop at multiple bars throughout the evening, so you can enjoy a little booze to help calm your nerves as you hear about all things macabre in New Orleans. 504-475-5214, neworleansghostadventurestour.com/hauntedpubcrawl
