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The 7 best new orleans cemetery tours.

These tours will enlighten you and frighten you in the best possible way.

Best New Orleans Cemetery Tours

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Of all the city's attractions , New Orleans' cemeteries are a one-stop shop for learning about family traditions, history, Voodoo, jazz music and burial practices for above-ground tombs. However, some cemeteries, such as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, require you to join a guided tour to visit. These tours differ from New Orleans' ghost tours , which tell spooky stories of NOLA's legendary spirits and visit haunted spots around the city.

To help you select which tour is right for you, U.S. News created this list of the best New Orleans cemetery tours, informed by both expert and traveler opinion. No matter which outing you choose, you're sure to have a ghoulishly good time.

Cemetery Tours NOLA – The Official Tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Price: Adults from $25; kids from $18 Duration: 45 minutes

If you want to see the inside of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, this tour is the only way to walk through the premises (it's not open to the general public). Licensed guides delve into the unique burial customs and above-ground crypts found throughout the famous 18th-century cemetery. Among the tombs you'll spot are those belonging to Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, numerous New Orleans city mayors, as well as Homer Plessy (plaintiff in the United States Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson). Reviewers appreciate that the cemetery is restricted to guided tours and praise the experienced and humorous guides for their vast knowledge of the cemetery and the city in general.

Tours depart daily every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Advance reservations are recommended. Groups are limited to 20 guests per tour.

Check prices & availability on:

Save Our Cemeteries – Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery Tour

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $17.50 Duration: 2 hours

By signing up for a tour with Save Our Cemeteries, you'll play a small part in helping the nonprofit preserve the city's cemeteries. Proceeds from the tours go directly to cemetery restoration efforts. Picturesque Metairie Cemetery is home to some of the most awe-inspiring funerary architecture and sculpture in the country, not to mention the graves of some of the most famous New Orleanians, including Louisiana governors, Confederate generals, writer Anne Rice and former New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner Tom Benson. You'll learn all about the elaborate tomb styles and the cemetery's history as a former racetrack on this tour. Reviewers say this experience is led by passionate guides, who provide an informative, respectful and fun experience. Tourgoers also praise the guides' fact-based storytelling.

This tour is accessible and conducted on paved pathways. Save Our Cemeteries also operates tours of St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 and St. Roch Cemetery, among others.

NOLA Ghost Riders – Cemetery Bus Tour

Price: Adults from $45; kids from $30 Duration: 2 hours

Explore the city's storied past under the cover of darkness with this nighttime cemetery and ghost tour from NOLA Ghost Riders. Unlike other tours that focus on a single cemetery, this bus tour takes you to several of the city's most famous cemeteries, and participants ages 21 and older can bring their own alcohol along for the ride. Reviewers describe the experience as fun, thanks to the insightful, entertaining guides. However, a few travelers warn that intoxicated tourgoers can hamper the fun.

Tours depart nightly at 5, 8 and 11 p.m., though the 5 p.m. tour is usually available Friday to Sunday only. NOLA Ghost Riders also operates a ghost walking tour and a cemetery walking tour, among others.

New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours – Haunted Cemetery City Bus Tour

Price: From $56 Duration: 2 hours

If you're missing the paranormal, consider signing up for this tour. In addition to visiting cemeteries (such as Odd Fellows Rest), you'll stop by a few places that are reportedly haunted to look for ghosts. Reviewers praise the company's guides for their knowledge and passion for New Orleans history. The add that despite the ghostly name, the tour provides tons of information about cemeteries

Tours depart daily at 4:15, 7 and 9:30 p.m. The company also runs Voodoo tours and several spooky bar crawls.

TOURS by STEVEN – Garden District & Lafayette Cemetery Walking Tour

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $27 Duration: 2 hours

Multiple guides from this company win praise for their informative and enthusiastic retelling of New Orleans history. You'll start your tour outside the gates of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, where you'll learn about the burial customs that make the city's cemeteries so unique. (Note that you won't actually go inside the cemetery as it's closed to the public). Then, you'll walk around the Garden District, an opulent neighborhood known for its celebrity homes and manicured landscapes.

This walking tour runs daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. TOURS by STEVEN also runs a tour of the French Quarter.

Haunted History Tours of New Orleans – New Orleans Daytime Cemetery Tour

Price: Adults from $30; kids from $20 Duration: 2 hours

Calling all history buffs! This tour is for you. Along this stroll down Canal Street, you'll hear about the folklore, customs and superstitions of the city's unique burial practices, and visit Charity Hospital Cemetery, as well as the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. According to the company, this tour is less about getting spooked, and more about providing a historical and cultural context to those interested in these "cities of the dead." Tourgoers praise guides for their educational and insightful storytelling, and appreciate the opportunity to visit the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

Tours are available daily at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. If you didn't get your fill of thrills, consider the company's nighttime bus tour or true crime tour.

Bloody Mary's Tours – Dead & Famous: Sinners Saints Secrets

Price: From $89 Duration: 3 hours

You'll visit 20 cemeteries and six neighborhoods on this tour, which covers everything from Voodoo queen Marie Laveau to the history of jazz. In addition, you'll go inside at least two cemeteries to get a better look at the intricate above-ground tombs. While you'll be chauffeured in a van, keep in mind walking is involved on this tour. Reviewers describe guides as knowledgeable and say this tour covers a lot of history in a short amount of time.

Trips depart at noon Monday and Friday. There are also private versions of this tour. For even more thrills, check out the company's ghost-hunting tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cemetery tours are popular in New Orleans because cemeteries here are unlike most cemeteries in the U.S. Many of the departed are buried above ground in tombs that range from simple to ornate. Plus, these sites are reportedly haunted, making cemeteries all the more popular with ghost hunters.

There are some cemeteries you can visit on your own. Others, such as St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, can only be viewed on an official tour. It's a good idea to find out whether your cemetery requires a tour guide before your visit; call the cemetery or speak with your hotel's concierge.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the most famous cemetery in the city. In part, this is because of the numerous important figures buried here. It's also the oldest existing cemetery in New Orleans; in fact, people are still laid to rest here each year.

Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, activist Homer Plessy, writer Anne Rice and Popeyes founder Al Copeland are just a few of the celebrities buried in the most famous cemeteries in New Orleans. There are other famous individuals (such as politician Huey Long and musician Fats Domino) who are buried in other sites around the city. Actor Nicolas Cage will also be buried here; he has already built a pyramid tomb for himself in St. Louis Cemetery No 1.

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New Orleans Cemetery Tours

Discover the history, architecture, and legends of some of the country’s most famous resting places on a New Orleans cemetery tour.

• Pick up included!
• Map Marker French Quarter
• Hour Glass 2 Hours 30 Minutes
• User Ages 3+

City and Cemetery Tour

New orleans native tours.

Our City and Cemetery Tour provides an insider’s perspective, with opportunities to walk around on your own and take in the rich history of New Orleans. Visit historic cemeteries and neighborhoods including the French Quarter.

• evening and night tours
• Map Marker Mid-City
• Hour Glass 2 Hours
• User Ages 6+

Bus Cemetery Tour

Nola ghost riders.

Nola Ghost Riders is the only cemetery tour offered under the cover of night. We will visit multiple cemeteries. We will discuss our unique burial rituals and practices during our strolls as we offer visitors an up close and personal look at some of the most popular cemeteries!

• Morning and afternoon tours
• User All Ages

New Orleans Cemetery Tour

Haunted history tours.

On our Cities of the Dead cemetery tour, you will step inside the mystique-laden history of New Orleans in a fascinating, entertaining way. Enter one of New Orleans’ oldest and most diverse cemeteries where you will see everything from the above-ground monument tombs to early wall vaults.

Frequently Asked Questions about NOLA Cemeteries

• Chevron down How many cemeteries do we visit on a tour?

Some of our New Orleans cemetery tours focus on one graveyard, while others include a few over a two- to three-hour experience. Select a specific tour for more information.

• Chevron down Can I visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 without a guide?

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is only accessible on a licensed, guided tour. Because of the graveyard’s notoriety, it has been subject to vandalism over the years and is no longer open to the public unless they visit on a tour. Other New Orleans cemeteries are open to visit without a tour guide.

• Chevron down Are the graveyards in New Orleans haunted?

Many of New Orleans’ graveyards are considered haunted. Ghosts and spirit sightings have been recorded for hundreds of years, especially in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and St. Roch Cemetery. However, it’s important to remember that the city’s cemeteries should be treated with respect and cannot be visited at night.

Tour New Orleans’ Historic Graveyards

There is no shortage of fascinating stories and striking sights to uncover in the city’s cemeteries. Explore some of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans and see for yourself why these sites are so well-known around the country.

Home to over 40 cemeteries – and attractions like Voodoo shops and the Museum of Death – it’s safe to say that New Orleans has a bit of a fascination with death. Of course, that might just have something to do with the city’s 300-year history of natural disasters, gruesome murders, bloody battles over territory, and legends of ghosts and vampires. 

But beyond the unseen curiosities around the city, New Orleans’ many cemeteries have been an intriguing destinations for tourists and locals alike, especially the above-ground tombs of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Many of NOLA’s cemeteries date back to the 1700s, identified by elaborate tombs, large mausoleums and ornate crypts and sculptures. Cemeteries like St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 are characterized by their crosses, decorative ironwork, white tombs, and hauntingly beautiful surroundings.

Cities of the Dead

The rows upon rows of above-ground tombs were once called “cities of the dead” by Mark Twain, and the name has stuck ever since. But why are the tombs above ground in the first place? The reason for these cities of the dead can be traced back to the 1700s, when early settlers struggled to bury their dead due to environmental conditions. 

The New Orleans water table is very high (the city was built below sea level), making it impossible to keep coffins weighed down in shallow graves – dig any deeper and you’re guaranteed to hit water. Early NOLA residents often had to contend with floating caskets and exposed remains of loved ones. Based on the Spanish custom of using burial vaults, the city’s residents arrived at the solution of using above-ground graves. But as the city grew and space became harder to come by, graves were stacked on top of one another and families shared crypts. 

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Wondering who is buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1? It should come as no surprise that the city’s oldest cemetery is home to its most noteworthy residents like Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and chess champion Paul Morphy. Even Nicolas Cage – who is not yet deceased, we might add – has already secured his final resting place in the cemetery: a tomb shaped like a white pyramid that stands out from the other tombs in the graveyard. You can’t miss it!

Best Cemeteries to Visit in New Orleans

Other famous New Orleans graveyards are St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 and St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. They both opened in the 1800s after outbreaks of yellow fever and cholera caused a demand for burial space. You’ll see Greek Revival-style tombs, impressive ironwork and carved stone angels. Lafayette Cemetery 1 is well known for being the burial site of immigrants from over 25 different countries. These are some of the best cemeteries to visit in New Orleans.

Guided Cemetery Tours in New Orleans

On a New Orleans cemetery tour, you’ll learn all about NOLA’s respect for the dead, as well as the detailed history of these impressive graveyards. Tour guides will point out famous tombs and even share stories of hauntings and other paranormal experiences in the graveyards. You don’t want to miss the chance to visit these ethereal cities of the dead for yourself…they just might give you a new respect for life and how we lay to rest our deceased loved ones. Book a New Orleans cemetery tour online today.

Explore More Things to Do in NOLA

History & culture tours.

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City Walking Tours

Ghost & haunted tours.

New Orleans Cemetery Tours

Here in New Orleans, our Cemeteries are world-famous. While visiting New Orleans, join Gallivanter on a New Orleans Cemetery Tour

Nothing defines the uniqueness of New Orleans quite like our local cemeteries do. From the above-ground tombs to the fascinating people buried within the walls, they are literally stacked with New Orleans History. Perhaps the most well-known Cemetery in New Orleans is St. Louis Cemetery No.1., which is where our Cemetery Tour takes place.

7 days a week you can join Gallivanter Tours as we tour St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the oldest, and most historic Cemetery in New Orleans. On this 90-minute walking tour, you’ll be treated to an assortment of stories about the history of St. Louis Cemetery and the famous and interesting people who are interned inside.

St.. Louis Cemetery Tour Info

7 days per week

Monday-Saturday: 11am & 1pm | Sunday: 10am

Ages 12+: $19.99 | Ages 6-11: $9.99 | Ages 5 & under: Free

Tours of St. Louis Cemetery are popular

You won't be confined to the gates of the Cemetery on our St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery Tour. We will introduce you the intriguing Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was known as the Mortuary Church. This Church was the final stop for many people before they were laid to rest inside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and sits just across the street from St. Louis No. 1. As we stroll through the gates of the Cemetery, we will traverse our way into the labyrinth of tombs and vaults which make up what’s left of the Cemetery. That’s right, the Cemetery used to take up a lot more square feet than it does now. So, what happened to all of those bodies? You’ll learn the answer to that question and many more on our tour of St. Louis No. 1.

You are now required to be part of a tour group to enter St. Louis Cemetery No 1 . We often sell out.

Marie Laveau

Nicholas Cage's Tomb

Oven Vaults

Buying tickets for our new orleans cemetery tour.

You must purchase tickets in advance - we often sell out

Buy Tickets Online

Buying tickets online is fast and secure with Gallivanter. Just click the button to buy tickets online, select your tour, and enter your info. Your tickets will be emailed to you immediately.

Our friendly Guest Services Reps are available from 8 am - midnight, 7 days per week at 1-855-938-2211 . We can answer any questions you may have, take your order, and email your tickets right away!

The story of Marie Laveau

Perhaps the most famous burial in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Marie Laveau's tomb is a highlight of our Cemetery Tours.

My wife and I had a great time on the NOLA tour of the Cemetery. We learned a lot and was suprised by some of the history!

Real TripAdvisor Review

For years I've wanted to see Marie Laveau's tomb - and am happy to finally got to see it. Well worth the $$!

Thanks for saving the day! We missed our tour with another company and they wouldn't answer their phones. Loved the tour.

Our Tour Guide as amazing! We took 3 tours while in New Orleans and this one was the best, by far. Thank you from Georgia!

Where does the St. Louis Cemetery Tour start?

Parking in the French Quarter is at a premium. While you can take a chance and try for on-street parking, we highly suggest that you walk to the starting location of our Cemetery Tour. You can also take a cab or a pedicab.

If you are running late or need directions please call our office at 855-938-2211 .

Looking for a different tour? Try one of these.

Garden District Tour

Gallivanter offers unique tours of this historic neighborhood

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Learn New Orleans' Cocktail history and sample the drinks.

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You'll never look at the French Quarter through the same eyes.

Book your Tickets now

Our St. Louis Cemetery Tour often sells out. Don't lose out on the best tour in New Orleans, get your tickets now.

The Journey Beyond the Gates

As the exclusive tour provider, the Official Tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 offers visitors an intimate tour beyond the gates of the iconic graveyard, honoring the lives and legacies of the city’s most historical figures. Immerse yourself in the fabled culture of the Crescent City as you walk among the tombs of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, Homer Plessy and more. To preserve the history of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, we ask visitors to demonstrate respect throughout their journey. During the tour, visitors are welcome to take photographs and videos to capture their unique experiences. However, we ask visitors not to touch or lean on the tombs. Visitors are also welcome to bring flowers to place at the tombs of their choosing.

What You Should Know

A journey like no other, exclusive tour company, family friendly, outdoor experience, guided tour, cultural experience.

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The 9 Best Cemetery Tours in New Orleans

A visit to New Orleans isn’t complete without a cemetery tour. New Orleans cemeteries are full of history, and the above-ground tombs, monuments and mausoleums are stunning and should not be missed.

Whether you are interested in New Orleans’s history or are a taphophile (a tombstone tourist), everyone should visit at least one New Orleans cemetery to appreciate the city’s history.

I listed the best cemetery tours in New Orleans to help you decide which graveyard to visit, no matter what you are interested in. Whether you want to learn about voodoo history, take a paranormal tour or visit a cemetery, in addition to touring the rest of New Orleans, there is a tour for everyone.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please see my  Privacy Policy  for more information.

1. Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans

Do you want to explore a cemetery in New Orleans with a side of the paranormal? Then, you should take the New Orleans: Night Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour . 

After dark, the cemetery and ghost tour take you to several New Orleans cemeteries. Some include the Masonic Temple Cemetery #2 and the Charity Hospital Cemetery at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

As night falls and darkness hits New Orleans, the tour takes you by bus to some of New Orleans’s oldest cemeteries. This tour is a combined cemetery and ghost tour and focuses on the haunted history of each cemetery. 

If you are into the paranormal, you’re in luck, as you will be provided with ghost-hunting equipment. You can use this equipment as you hear about the ghosts that lurk between the above-ground tombstones.

This tour makes a pit stop at the Morning Call Café, where you can get some tasty beignets before heading to the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. If you love ghosts and cemeteries, the Night Cemetery and Ghost Tour is one of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans. I cannot recommend it enough.

Book here: New Orleans: Night Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour

2. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Walking Tour

Explore the City of the Dead on one of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans with the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Walking Tour . This is New Orleans’s oldest cemetery and is home to some of New Orleans’s most prominent figures throughout history.

The tour guide walks you through the tombstones, giving you an in-depth tour of several graves and explaining why the cemetery was built aboveground. 

The St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is not open to the public, so the only way to access it is by taking a tour. If you want to visit the tomb of Marie Laveau or the future grave of Nicolas Cage, you will have to take a tour.

Book here: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Official Walking Tour

3. New Orleans City Tour: Katrina, Garden District, French Quarter & Cemetery

Head over to explore St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 with the New Orleans City Tour: Katrina, Garden District, French Quarter & Cemetery . 

This tour is more than just a visit to the cemetery; it stops at the Garden District, the French Quarter, and the canal bank, which was affected by Hurricane Katrina, in addition to a visit to a cemetery.  

You will hop aboard an air-conditioned coach to tour, complete with an informative and professional tour guide who regales you with the history and stories about all the sites you visit. If this is your first time in New Orleans, the New Orleans City Tour: Katrina, Garden District, French Quarter & Cemetery is perfect for you.

The tour runs for 3 hours, but the guides are enthusiastic and hilarious so that you will be entertained and educated about the history of New Orleans the entire time. 

Book here: New Orleans City Tour: Katrina, Garden District, French Quarter & Cemetery .

4. ​​ New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark

The ​​ New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark takes you to several cemeteries in New Orleans. The tour is spooky and is also one of the best ghost tours in New Orleans . This tour allows you to explore the Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery, the Charity Hospital Cemetery and the Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery with a professional guide.

The Cemetery Bus Tour is one of the spookier cemetery tours in New Orleans. You wander around the graveyards at night with EMF readers to try to contact any spirits who still linger within the cemeteries. Plus, if you are a fan of American Horror Story – the tour stops at the Buckner Mansion, which was featured in season 3.

So, what makes this one of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans? First, it includes a trip to a voodoo museum, so you will get to tie all of the voodoo histories you learn in the cemetery to the museum.

Book here: New Orleans: Cemetery Bus Tour At Dark

5. Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Bus Tour

Visit New Orleans’s most haunted locations on the Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Bus Tour . Head to two cemeteries, including the St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, which was once a burial site for a leper colony. 

The tour also stops at Bayou St John, which is the place where Marie Laveau, the voodoo queen of New Orleans, would perform voodoo rituals. If you are interested in voodoo history, I recommend going on one of the best voodoo tours in New Orleans to find out more.

This is a bus tour, but there is quite a bit of walking on this tour as you are taken through haunted sites and cemeteries overflowing with dark history. This tour is perfect for taphophiles (tombstone tourists) who love paranormal history.

Book here: Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Bus Tour

6. Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour

Do you want to support New Orleans’ historic cemeteries? I highly recommend the Save Our Cemeteries Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour . 

What makes this tour one of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans? First, it takes you to a cemetery that no other tour visits. The Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery is the resting place of over 9000 people. Similar to the future tomb of Nicholas Cage in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, this cemetery has the future tomb of author Anne Rice.

Another bonus is this walking tour is run by a non-profit company. They help preserve the beautiful cemeteries around New Orleans. 

The guides at Save Our Cemeteries are fun and know the history of New Orleans cemeteries. If you care about the future of the cemeteries in New Orleans, I highly recommend you support Save Our Cemeteries.

They also have two other tours if you can’t get enough New Orleans cemeteries. You can visit St. Roch Cemetery by taking their St. Roch Cemetery Tour . In addition, I recommend their St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 Walking Tour .

Book here: Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour

7. New Orleans: Secrets and Death Cemetery Experience

Witches Brew Tours takes you to three different cemeteries in New Orleans with their New Orleans: Secrets and Death Cemetery Experience . 

This tour shuttles the group from the French Quarter to Masonic Cemetery #1, St. Patrick Cemetery #2 and Charity Hospital.

You will walk through a maze of above-ground tombs, learning about New Orleans’s unique burial processes. Next, you will be taken to St. Patrick Cemetery #2 and learn the history of Irish immigrants in New Orleans. This tour also takes you to the Katrina Memorial at Charity Hospital Cemetery.

If you want to learn about the historic cemeteries in New Orleans, this is a must-do tour. The tour guides were fantastic, but Taylor was the absolute best! He was very informative and enthusiastic and really knew the history of the cemeteries and New Orleans.

What makes this one of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans? You can bring your favourite drink onto the coach bus as you go from cemetery to cemetery.

Book here: New Orleans: Secrets and Death Cemetery Experience

8. New Orleans Lafayette Cemetery Tour  

If you want to explore New Orleans’s historic Garden District with an incredible tour guide, check out the New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour, Including Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 .

This tour takes you through the historic crypts and above-ground tombs in New Orleans’s beautiful Lafayette Cemetery.  This is one of the best graveyard tours in New Orleans. You will learn about the cemetery’s history and everything about New Orleans’s burial traditions.

This tour also takes you through the Garden District. If you love architecture and cemeteries, you should check out this tour.

Learn about life and death in the city and its unique above-ground crypts and gravesites. 

Book here: New Orleans Garden District Walking Tour Including Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

9. New Orleans St. Louis #3 Cemetery Walking Tour: Angels, Architecture and Ghosts

Follow local historian and author Sally Asher around New Orleans St. Louis #3 Cemetery with the Angels, Architecture and Ghosts walking tour . This is one of the best cemetery tours in New Orleans for people who want to see and learn about the city’s unique tomb and burial practices.

This tour is also perfect if you can’t take New Orleans’s intense heat, as they offer morning tours. Tour guide Sally will take you through the cemetery. She will point out several notable figures from New Orleans while regaling you with tales of their lives and New Orleans’ history.

Visit St. Louis Cemetery #3 if you love graveyard architecture. The entire cemetery is filled with statues of angels, which make the cemetery look unreal and stunningly beautiful.  They also do a Metairie Cemetery Tour in New Orleans: Millionaires & Mausoleums . I loved this tour and recommend it to anyone who wants to visit more of New Orleans’s historic cemeteries.

Book here: New Orleans St. Louis #3 Cemetery Walking Tour: Angels, Architecture and Ghosts

Want more dark and spooky things to do in New Orleans?

• Spooky City Guide – New Orleans
• The Dark Side of New Orleans
• Haunted Places to Visit in New Orleans
• Nicolas Cage and the LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans
• The 11 Most Haunted Hotels in New Orleans
• The Best Vampire Tours in New Orleans

More Ghost Tours around the USA

• The Best Ghost Tours in Savannah, GA
• The 14 Best Ghost Tours in Salem, MA
• The Best Ghost Tours in New Orleans, LA
• The 13 Best Ghost Tours in Charleston, SC
• Halloween in Boston: Spooky Things to Do in Boston

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Ernie's Tours

New orleans cemetery & ghost tours.

"It's the guide that really makes a tour great..."

NEW ORLEANS WALKING TOURS

• User Ages 18+
• Hour Glass 2 hours

THE NEW ORLEANS 5-IN-1- TOUR

This is your introduction to the French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans with ghosts, voodoo, vampires, crime and more.

THE FRENCH QUARTER GHOST TOUR

Hear tales of historical deaths, murders, mass mutilations, and suicides that have led to documented hauntings in New Orleans!

PRIVATE TOUR SPECIAL OFFER

A private New Orleans walking tour for up to 5 people ($25 for each additional guest). Choose one of Ernie’s Tours and experience the French Quarter with only you and your friends, allowing you all to truly appreciate the Big Easy together in your own way.

$125 $250  

A private New Orleans tour for up to 5 people ($25 for each additional guest). Choose one of Ernie’s Tours and experience the French Quarter with only you and your friends, allowing you all to truly appreciate the Big Easy together in your own way.

$125   $250

ABOUT ERNIE'S TOURS

Ernest “Ernie” Sylvester, the host behind Ernie’s Tours, is here to share tales about New Orleans with you that are engaging and humorous, bringing the history of French Quarter to life through storytelling. Discover New Orleans with one of the best tour guides in the city. Visit legendary locations within the French Quarter. Hear tales about ghosts, voodoo, and burial practices during one of our two-hour tours led by Ernie, who has over 18 years of experience.

TOP-RATED NEW ORLEANS TOURS BASED ON 18+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

One of New Orleans' best and a personal favorite tour guide of mine! He is knowledgeable, charismatic, and just down right fun to watch, highly recommended!

Best guided tour in New Orleans! Ernie is an amazing historian and has such a great demeanor! It's a long walk so wear comfortable shoes! Stopped for drinks and bathroom breaks! We give Ernie 10 stars!

Ernie was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and friendly. Ernie made sure to answer questions as they came up. He was very kind and made it a point to talk to everyone on an individual basis.

We had a great time with Ernie! He was so much fun. We laughed the entire time. I learned so much about the history of NOLA. Would definitely recommend him to anyone coming to New Orleans!

New Orleans Cemetery Tours

Without a guided tour, you’ll miss out on the history, innovation, and preservation. Additionally, certain cemeteries require visitors to have a licensed guide to enter.

New Orleans’ Saint Louis Cemetery #1 is the most popular cemetery to visit. It’s home to the tombs of Marie Laveau, Nicolas Cage, and film location for the 70’s movie Easy Rider. It’s also one of the cemeteries that require you to be on a guided tour.

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Explore a unique collection of 5 culturally and architecturally diverse cemeteries in New Orleans’ historic Bayou St.

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5 New Orleans Cemeteries to Visit

This post is a practical guide to visiting cemeteries in New Orleans.

We include tips on which to choose, explanations of what you will see, as well as guided tours (including our own). 

We are a group of local tour guides with decades of experience leading guests on tours through many of the city's famous and lesser-known cemeteries.

In the video below, you can watch one of our guides, Andrew, explore Metairie Cemetery.

We also considered many of the great tips and comments from members of our New Orleans Travel Tips Facebook Group.

There's a link to the group at the bottom of this page.

Without further ado, let's get into the graveyards.

• Why Above-Ground Buials?
• Types of Tombs
• St. Louis Cemetery #1
• Lafayette Cemetery #1
• St. Louis Cemetery #3
• Other Cemeteries
• Tips for Visiting Cemeteries  
• Guided Tours

WHY ARE PEOPLE BURIED ABOVE GROUND IN NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans was founded by the French in 1718 as a tiny outpost situated on a bend in the Mississippi River and surrounded by cypress swamps.

Usually, the early settlers would bury residents in the highest ground in the area, the levee.

However, this was problematic in a city that still tended to flood every few years.  

Bodies or caskets would be revealed when the water came and washed away the soil around their final resting places.

In 1722, an official cemetery, the St. Peter Cemetery, was built on the outskirts of the tiny village.

Back then, there were burials, but problems associated with our high water table and flooding continued.

In 1788, a new cemetery, St. Louis Cemetery (today's St. Louis #1) was built, St. Peter Cemetery was deconsecrated, and the lots were sold for building residences.  

The bodies of the dead are buried in graves the old cemetery remained and are occasionally unearthed during renovations on that block. 

Around 1800, New Orleans began the current custom of above-ground interment, inspired by the cemeteries in European cities.

This custom, so practical in New Orleans, soon became standard practice and continues today.

There are over 40 cemeteries in New Orleans, each with its own charm and personality.

TYPES OF TOMBS AND INTERMENTS IN NOLA

The tombs in the cemeteries of New Orleans are works of art, and as such, there is no limit to the styles one will find.

However, there are four most common types: family tombs, society tombs, wall vaults, crypts, and coping tombs.

Family Tombs

These are the most common types of tombs.

These mausoleums usually feature 2-3 chambers stacked upon each other but can hold 40-50 deceased family members.  

When all of the chambers are occupied and a new corpse needs to move in, the one that has been in the longest is taken out.

The remains are bagged, labeled, and placed in a below-ground box called a caveau .

The new occupant is put in the chamber, the chamber opening is bricked up, and the closure tablet is screwed in place.

This process is repeated every time the tomb is needed.

Society Tombs   

These are large tombs that can hold the remains of hundreds of dead.

They belong to benevolent associations, religious orders, workers' unions, immigrant groups, or charitable organizations.  

In life, members paid dues to the society, and in death were allowed to be buried in the society tomb.

They range from simple rows of tombs to elaborate structures such as Jefferson Fire Company #22 (image below).

Wall Vaults

Often, the walls of the cemeteries are made of burial chambers.

These are sometimes called “oven vaults” because they resemble old-style ovens.   

Wall vaults are a less expensive alternative to building a family tomb, but only 6-8 occupants can fit inside.  

Wall vaults line the inside of exterior cemetery walls.

Coping Tombs   

Coping Tombs are used when, for religious or personal reasons, the deceased wished to be buried in the earth but died in New Orleans.  

A wall is built which reaches three feet underground and 2-3 feet above ground level.

The casket is placed within the wall, and then the area around it is filled in with soil.

WHICH CEMETERY TO VISIT?

Now that you know a little about New Orleans cemeteries, you will want to visit one. But which one?  

In nearly every neighborhood you’re likely to visit, there is a cemetery worth seeing.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Click here for a larger interactive map

A - St. Louis Cemetery #1

(edge of French Quarter):  ( map )

The city's oldest cemetery, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is open again after undergoing an extensive restoration.

Now, visitors can only see the cemetery if they are on the list of families who own tombs, or if they are on an official tour .

The tour is $25 and is 45 minutes long and departs every 15 minutes (9:00 am - 3:45 pm). It leaves from Basin Street Station.

Check out our tours of St. Louis Cemetery #3 below.

Here is a video of St. Louis Cemetery #1 shot from a drone

Notable personalities resting here include Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, and Homer Plessy of the landmark civil rights case  Plessy v. Ferguson .

You will also find the white pyramid tomb of Nicolas Cage, the Hollywood actor, who of course is still living.

After  Easy Rider  was filmed here in 1969, the Archdiocese forbade any commercial filming in any Catholic cemeteries in the city.

While you can't visit the cemetery on your own ( there's only one tour that you can join ), we do have a  short self-guided tour  to show you what is inside.

B - Lafayette Cemetery #1

(Garden District): 1416-1498 Washington Ave, New Orleans ( map ).

A city-owned cemetery established in 1832 in the heart of the district famed for its enormous antebellum mansions and lovely fenced yards, this cemetery is one of the most visited in the city.

Lafayette Cemetery 1 is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The cemetery was closed to visitors in 2019 and will hopefully reopen soon.

Its opening hours are usually Monday - Friday from 7:00 am till 2:30 pm, and on Saturday from 7:00 am till 12:00 pm. It is closed on Sunday.

It is a favorite filming spot, having been seen in Interview With a Vampire, Double Jeopardy, NCIS: New Orleans, American Horror Story, Dracula 2000, The Originals , and numerous music videos.  

It has also been the burial ground for many of Anne Rice's fictional characters, such as the Mayfair Witches.

• Learn more about the cemetery with our self-guided tour  or our GPS-enabled audio tour .  
• Our pay-what-you-wish guided tour of the Garden District visits the cemetery daily.

C - St. Louis Cemetery #3

(City Park/Bayou St. John): ( map )

The long, neat cemetery at the end of Esplanade Avenue is a favorite stop for bus tours of New Orleans.

We are now offering tours of this cemetery .

Built on the site of a former leper colony, this cemetery sits on a natural high ridge along Bayou St. John and is a great place to get photographs of angel statues.  

If you walk all the way to the end of the cemetery, you will find a three-story mausoleum and you will be rewarded with an impressive view of the neighborhood if you climb to the top-floor balcony.  

• Consider taking our self-guided tour of Esplanade Avenue and Bayou St. John neighborhoods with you.

D - Metairie Cemetery

(Old Metairie, though actually, it is in New Orleans): ( map )

A stunning 65-acre cemetery built on a former horse-racing track.

When it was dedicated in 1872, the trend in cemeteries in the Eastern United States was toward rural memorial parks with landscaped grounds, lakes, and pathways.

This aesthetic, combined with New Orleans flair for ornamented, above-ground tombs, creates a cemetery that one can explore all day.  

Metairie Cemetery is also the final resting place of several Civil War generals, New Orleans mayors, Louisiana governors, artists, and writers.

It also contains the remains of Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes Fried Chicken, and famed musician Louis Prima, whose epitaph is inscribed with the lyrics of one of his most famous songs, “Just a Gigolo”.  

Many people visit the Morales tomb, which was originally built for famed Storyville madam Josie Arlington and features a young girl knocking at the door of the tomb.

E - Canal Street Cemeteries

(Mid-City):  

These include  Cypress Grove Cemetery ,  Greenwood Cemetery ,  Odd Fellows Rest , and  Old Charity Hospital - Hurricane Katrina Memorial Cemetery .

Easily reached by the red Canal Street Streetcar (the one that reads “cemeteries” on the front), they are all open to the public except Odd Fellows Rest, which is currently undergoing restoration.  

There is a nighttime haunted bus tour that visits several of these cemeteries.

Old Charity Hospital Cemetery was established in 1848 as a burial place for unidentified people. Therefore, there are no markers at all in this cemetery.

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 83 victims of the storm and its aftermath remained unidentified and were interred here at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

Cypress Grove Cemetery contains several interesting tombs, including the Soon on Tong tomb, erected in 1904 as a temporary resting place for Chinese people who died in New Orleans, before their remains were shipped to China.  

Greenwood, one of the city’s largest cemeteries at 150 acres, boasts at its entrance the impressive Elks tomb and Firemen’s Monument.  

You will also see many cast-iron tombs in Greenwood.

TIPS FOR VISITING CEMETERIES

There are a few things you may want to bear in mind before you set out on your adventure into the cemeteries of New Orleans.

The cemeteries are still active .

If you see a funeral procession or workers preparing a tomb, respectfully stay away from that area and do not take photographs of the process.

All of the cemeteries mentioned in this guide are still active cemeteries. Families are still burying their dead regularly.  

Marking tombs is vandalism .

There are tombs in some of the older cemeteries that have been marked, usually with three x’s.  

Some people believe that this is a voodoo tradition and that the person interred within will grant your wish if you make the x’s and say some magic words. 

This probably is not true.  

Unless your wish is to pay a fine for the destruction of property, never make a mark on a tomb.  It is disrespectful and illegal.

The cemeteries in this guide are safe to visit; some others are not .

New Orleans is a city with some neighborhoods that are less safe than others.

All of the cemeteries we are recommending are considered safe, but always use common sense and be aware of your surroundings.

Most cemeteries are closed at night and it's not recommended to visit them on your own.

Several tour operators offer night-time cemetery tours that visit the cemeteries from the outside.

Leave nothing but footprints.

Please do not litter in the cemeteries.  

The maintenance workers work hard to keep these sacred places accessible and as pleasant as possible to everyone.  

Take LOTS of pictures .

Photography is allowed in all the cemeteries and everyone loves to see pictures of these special places.

Take close-ups of statues’ faces, inscriptions, and people’s names.  

NEW ORLEANS CEMETERY TOURS

Just about every tour company in New Orleans offers some type of cemetery tour.

Most are focused on the history and burial practices of each cemetery, but others combine elements such as ghost stories and Voodoo practices (see the section below). 

We offer the best tours at the best value (you pay whatever you like or can afford).

But don't just take our word for it, see what people have said in the past on TripAdvisor , Yelp , and Google . 

• Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery #1

Searching Availability...

While St. Louis Cemetery #1 can only be visited with a guided tour , we had created a self-guided version for you to get a sense of what you will see.

This company provides a Garden District tour which includes a trip to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in addition to Elms Mansion and other historic locations.

As if that weren't enough, this tour also provides admission to a praline factory as well as a complimentary praline.

Guests will also be given a free streetcar ticket to get around while on the tour.

New Orleans Garden District Tour

• $45/Adults, Students | $35/Children
• Availability: Tue, Thur & Fri at 9 am
• Duration: 3 hours
• Includes a visit to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.
• Includes admission to Elms Mansion.
• Includes admission to Praline Factory.
• Includes complimentary Praline.

Save Our Cemeteries

Save Our Cemeteries is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to cemetery preservation in New Orleans.

They are the only tour organization in New Orleans solely dedicated to cemeteries.

They are also the only company to regularly offer tours that include St. Louis Cemetery #2, a slightly younger neighbor of St. Louis #1, itself full of lesser-known but still fascinating local history.

Sporadically, they’ll offer tours of Metairie Cemetery, one of the largest and most ostentatious in the city.

Their tours in Lafayette Cemetery #1, unlike those offered by most companies, cover only the cemetery – not the surrounding neighborhood.

We have a self-guided, GPS-enabled audio tour of Lafayette #1.

Reviews: Save Our Cemeteries is consistently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars across TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Google.

Reviewers offer high praise for the organization’s mission and for the guides’ knowledge.

TOUR INFORMATION

Reservations: Reservations are not required, however, recommended.

Schedule and Pricing: Prices listed below are for online reservations ; walk-up prices, when space is available, are an additional $5/person.

A portion of every ticket price is dedicated to the organization’s work of cemetery preservation and restoration.

Tours are advertised as lasting 90 minutes, possibly extending to as many as two hours.

NIGHT TOURS THAT VISIT A CEMETERY

There are several bus companies that include a stop at a cemetery and provide the opportunity to walk around the area.

These tours are daytime tours. Read about these companies on our bus tour comparison page .

We also list a 1-night ghost and cemetery bus tour option on our Ghosts of New Orleans page .

Some companies offer longer tours than others, but you can expect to spend between 15-20 minutes in a historic cemetery looking around and learning.

Walking tours are a far better choice if you really want to learn about these cemeteries.

CitySightseeing , the hop-on-hop-off bus service offers a free, 1-hour walking tour of Lafayette Cemetery #1 when you purchase a 3-day bus pass, though the walking tour is included for free with the purchase of the Sightseeing Pass .

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5 Cemeteries in New Orleans you can visit without a Guide

New Orleans, is a city with a rich history that beckons visitors with its vibrant culture, mouthwatering cuisine, and live music scene . From the Mardi Gras celebrations to the historic architecture , there is no shortage of experiences to be had in this soulful city. Among its most fascinating and hidden gem attractions are the cemeteries, which provide a unique insight into the history, culture, and spirituality of Crescent City. Check why you should visit a cemetery in New Orleans here.

However, recent policy changes have impacted the accessibility of some of these historic cemeteries, particularly the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. In an effort to preserve the delicate structures and maintain the sanctity of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the Archdiocese of New Orleans has implemented restrictions on tourism. As of March 1st, 2015, the cemetery has been closed off to tourists unless accompanied by a licensed tour guide from an authorized company. This decision came as a response to concerns about vandalism and the deterioration of the tombs. Most recently, the Archdiocese has giving an exclusive contract to one company and it costs over $25 a person. If you want to book a tour in St Louis cemetery #1 click here

Despite these restrictions, there are still plenty of captivating cemeteries in New Orleans that you can visit without a guide. Journey with us as we explore the top five cemeteries in New Orleans that remain open to visitors and offer a glimpse into the city’s fascinating past.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, is a captivating burial ground that offers visitors an opportunity to explore New Orleans’ history in a serene setting. Located approximately 3 miles from the French Quarter and Central Business District, this cemetery is an ideal destination for those who prefer a tranquil atmosphere away from the bustling tourist areas and close to City Park in the beautiful Bayou St. John neighborhood . Find out why you should visit Bayou St John here . Established in 1854, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 features expansive avenues, meticulously maintained grounds, and a diverse collection of tombs and monuments representing various architectural styles. Among the notable residents interred here are several prominent musicians, the photographer E. J. Bellocq, religious figures, and local leaders who have left a lasting impact on the city’s cultural landscape.

Visiting St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 with a New Orleans car service allows you to travel comfortably and conveniently, ensuring you can fully appreciate the timeless beauty and fascinating history of this hidden gem. As you stroll through the peaceful pathways and admire the ornate tombs, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the rich heritage that makes New Orleans such a unique and enchanting destination.

To get the most out of your experience in New Orleans cemetery we recommend taking a tour. We offer Guided Cemetery Tours of St Louis #3 on a regular basis that are free to join. We also offer free Self Guided tours you can do on your own.

One of the most convient ways to visit this cemetery is on a bus tour, check out this option by clicking here

Holt Cemetery is a hidden gem located in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans. Established in 1879, this potter’s field serves as the final resting place for many of the city’s less fortunate residents. Unlike the more opulent cemeteries, Holt Cemetery features modest wooden markers and hand-painted tombstones, giving it a uniquely intimate and personal atmosphere. This tranquil, wooded oasis provides a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Greenwood Cemetery, established in 1852, offers a serene and picturesque setting for a contemplative stroll. This Victorian-era cemetery is home to an array of elaborate monuments, sculptures, and mausoleums that showcase the artistry and craftsmanship of the period. The tree-lined avenues, lush greenery, and diverse flora create a garden-like atmosphere that invites visitors to reflect on the beauty of life and the passage of time.

St. Roch Cemetery, founded in 1874, is a unique and captivating destination for visitors seeking a spiritual experience. The cemetery is named after St. Roch, the patron saint of miraculous cures, and features a small chapel adorned with ex-voto offerings from those who believe they have received the divine intervention. As you explore the cemetery’s ornate tombs and lush gardens, you may feel a sense of peace and wonder at the mysteries of faith.

We introduce you to Metairie Cemetery, a remarkable burial ground that stands as an open-air museum showcasing the city’s artistic and architectural heritage. Established in 1872 on the grounds of a former horse racing track, this cemetery is renowned for its lavish tombs, mausoleums, and sculptural masterpieces. As you wander through the winding paths of Metairie Cemetery, you’ll encounter an array of breathtaking monuments and statues, many of which were crafted by prominent artists and sculptors of the era. One such example is the Moriarty monument, an impressive marble and granite structure topped with a bronze statue of the Angel of Grief. The cemetery is also the final resting place for many notable New Orleans residents, including jazz musicians, politicians, and war heroes.

As you embark on your journey through these magnificent cemeteries, it is very important to remember the significance and respect for the resting places of those who came before us. The cemeteries of New Orleans are not only repositories of history and art but are also sacred spaces that demand reverence and care from those that visit them. The beauty and allure of these sites are a testament to the generations of New Orleans residents who have lovingly maintained and preserved them for future visitors to experience and appreciate. When visiting these historic cemeteries, always remember to be respectful of the tombs and the families who still visit their loved ones. Refrain from touching or leaning on the tombs, as these structures may be fragile and easily damaged. Additionally, be mindful of your surroundings and avoid disturbing any ongoing funeral services or private family gatherings. The cemeteries of New Orleans are a window into the soul of the city – a reflection of its triumphs, tragedies, and enduring spirit. By visiting these unique sites, you will not only learn about the rich tapestry of New Orleans’ past but also gain a profound appreciation for the city’s present and future. In conclusion, the top five cemeteries in New Orleans offer a diverse and memorable experience that will leave a lasting impression on any visitor.

In our opinion the most convenient way to see New Orleans cemeteries is on a bus tour. Click here to book a bus tour which includes a visit to St Louis cemetery #3

Now that you have a glimpse of the top five cemeteries to visit in New Orleans without a guide, it’s time to plan your journey through the city’s captivating history and spiritual heritage. To make the most of your experience, consider booking a New Orleans car service to provide you with all your transportation needs.

Traveling in style and comfort with a professional chauffeur ensures that you can focus on the fascinating stories and timeless beauty of these sacred spaces without worrying about navigating traffic or parking. Plus, a limo or car service can accommodate your schedule, allowing you to visit each cemetery at your own pace and truly immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of New Orleans’ historic cemeteries.

Our guide to Planning your Trip to New Orleans

Let us help you plan your trip to New Orleans. We are experts of all things New Orleans and we’ve been putting our knowledge together into a guide. This guide is a collection of articles that can act as a free trip planning guide giving you an idea of some of the best things to do, tours that are worth your time and money, places to see and where to eat. So check out our free trip planning guide .

Author:  David Hedges

Nola Tour Guy was started by David G. Hedges an adventurous, fun-loving Chicago native who considers New Orleans his true home. At the age of 19, David traveled to New Orleans via hitchhiking and freight trains despite not knowing anyone in the city. He quickly became enamored with New Orleans and after finishing up college in Chicago, decided to move there permanently. In 2011, David pursued his tour guide license so he could share his passion for the city with others, but found that many existing tour companies were based out of state and offered only a cookie cutter, watered down version of New Orleans’ unique history. No one can truly feel the city’s energy or understand its dynamic layers on a large, crowded tour or in a blur on a streetcar. David knew he could do better and started his own company, Nola Tour Guy. On his tours, David imparts captivating history with grace and good humor and gives real depth to a complex, diverse city. Most of all, he aims to make these tours fun and engaging. Join David on a FREE tour and fall in love with New Orleans just like he has!.

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Things To Do: Cemeteries in New Orleans

Whether you take a guided tour or explore on your own, our cemeteries are waiting.

Burying the dead in a place built below sea level was a problem that faced the earliest residents of the French settlement that became New Orleans. The solution agreed upon, to entomb the departed in elaborate marble chambers above ground, created one of the city’s most lingering attractions: cemeteries that are both historic and hauntingly beautiful. Wander the purported resting places of voodoo queen Marie Laveau, musician Al Hirt and Civil War general P.G.T. Beauregard, all residents of what is known in New Orleans as the Cities of the Dead. Many offer guided tours, others you can explore on your own.

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Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour

Getting there.

Metairie Cemetery

New Orleans, 70124

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Orleans Tours & Step-On Guides

Popular tours, lunch with a local.

Call for Price

Visitors to New Orleans often know of the more famous restaurants such as Antoine's, Galatoire's, Tujague's, and Arnaud's. These restaurants were established in the 19th and 20th centuries. Since Hurricane Katrina, the number of restaurants in New Orleans has doubled. Restaurant August, R'evolution, Brigtsen's, and Muriel's are some of the more recently established world famous restaurants.

Enjoy lunch while learning about New Orleans history in a neighborhood restaurant. Enjoy po-boys, red beans and rice, gumbo, fresh gulf seafood, and New Orleans Italian dishes — the local variety is endless.

Reservations are required. Contact us for more details and to specify your lunch and neighborhood preferences.

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Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and the Garden District

This tour lasts 1 1/2 hours.

• Wall Vaults
• Family Tombs
• Open tomb for educational purposes
• The Vampire Lestat Tomb, an Anne Rice Creation
• Filming locations of the Originals and True Blood
• Commanders Place
• Cornstalks Fence
• Toby's Corner
• Sandra Bullock's Home
• The house where The Curious Case of Benjamin button was filmed

Lafayette Cemetery #1 was established in 1833 on the site of the former Livaudais Sugar Plantation.

Lafayette Cemetery holds the remains of citizens from twenty-six different countries. The cemetery was never segregated by race, ethnicity, or religious denomination. Click here to see the Hatfields' inventory and index to tombs in Lafayette #1 Cemetery.

Getting there

If you'd like you get away from downtown, take a leisurely ride on our city's famous St. Charles streetcar line to this iconic cemetery. Meet your scheduled tour guide at the Main Gate near 1400 Washington Ave.

We welcome volunteer and/or student groups with generous discounts. We also offer a discount for any group of six or more traveling together.

Bilingual tour guides are available. Reservations are required. Contact us for more information and pricing.

Step-On Guide City Tour

• 2.5 hours or you decide
• Local Guide
• Basin St. Station
• St. Charles Ave.
• Cemetery Walking Tour
• City Park, Sculpture Garden
• Morning Call
• French Market

Step-on Guide City Tour

When one of our experienced New Orleans guides steps onto your bus, you will be "off and away" to a memorable trip through New Orleans.

With your own bus, your options are unlimited. You can take a general city tour and choose which areas you want to see. You can include short walking tours of the French Quarter, a cemetery; visit churches or synagogues, the lakefront, City Park. Your choices are limited only by the time you allot for the tour.

Whether you charter a bus for your stay here, or come with your own bus, we will help you customize your trip according to the requirements of your schedule.

As Step-On guides, we can take you on a city tour incorporating the locations you want to see. We will usually include two or three stops where everyone can get off and tour a location of interest, or not, if you prefer otherwise.

Here's a sample itinerary:

• MEET: 501 Basin Street Station 70112 for orientation
• City Hall, CBD, Convention Center Blvd.
• To Congo Square and Louis Armstrong Park
• Through the Bywater Neighborhood across Industrial Canal to Lower Ninth Ward
• Cemetery walking tour
• Esplanade Avenue to Bayou St. John
• City Park and the Besthoff free Sculpture Garden
• Canal Street the Cemetery District
• Katrina Memorial
• End Basin St. Station

* Italics indicate stops along route

St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery

• Oldest Cemetery in New Orleans
• Myths Dispelled

A tour to Saint Louis No. 1 offers a different perspective of the history of New Orleans. Saint Louis No. 1 is the oldest exiting cemetery in the city. Why are there tombs and not crypts? Understand the religion and nationality of the earliest individuals and families of New Orleans. See how over 50,000 people can be buried in one city block. Visit the resting place some of New Orleans most notable characters to understand the unique character of New Orleans. Saint Louis No. 1 is recognized by the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail and the National Register of Historic Places as an experience of the history of the city's founding and evolution.. Mark Twain referred to New Orleans Cemeteries as "Cities of the Dead". The cemetery remains in use as a living memorable of New Orleans today.

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Our customers love us, latest reviews.

” We enjoyed our Cemetery tour with Leah. She is knowledgeable and friendly, and gave us lots of recommendations on what to see and where to eat in New Orleans. “

“Our group of classmates and friends frequently travel to New Orleans and was looking for a customized step-on tour since we have had several step on tour guides over the years. For those of us who have made each trip, we wanted something different and contacted Candy for a tour that reflected the African American Influence on New Orleans. We asked and she delivered! Our tour guide, Milton, was exceptional! He had first hand knowledge of sites and experiences that had not been mentioned on our prior tours. If you’re interested in the total New Orleans Experience, I highly recommend, Milton and Candy of New Orleans Tours and Step-on Guides. They are the best! “

Pennywms - Trip Advisor

” Excellent guided tour through the cemetery by Naif! As a former history teacher, Naif really knows his stuff & provided lots of interesting information about the cemetery & individual graves. Highly recommend!”

Jessica Hawkins

” I would like to thank Spirit of New Orleans tours for such a awesome tour. Mr. Melton was great he did an awesome job I recommend him to do you tour.Learned so much about New Orleans. “

P: 504-296-2513

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