One quick stroll in the French Quarter can turn weird fast. This Drunken Ghost and Vampire Tour mixes history, laughs, and a real paranormal detector while you hop between classic stops.

What I like most is the focus on the way New Orleans tells scary stories—architecture, old burial customs, tragic legends, and vampire lore—without turning it into a gloomy lecture. I also like the guided pacing: it’s a moderate walk with scheduled stops, so you’re not wandering the Quarter solo at night. One thing to consider: the alcohol is not included (drinks are to purchase), and it’s also not a guaranteed ghost sighting.

If you’re hoping for a jump-scare production, temper expectations. This is still a fun pub-crawl-style outing where the stories do a lot of the work—and the detector is part of the experience, not a magic wand.

Key Takeaways

• A real electromagnetic radiation detector gets used as part of the tour investigation (when you check it out).
• You start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop area and end at Jackson Square, which is a great “walk-off” location.
• To-go drink stops are built into the route, but alcohol is always pay-your-own.
• Moderate walking pace keeps it doable, with typical duration around 1 to 2 hours.
• Guide delivery matters—names like Coty and Cody show up in the best-sounding accounts of the experience.
• Last-minute reliability is the main risk, so plan with a backup if you have tight timing.

Price and Value for a 1–2 Hour Night Out

The ticket price is $19.25 per person, which is low enough that this feels more like an evening activity than a big splurge. For that money, you’re paying for a licensed tour guide, a guided French Quarter walk, and multiple planned stops that combine story plus atmosphere.

A key value point: you’re not just hearing tales while standing in one spot. The tour is structured like a route—Lafitte’s area, Jackson Square, then more Quarter walking with drink pauses—so the evening keeps moving. If you’re doing New Orleans for the first time and want an efficient way to learn the neighborhood’s darker legends while you orient yourself, this format helps.

The trade-off is simple: you’re paying for guidance and entertainment, not for alcohol. You should also expect that “paranormal” means investigation and theater, not a guarantee. The tour itself says it’s for entertainment purposes only.

Where You Meet (and Why “Right Place, Right Time” Matters)

Your starting point is 941 Bourbon St, at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. Tours do not meet inside the bar, and they also do not meet at a street corner. That detail sounds picky, but it matters in the French Quarter, where there are lots of entrances and lots of people.

Plan to arrive a few minutes early and check in with the guide. The operation starts on schedule, and late arrivals can miss the departure window because the group leaves at the scheduled time.

A practical tip: if you’re meeting from a hotel or coming in from another activity, give yourself extra buffer. The Quarter streets are old, uneven, and crowded, and the group needs that time to keep the pace.

Group size is capped at up to 50 travelers, so it’s not a tiny private ghost hunt. Still, it feels like the sweet spot for a lively night where you can laugh with other people but still hear the stories.

Stop 1 at Lafitte’s Courtyard: Architecture + Old New Orleans Vampire Lore

The night kicks off at the Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop bar courtyard gate. This is a fitting “first door” for the theme because the French Quarter’s architecture is part of the vibe. Your guide uses the buildings around you as story anchors, not just backdrops.

At this stop, the tour’s focus is broad and dark:

• New Orleans hauntings and spooky legends
• Voodoo references and traditional burial practices
• Tragic love stories that end in suffering
• Places tied to vampire captivity stories
• The difference between vampire lore and vampire history

What’s unique here is that the tour builds in an investigation element. The experience uses a real electromagnetic radiation detector / paranormal detector during the group activity. If you want to handle the gear yourself, you typically need to check it out at the beginning of the tour. The equipment is tracked, and there’s a fee if something is lost or damaged, so treat it carefully.

One more practical detail: some stops are inside bars, some are grab-and-go. So even if you want to stay out of the messier crowds, you’re not forced to drink inside.

Jackson Square: The Quarter’s Most Convenient Place to Re-Align

The tour concludes in Jackson Square, after a stop that’s designed for both story and logistics. Jackson Square is a strong finish because it’s an easy landmark to find, and you can naturally roll into dinner, music, or another stroll afterward.

This stop leans into several well-worn legends:

• A home tied to one of the Quarter’s most predictable ghost stories (Julie is specifically named)
• The story of the Carter Brothers, including their trial, conviction, and execution
• A location tied to a large mass murder in New Orleans history
• The idea that some of these cases remain unsolved, while the ghosts remain

Whether you believe every legend or not, the tour’s value is how it connects tragic events to physical places you can actually stand near. That’s the thing I’d want from a ghost tour: real geography, not vague “somewhere near a spooky alley.”

Also, this stop supports the pub-crawl style. You’re allowed to stop in local bars and grab to-go drinks along the route.

The “French Quarter” Stop: Drink Stops, Spooky Stories, and Walking Time

After Jackson Square, the route continues through the French Quarter again, with more story time and drink pauses. This is where the experience feels like a social night out. You get the balance of:

• guided talking points about the area
• more ghost and vampire storytelling
• a bit of freedom to enjoy the environment, especially if you’re taking a to-go drink

Duration on the whole experience is listed as about 1 to 2 hours, and the time can stretch if bars are busy. That’s important if you’re trying to fit this around another ticketed event.

If you like structure but also like a little spontaneity, this works well. You’re not stuck in a car; you’re walking and stopping, and you’re still anchored to a guide so you don’t get lost in the Quarter’s maze.

The EMF Detector: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Still Works

The tour uses an EMF-style paranormal detector, and that’s the hook for people who like tech-y gimmicks mixed with spooky lore. Just understand what it can and can’t do.

The experience frames paranormal activity as entertainment. That’s the honest part. You’re not signing up for scientific proof, and the tour isn’t promising a ghost sighting. The detector is best treated as a prop that adds rhythm to the night.

In practice, the detector can still make the stories feel more interactive. When you’re standing in historic spaces and listening to tales, having a device to hold or watch can heighten the atmosphere. If your group enjoys that kind of “let’s try it” energy, you’ll likely have a better time than if you want hard evidence.

If you’re the type who prefers straight history, you might find the tone leans heavier into folklore than into academic detail. Some people also describe it more as drunken history with spooky bits than a pure vampire-and-ghost hunt. So choose based on your mood.

Guide Energy: Why Coty and Cody Keep Showing Up in the Best Nights

A big part of whether this tour feels worth it comes down to the guide’s style. In the most positive accounts, guides like Coty and Cody are repeatedly praised for mixing humor with storytelling and keeping the group engaged.

You’ll want a guide who can do three things at once:

• explain the place in a way that makes it easy to remember
• keep the pace steady on old streets
• land the spooky stories without sounding stiff

When it clicks, you get a night that feels like real local flavor: a guide who can talk about buildings, legends, and tragedy while also reading the room and keeping everyone laughing. That’s the best-case scenario.

If you’re unlucky with timing, the tour experience can be disappointing. The materials around the tour also mention potential changes due to local conditions and minimum traveler requirements. That’s why I treat this like an evening plan—not a must-do appointment you can’t miss.

Drinks to Go: How the Pub Crawl Part Actually Works

Alcoholic drinks are not included, but the tour does support drinking along the route through to-go stops. That means you can buy something during the bar windows without derailing the group.

Important: audio or video recording devices are not allowed during the tour. Photos are encouraged, though, so you can capture the moment for your own memories and share afterward.

If you like having a drink in hand while hearing spooky stories, this format fits your style. If you’d rather keep it alcohol-free, you can still enjoy the walk and stories—just use the to-go option for non-alcoholic choices when possible, since the tour structure is built around stops rather than a required drink.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want Something Different)

This works especially well if you:

• want an easy way to see the French Quarter in a short time
• enjoy spooky lore mixed with real landmarks
• like social energy and a pub-crawl vibe
• want to hold the EMF detector if you’re into that kind of group activity

It may not be ideal if you:

• need a perfectly predictable schedule with no chance of delays or no-shows
• want guaranteed paranormal encounters
• prefer a strictly historical tour with minimal ghost/vampire framing

The sweet spot is a fun, story-led night where you’re open to folklore and you’re okay with the detector being part of the performance.

Should You Book This French Quarter Drunken Ghost and Vampire Tour?

I think it’s a good buy if you’re craving a spooky-but-fun French Quarter evening and you’re okay paying extra attention to the guide’s energy. At $19.25, you’re getting a guided route, multiple story-heavy stops, and a chance to participate in the detector activity.

Before you book, do one simple thing: plan your night with a backup option. The tour can depend on timing, bar conditions, and staffing or minimum numbers. If you’re also trying to catch a show, a late dinner reservation, or a specific transportation deadline, give yourself slack.

If you want a night that’s more funny-dark than scary-silent, and you’d enjoy learning why people in New Orleans believe what they believe—then this tour is likely your kind of odd.

FAQ

How long is the French Quarter Drunken Ghost and Vampire Tour?

It lasts about 1 to 2 hours, with the actual time sometimes running longer if there are waits inside bars.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

The tour starts at 941 Bourbon St, at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, and it ends at Jackson Square.

Are alcoholic drinks included in the price?

No. Drinks are available to purchase along the route, including to-go options.

Is a paranormal detector actually used?

Yes. The tour uses a real electromagnetic radiation detector/paranormal detector as part of the experience, and equipment can be checked out at the beginning of the tour.

Can I expect to see ghosts or vampires for sure?

No. The tour is for entertainment purposes only, and there is no guarantee you will encounter paranormal activity.

Are there rules about recordings during the tour?

Yes. Audio or video recording devices are not allowed during the tour, while photos are encouraged.

What happens if it rains?

Tours are rain-or-shine events. You should prepare for New Orleans weather, whether hot or cold.

Can I cancel and get a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start, the amount you paid is not refunded.

How many people can be on a tour at once?

The tour lists a maximum of 50 travelers.