New Orleans ghosts walk right beside you. This historical ghost walk threads through some of the French Quarter’s most talked-about spots, turning scary lore into a smart, timed walk you can actually follow in about 2 hours.

I like how the group stays small (up to 18), so the stories feel personal instead of lost in the crowd. I also love that it mixes famous landmarks with darker, specific stops—so you’re not just hearing generic spooky lines.

One thing to consider: the tour doesn’t shy away from brutal topics, including torture and public execution history. If you want light, playful scares, this is more serious than that, and it also depends on good weather to run.

Quick hits

• Small group, up to 18 people for better hearing and a calmer pace
• Six stops from the Lalaurie Mansion to the French Quarter, with set timing
• Short 15-minute site visits, then a longer 45-minute French Quarter walk
• Jackson Square connections to public executions and haunting legends
• Cabildo + Louisiana Purchase signing brings the supernatural to a major landmark
• Bar stop on the route (drinks not included)

Price, timing, and what $30 buys you in two hours

For $30 per person, this tour is a solid value if you like your New Orleans with context. You’re not paying for a long bus ride or a half-day detour. You’re paying for a tight route through iconic places, with a storyteller keeping you oriented and moving.

It runs for about 2 hours, with most stops lasting around 15 minutes each. That matters, because it keeps the pace moving—no getting stuck at one site while the group loses energy. The final stretch at the French Quarter is longer (about 45 minutes), which is the part where you really get to connect the locations into one “this is what the city feels like” walk.

Also worth noting: it’s booked pretty far in advance on average (about 9 days). If you’re traveling in a busy season or on a weekend, I’d treat it like a planning priority, not a last-minute thing.

Meeting point at 710 St Louis St and how the walk flows

The tour starts at 710 St Louis St and ends at Jackson Square. That’s convenient because Jackson Square is easy to orient around afterward—dinner, photo ops, and more wandering are right there.

You’ll want to arrive a few minutes early so you’re not sprinting to catch the first story. The schedule is compact: multiple stops, short on-the-ground time, then the walk continues. Being on time helps you get the full experience instead of just the highlights.

The route is also described as near public transportation, and the tour allows service animals. Most people can participate, but it’s still a walking tour, so comfy shoes and a willingness to stand in place for short explanations will make it way more enjoyable.

Stop 1: Lalaurie Mansion and the line between legend and horror

The tour kicks off at the Lalaurie Mansion, described as the most haunted house in New Orleans—and historically tied to brutal torture. This is not a stop for gentle, family-friendly spooky vibes. It’s a strong opener because it sets the tone: in this city, ghost stories often cling to real, hard events.

What I like about starting here is that it trains you to listen for details instead of jumping straight to chills. The mansion’s reputation is so well-known that it could turn into a cliché, but a good ghost guide should help you understand why the story lingers and how the surrounding area became part of the narrative.

Possible drawback: if you’re sensitive to dark subject matter, this early stop may hit harder than you expected. You’ll still get the full tour either way, but mental prep helps.

Tip for you: keep an open mind, and take a quick breath before moving on. This one is heavy. Then the tour becomes more about the city’s layout and how the past gets echoed in everyday streets.

Stop 2: Jackson Square, executions, and the fence story

Next up is Jackson Square, once called Place d’Armes. This is where public executions were held, and the story includes the posting of the heads of runaway slaves on the fence. The tour also frames the square as a site of hauntings even in more modern times.

This stop works because Jackson Square isn’t just a pretty postcard. It’s a public space layered with old power, old fear, and old resistance. Hearing it described this way makes the square feel more like a living archive than a single moment in time.

Here’s the practical angle: you’ll get about 15 minutes at the square. That’s long enough to connect the story to what you see around you, but short enough that you can keep moving without getting stuck in a busy crowd.

Consideration for you: because the history is intense, you may want to pace your attention. Don’t force yourself to take in every detail at once. Let the guide’s focus do the work.

Stop 3: Cabildo—where major history feeds the haunting

The tour then heads to the Cabildo, noted as the place where the Louisiana Purchase was signed. That’s a huge historical anchor, and pairing it with spirits is the point. Ghost stories often survive because they attach to moments when a city felt like it was being reshaped.

Even with only about 15 minutes, this stop gives you a shift in perspective. The haunting isn’t only about small-town lore. It’s about how big decisions and dramatic eras leave emotional fingerprints—and how later people interpret those spaces as uncanny.

Why I think this stop is valuable: the Louisiana Purchase connection makes the tour feel less like fear for fear’s sake. It helps you see why certain buildings become targets for storytelling. When a place witnessed something momentous, it becomes easier for later legends to claim, this happened here, so something must still be here.

Stop 4: New Orleans Pharmacy Museum and early-1800s spirits

At the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, the hauntings are described as dating back to the early 1800s. This is a great palate cleanser after the big political moment at Cabildo, because it adds a different flavor: medical practice, daily life, and the darker side of what people faced back then.

You’ll spend about 15 minutes here, which is just enough time to leave the stop with a feeling and a thread to follow. If you’re the type who likes to see how the supernatural connects to ordinary rooms—trade, health, routine—this is the stop that usually scratches that itch.

There’s also a quiet nudge built into the experience: after this stop, you’re encouraged to visit the museum the next day if you dare. That’s a smart way to handle the time limits of a walking tour. You get the story now, and you can choose how much deeper to go later—on your schedule.

Stop 5: Muriel’s Jackson Square and the ghost treated like royalty

The next stop is Muriel’s Jackson Square, where the tour describes a hanging happened first, and then the hanging around followed. It also notes that the main ghost is treated like royalty by the restaurant he inhabits—and that he’s not the only spirit there.

This is where the tour gets extra fun in an eerie way, because it shows how New Orleans blends legend into normal life. A restaurant operating in a haunted space doesn’t feel like a gimmick. It feels like a cultural habit: the city makes room for stories and keeps them moving forward.

The time here is also about 15 minutes, so you’re getting the flavor quickly. The goal isn’t to research every detail. It’s to understand that some hauntings aren’t distant myths. They’re part of how people talk, work, eat, and carry on.

If you don’t like “ghost-as-personality” stories, this stop may feel more playful than the earlier torture-and-executions stops. But that shift is part of the point: the supernatural is not one uniform tone in this city.

Stop 6: French Quarter finale—your 45-minute “under your feet” walk

The tour ends with a longer 45-minute walk through the French Quarter. The framing is direct: the haunted city started right here, and the dead are under feet and in streets. It’s described as one of the most haunted cities in America.

This final segment is your payoff. Earlier stops give you locations and backstories. The French Quarter portion turns them into a route you can feel. You’ll start noticing patterns: how squares, buildings, and narrow streets shape what you imagine at night.

This is also where I think the small group size helps again. With fewer people, you can actually follow the guide’s pacing and references while still hearing the story.

Practical idea: treat the final walk like a mini orientation course. When you go off on your own afterward, you’ll understand why Jackson Square feels like the center of gravity.

The guide’s job: connecting past and present (and why DeAnna gets mentioned)

The strongest praise around this experience points to the guide’s ability to connect what happened then with what you notice now. One name that pops in the positive feedback is DeAnna, called out for being extremely knowledgeable and making the tour informative about the city’s past and present.

I like that focus, because ghost tours can sometimes get stuck in vague mood-setting. The best ones give you something you can carry with you after the walk ends: why a building matters, why a square matters, and why a story keeps repeating.

Also, the tour is English and uses a mobile ticket, which keeps things simple on the day. You spend less time hunting for paperwork and more time actually looking at what the guide points out.

The bar stop: good for a break, not included drinks

Halfway through the walk, there’s a stop at a bar along the way. Drinks aren’t included, so you’ll want to budget for what you order.

This matters for your planning more than you might think. You’ll be walking for nearly two hours, with several short standing-and-listening segments. That bar pause can be a nice reset—especially if you plan to keep exploring afterward rather than turning in right away.

If you want to stay sharp for the final French Quarter walk, consider keeping it light. A single drink can feel perfect. More than that can make stories harder to track and photos harder to frame.

Weather, pacing, and what to wear

The tour requires good weather. That means rain or bad conditions can affect whether the tour runs, and it’s also a sign the experience is designed for outdoor walking segments.

So plan smart:

• Wear shoes with grip and comfort for sidewalks.
• Keep a light layer handy if evenings cool off.
• Bring water and a small snack if you tend to get hungry while walking.

The timing is tight. You’re not meant to wander off mid-story. If you like to stop for every photo, save some of that impulse for after the tour ends at Jackson Square, when you can roam without feeling like you’re falling behind.

Who should book this ghost tour?

I’d book this if you want:

• a focused New Orleans ghost tour that goes beyond generic scares,
• a route that pairs major landmarks with darker, specific stories,
• a small-group walk where you can actually hear the guide,
• and a night plan that ends near Jackson Square for easy next steps.

I’d think twice if:

• you want playful, light spooky energy only,
• you’re easily bothered by talk of torture and public execution history,
• or you’re not comfortable walking and standing in place for short explanation periods.

This is also a good choice if you’re trying to understand the French Quarter’s emotional “why.” The tour doesn’t just show you sights. It shows you how the city’s stories got attached to them.

Should you book Ghosts of the French Quarter?

If you’re spending a limited amount of time in New Orleans and you want your night to feel meaningful, I think this one earns its spot. $30 for about two hours is a fair price for a guided walk through major sites tied to haunting legends, plus that nice payoff of a longer French Quarter finale.

Book it if you’re curious and steady with your attention. Skip it (or plan something gentler) if dark historical content isn’t your thing. Either way, you’ll end at Jackson Square with a fresh way of seeing the neighborhood—like the streets have subtitles, not just scenery.

FAQ

How long is the Ghosts of the French Quarter walking tour?

It’s listed as about 2 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $30.00 per person.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at 710 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130, and ends at Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA 70116.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Is there a bar stop, and are drinks included?

There’s a stop at a bar along the way, but drinks are not included.

What is the group size limit?

The tour has a maximum of 18 travelers.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid won’t be refunded.