Millionaires and mausoleums make great New Orleans theater. This 2-hour outing takes you into Metairie Cemetery for shaded, story-first touring of elaborate tombs and funerary art, with stops that connect the cemetery to real New Orleans characters.

What I like most is the way the guide turns monuments into people—and how the cemetery’s style (pyramids, temples, and dramatic sculpture) makes the history easy to remember. One thing to keep in mind: the walk happens outdoors on uneven paths, so plan for comfort.

Two big wins: you get an admission-included guided visit, and the guide’s storytelling leans into the details—architecture, symbolism, and local burial customs—without dragging. Guides like Sally (often mentioned by name with Red Sash Tours) also share extra context that helps you spot what matters, not just what looks pretty. A possible drawback is that the pace and footing may not suit everyone, especially with mobility needs or strollers.

Key Takeaways Before You Go

• A guided admission visit: entry to Metairie Cemetery is included in the $35 price.
• Metairie’s theatrical architecture: think marble tombs plus pyramid and temple-style monuments.
• Stories tied to symbols: you’ll get help interpreting the carvings and funerary details.
• Small group feel: capped at a maximum of 18 people.
• Rain-ready attitude: the tour is weather dependent, and the guide may adjust to conditions.
• Insider culture tips: local food and music suggestions come along for the ride.

Metairie Cemetery’s Marble Stage: What You’ll See in Two Hours

Metairie Cemetery has a way of resetting your expectations. This is not a quiet, generic graveyard stop. It feels like an outdoor museum built of stone, faith, art, and personality—especially once you’re under the shade of the trees and you start noticing the monument details up close.

Over about two hours, you’ll see how Metairie became a burial destination for some of New Orleans’ most visible and unusual residents. The setting is expansive—127 acres—but the tour keeps you moving with a purpose, so you don’t feel like you’re wandering. Expect a mix of marble tombs and funerary art, plus plenty of dramatic sculptures and decorative elements designed to be read.

If you’ve ever wondered why New Orleans cemeteries look the way they do, this tour answers that. The guide explains burial customs and how families used these spaces—and their monuments—to express identity, status, grief, and belief.

Starting at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd: Meeting Point and Pre-Walk Setup

You’ll meet at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124. The tour ends back at the same point, so you’re not dealing with an awkward “where do we go now” finish.

This is also the kind of tour where showing up a few minutes early helps. You want your head in the right place before you enter—quiet enough to focus, but ready to walk. You’ll receive a mobile ticket at booking, and the tour runs in English.

One more practical note: bottled water isn’t included. Bring your own bottle if you want to sip during the walk.

Lake Lawn Metairie’s Layout: Pyramids, Temples, and Weeping Angels

Metairie Cemetery is famous for the way it looks. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it has the feel of a former stage set. Before it became a cemetery, the site was a racetrack, and that history still shows in the way the grounds open up and move people through space.

The highlights you’ll likely hear about—and want to look for—include:

• pyramid-style features
• Greek Temple–style structures
• Islamic pavilion–style forms
• crying dog sculptures
• mausoleums with weeping angels

As you walk, the guide helps you connect the visuals to meaning. So instead of just thinking, Wow, that’s ornate, you start asking, What is that symbol? What belief or family story does it reflect? That’s where the tour becomes more fun than a basic walk-by.

A small-but-important benefit: this kind of guided route helps you avoid the stress of guessing what’s worth your time in a large cemetery. You’ll still want to slow down for details, but you won’t be starting from zero.

Reading the Tombs Like a Local: Symbolism and Burial Customs

What makes this tour click is how it teaches you to “read” funerary art. New Orleans cemeteries are built on customs that can feel different from what many people grow up with elsewhere. In Metairie, the monuments and sculptures aren’t just decoration. They’re part of a system—one families used to mark a person’s place and to communicate values.

The guide also points out architectural choices and funerary art details you might otherwise miss. You’ll learn about the symbolism placed on or within the tombs, including religious references and visual storytelling elements.

This is also a good tour if you’re the type who likes to understand context, not just sights. You get the cemetery’s role in New Orleans life and how burial practices shaped what you see today.

The Famous and Infamous Who Rest Here

Metairie Cemetery is often pitched as a Millionaires and Mausoleums tour, and that label is not wrong. But what makes it genuinely interesting is how wide the range is.

The grounds include people from different walks of life—politicians, jazz musicians, Storyville madams, mob bosses, and other recognizable figures tied to New Orleans culture and legend. You also get hints of the city’s darker, stranger sides, where fame can come with scandal.

And yes, if you’re a fan of famous authors, you’re in the right place. One of the reasons people look for this cemetery is Anne Rice, and the guide’s emphasis on well-known residents makes it easier to orient yourself around the plots that matter to you.

The guide’s pace and story selection tend to balance grand architecture with real human stories. That mix is why this tour works even if you’re not a cemetery person.

Is $35 Good Value? What’s Included (and What to Bring)

At $35 per person for about two hours, you’re paying for three things:

• a guided walking experience with an expert guide
• admission to Metairie Cemetery included
• insider tips on local food, music, and culture

That admission-included part matters. If you tried to do this solo, you’d still have to figure out what to see, where to look, and how to interpret the symbolism. Here, the guide does that work for you.

What’s not included is bottled water. Since you’re walking outdoors in the shade (and sometimes in weather that can change), I’d bring water and wear shoes with decent grip. The cemetery paths can be uneven, and a good shoe makes the tour feel effortless instead of annoying.

Also, keep in mind that the tour has a small group cap (maximum 18). That usually helps you ask questions and keep the experience from turning into a hurried cattle-line.

Weather, Shoes, and Walk Pace: Make It Comfortable

This tour depends on good weather. If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’re offered a different date or a full refund. The operator also clearly tries to handle rain in the moment, and guides have reportedly brought extra umbrellas and sought shelter when conditions turned nasty.

So don’t wait for perfect weather to plan. Instead, plan for weather to be part of the day. Bring a small umbrella if you like, but at minimum bring layers you can adjust.

One more detail from the real world: the cemetery walk includes terrain that can be bumpy. I’d take that seriously if you’re pushing a stroller or you use a mobility device. In those cases, ask yourself whether you’re comfortable with uneven paths and a route that may include short side sections.

Food, Music, and Culture Tips You Can Use the Same Day

One reason I like tours that connect sights to culture is simple: New Orleans is too big to learn everything at once. This tour gives you local food and music suggestions as part of the experience, so you can apply what you learn immediately after you wrap up.

These tips also fit the cemetery theme. Metairie isn’t just architecture; it’s tied to stories—jazz, neighborhoods, and the social world behind the city’s legends. When your guide shares recommendations, it feels like a continuation of the same conversation, not an add-on.

If you’re trying to build a short itinerary, this is the kind of guided stop that pays dividends. You get context, then you get ideas for what to eat and listen to later.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This is a strong choice for:

• people who love history with real characters behind it
• architecture fans who want to understand why tombs look the way they do
• anyone curious about New Orleans burial customs and symbolism
• first-timers who want a guided “orientation” to a major cemetery without getting lost

It may be less ideal if:

• you need very smooth, flat walking surfaces
• you have trouble with uneven terrain or a faster pace
• you’re expecting a slow, totally accessible stroll

That said, the tour is often described as doable for most people, and service animals are allowed. The key is being honest with yourself about how your body handles outdoor walking over mixed ground.

Should You Book the Metairie Millionaires and Mausoleums Tour?

If your goal is to see Metairie Cemetery and actually understand it in a couple hours, I think this tour is worth booking. The value is practical: admission is included, the group stays small, and the guide helps you translate the cemetery’s art and symbols into stories you’ll remember.

I’d book it if you want more than pretty monuments. The best part is the combination of extravagant tombs and human explanations—wealth, scandal, jazz, faith, and craft—woven into a route that keeps you from wandering aimlessly.

Skip it only if you strongly need fully smooth walking, or if weather conditions make outdoor time difficult for you. Otherwise, pack your best walking shoes, bring water, and get ready for a cemetery that feels like theater.

FAQ

How much does the Metairie Millionaires and Mausoleums tour cost?

It costs $35.00 per person.

How long is the tour?

It runs about 2 hours.

Where do I meet for the tour?

The meeting point is 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA.

What’s included in the price?

The price includes the expert guide, admission to Metairie Cemetery, and insider tips for local food and music and culture.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Do I get a ticket on my phone?

Yes. You receive a mobile ticket.

What’s the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 18 travelers.

Is bottled water provided?

No, bottled water is not included.

What happens if the weather is bad?

This experience 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 for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, you won’t receive a refund.