A cemetery tour can sound odd, until you see Metairie Cemetery in person. This historic Lake Lawn Metairie walk blends striking funerary architecture, respectful New Orleans burial-rhyme culture, and story-driven guidance from a small team. I also like the pace: it’s designed for a leisurely 1.5-hour stroll rather than a fast march.

One practical consideration: you’ll be outside for most of the experience, so plan for heat and look for shade during the walk.

Quick hits: what makes this tour worth your time

• Lake Lawn Metairie sights in one guided walk, with live oaks and dramatic tomb styles
• Small group size (up to 16) for more back-and-forth questions
• A strong focus on history and culture, not ghost stories or melodrama
• Famous names across governors, mayors, Carnival, and music, from Louis Prima to Anne Rice
• Nonprofit support angle, since Save Our Cemeteries is tied to restoration and preservation
• Mobile ticket in English, making it simple to show up and go

Lake Lawn Metairie: New Orleans’ city of the dead

Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery is one of those places that feels like it was designed for architecture lovers and history nerds at the same time. Think grand funerary structures, marble monuments, and ironwork details that would be impressive even if you weren’t standing in a cemetery. The grounds also sit under live oaks, which matters more than you’d expect on a morning that’s already warming up.

What I find compelling is how the cemetery reads like a map of New Orleans society. You’re not just seeing individual graves—you’re seeing how the city has marked status, memory, and community across time. The tour experience points you toward that big picture while still keeping it human.

Here’s what the cemetery covers, which helps you understand why a guided hour and a half is a smart move:

• 65 landscaped acres
• Over 9,000 people are buried there
• Nine Louisiana governors and seven New Orleans mayors
• 49 kings of Carnival, plus three Confederate generals
• Graves that include figures like Louis Prima, Al Hirt, Anne Rice, and Tom Benson (former Saints and Pelicans owner)

Even if you only recognize a handful of names, the mix shows you a wide slice of what New Orleans has celebrated—and what it has chosen to remember.

The guide’s role: history that stays respectful

This tour is run by Save Our Cemeteries, and the guides clearly care about doing this with the right tone. The best part of a cemetery tour is not facts on a page—it’s how someone connects those facts to what you’re standing next to. On this one, the storytelling is calm and respectful, with an emphasis on New Orleans burial culture rather than spooky myths.

You’ll also get real value from the small group format. With a maximum of 16 people, you’re more likely to get your questions answered instead of watching a guide power through the script.

Some tours are led by guides named Glenn, and others include Mr Schiro (based on guide names shared by past participants). If you get either of them, it’s a good sign—both show a passion for cemetery history and tend to make time for questions.

And yes, the “outside” part matters here too. One of the standout review themes is that guides pay attention to comfort. If it’s warm, don’t be surprised to hear the group pause in the best shade spots for explanations.

Entering at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd and settling into the pace

The meeting point is 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124, and the tour starts at 10:00 am. It ends back at the same place. That “loop back” setup is helpful: you don’t spend your energy figuring out what’s next—you just focus on the walk.

The total time is about 1 hour 30 minutes, which is a sweet spot. Long enough to feel like you saw a real cross-section of the cemetery, but not so long that you’re cooked by the heat. Most of the route is described as walking, and the cemetery is mostly flat, but it’s still a walk on real ground—comfortable shoes help.

Also, the tour uses a mobile ticket and is offered in English. You’ll get confirmation at booking time, so you’re not left guessing whether your spot is set.

What you’ll see during the walk inside Lake Lawn Metairie

There’s one main stop: Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries. In practice, that means your guided hour and a half is concentrated inside the cemetery grounds, moving past major structures and notable memorials.

Here’s what stands out visually when you first start walking:

• Greek temple-style elements among the tombs and monuments
• Gothic and Islamic-style tomb architecture
• Obelisks and marble monuments
• Beautiful ironwork and stained glass details

The architecture isn’t just decoration. A big part of why this tour works is that the guide helps you read what you’re seeing—why certain styles show up, what they signal, and how the city’s wealthy and influential shaped the way memory is built in stone.

The tour also frames the cemetery as a “city of the dead,” which isn’t just poetic talk. With 65 acres and thousands of burials, it’s more like a neighborhood than a single attraction. The guidance helps you understand how to navigate it emotionally as well as physically.

The tone: history first, no theatrical scare tactics

If you’re not in the mood for spooky storytelling, you’ll probably like the way this tour is handled. The vibe is history, culture, and real-life stories—without ghost theatrics. That makes it a good match for people who want something meaningful rather than melodramatic.

You may notice the living side of the cemetery

Cemeteries aren’t lifeless. On this one, you might notice things like birdsong and the plants along the route, since the grounds are maintained and full of greenery. It sounds small, but it changes the mood. You’re not only looking at stone; you’re in a real place that’s still alive with sound and shade.

Famous graves that put New Orleans in focus

Metairie Cemetery is a “who’s who” type of place, but the tour avoids turning it into a list. Instead, it ties famous names back to New Orleans themes: power, culture, and character.

If you’d like a quick sense of what you’re walking among, these are the kinds of people you can expect the guide to point out:

• Political figures: Louisiana governors and New Orleans mayors
• Carnival royalty: 49 kings of Carnival
• Notorious and legendary local figures: the cemetery holds burials of people like madams and brothel owners, reflecting the city’s complicated history
• Music and entertainment: Louis Prima and Al Hirt
• Literature and culture: Anne Rice
• Sports and business: Tom Benson

I like how the cemetery’s mix gives you a clearer picture of New Orleans beyond the postcard version. It’s still beautiful, but it’s also honest about who built the city’s myth and who paid the cost.

And when the guide connects details to the surrounding monuments, it’s easier to remember what you see. You walk past a structure and suddenly it has a reason for existing, not just a pretty shape.

Price and value: is $35 a fair deal?

At $35 per person for about 1.5 hours, this tour sits in a reasonable range for a guided, small-group experience in New Orleans. The value comes from a few things working together:

• You get a real guide for the full walk, not a self-guided sticker route
• Group size caps at 16, which helps the experience feel personal
• The cemetery is huge—guidance helps you focus on what matters without wasting time guessing
• Save Our Cemeteries ties the tour to nonprofit preservation/restoration, so your ticket supports ongoing work

So you’re paying for interpretation and access to context. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes your history with names, dates, and clear explanations, this price makes sense.

If you only want quick photos and minimal walking, you might find it a bit more than you need. But for most people, the guided structure is what turns Metairie from pretty into memorable.

Best timing: 10:00 am, shade strategy, and how to stay comfy

The tour runs with a 10:00 am start. That’s smart for two reasons: the light is often decent for photos, and the day usually hasn’t hit its peak heat yet.

Even so, expect walking outside. A practical strategy is to wear breathable clothing and bring water if you know you run hot. One of the most repeated pieces of advice from the experience is to use shade as your friend. Since it’s mostly flat, you’re not battling hills, but the sun can still be intense.

If you’re planning around weather, remember the tour depends on good conditions. If it’s canceled due to weather, you’ll be offered an alternative date or a refund.

Who should book this tour (and who might skip it)

This experience is a strong match if you:

• Like your New Orleans with substance, not just nightlife
• Want a guided way to understand cemetery architecture and burial culture
• Enjoy small-group tours where you can ask questions
• Appreciate the stories behind famous locals—from governors to musicians

You might want to skip or rethink if:

• You don’t want to spend time walking outdoors
• You’re looking for a quick stop for photos only
• You strongly prefer spooky entertainment over respectful history

Should you book Historic Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour?

I think you should book this one if you’re ready to slow down and really look. Metairie Cemetery is visually stunning, but the real payoff is learning how to read it—why the memorials are built the way they are, and how New Orleans culture shows up in the stone.

Two final decision helps:

• If you want history with a calm, respectful tone, this fits.
• If you like tours that support a nonprofit cause, you’ll feel good about the ticket price.

If your schedule allows, I’d go sooner rather than later, since this type of tour can be booked about two weeks in advance on average.

FAQ

How long is the Historic Metairie Cemetery Walking Tour?

It lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What’s included in the ticket price?

Your ticket includes admission and a 1.5-hour guided cemetery tour.

Where do I meet for the tour?

Meet at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124.

What time does the tour start?

The start time listed is 10:00 am.

How many people are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 16 travelers.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

Is there free cancellation?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.