Ghost stories, plus a drink plan.

If you like your New Orleans with equal parts legendary lore and street-level fun, this walking tour is built for you. You start in the French Quarter, hit historic stops like St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, and you finish with a night-out vibe thanks to bar stops where you can grab to-go drinks along the route.

What I like most is the guide-led format and the way the stories feel rooted in real places. Guides such as Cody have been praised for pacing, crowd control, and keeping the mood casual while covering topics like ghosts, voodoo ceremonies, and vampires—without turning it into pure camp. The other big plus is the included EMF meter ghost detector, so you’re not just hearing spooky talk; you’re also doing a bit of hands-on paranormal-style checking.

The main consideration is that schedule hiccups can happen. Some bookings have seen late starts or cancellations close to departure, so I’d keep a backup plan for your night if this is your only paid activity on the calendar.

Key things to know before you go

• St Louis Cathedral + Jackson Square: iconic landmarks get folded into the stories, not just photographed.
• Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop area: you begin the tour in one of the Quarter’s oldest bar-and-legend zones.
• Real EMF meter: you’ll have equipment to use during the walk (with rules for checkout/return).
• To-go drinks, not free drinks: you buy beverages as you go, but the route is designed around bar stops.
• Inside the French Quarter: the tour keeps you in one walkable neighborhood for the full experience.
• Moderate-paced walking: plan for uneven sidewalks and traffic in the busiest part of town.

Starting on Bourbon: Meeting Lafitte’s Courtyard and getting moving

Your tour starts at 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. It’s a very “right where the action is” kind of start, which helps if you want to roll straight into your evening without extra rides or waiting around.

Here’s the practical part: the tour does not meet inside Lafitte’s. You check in on the sidewalk at the gate, and you should arrive a few minutes early. The operator takes things seriously about departure time. They also note that late arrivals aren’t refunded, and the guide won’t wait once the scheduled start time passes—so build in a little buffer if you’re also dealing with Bourbon Street crowds, photos, or a quick drink detour right before check-in.

One detail I appreciate (especially in a place that can be chaotic) is that they take time-stamped photos of the meeting location when tours begin. That means if anything goes sideways, there’s at least a documented start point.

The French Quarter walk: How 10 stops turn into one connected night plan

The tour runs about 1 to 2 hours, and it stays inside the French Quarter the whole time. The exact timing can stretch a bit because bar stops and wait times inside venues can slow the group down. This matters because your experience is a mix of story stops and short pauses—think “moving show,” not a sit-down museum.

You’ll cover up to 10 locations along the walking route (plus the bar stops). Some stops are more story-heavy, others are quick-location “picture this” moments, but the overall structure is built so you feel like you’re progressing through the Quarter rather than bouncing between random streets.

If you’re trying to get your bearings fast, this format is smart. You’ll walk through the same streets you’d likely wander on your own anyway, but with a local narrative threaded through the buildings and corners. In practice, that gives you two wins:

• You learn what to look for on future walks.
• You build a mental map of the French Quarter that’s easier than just following GPS.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop stop: Old-street energy and darker legends

The tour’s first story stop is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, which makes sense because it sits right in the middle of the Quarter’s most layered block-by-block personality. You’ll start with the neighborhood vibe and then get the dark-history angle—ghosts, vampires, voodoo legends, and the kinds of supernatural stories that French Quarter streets seem to spawn.

What I find appealing about this opening is that it sets expectations early. This isn’t a “museum facts only” tour. It’s the drunk-history style: entertaining, dramatic, and designed to keep you smiling while you learn. If you like your storytelling casual and street-level, you’ll probably settle in quickly.

Also, you’re not just listening. The tour’s paranormal element is part of the overall arc, and that leads you into the equipment section later.

St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square: Big icons, explained in story form

The tour highlights include historic stops like St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, and these are places that can feel “obvious” when you look at them in daylight. The value here is in how the tour ties those landmarks to the supernatural and alternate-history themes.

For you as a visitor, this is a great way to shift the experience from sightseeing to meaning. You know the names already from postcards. The tour helps you understand why the Quarter’s legends stick to these spaces, and how people across different eras viewed the city’s power, danger, and mystery.

A practical note: because the French Quarter is busy and streets are uneven, you’ll want to keep a little situational awareness around these major points. Don’t try to drift away for long photos while the group is moving. The operator is clear that you stay with your group and that the guide can’t stop to allow detours for pictures.

Ghost detector time: The EMF meter and how to use it

One of the most distinctive features is that the tour uses a real EMF meter (a ghost/paranormal detector) during the experience. This is the part that turns a typical “tell me a spooky story” tour into something more interactive.

Here’s what you should know so you don’t end up disappointed:

• No paranormal encounter is guaranteed. The operator states these tours are for entertainment only.
• The equipment is available for use during the tour, but you have to check it out at the beginning if you want to participate.
• You’ll need to provide details like your name, phone number, address, and booking reference to request the equipment.

The rules around the detector are also serious. Equipment is tracked via GPS, and there’s a stated fee of $250 if something is lost, damaged, or missing. So if you’re the kind of person who treats gadgets like party favors, this is your moment to slow down.

The best mindset here: treat the detector as a game prop with a science-ish vibe. You might still enjoy it even if you don’t “feel” anything. In fact, the tour works best when you engage with the whole setup—stories first, then the equipment checks, then the next stop.

Drunk-history style bar stops: To-go drinks, route design, and costs

Drinks are not included in the tour price, so plan on buying to-go drinks from neighborhood bars along the walking route. The good news is the tour is designed for that. It isn’t a random history walk that happens to pass bars—it’s built around short stops where getting a drink fits the schedule.

You’ll also see the option of to-go windows/bars along the route if you don’t want to go inside. That can be a big deal in the French Quarter, where certain venues get tight and loud fast.

Why this matters for value: the base price is $21, which is relatively approachable for a guided walking tour that includes live storytelling and equipment. But the real total depends on how much you drink. If you’re on a strict budget, consider treating the to-go drinks as one or two moments rather than a steady refill strategy.

One more thing to keep in mind: the operator notes that the tour group can drink alcoholic beverages during the tour, but they may refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated. It’s not a vibe-killer if you’re sensible. It is, however, a reminder that this is a public setting with other people around, not a private party.

Pace, weather, and the realities of French Quarter walking

This is a moderate-paced walking tour, and the operator makes it clear the route can take longer if bars are busy. Because it’s the French Quarter, you should also expect:

• uneven sidewalks and older streets,
• crowds and traffic,
• quick turns where groups can spread out.

A good move is wearing shoes you can walk in for 60–90 minutes without thinking about it too much. Even if you’re only doing a short distance, the surfaces are the kind that punish flimsy footwear.

Weather is another factor. The tour is rain-or-shine, and they warn that New Orleans conditions can swing from hot to cold. So bring what you’d bring for walking outside—light layers, something for rain, and an attitude that says: we’re going anyway.

Getting the most out of it: small behaviors that make a big difference

If you want this tour to feel smooth and fun instead of stressful, here are the habits that pay off:

• Arrive early and check in right at the meeting gate. The guide won’t hang around after the scheduled start.
• Stay with the group. The tour rules are firm about not walking off for extended photo stops.
• If you want the EMF meter, request it at check-in rather than winging it.
• Keep your phone/video expectations in check. They state audio or video recording devices are not allowed during the tour.

Also, if you’re the type who likes trivia and “useless knowledge” (the fun kind), this tour will probably hit the mark. The stories are framed to be entertaining as they go, not just educational lectures.

Who should book this tour (and who might not)

This experience fits best if you want:

• a guided French Quarter walk with a strong story thread,
• haunted-history themes like ghosts, voodoo legends, and vampires,
• a casual group vibe that includes bar stops and light paranormal play.

If you prefer purely factual history, this may feel too dramatic or too legend-focused. The operator clearly frames it as entertainment, and the paranormal side is not presented as guaranteed evidence.

If you’re traveling with someone who wants quiet sightseeing, this is also likely not the best match. The tour is built around movement, crowd interaction, and a night-out rhythm.

Price and value: Is $21 a fair deal in New Orleans?

At $21 per person, you’re paying for a live guide, a guided walking route, multiple story stops (around 10), and a shared interactive paranormal element via an EMF meter. Drinks aren’t included, so the effective spend can rise quickly—especially if you buy more than a couple to-go drinks.

That said, this is still one of the more budget-friendly ways to get a structured French Quarter experience with a guide who’s been repeatedly praised for keeping the group engaged. When the tour hits, it’s good value because it saves you the effort of planning a route and trying to turn a maze of streets into a coherent story.

The one place where value can feel worse is when schedules go wrong. If your timing is tight, I’d keep a backup option. Not because the concept is bad—because New Orleans can be unpredictable, and there have been documented cases where people didn’t get the tour they expected due to no-shows or late changes.

Should you book the New Orleans Drunk History Tour?

I’d book it if you’re excited by alternate-history storytelling, you want a guided French Quarter route instead of solo wandering, and you like the idea of an EMF meter experience even as a playful add-on.

I’d hesitate if this is your only planned activity and you can’t handle a last-minute schedule problem. If you do book, give yourself extra time to reach the meeting point, and keep one flexible night plan nearby—something you can do even if your tour timing shifts.

Bottom line: for a fun-first, story-heavy French Quarter start, this tour can be a great pick. Just go in knowing drinks cost extra, the paranormal part is for entertainment, and punctual meeting matters.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

You meet on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116. The tour does not meet inside the bar.

How long is the New Orleans Drunk History Tour?

It runs about 1 to 2 hours. The timing can vary depending on bar wait times, since the tour includes multiple stops.

Is the tour only in the French Quarter?

Yes. The tour stays inside the French Quarter for the duration.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Drinks are available to purchase along the route. The tour includes bar stops where you can grab to-go drinks.

Do they provide paranormal equipment?

Yes, a real EMF meter is used during the tour. You can request to use the equipment, but it must be checked out at the start and returned to staff before you leave.

Is audio or video recording allowed?

No. Audio or video recording devices are not allowed during the tour.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour is described as rain-or-shine. If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.