New Orleans has a second, darker tour route. This five-in-one walk through the French Quarter stacks ghosts, voodoo, true-crime lore, and local history, told by a licensed guide who helps you understand why the city keeps telling these stories. I especially like the way it gives quick orientation around landmark stops, and I like that the spooky stuff is tied to real places and layered Louisiana history.

The trade-off is that it’s a walking tour with uneven streets and multiple outdoor stops, plus optional bar stops where waits can stretch the timing. Also, there’s a strict no-video rule, so if you plan to record everything, you’ll want to adjust your expectations.

Key highlights at a glance

• Start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar courtyard gate on Bourbon Street (not inside)
• Paranormal add-ons include provided ghost-hunting equipment
• LaLaurie Mansion stop with celebrity-true-crime history (admission not included)
• French Quarter route with over ten locations plus time at Jackson Square
• Optional drink stops (drinks not included) and a pace that can slow in busy bars

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is the launchpad (and the meeting rules matter)

The tour begins near the famous Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon St, right in the French Quarter. Check in is meant to happen at the courtyard gate attached to the bar. Important: the tour does not meet inside the bar, and it does not meet at street corners. Arrive a few minutes early so you’re not stuck guessing where your group is lining up.

This first stretch is also where you get the tone of the experience. Your guide is on hand with a steady script of legends and context, but there’s practical help too: the route includes courtesy stops to purchase drinks and use restrooms. That may sound minor, but for a 1–2 hour walking tour, it can be the difference between enjoying the stories and feeling rushed.

I also like that the tour ends in the heart of the French Quarter. You don’t finish on the edge of town hoping for a ride. You finish where the walking life already happens.

The paranormal side: voodoo, vampires, and ghost-hunting gear

Let’s talk about the spooky format. This is a walking tour that leans hard into paranormal storytelling: tales of voodoo rituals, vampire sightings, and regular ghost activity tied to specific locations. If you want light history with a light spooky overlay, this isn’t exactly that. It’s more like New Orleans history with the lights turned down.

Here’s the fun part. The tour offers ghost-hunting equipment for you to use during the experience. That’s not something you’d expect from a standard history walk, and it’s a big reason this tour works as an introduction. You’re not just hearing legends—you’re invited to play along, at least in spirit.

One big rule you’ll want to remember: there are restrictions around filming. The tour states that guests are not allowed to video any portion of the tour, including any videos of guide narrations. So plan to experience it live—photos may be fine, but video recording is the no-go.

And if you’re thinking of taking the equipment home as a souvenir: don’t. The tour says there’s a $250 fee for lost, damaged, or missing paranormal equipment. If equipment needs replacement, it also references a $60 fee so it can be replaced immediately. That’s clear, and it’s the kind of detail that helps you avoid an awkward end to an otherwise fun night.

Stop 2: the LaLaurie Mansion stop and why it hits so hard

The tour’s most talked-about stop is the Lalaurie Mansion, tied to the infamous events connected with Madame LaLaurie. The guide’s telling is built around more than just shock value. You’re set up with history, architecture notes, and the darker story that made the site a legend.

If you’ve seen American Horror Story: Coven, this is where it connects. The mansion is directly referenced through that TV connection, but the tour’s angle is local: what happened here, why it became a story, and how that story is carried through the French Quarter’s mythology.

It’s also a good example of the tour’s overall theme. New Orleans has a habit of wrapping complicated history in narrative—sometimes spooky, sometimes tragic. This stop gives you that kind of narrative explanation, with enough grounding to make it more than urban legend.

Bourbon Street break: a drink is optional, timing is not

After the LaLaurie stop, the route drops into Bourbon Street for another short segment. This is explicitly positioned as a moment where you can purchase a drink while the tour continues. Drinks are not included in the ticket price, so this is purely on you.

This is also where timing can get real. The tour notes that some bars may be busy, and waiting can delay the walk. If you hate crowds, tight schedules, or lines, keep your expectations flexible around this part of the route.

There’s another practical note: the tour reserves the right to refuse service if someone shows signs of extreme intoxication. So if you’re doing this on a travel day when you’re already drinking elsewhere, you’ll want to pace it.

French Quarter walking time: more than a quick highlight loop

The core of the tour is the French Quarter route, scheduled as a walking block that visits over ten locations across about one hour within the broader 1–2 hour tour window. That sounds compact, but it’s built for people who want structure: you get a story thread, you move place to place, and you’re not left wandering without context.

The French Quarter section is also where the tour leans into pop culture. It’s described as a way to see famous filming locations and also the homes of Hollywood celebrities who live in the area. That part is fun even if you don’t go full movie-spotter mode. The guide helps you connect what you’re seeing to why it shows up on screen at all.

Also, the tour’s style matters. The guides use storytelling and local character history to connect what you’re standing next to with what the city has been through over time. You’ll also hear about the city’s founding and the first cast of people who called the area home—wild characters, real stakes, and enough detail to make the neighborhood feel like a place with a memory.

And one more important point: it’s not framed as an inside-the-building tour. The tour notes that no entry is gained inside locations. You’ll see exteriors and hear stories, which is usually a great fit for travelers who want movement without ticket lines at every stop.

Jackson Square: where the tour ties legends to Louisiana burial customs

The last major named stop is Jackson Square, with time set aside for multiple narrations. This isn’t just a scenery pause. It’s where the tour starts connecting spooky themes to the more unusual parts of local life—especially the city’s “cities of the dead” story.

New Orleans burial practices get explained, including above-ground vaults and other burial quirks that make the area’s cemetery culture look different from what most people expect. That kind of context changes the whole experience. Instead of thinking of cemeteries as only spooky, you understand them as a reflection of climate, tradition, and community.

Jackson Square is also where you’ll hear additional founding-era stories and see how the tour links spiritual themes and street legends back to a real place in a real city. If you’re the type who likes to understand why something is weird, this is where you get the “why” in plain language.

Price and value: $35 works best when you want stories plus orientation

At $35 per person, this tour sits in the “small cost, big payoff” category—if your goal is a guided walk that gives you a clear mental map of the French Quarter. The ticket includes a licensed tour guide, and the experience is structured with multiple named stops, not just one random loop.

What’s not included matters:

• Drinks aren’t included, even though you’re offered chances to purchase them.
• The LaLaurie Mansion stop notes that admission is not included.
• Ghost-hunting equipment is described as provided, but there are fees attached if equipment is lost or damaged.

Timing is another value factor. The tour says 1–2 hours (approx.), but it can run longer depending on waits inside bars and how busy stops get. If you’re trying to fit this between dinner reservations that can’t move, you’ll want to keep a buffer.

Also factor in the walking. The tour warns you about old, uneven, and dilapidated streets and walkways, and it notes it won’t take responsibility for injuries tied to walking conditions. Translation: wear shoes you trust, and don’t treat the French Quarter like it’s a smooth sidewalk loop.

Finally, there’s a vibe note worth repeating. This tour is described as New Orleans Drunk History Tour. That’s playful branding, but the route does include bar time and a policy about extreme intoxication. If you want a quiet, museum-style ghost walk, you might not love the mixed bar-and-stories flow.

Guide quality is the swing factor: Cody and Coty are proof

The best part of this tour is the storytelling delivery. The reviews highlighted guides like Cody and Coty for being friendly, quick with answers to questions, and strong on cultural context. When a guide can connect voodoo lore, cemetery practices, and French Quarter filming locations in the same breath, the tour clicks.

I’d also treat that as a practical hint: come with a few questions. The tour is built for people who want explanations, not just a roll of spooky facts. The guides in the feedback stood out because they didn’t just recite. They answered and added layers.

Who should book this haunted French Quarter walk (and who should skip it)

This tour fits you if:

• You’re a first-time visitor and want a structured way to orient yourself fast.
• You like history that’s told through story, not through a museum script.
• You’re curious about voodoo and burial practices, and you want them explained as part of the city’s ongoing identity.
• You enjoy a light “play along” element with ghost-hunting equipment.

It’s less ideal if:

• You want a strictly quiet, non-alcohol-themed tour. Drink stops are part of the route, and bar crowds can affect the pace.
• You need to film video constantly. The tour prohibits video recording.
• You’re traveling with limited mobility or hate uneven ground. It’s a walking format with uneven surfaces.

If you’re bringing kids: the tour says children must be accompanied by an adult, and some bars do not allow kids inside. Since there’s no inside entry at locations listed for narrations, your bigger concern is the bar segments.

Service animals are allowed, and the route is near public transportation, which is helpful in a city where rides can be hard to line up at the exact moment you want.

Should you book this tour? A quick decision guide

Book it if you want a guided French Quarter walkthrough that mixes true-crime storytelling, voodoo lore, cemetery context, and film-locations sightseeing in about 1–2 hours. At $35, that’s strong value when you’re using it as your neighborhood primer.

Skip it (or pick a different style of tour) if you’re uncomfortable with ghost-themed storytelling, you need a video-first experience, or you have a tight schedule with no wiggle room for bar lines. Also, read the rules before you go: no video, no taking equipment, and the LaLaurie stop has admission not included.

One more reality check: there are rare negative reports about meeting issues and refunds. I can’t judge right here who’s right in any individual case, but you can protect yourself. Arrive a few minutes early at the courtyard gate on Bourbon Street, keep your confirmation handy, and make sure you’re using the correct meeting point address. That turns a stressful situation into a normal one.

If you’re the type who likes walking out of a city knowing where you are and what you saw, this tour does that job.

FAQ

Where is the tour meeting point?

The tour meets at the courtyard gate attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tours do not meet inside the bar or at a street corner.

How long does the tour last?

It’s a walking tour listed at about 1 to 2 hours (approx.). It may last longer depending on wait time inside bars.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

What is included in the ticket price?

The ticket includes a licensed tour guide. The experience also mentions provided ghost-hunting equipment. Drinks are not included, and admission for the Lalaurie Mansion stop is not included.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included in the price, though there are stops where you can purchase drinks.

Are videos allowed during the tour?

No. Guests are not allowed to video any portion of the tour, including narration by the guide.

What happens if I lose the ghost-hunting equipment?

The tour states a fee of $250 for any piece of lost, damaged, or missing paranormal equipment. It also mentions a $60 fee so equipment can be replaced immediately.

Is the tour refundable if it gets canceled?

The policy says the experience is non-refundable, but it also states that if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of travelers isn’t met, you’ll be offered an alternate tour or a full refund.