French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans

REVIEW · NEW ORLEANS

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans

  • 5.0163 reviews
  • 1 hour (approx.)
  • From $32.00
Book on Viator →

Operated by New Orleans Ghosts By Us Ghost Adventures · Bookable on Viator

Spooky history, delivered on foot in the French Quarter. This tour is built around live guide storytelling and a tight walk past famous haunted landmarks, so you get the feel of New Orleans after dark without complicated plans. The trade-off is simple: each stop is brief, so if you want long, sit-down explanations or lots of museum time, this may feel fast.

What makes it especially fun is the way the guide turns the stops into a moving narrative. I like how the route threads together haunted sites, darker local lore, and street-level atmosphere, ending at Muriel’s Jackson Square where you can wrap up with one last dose of ghostly backstory.

Because it runs outdoors in all weather conditions, pack for real New Orleans nights. Bring a light rain layer or poncho, comfortable shoes, and expect heat some evenings; the experience is still easy on the feet, but you will be walking and listening for about an hour.

Key things to know before you go

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - Key things to know before you go

  • Live commentary from a local guide keeps the walk moving and the stories in context.
  • Short, focused stops mean you see a lot in about an hour.
  • Haunted landmarks across the Quarter include Jackson Square, the LaLaurie area, and more.
  • Small group size (up to 35) helps the guide keep energy up.
  • Optional longer upgrade adds more tales if you want extra time.
  • Outdoor at night, in all weather means dress for rain and heat, not just the season.

Why a 1-Hour French Quarter Ghost Walk Works at Night

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - Why a 1-Hour French Quarter Ghost Walk Works at Night
New Orleans has a way of feeling theatrical after dark, and this tour leans into that. You are walking the Quarter while the city is doing what it does best at night: dim lights, narrow streets, and that sense that every corner has a past.

This is also a smart format if you are short on time. At about 1 hour, you get a concentrated hit of haunted lore at multiple stops, without burning half a day or stacking a bunch of separate attractions.

You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in New Orleans.

Price and value: What $32 buys you (and what it does not)

At $32 per person, this is priced like an easy add-on—good if you already plan to be in the French Quarter. You are paying for the guide, the story structure, and the route. It is not priced like an all-day deep research outing.

Most stops are admission free in the sense that you are not paying separate entry fees at each location during the tour. Still, each site is a quick stop, so the value is in the narrative and the walk—not in extended time at any single building.

Meeting at St. Louis Cathedral, then ending at Muriel’s Jackson Square

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - Meeting at St. Louis Cathedral, then ending at Muriel’s Jackson Square
The tour starts at St. Louis Cathedral, at 615 Pere Antoine Alley, and it ends at Muriel’s Jackson Square, 801 Chartres St. That end point matters because Muriel’s is right where a lot of people naturally wander after a night tour—so you can keep eating, people-watching, or heading back out of the Quarter.

You’ll also want to double-check the meeting location, since the tour area is crowded with other groups that start nearby. The simplest move is to be at the stated address a few minutes early and look for the host holding the group.

The haunted stops you’ll cover in about an hour

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - The haunted stops you’ll cover in about an hour

Jackson Square: public executions and restless spirits

You start at Jackson Square, a place that always looks historic, even when the streets around it are busy. The eerie thread here is its grim past: this square was once a site of public executions, and local ghost lore ties that history to lingering spirits.

This stop is quick—about 7 minutes—but it sets the tone. Expect your guide to frame what you are seeing right now (the square’s layout and energy) through the darker lens of what happened there.

What to watch for: the square’s open space means wind can cut through. If you’re doing this in cooler months, bring a layer.

Old Ursuline Convent Museum: the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley

Next is the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, widely known as the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley. The haunting angle is all about the long life of the building as a convent and school, with stories centered on strange sounds and ghostly figures.

This stop also gives you a useful lesson in how New Orleans folklore sticks to places that have been used for generations. Even if you do not buy the paranormal part, the setting is enough to make the stories feel grounded.

Drawback to consider: because the time is short, you won’t get a full inside visit. You are there for the exterior setting and the guide’s story beats.

Beauregard-Keyes House (BK Historic House and Gardens): ornate rooms, eerie reports

Then you’re headed to the Beauregard-Keyes House, often called the BK Historic House and Gardens. The hauntings here are aimed at the former residents—ornate rooms, reported sightings, and unexplained phenomena inside.

What I like about this stop is the contrast. The home’s elegance can make the ghost story feel sharper, because you’re not imagining a spooky ruin. You are looking at something beautiful that the lore says is still unsettled.

Practical note: the guide will likely help you connect the mansion’s layout to why people associate certain parts of the house with hauntings.

Lalaurie Mansion: a cruelty story with a supernatural twist

The route then turns to Lalaurie Mansion—famous for a truly dark chapter in local history. The haunting stories here come from the residence of the LaLaurie family and the cruelty tied to that past, with legends of ghostly apparitions and chilling activity.

If you care about context, this is one of the most important stops to listen closely. Even if you mainly came for spooks, the story matters because it explains why this location carries such a heavy reputation.

Sensitivity heads-up: the material is darker by design. If you prefer a lighter, campy ghost vibe, I’d mentally prepare for this stop to be more intense than the others.

Andrew Jackson Hotel (French Quarter Inns): a historic building with spirit rumors

Next is the Andrew Jackson Hotel in the French Quarter Inns area, in a building dating back to the early 19th century. Ghost lore here is built around reports of encounters with spirits and unexplained phenomena.

This stop works well because it’s easy to picture normal life happening inside a very old structure. The idea that a place can be both a functioning hotel and a haunt makes the stories feel more plausible in a purely human way.

Timing-wise, it’s another short stop. Your guide’s interpretation is what makes it stick, not any long walk-through.

New Orleans Vampire Cafe: Gothic theme meets paranormal tales

Then you hit New Orleans Vampire Cafe, with its Gothic decor and dark ambiance. The supernatural stories here come from sightings and eerie occurrences tied to the café’s spooky theme.

I like this stop because it adds variety. Earlier stops focus on history and buildings; this one leans into a themed atmosphere that invites playful dread.

If you’re taking photos, keep it respectful of other people nearby. This is a public business area, not a staged set for your tour.

Père Antoine Alley: narrow passage, long legend

Your next stop is Père Antoine Alley, a narrow historic passageway named after a revered priest. Ghost stories here focus on spirits of people who once walked the alley, and the tight space helps the legend feel more unsettling.

This is one of the best “walk-and-feel-it” stops. In a narrow corridor, sounds bounce, footsteps seem louder, and you can’t help imagining how the space looked in earlier decades.

Practical tip: narrow alleys can get crowded with other pedestrians. Stay close to your guide so the group flows without slowing down.

Faulkner House Books: literary walls with ghost stories

You then go to Faulkner House Books, a bookstore housed in the former residence of author William Faulkner. Here, the haunted lore blends with the book-lined setting—ghost sightings and unexplained occurrences in the store’s interior atmosphere.

This stop is great if you like your hauntings with a cultural twist. You’re not just chasing supernatural rumors—you’re also stepping into a real literary site, which makes the ghost stories feel less generic.

One consideration: a bookstore can be quieter than the street outside, so the guide’s voice may be softer here. If you want to hear every detail, try to position yourself where you can clearly follow along.

Muriel’s Jackson Square: wrap-up haunt tales over dinner territory

Finally, the tour ends at Muriel’s Jackson Square. The lore ties the building’s past as a residence and gambling den to hauntings by former occupants, with reports of unexplained phenomena.

This ending is smart. You finish near food and a natural flow of evening activity, so the experience doesn’t feel like an abrupt stop in the middle of your night. It’s also a good moment to ask your guide a question if you’re still curious.

The real star: the guide’s storytelling energy

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - The real star: the guide’s storytelling energy
This tour lives and dies by the guide. I’ve seen guides bring a mix of humor and history, turning the walk into something that feels personal and not like a script you’re forced to endure. Names you might hear include Gomez, Ahlis, Elias, Royale, and Ashley, each known for keeping people engaged and moving.

If you like interactive storytelling—small prompts, quick reactions from the group, and an explanation that connects a site to a legend—this is a strong match. When the guide is firing on all cylinders, the hour feels like more than 60 minutes.

If you prefer a totally solemn ghost tone, keep in mind the style here can be playful. That’s part of the fun, but it may not be your preferred flavor.

Who should book this French Quarter ghost tour?

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - Who should book this French Quarter ghost tour?
Book it if you want:

  • A night activity that is easy to fit into a tight itinerary
  • Haunted New Orleans lore told by a guide, not just a self-guided app
  • A walking route that covers major Quarter landmarks in one go
  • A comfortable way to see the Quarter without turning it into a museum crawl

Skip it if you want:

  • Long stops, deep entry-level tours, and extended indoor time at each location
  • A truly academic, footnoted history of every legend
  • A full thrill ride where every minute is meant to scare you

The booking call: Should you go?

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - The booking call: Should you go?
Yes, I’d book this tour if your goal is a fun, focused introduction to French Quarter hauntings with a guide who knows how to pace stories at night. At $32 for about an hour, it’s good value for the number of famous sites you cover and the fact that you’re walking through the Quarter’s atmosphere instead of just reading about it later.

My only caution is timing and expectations. If you want thick detail at each stop, you’ll likely crave the extended longer tour upgrade so the stories get more breathing room.

FAQ

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans - FAQ

FAQ

How much does the French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls tour cost?

It costs $32.00 per person.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 1 hour.

What language is the tour in?

The tour is offered in English.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere Antoine Alley, and ends at Muriel’s Jackson Square, 801 Chartres St.

What is included with the ticket?

Your ticket includes a local guide, professional guide, and tour escort or host.

Is the tour indoors or outdoors?

It’s an outdoor walking tour and operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately.

How big is the group?

There is a maximum of 35 travelers per tour.

Is there an option for a longer tour?

Yes, there is an upgrade option available for a longer tour.

Not for you? Here's more nearby things to do in New Orleans we have reviewed