New Orleans French Quarter and Cemetery Walking Tour

Tombs and street music, in one tour. This French Quarter and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 walk ties together famous landmarks like Jackson Square with the city’s oldest operating cemetery, including stories tied to Marie Laveau and the voodoo tradition. I love how the guide connects what you see on the street to what you’ll learn when you’re standing among the tombs, with hosts such as Charlotte setting an upbeat, story-driven tone.

My second favorite part is the format. For $20, you get an easy 1.5-hour rhythm: walk the neighborhood, then spend focused time at the cemetery, with a small group capped at 16 people. I also like that the guide shares practical local favorites and notes about filming locations, so the tour feels useful beyond just photos.

One thing to plan for: the cemetery can get brutally hot. If you’re visiting in peak summer, expect hard sun and little airflow, so bring water and dress for heat, not for aesthetics.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: visit the oldest cemetery still in operation in New Orleans and learn the burial customs there
• Marie Laveau’s tomb area: hear the story tied to the voodoo priestess known as the Voodoo Queen
• French Quarter landmarks on foot: Jackson Square plus stops around St. Louis Cathedral, Hermann-Grima House, and Armstrong Park
• Film and TV location spotting: you’ll pass places used in well-known productions
• Small-group vibe (max 16): more time for questions and a smoother pace

French Quarter to Cemetery: What This Tour Actually Includes

This tour is built for one simple goal: help you read New Orleans. You start in the French Quarter area near 710 St Louis St, then walk through the neighborhood’s most iconic sights before heading to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans’ oldest cemetery still in operation.

It runs about 1 hour 30 minutes total. The cemetery time is around 30 minutes, and the remaining time is spent back out in the French Quarter near major public landmarks. Admission for the cemetery isn’t included, so factor in that extra cost and the time it takes to get inside.

Guides use the streets as a living classroom. You’ll hear why this part of town feels different—how it carries centuries of life in its layout—and you’ll get enough context to make the cemetery stop feel more like a guided experience than a random wander.

The Start Point at 710 St Louis St, and How the Walking Portion Feels

You’ll meet at 710 St Louis St in the French Quarter, with a listed start time of 10:45 am. From there, the day is mostly on foot. That matters for two reasons.

First, you’re seeing the French Quarter the way locals do: slow, close-up, and at street level. Second, you’ll cover enough ground that comfortable shoes are not optional. This isn’t a sit-down history class. It’s a “look up, look down, and listen” walk.

The tour is capped at 16 travelers, which keeps things from turning into a stampede. In a small group, it’s easier to hear the guide over the street noise and to catch details without sprinting to stay aligned.

The host/guide is included, and you can expect a licensed tour guide style of commentary—stories, local pointers, and explanations built around what you’re seeing right then, not just what you might Google later.

Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral: The Two Anchors You’ll Keep Noticing

Jackson Square is the heart of the French Quarter, and this tour uses it like a compass. You’ll learn it’s where things began, and you’ll understand why it remains such a central meeting point for art, music, and daily life.

Along the way, you’ll also encounter St. Louis Cathedral, described on the tour as the oldest, continuously operating cathedral in the United States. That claim gives you a clue about how to listen while you’re there: don’t just notice the architecture—notice the continuity. This is a place that has kept functioning through centuries, even as the neighborhood around it changed.

If you like “spot it, then understand it,” you’ll enjoy how the guide brings the square into focus before the cemetery stop. It makes the day feel connected instead of like two separate attractions stitched together.

Hermann-Grima House and Armstrong Park: Where Details Matter

The tour highlights include architectural and neighborhood landmarks beyond the usual postcard targets, like the Hermann-Grima House and Armstrong Park.

You won’t be stuck in one place. You’ll pass through enough of the French Quarter to see how the blocks feel layered—older buildings, courtyards, and the mix of locals and visitors that gives the area its personality. With a guide talking, those details turn from background noise into clues about how the city grew and what mattered to people at different times.

This is also where the guide tips come in. You may get guidance on favorite local spots—useful if you’re trying to eat or pause in the right places without gambling on the first menu you see.

And if you’re the type who likes pop-culture scavenger hunts, the tour includes passing filming locations where TV shows and movies were shot. It’s a fun add-on because it changes your attention while you’re walking: you start noticing facades, corners, and street sightlines the productions would have used.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: Burial Customs and the Marie Laveau Connection

Now for the main event: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. This is the oldest cemetery still in operation in New Orleans, and the tour uses that fact to set expectations. It’s not just spooky props. It’s a real, working part of the city’s story.

You’ll learn about burial customs, including why it can seem like there’s always room for another person in a family tomb. That theme is the key to understanding what you’re seeing. Instead of treating the cemetery like a one-person-at-a-time memorial, you’re guided toward the idea of family space—how people are added over time.

Then come the notable tomb stories. The tour specifically highlights:

• the Tomb of Marie Laveau, tied to the voodoo tradition and her role as the Voodoo Queen
• Society tombs
• the Musician’s Tomb

Even if you don’t know the names going in, the guide’s job is to give you a mental map: who these figures were in the context of the city, and why the tombs matter for understanding New Orleans culture.

One practical note: cemetery rules and the physical layout can affect how you move. You’ll want to listen closely at the start so you don’t end up trying to photograph or reposition in a way that slows the group.

The Heat Reality: Plan for Sun, Water, and a Short, Sharp Visit

A tour like this can sound “easy”—it’s only 1.5 hours. But the cemetery portion can feel different from the street portion.

The French Quarter has shade here and there, plus people moving around. Inside the cemetery, it can be much more exposed. One of the clearest cautions tied to this experience is heat, including accounts of extreme heat index conditions and a lack of breeze in the cemetery area.

So here’s how you should prepare:

• Bring water (seriously, do it)
• Wear light layers and a hat or cap
• Use sunscreen
• Keep your phone charged for photos, but don’t spend the cemetery stop sprinting for shots

If you’re sensitive to heat, consider arriving with a slower pace mindset. You’re walking and standing in open areas, and the tour timing keeps the visit brief, so your comfort matters.

Meeting Points and Avoiding the Most Common Headaches

Your start address is clearly listed: 710 St Louis St. Your end point is Jackson Square.

Even with a clear address, New Orleans has a lot of street-level detail. The most important move you can make is simple: match what you’re told at booking to what you see in person. Be early enough to locate the host without stress.

If something feels off, there’s a practical contact detail shared in the operator response: (504) 513-0092. If you’re unsure, text rather than wander in circles. It’s faster, and it keeps your day on track.

This is one of those experiences where showing up informed makes a bigger difference than people expect.

Price and Value: Why $20 Can Feel Like a Bargain

$20 per person is a pretty reasonable price for two major experiences in one package: French Quarter orientation plus a cemetery visit where burial customs are explained in a guided way.

Here’s the value math in plain terms:

• You’re paying for guided storytelling and timing, not for transportation. It’s walk-only.
• You’re getting a full “see it, understand it, then see it again with context” flow.
• The guide also adds practical tips on local places and mentions filming locations, which you can use right after the tour.

The only wrinkle is that cemetery admission is not included. So your final spend may be a bit more than $20. Still, compared to paying for a standalone cemetery visit plus paying someone to walk you through the French Quarter, this is often a solid deal—especially if you like local guidance that translates the sights into meaning.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Might Skip It)

This tour fits best if you want:

• a structured walk through the French Quarter with guided context
• the cemetery stop handled with explanations, not just “go look around”
• a small-group experience (max 16) with time to listen and ask questions

It’s also a good pick for first-timers who feel overwhelmed by New Orleans’ many attractions. You’ll leave with clear reference points: Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

You might want to consider another option if:

• you strongly dislike walking and standing for short stretches
• you’re traveling during harsh heat and can’t manage it safely
• you’re expecting lots of food and drink included (it’s not)

Children are allowed, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed too. The tour lists moderate physical fitness as a requirement, which means comfortable walking matters.

Notes on Guide Style: What the Best Moments Tend to Sound Like

The tour’s success often comes down to the guide. In the guidance shared, you can see a pattern of what works: friendly storytelling, a knack for making the streets feel personal, and attention to the group in hot conditions.

Names like Charlotte, Jaimie, and Tamara come up as examples of hosts who were engaging and ready with city context. That matters because the French Quarter and the cemetery are both places where you can either miss the meaning—or catch it fast—depending on how the narration is delivered.

If you tend to learn best through conversation and real-world details, you’ll likely enjoy this format.

Should You Book This French Quarter and Cemetery Walk?

I’d book this tour if you want an organized, walking-based introduction to New Orleans that goes beyond the usual street photos. Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 are the kind of anchor points you’ll keep referencing after your day out.

Just be smart about two things: bring water for the cemetery heat, and confirm the exact meeting spot details tied to your booking so you don’t lose time hunting around the Quarter.

One last tie-breaker: if you’re curious about the Marie Laveau connection and want burial customs explained on-site, this tour gives you the structure to understand what you’re looking at without turning it into a confusing free-for-all.

FAQ

How much does the New Orleans French Quarter and Cemetery walking tour cost?

The price is $20.00 per person.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where do I meet for the tour?

The start meeting point is 710 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA, and the tour ends at Jackson Square in New Orleans.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is listed as 10:45 am.

Is food or drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Is cemetery admission included?

No. The cemetery stop notes that an admission ticket is not included.

What’s the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 16 travelers.

Are children allowed?

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Is there a cancellation option if plans change?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.