Bad Broads flips NOLA into street-level storytelling. This 90-minute walking tour spotlights the women who shaped New Orleans, from notorious madams to voodoo legend. You’ll hear spooky history-style tales tied to real addresses, starting right in the French Quarter and ending near Jackson Square.

I especially love the women-first perspective. The stories don’t treat these figures as footnotes; they show how power, survival, and scandal moved through the city. I also like the guide energy—on different nights, guides like Luis (witty and fun) and Rhody (high-energy, funny, and informative) made the same streets feel alive rather than rehearsed.

One thing to plan for: it’s a walking tour with a steady pace. Even though the tour is set up for small groups (maximum 9 travelers), at least one departure was reported as crowded and harder to hear, so arriving early and staying close to your guide can really help.

Quick hits before you go

• 90 minutes on foot through the French Quarter, with a start that runs on time
• Small-group setup (max 9), which generally makes Q&A and hearing the guide easier
• Women-centered storytelling: madams, scandal, and the legends that cling to certain corners of NOLA
• French Quarter ghost talk that mixes murder, money, and myth at key stops
• Exterior focus on major sites like the Lalaurie Mansion and the Marie Laveau house location
• Bring-a-beverage friendly, plus comfortable shoes are a must

Entering the Bad Broads vibe on Royal Street

The tour kicks off in a very practical way. You’ll meet at 809 Royal St in New Orleans, and you’re told to arrive about 15 minutes before the walk begins. The tour itself is about 1 hour 30 minutes, and it ends near Jackson Square, depending on crowd flow and your guide’s pacing.

What makes this tour feel different from the typical New Orleans “greatest hits” walk is the angle. Instead of treating history like a parade of names, it treats the city like a network of people with motives—especially women. I like that it frames the past as messy human behavior: power struggles, reputations, business, faith, and fear.

Also, this is mobile ticket territory. That matters because you can keep everything simple: phone in your hand, listen for the meeting spot, and get going.

What you’ll actually be doing: a guided street walk, not a museum stop

This experience is a walking tour, which means you’re trading indoor comfort for real street context. You’ll be outside for most of it, so your “where do I stand?” strategy matters. If you want the full effect—especially the spooky bits—stay where the guide can be heard without you craning your neck or squeezing around other groups.

The tone leans into dark, sensational material. You’ll hear stories connected to previous homes of murderous madams, voodoo queens, and scandalous high-society murderesses. It’s not presented as a lecture. It’s more like your guide is turning the sidewalk into a stage set, with humor used to keep things moving.

One more useful note: the tour has a minimum age of 16, and under-18 travelers must be accompanied by an adult. It’s also listed with service animals allowed and near public transportation, so it’s not a total hassle to fit into an evening plan.

Stop 1 in the French Quarter: madams, voodoo queens, and a ghost-city feel

The French Quarter portion is where you really get the “Bad Broads” theme. The tour starts near St. Ann Street, and then you move through that classic grid of courtyards, balconies, and narrow streets where stories stick. The guide commentary focuses on women’s roles in the city’s past, including criminals and operators as well as the figures around whom legends formed.

The content described for this first leg is bold: the tour stops at sites tied to murderous madams, voodoo queens, and women connected to high-society scandals. You’ll also hear about the city’s first female serial-killer lore and the brothel owners whose rules were about profit and control.

If you like New Orleans best when it feels slightly dangerous, this is that part. The tour also includes the ghost-story element—legends that victims’ ghosts are said to still roam the streets tied to their deaths. Whether you buy every detail or treat it all as folklore, the tour’s strength is how it uses the setting. You’re not just hearing about the past. You’re standing in the kind of space where the legends made sense to people back then.

Practical tip: wear shoes you can move in quickly. Multiple guides are reported to keep the pace brisk enough that you’ll want to walk confidently, not shuffle. And yes—you’ll likely pass lots of people, so plan to keep your group position consistent.

Lalaurie Mansion stop: Madame LaLaurie in the spotlight

Next you’ll head to the Lalaurie Mansion, where the tour focuses on Madame LaLaurie. This stop is listed as about 15 minutes, and importantly, admission is not included.

That distinction matters. The tour may give you context and point out what’s tied to the legend, but you shouldn’t assume you’ll walk inside or that any entry fee is bundled. If seeing the building from the outside is enough for your style, you’ll likely love this stop. If you want the inside experience too, you’ll need to plan for the additional cost and time on your own.

Even if you already know the basic name, the value here is the way the guide connects LaLaurie to the larger story of women and power in New Orleans. The city had a reputation for spectacle and severity, and the Lalaurie story lands right on that overlap—morality, myth, and consequence in one package.

Marie Laveau house stop: voodoo legend and a short, focused ending

The tour’s final named stop is the Marie Laveau House of Voodoo, tied to the story of Marie Laveau. This is a shorter stop—listed at about 5 minutes—and again, admission is not included.

Because time is tight, don’t expect a long stop-and-photo session. Think of this as a guided “you’re here, here’s what it means” moment that helps close the loop on the tour’s theme. If you want more, you’ll probably end up researching on your own afterward, just to understand the different layers—belief, community, and reputation—that surround Marie Laveau’s legacy.

Where this stop fits emotionally is interesting. You start with ghost-city French Quarter lore and darker scandal stories, then you end at a name that’s also tied to faith and folklore. It’s the same city energy, but with a different lens: not just crime and cruelty, but spiritual power and cultural endurance.

Group size, pacing, and hearing your guide in a loud city

In theory, this tour is capped at a maximum of 9 travelers, which is a big deal. Smaller groups usually mean you can hear the guide without playing musical chairs. It also tends to make the storytelling feel more personal, with a better chance for questions.

In practice, one review flagged a departure that felt too crowded and led to late timing and hearing issues. That’s the one drawback to keep in mind: New Orleans evenings can get chaotic fast, and if your group swells beyond what you expected, you’ll feel it.

My advice is simple. Arrive early. Get close to your guide during the walk. If you’re the type who hates losing context, choose a position where you can clearly hear at each stop. It’ll make the difference between a fun spooky walk and a “wait, what did they say?” evening.

Also, the tour is described as starting on time. That helps. It means you can plan dinner and other stops around a real schedule, not a drifting one.

Why the women-focused theme feels more meaningful than it sounds

I’m a sucker for themed tours when the theme isn’t just marketing. Here, the theme is the whole engine: the tour highlights women who made New Orleans what it became, including figures who were criminal, scandalous, or powerful in ways traditional history often skips.

This matters because New Orleans history can get flattened into just music and architecture. That’s part of it, sure. But the “Bad Broads” approach gives you another layer: how women navigated male-dominated power structures, how they ran businesses, how they attracted attention, and how they were remembered—or distorted—by the stories people told afterward.

The best guides nail this balance. You’ll see that in guide comments from real experiences—people praised the humor used at the right moments and the way the stories stayed engaging rather than turning into a grim slog. One person even described the guide as a real “bad broad” persona, which tells you the tour leans into the attitude, not just the facts.

The outside-only reality: what’s included and what you may pay for separately

From the details provided, what you’re paying for is the local guide and the guiding commentary. The stops include the Lalaurie Mansion and the Marie Laveau house location, but admission isn’t included for those two places.

That doesn’t make the tour worse. It actually makes it more flexible. You get the guided context without being trapped in timed entry lines. But it also means you should decide ahead of time whether you want only the guided view or whether you also want to add on independent visits.

A small but telling detail: one review mentioned expecting a free drink and also noted there wasn’t one included. The tour itself explicitly suggests you can bring your own beverage, which is a helpful workaround if you want something to sip during breaks.

Value check: is it worth the money?

You don’t have to love every story to get value from this tour. The “value” here comes from three places:

First, you get focused storytelling for 90 minutes in a part of town that can be easy to wander through without direction. Second, the theme gives you a different mental map of the French Quarter—women tied to the city’s power and legend rather than a generic sightseeing list. Third, the pacing and small-group intent (max 9) generally support a better listening experience than big-bus tours.

Price is harder to pin down from the information here, since the only specific number in the provided notes was a review mentioning $35. Still, the consistent pattern is that people feel the guides are worth it, especially when they bring humor and keep the stories moving.

If you’re expecting an interactive game-style tour where you do hands-on stuff, you might find it more like guided storytelling than participation. One review described the tour as not as interactive as hoped. So I’d frame it this way: you’re participating by walking, listening closely, and asking questions if your guide allows it.

Tips to make your evening run smoothly

Here’s how to set yourself up for the best experience.

• Wear comfortable shoes. This is walking, and the pace can be lively.
• Arrive 15 minutes early and plan to start on time.
• Stay close to the guide at stops, especially in busier moments.
• Bring a beverage if that helps you settle in for the walking portion.
• Keep in mind the stop durations: about 15 minutes at Lalaurie, about 5 minutes at Marie Laveau, plus a longer French Quarter section.

Also, it’s English-language and listed as most travelers can participate. If you’re comfortable standing and moving for about 90 minutes, you’re likely a good fit.

Who this tour is best for

This is a great match if you want New Orleans that feels a bit more adult and a bit more honest about the city’s shadows. You’ll likely enjoy it most if you’re the type who likes true-crime-style storytelling mixed with local myth, but still wants the guide to connect the dots.

I’d steer it toward people who:

• like history with attitude and humor
• want a women-centered lens on NOLA
• enjoy walking tours and can handle uneven crowds

If you hate dark subject matter or you’re sensitive to graphic themes connected to violence, you may find the tone heavy. And if you need long stops to take photos or linger at each site, remember the Marie Laveau stop is short and admission isn’t included.

Should you book The Bad Broads Tour?

I’d book it if you want a French Quarter evening with a strong point of view and you’re excited to hear stories that many standard tours skip. The women-focused theme gives you a different mental map of New Orleans, and the guide style seems to be a big reason people rate it so highly, with standouts like Uma bringing the stories to life and Rhody keeping the mood light without flattening the subject.

Skip or at least adjust expectations if you’re hoping for a quiet, slow stroll or for a tour that includes building entry and timed interior access. Admission isn’t included at the last two named stops, and the pacing plus crowds can affect hearing.

If you do book, show up early, wear good shoes, and place yourself where you can hear. Do that, and you’ll get the most out of what this tour is really selling: a guided walk where New Orleans street corners become stories about power, survival, and the women who refused to be invisible.

FAQ

How long is The Bad Broads Tour?

The tour is listed at about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Where do I meet for the tour?

The meeting point is 809 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, and the tour meets on St. Ann Street about 15 minutes prior to start.

Where does the tour end?

It ends near Jackson Square, depending on the guide and crowd conditions.

Is the tour a walking tour?

Yes. You should plan on walking and wear comfortable shoes.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What’s included in the ticket?

The experience includes a local guide/professional guide and uses a mobile ticket.

Is admission included for the Lalaurie Mansion and Marie Laveau stop?

No. Admission for the Lalaurie Mansion and the Marie Laveau House of Voodoo is listed as not included.

Are drinks provided?

No drink is listed as included. The tour information also says you can bring a beverage with you.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 16, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

How big is the group?

The activity is listed with a maximum of 9 travelers.