Top New Orleans Cultural Tours

Delve into the stories behind the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans during a French Quarter walking tour. Take in famous landmarks including Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Mississippi River, along with lesser-known places of interest. Hear from your guide about the architecture and heritage of the district, and get the inside scoop on recommended places for shopping and dining as well.

Step back in time on this historic walking tour of New Orleans’ Garden District with an experienced guide. Learn about life and death in the city and its unique above-ground crypts and gravesites. Walk shady avenues lined with antebellum homes, and hear how a small riverside settlement grew into a lavish, wealthy city. See a wide range of architectural styles in the elegant Garden District neighborhood then get local tips on the city’s best places to enjoy New Orleans' finest music, food, and drink.

Peek behind the curtain at the marvel of Mardi Gras with this tour of Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. See the behind-the-scenes work and incredible artistry that goes into preparing for the annual celebration. With a guide, learn the history of the event, and see fantastic floats and props. Get a picture in front of your favorite float, dress up in costumes, and sample some classic King Cake.

Discover New Orleans ‘spirited’ side on a fun and informative cocktail tour! You’ll rub shoulders with local imbibers at historic bars and restaurants and have the option to sip on classic concoctions like the Sazerac and Pimm’s Cup. Immerse yourself in the stories from your guide and savvy mixologists, and learn the famous – and sometimes scandalous – histories of drink and drinking culture in New Orleans.

On this Garden District walking tour, meander down tree-lined alleys and past grand antebellum homes while learning about the historic neighborhood from your guide. Your guide shares local perspective on the posh 19th-century district and historic Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, the filming location for famous movies. A small-group tour offers a more personalized experience.

Eat and drink your way through the French Quarter on a culinary walking tour designed to highlight New Orleans’ rich gastronomic heritage. Visit local institutions and holes-in-the-wall, taste a range of dishes and buy culinary souvenirs, like hot sauce and decadent pralines. Enjoy food samples at eat that stop, which add up to the equivalent of a full meal.

Step aboard an air-conditioned bus to escape the heat for a comfortable, comprehensive tour of New Orleans. This whirlwind tour hits all the most important sights—the French Quarter, the Garden District, Treme, the 9th Ward, and others—in a single day. You'll have the benefit of in-depth commentary as you travel and the chance to ask questions.

Maximize time in New Orleans with a sightseeing bus tour. Explore beyond the beauty of the French Quarter to see other neighborhoods including the Garden District, Treme, and the 9th Ward. Learn about city culture and history as you travel along Frenchmen Street, Esplanade Avenue, and more. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included.

Pedal through two centuries of New Orleans history on a combo bike tour of the French Quarter and Garden District. Learn about the city’s Creole roots as you ride along the banks of the Mississippi and through the legendary streets of the oldest neighborhood in town. Then, cross over to the ‘American’ side, where stately southern mansions overlook leafy boulevards and the time-worn tombs of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. It’s a great way to meet the many faces of New Orleans while enjoying fresh air and exercise.

Enjoy an educational and leisurely stroll through one of New Orleans' most gorgeous neighborhoods on this walking tour of the Garden District. Hear about the history of the stately mansions along the tree-lined streets before visiting one of the city's haunting cemeteries.

Take a stroll through New Orleans’ history and culture on a walking tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery #1 with an experienced guide. Visit streets lined with gracious, antebellum homes, and learn how the city’s Creole and American residents competed with Greek Revival architecture and English-gardens. Discover the elaborate crypts and monuments in one of New Orleans’ oldest and most beautiful cemeteries, hear stories about Lafayette’s most famous ‘residents,’ and trace Louisiana history through the names on the gravestones. Enjoy personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour.

Take a walk through 300 years of New Orleans’ musical history on this tour led by a local Louisiana record man. Discover how the city became the heart and soul of the American blues scene, and visit legendary music-making haunts including Preservation Jazz Hall, Place de Armes, the Royal Orleans Hotel and several recording studios. Stroll down iconic Bourbon and Frenchmen streets while hearing tales of local jazz and blues legends like Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong and more.

Cruise from the banks of the Mississippi River to the streets of Tremé with ease on this half-day Creole New Orleans tour by electric bike. Ride past telling monuments and through the streets of the original Creole Faubourg Marigny as your guide shares insight into New Orleans trivia and lore with a focus on Creole culture. Stop to snap photos and ask questions—it’s easy to chat with your guide on this small-group tour of just 10 people or fewer.

Immerse yourself in the best of the French Quarter on this 2.5‐hour historical walking tour. An entertaining local guide will lead you through the Vieux Carré, along the mighty Mississippi River, and to Louis Armstrong Park and Jackson Square, describing the city’s cultural history and diverse colonial heritage. See notable literary and cinematic landmarks, bustling scenes of local life, and architectural gems including some of the nation’s oldest buildings.

Take a two-wheeled ride through the raucous history and heritage of New Orleans on a bike tour that takes you from the lively streets of the French Quarter to the swampy bayous at the edge of the town. Learn about the city's founding as you follow a flat and leisurely route down oak-lined avenues, through leafy parks, and past creepy cemeteries to reach Bayou St. John. It's a great way to get off the tourist track and see the diverse neighborhoods of the Big Easy.

Explore one of New Orleans’ oldest and most atmospheric neighborhoods on a walking tour of the Garden District. Admire the oak avenues and manicured landscaping that give this lush locale its name, and see some of America’s finest examples of historic southern architecture, including the ornate homes of local celebrities and famous former residents. Plus, visit the Garden District’s most haunted highlight, the above-ground tombs of legendary Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

Walk through New Orleans heritage on a 2-hour tour of the Saint Louis Cemetery #1 with a local historian and author. Explore above-ground crypts and monuments in a lush, picturesque setting, get an insider's perspective on the cemetery’s most famous ‘residents.’ Pay your respects to Louisiana’s ‘Queen of Voodoo’ at Marie Laveau’s tomb then learn about the religion’s origins and modern-day practitioners. Visit the graves of beloved locals as you hear their humorous, tragic and inspiring stories, and see the cemetery’s film sites and landmarks.

Get your kids marching to the tune of New Orleans on a family-friendly romp through the French Quarter. Explore the city’s history with pictures and stories, from pirates and voodoo to jazz and Cajun culture, and treat young tastes buds to some local snacks. An entertaining guide tailors games and activities to kids’ ages on this small-group tour that has the whole family wearing Mardi Gras beads and stomping in a second-line parade, just like locals.

Immerse yourself in the women's history of New Orleans on this walking tour focused on the city's founding ladies. Meet up with your group around Jackson Square and spend the next few hours strolling through the French Quarter, seeing can't-miss landmarks and listening to oral history from your guide.

Spend a morning or afternoon in Impressionist‐era New Orleans with a tour of Edgar Degas’ former home and art studio, led by his great-grandniece. See the grand interior spaces that provided the setting for many of Degas works, learn about the artist’s Creole roots and stroll under the beautiful oaken canopy along Esplanade Avenue. Extend your tour with optional upgrades including a courtyard breakfast beforehand or a visit to the New Orleans Museum of Modern Art.

Explore New Orleans’ exciting cocktail scene on a guided tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Avoid the tourist traps and learn about the city’s long cocktail history, including the origins and influence of its legendary Sazerac. Visit a centuries-old bar, check out off-the-beaten path haunts in the French Quarter, and sample five cocktails included in the tour price.

Avoid hours of walking between landmarks on an active and convenient bike tour through the heart of New Orleans. In addition to navigating for you, your guide provides little–known facts and anecdotes about the city’s must-see landmarks, from the Mississippi River to Congo Square. Bottled water and a small group size ensure a comfortable tour.

The Saints and Sinners Walking Tour of New Orleans is not your typical tourist expedition. Lose yourself and a part of your innocence on this adults-only trip through the best and worst of the Big Easy. It's a tour that shines a light on the lurid past, present and future of this historic city. Leave your kids at the hotel and channel your inner sinner for this voyage through the New Orleans' heart of darkness. 

This owner-operated company provides a truly local's perspective. When you ride with Paradise Park you are riding with one of the owners ensuring that your experience is of the highest quality. See the city through a locals eyes. See the city through the eyes of someone who truly loves what they do, who truly loves the City of New Orleans, and who truly wants you to love it too.