Best Ghost Tours in New Orleans
New Orleans is a city that’s as famous for its lively culture and rich history as it is for its haunted past. If you’re the type who loves a good thrill or has a fascination with the eerie side of history, you’re in for a treat. Ghost tours here are the perfect way to dive deep into the city’s most chilling tales and mysterious legends, all while visiting its spookiest spots.
In this guide, we’re shining a light on some of the best ghost tours in New Orleans—each one guaranteed to give you a spine-tingling adventure. Whether you’re drawn to voodoo folklore, curious about ghostly sightings, or just in the mood for a good scare, these tours will deliver an unforgettable experience.
Why New Orleans is Known for Its Ghosts
New Orleans is often seen as one of the most haunted cities in America. This is not a surprise. The city has a rich history that goes back to the 1700s. It is filled with stories of tragedy, mystery, and the supernatural. New Orleans has seen many dark events like fires, epidemics, tales of voodoo, and piracy. Discover the haunted experience that makes New Orleans so unique.
The ghosts of New Orleans reflect the city’s diversity. There are stories of heartbroken lovers, angry spirits, and even the famous Madame Lalaurie. Her cruel treatment of slaves continues to disturb the city. Whether you believe in ghosts or just want a scare, it’s clear that New Orleans has a spooky charm.
What Makes a Great Ghost Tour?
If you’ve never been on a ghost tour before, you might be wondering: What makes one tour better than another? After all, they all promise to show you creepy spots and tell spooky stories, right? While that’s true, the best ghost tours go beyond just the basics—they offer an experience that’s both educational and thrilling, with a good mix of history, legends, and just the right amount of spookiness.
Here’s what to look for when choosing the perfect ghost tour:
Authenticity
A truly great ghost tour is more than just a collection of spooky stories—it’s about telling the tales in the context of the city’s history. You’ll want a guide who’s not only knowledgeable about New Orleans’ haunted past but also passionate about sharing those stories. Look for tours that feature local historians, professional storytellers, or paranormal experts who can bring the city’s eerie past to life in a way that feels real and genuine.
Accessibility
Ghost tours in New Orleans come in all shapes and sizes. Some are easy-going, while others are more intense. Many of the walking tours cover a lot of ground, so consider how much walking or standing you’re comfortable with. If you’re traveling with kids, some tours are more family-friendly, offering spooky tales without being too scary. Others, especially at night, might take a more spine-tingling approach. You’ll also find some tours that cater to people with mobility issues, so there’s something for everyone.
Experience
The best ghost tours don’t just tell you about haunted spots—they take you there. You’ll want to experience the chills of standing in front of a historic mansion or wandering through a famous cemetery. Some tours even give you the chance to use paranormal equipment like EMF meters or infrared cameras. If you’re lucky, you might even capture something unexplained in your photos! (Though, no promises—New Orleans’ spirits can be elusive.)
Atmosphere
A ghost tour is all about setting the mood, and New Orleans has the perfect backdrop for it. Imagine walking down narrow, dimly lit streets with your guide’s voice cutting through the stillness as you pass historic buildings. The more atmospheric the tour, the more immersive the experience. Some tours even bring in extra details like eerie sound effects or fog machines to add that extra layer of spookiness. It’s all about making you feel like you’ve stepped into another time—a time where ghosts roam just a little too close for comfort.
Top 7 Ghost Tours in New Orleans
Here are the top 7 ghost tours that will lead you through the darker side of New Orleans, from graveyards to eerie mansions, all while sharing the city’s rich, ghostly past:
1. Witches Brew Tours
Overview: If you’re looking for a walking tour that mixes ghosts, voodoo, and vampires, Witches Brew Tours is perfect. This tour takes you through the French Quarter’s creepiest spots under the cover of night. With a knowledgeable guide leading the way, you’ll visit iconic locations like the LaLaurie Mansion and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum while hearing stories of the supernatural that make these sites so infamous.
Duration: 1 hr 45 minutes
Highlights: LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, voodoo and vampire lore
Unique Features: This tour blends history with paranormal tales, offering a spooky yet educational experience. It’s great for anyone looking to understand the darker history of New Orleans while exploring the city after dark.
Why It’s Great: You’ll get to hear about more than just ghost stories—this tour digs into the history of voodoo, witchcraft, and vampires, all central to the city’s supernatural culture.
2. Hottest Hell Tours – Adults Only
Overview: If you’re after a tour that’s as chilling as it is thrilling, look no further than Hottest Hell Tours. This adults-only tour caters to horror and true-crime fans, taking you to the most haunted locations in the French Quarter. Prepare yourself for gruesome tales, paranormal encounters, and a heavy dose of history.
Duration: 1 hr 45 minutes
Highlights: True-crime stories, voodoo legends, haunted locations in the French Quarter
Unique Features: The VIP tour includes HELLVISION™, a digital projection of real images that make the ghost stories feel all the more real.
Why It’s Great: This tour isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s intense, detailed, and delivers the fright you’re looking for. Plus, it offers a fresh, adult-oriented take on New Orleans’ dark history.
3. French Quarter Phantoms
Overview: If you love the idea of walking through the historic streets of the French Quarter while hearing ghostly tales of the city’s past, then French Quarter Phantoms is for you. This tour is both fun and informative, with a mix of ghost stories and vampire lore that brings the past to life.
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: Madame LaLaurie’s mansion, stories of real-life vampires, historical ghost spots
Unique Features: This tour offers a lively take on ghost stories, combining a bit of humor with spookiness, making it perfect for those who want a lighthearted yet creepy experience.
Why It’s Great: The combination of historical insights and gory ghost stories makes this a memorable tour. Plus, if you’re into vampire folklore, you’ll enjoy the tales of the French Quarter’s self-proclaimed vampires.
Explore French Quarter Phantoms here.
4. New Orleans Ghost Adventures
Overview: If you’re a skeptic or a true believer, New Orleans Ghost Adventures will give you a glimpse into the paranormal side of New Orleans. This tour takes you to the city’s famous cemeteries and haunted locations, offering a mix of historical facts and supernatural encounters. Plus, you’ll get the chance to use EMF readers to try and detect any ghostly presences.
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: St. Louis Cemetery, paranormal investigations, haunted locales
Unique Features: Guests can bring their own drinks for the ride, and the tour uses paranormal equipment like EMF meters to try and spot activity.
Why It’s Great: This is perfect for those who want a deeper dive into the haunted history of New Orleans and enjoy a more interactive, investigative approach to ghost hunting.
Discover New Orleans Ghost Adventures.
5. Basin St. Station
Overview: Basin St. Station gives you an unforgettable chance to explore St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans’ oldest and most famous cemetery, as part of a guided tour. The cemetery is home to some of the city’s most infamous figures, including Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Visiting this “City of the Dead” with an expert guide ensures you won’t miss any eerie details or historical tidbits.
Duration: 55 minutes
Highlights: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau’s tomb, famous residents’ final resting places
Unique Features: Basin St. Station is one of the only ways to visit this legendary cemetery, which has limited access to the public.
Why It’s Great: If you’re interested in New Orleans’ fascinating burial practices and rich cemetery history, this is the tour for you. The experience is enhanced by a knowledgeable guide who brings the history to life.
6. Royal Carriages
Overview: For a more intimate experience, why not take a ghost tour on a mule-drawn carriage? Royal Carriages offers a cozy, small-group tour of the French Quarter’s haunted hotspots. The guide will weave tales of the city’s dark past as you clop past ancient mansions and haunted bars.
Duration: 1 hour
Highlights: French Quarter’s haunted sites, ghost stories, and historical tales
Unique Features: Travel in vintage style aboard a mule-drawn carriage, with no more than eight people in your group for a more personal experience.
Why It’s Great: This tour offers an immersive and romantic way to explore New Orleans’ spooky history while avoiding the crowds of larger walking tours.
Reserve Royal Carriages tour here.
7. Haunted History Tours
Overview: If you’re keen to learn about the dark side of New Orleans, Haunted History Tours is the way to go. This tour delves into the haunted history of the French Quarter, where you’ll visit some of the city’s most famous and eerie locations, including a haunted bar where paranormal activity is often reported.
Duration: 2 hours
Highlights: Famous haunted spots in the French Quarter, ghostly tales, and paranormal investigations
Unique Features: An in-depth look at the city’s haunted sites, with plenty of opportunities to catch paranormal activity if you’re lucky.
Why It’s Great: It’s perfect for those who want to blend ghost stories with a deeper dive into New Orleans’ historical and cultural past, offering a well-rounded ghost tour experience.
Sign up for Haunted History Tours today.
Tips for a Spooky (and Safe) Ghost Tour Experience
Taking a ghost tour in New Orleans is a thrilling adventure, but like any experience, a little preparation goes a long way. Whether you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of a ghost or just enjoy the eerie atmosphere, here are some tips to ensure your ghost tour is both fun and safe.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Let’s face it: New Orleans is best explored on foot. But that means you’ll likely be walking for a while, often over uneven cobblestone streets or through dark alleys. So, make sure you wear shoes that can handle a bit of distance and keep you comfortable. Heels, sandals, or shoes that aren’t meant for walking? Not ideal. Opt for something sturdy—sneakers, comfortable flats, or supportive boots will make all the difference as you wander through haunted sites.
Bring a Camera (or Phone)
You never know when you might catch something unexplainable on film! Many ghost hunters swear by the idea of capturing paranormal activity, and even if you’re a skeptic, it’s always fun to take a few photos of the spooky spots you visit. Plus, New Orleans is incredibly photogenic, so you’ll want to snap some shots of the gorgeous (and slightly eerie) architecture. If you’re lucky, you might even capture something you can’t explain… or at least get a really cool photo of the place where a ghost might be lurking!
Check the Weather
Before you head out, take a quick look at the weather forecast. New Orleans can be hot and humid, especially in the summer, and it’s prone to sudden rainstorms. Many tours run rain or shine, so it’s important to dress appropriately for the weather. A lightweight jacket or a small umbrella might come in handy if you’re venturing out during a rainy season. In the summer, make sure to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen—you’ll be out on the streets for a while, and the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable or overheated.
Follow the Rules
This one is simple but crucial: respect the places you visit, especially if the tour takes you through sensitive locations like cemeteries or private properties. Many of New Orleans’ haunted spots are historically or culturally significant, and it’s important to be mindful of their significance to the community. Follow the guide’s instructions about where to walk, what to touch, and how to behave while at the sites. If you’re visiting a cemetery, make sure you don’t disrupt the resting places or disrespect any sacred areas.
Prepare for Scares
If you’re easily spooked, make sure you choose the right tour for your comfort level. Some tours are more about historical facts and the city’s haunted past, while others focus heavily on ghost stories and actual paranormal experiences. If you’re not a fan of jumpscares or super creepy encounters, look for tours that are more historical in nature. On the other hand, if you’re after a heart-pounding, spine-chilling experience, some tours will happily oblige with their grisly tales and potentially spooky encounters. Just know what you’re in for!
Charge Your Phone or Camera
You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of a dark alley with a dead battery! Make sure your phone or camera is fully charged before your tour begins. Many tours take you to locations where it might be hard to find an outlet, and if you plan to use your phone to capture photos or look up additional info about haunted locations, you’ll want to make sure it’s ready to go. Plus, it’s always a good idea to have your phone charged in case of emergencies—just a little peace of mind!
Other Haunted Attractions in New Orleans
If you’ve got a taste for the supernatural and want to explore more than just ghost tours, New Orleans has plenty of other haunted attractions that will send a chill down your spine. Whether you’re a history buff, a paranormal enthusiast, or just someone who loves a good spooky story, here are some must-visit spots that are sure to make your New Orleans trip even more unforgettable:
1. The LaLaurie Mansion
Perhaps one of the most infamous haunted houses in America, the LaLaurie Mansion is infamous for its gruesome history. During the 1800s, Madame Delphine LaLaurie was accused of horrifying abuse and murder of her enslaved servants in this very building. While the mansion is now privately owned, many people claim to have felt unsettling presences or even seen apparitions while passing by. It’s a place steeped in dark history, and even though it’s not open for tours, just standing in front of the mansion can give you chills.
2. The Voodoo Museum
New Orleans is the birthplace of Voodoo, and the Voodoo Museum offers a fascinating look into the practice’s history and its influence on the city. It’s also known for being a bit spooky—especially if you linger around the altars and items related to spirits. Many visitors report feeling strange energies, and some even claim to have seen objects move or been touched by unseen hands. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the museum is a deep dive into a fascinating aspect of New Orleans’ haunted history.
3. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of the oldest and most famous cemeteries in New Orleans, and it’s the final resting place of some pretty legendary figures, including Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Known as the “City of the Dead,” this cemetery is filled with above-ground tombs, many of which have been standing for centuries. It’s a popular stop on ghost tours, but if you decide to visit on your own, make sure to go with an authorized guide (as the cemetery is closed to the public without one). The atmosphere here is undeniably eerie, and it’s the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the supernatural.
4. The Old Ursuline Convent
This historic building, located near the French Quarter, is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Mississippi Valley. It has a reputation for being haunted by the spirits of nuns who once lived there. Many visitors report seeing strange figures in the windows or feeling cold spots inside the convent. The Old Ursuline Convent was originally built in the 1750s and has a rich history that’s intertwined with the city’s early colonial days. If you enjoy history with a side of the supernatural, this is a must-see spot.
5. The Haunted Bars of the French Quarter
New Orleans is known for its lively bar scene, but some of its bars are just as famous for their hauntings. One of the most well-known is the Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, an old tavern believed to be haunted by pirate Jean Lafitte, who once used it as a hideout. Many visitors claim to feel a ghostly presence or hear strange noises while sipping on a cocktail. Another haunted bar worth checking out is The Bourbon Orleans Hotel, which has a dark history tied to the Civil War and the yellow fever epidemic. The bar here is said to be haunted by several spirits, including a former ballroom dancer.
6. The Cottage on Royal Street
This charming but eerie little cottage is said to be haunted by a number of restless spirits, including a former owner who met a tragic end. While it’s not a major tourist attraction, it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re strolling through the French Quarter. Several ghost tours pass by the property, and many people claim to have seen figures in the windows or felt an unsettling presence when passing by. It’s one of those places that’s easy to miss unless you know where to look—but if you do, it adds an extra layer of mystery to your exploration.
Take Away
New Orleans is famous for its rich history and lively culture, especially when it comes to ghost stories. The city has many haunted places and spooky plantations. It offers a good range of ghost tours that fit everyone’s sense of adventure.
If you are interested in the supernatural or just love mysteries, New Orleans’ ghost tours will give you a memorable time filled with legend and charm. So, if you want to explore the haunted side of the Big Easy, check out the top ghost tours above for an exciting experience like no other. Do you want to share your own ghost stories or have questions? Feel free to leave a comment below and join the chat!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most haunted spot in New Orleans?
The Lalaurie Mansion is one of the most haunted places in the French Quarter. Its scary history and the terrible stories about Madame Lalaurie’s cruelty attract many visitors. This place is a great spot for anyone wanting to explore the darker side of New Orleans.
What is the #1 attraction in New Orleans?
In the heart of the French Quarter, a walking tour with a skilled tour guide is the best way to see this lively city. You will discover its rich history and hidden gems that are often missed by regular tourists.
What is the most haunted plantation in New Orleans?
The Garden District has many haunted places. Plantations, with their long history, provide a spooky time during a ghost tour.
What is the best vampire tour in New Orleans?
If you are interested in vampires, you should try a ghost tour in New Orleans. A tour through the French Quarter is highly recommended. You can choose a haunted pub crawl or a night tour. Both options will give you a fun and exciting experience!
