New Orleans Ghost and Vampire Tour: The #1 Haunted French Quarter Walk Review

The Hurricane Cocktail Voucher

Every ticket to the #1 Haunted Tour includes a two-for-one Hurricane cocktail voucher, redeemable at a participating French Quarter bar after the tour. The Hurricane — rum, passion fruit syrup, lime juice, served in a curved glass — is New Orleans' signature drink, invented at Pat O'Brien's in the 1940s. Getting two for the price of one after a night walk through the city's haunted history is the kind of only-in-New-Orleans combination that makes this tour unusually memorable.

The voucher is yours to use at your own pace after the tour ends; there's no pressure to rush to the bar immediately.

LaLaurie Mansion

The tour stops at 1140 Royal Street — the LaLaurie Mansion, the single most haunted address in New Orleans and arguably in the United States. Delphine LaLaurie operated a household of torture here in the 1830s, and the 1834 fire that exposed her crimes to the public is among the most documented examples of antebellum horror in American history. The mansion has changed hands many times since — including a stint owned by Nicolas Cage — and remains a private residence.

Your guide will give you the full documented history: what police found, what the newspaper accounts said, what happened to LaLaurie afterward, and what has reportedly continued to happen inside the building since.

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop at 941 Bourbon Street is one of the oldest structures in the United States — built in the 1720s by French colonists. It is now a bar, which is very New Orleans. The legend holds that the pirate Jean Lafitte used it as a front for his smuggling operation, as the blacksmith facade disguised the actual business being conducted inside.

Lafitte himself is a figure of genuine historical complexity: he fought with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 and was subsequently pardoned. The ghost of Lafitte is among the more frequently reported presences in the Quarter, and the building's age gives the stories unusual atmospheric weight.

TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice award for New Orleans haunted tours has gone to this tour eight consecutive years — not one year, not a lucky streak, but consistent year-over-year recognition based on verified traveler reviews. That kind of sustained performance doesn't happen by accident.

The reasons reviewers cite consistently are: a guide who clearly knows the history deeply and can answer detailed follow-up questions; a route that covers genuinely significant sites rather than just walking past them quickly; and a pacing that feels like an intimate night walk, not a herded tourist shuffle. The tour stays small — under 15 people is the norm — which lets the guide adjust the narrative based on what interests the specific group. History obsessives get more depth. Thrill-seekers get more atmosphere. The same core route works for both.

The $22 price point is also not incidental. By keeping the base price accessible and including the Hurricane voucher as a genuine included perk, this tour treats its guests as travelers rather than as a revenue source — and that approach shows in the reviews.

The route covers under one mile of the French Quarter — a manageable distance that still touches every major haunted and vampire-associated address in the neighborhood. Here is what to expect:

• LaLaurie Mansion (1140 Royal Street) — the documented site of antebellum torture, the single most haunted address in New Orleans
• Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop (941 Bourbon Street) — one of the oldest surviving buildings in the US, former front for pirate Jean Lafitte's smuggling operation
• The surrounding French Quarter streets — antebellum creole townhouses, cast-iron balconies, gas lanterns, and the streets where genuine vampire legend developed over two centuries
• Jackson Square area — the gothic heart of the Quarter, the St. Louis Cathedral facade at night, and the Mississippi River beyond

The under-one-mile distance makes this the most accessible ghost and vampire tour in New Orleans for guests who are not confident walkers. The route sticks to the main streets of the Quarter — Royal, Bourbon, Chartres — rather than venturing into narrow alleys or uneven side streets. If you have any concerns about mobility, this is the tour to choose among the three options featured on this site.

When to Book

Book at least 24–48 hours in advance for weekends and during peak season (October, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest). This tour runs nightly at 6 pm and 8 pm. The 8 pm departure is generally more atmospheric — the French Quarter is deeper into its nighttime character, the tourist foot traffic has thinned, and the gas lanterns are the primary light source on side streets.

If you're choosing between 6 and 8 pm, pick 8 pm if sunset is before 8.

What to Wear

New Orleans is subtropical. Even in October, evening temperatures rarely drop below 65°F, and spring through summer evenings are warm and humid. Wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable walking shoes with grip — the French Quarter's brick and cobblestone sidewalks are uneven.

Avoid sandals or heels. Bring bug spray: mosquitoes are active in the evenings particularly from April through October. A small crossbody bag is better than a backpack for navigating narrow sidewalks in a group.

Meeting the Guide

Your booking confirmation from GetYourGuide will include the specific meeting point address and instructions. Arrive five minutes early — the guide will begin promptly and won't be able to wait for late arrivals without affecting the group's experience. If you're running late, call or message GetYourGuide's support line as soon as you know; they can sometimes connect you with the guide.

A good fit if

• Budget-conscious travelers who want the best ghost and vampire tour in New Orleans without overspending
• Couples looking for an atmospheric evening in the French Quarter with a drink afterward
• Guests with moderate mobility concerns — under one mile, main streets only, no stairs
• First-time visitors to New Orleans who want a well-reviewed introduction to the haunted history
• Groups celebrating birthdays, bachelorette parties, or Halloween in New Orleans
• Anyone who wants a Hurricane cocktail included in the ticket price

Not ideal for

• Guests with significant mobility limitations — cobblestone and brick sidewalks are uneven throughout the route
• Children under 13 — dark themes including torture and criminal history require a minimum age
• Visitors who want the most historically comprehensive tour (for deeper history, Tour 1 is the better choice)
• Anyone who needs the tour conducted entirely indoors — this is a fully outdoor night walk

What to pack

• Comfortable walking shoes with grip — French Quarter sidewalks are cobblestone and uneven
• Bug spray — essential for New Orleans evenings from April through October
• Water bottle — the tour is outdoors and Louisiana evenings are humid
• Phone or camera — the French Quarter under gas lanterns at night photographs beautifully
• Light rain jacket — New Orleans weather shifts quickly; the tour continues in light rain

What to leave behind

• Food or open beverages during the walking tour
• Pets — safety concern on narrow French Quarter sidewalks in a moving group
• Large backpacks or rolling luggage — impractical on narrow sidewalks and disruptive to the group
• Children under 13 — the operator enforces this minimum age