The gold standard for historically serious ghost tourism in New Orleans. Bloody Mary — a folklorist and paranormal researcher who has lived and worked in the city for decades — runs tours that cite actual archival sources, name documented individuals, and engage with the city's history of slavery, Creole culture, and Vodou with genuine depth rather than costume-party theatrics. The LaLaurie Mansion stop alone is worth the price. She knows the cook's story.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is one of the oldest cemeteries in the United States and the only way to legally enter it is with an authorized tour. Save Our Cemeteries are the best operators for this access — a nonprofit whose guides are trained historians, not actors. The above-ground tombs, the history of New Orleans' burial customs, and the documented figures interred here (including Marie Laveau) are presented with genuine archival care.
The most-booked ghost tour in the city, and it earns its reputation for a reason: the guides are well-trained, the route hits the essential landmarks, and the storytelling is genuinely engaging. Historically, it is solid rather than deep — you'll hear the LaLaurie story, the Sultan's Palace, the Ursuline Convent. What you won't always get is the primary source layer. A very good tour for first-timers; serious history readers may want to supplement.
The entertainment-forward option — and there's nothing wrong with that if you know what you're getting. The pub crawl format visits some of the Quarter's most storied bars with genuinely haunted histories: Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the Old Absinthe House, and others whose documented histories are colorful enough without embellishment. History depth varies by guide, but the settings are the real thing and the format is fun for groups.
A different kind of experience entirely — you see the Quarter at night from an elevated perspective, moving through streets that haven't changed their essential character in over a century. The carriage format covers more ground than walking tours, hitting neighborhoods beyond the immediate Quarter. Guides vary considerably in historical depth; this is an atmosphere tour first, a history tour second.
For those who want to move beyond listening to stories and into active investigation. Small private groups (2–8 people) access documented haunted locations after hours with EMF readers, thermal cameras, and an experienced investigator. Less focused on history, more focused on experience. The investigator provides historical context but this is primarily for those drawn to the paranormal investigation process itself.
New Orleans weather is genuinely unpredictable year-round. A light rain jacket folds small and saves an evening. The cobblestones on Royal Street become treacherous in the rain.
From April through October especially. The cemetery tours and any tour that lingers near the river are the worst. Bring repellent — the ghosts won't judge you.
French Quarter cobblestones were laid in the 1700s and have not improved. Two hours of walking on them in flip-flops will end your evening. Closed-toe shoes with grip.
The best small-group tours — especially Bloody Mary's — fill weeks out during peak season (September through November, Mardi Gras week, Jazz Fest). Don't assume you can walk up.
The LaLaurie Mansion, the Ursuline Convent, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 — all of these are worth seeing in the daytime before your night tour. The history reads differently in daylight.
A ghost tour is better when you already know something. Our LaLaurie Mansion history piece is free on this site and will change how you see that building when you stand in front of it.
She Told Us Everything.
Before you stand on the sidewalk in front of the LaLaurie Mansion, listen to the woman who set the fire tell her own story. Our LaLaurie episode goes places no ghost tour can take you.
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