New Orleans Sightseeing Tours

French Quarter Walking Tour

French Quarter Fountain

Discover the mystery and magic of the Creole people that made the French Quarter their own. 

Each year, in the two weeks that precede Ash Wednesday, New Orleans' Bourbon Street comes alive with the frenzy of Mardi Gras. Any other time of the year, you may find that Bourbon Street is just a bit more laid back, toned down, and considerably less congested. Absent the crowds of people and the colorful parade of revelers, the charming architecture of the French Quarter is revealed. A city steeped in history and culture deserves to be viewed at the pace of a stroll.

A colorful variety of tours abound in New Orleans. You can explore New Orleans on foot, by motorcoach or by boat. The best of those tours are described here:

New Orleans Walking Tours

• Most popular is the Cemetery and Gris Gris Walking Tour. The popularity of this tour stems from the fact that New Orleans has a very unique policy about the final resting places of their dearly beloved. Find out more by taking this tour!
  
• The French Quarter and the Garden District both have great walking tours. Each takes you through a different part of the city. The exterior architecture is stunning, dating back several centuries in some cases.
  While in the Garden District, you can also take a look inside one of these grand estates, by going on the Van Bethuysen - Elms Mansion Tour. This estate features authentic period furnishings, handcarved marble and a 48-foot grand ballroom.
  
• For nocturnal meanderers, the Crescent City Nights Walking Tour lets you enjoy the beauty of this coastal town under night lights, complete with dinner and jazz music.
  

New Orleans Bus Tours

• Plantation tours are the New Orleans equivalent of estate tours. History and architecture make plantation tours fascinating to visitors. Oak Alley Plantation Tour is one of the most popular. You can also choose a tour that 'tacks on' a visit Laura Plantation, San Francisco Plantation and River Road Plantations.
  
• For a close up look at those out-of-the-way places, try the Off The Beaten Path Tour, which puts you not in a motorcoach, but a van small enough and inconspicuous enough to tool around through areas where large motorcoaches would have a tough time of it.
  

New Orleans Boat Tours

• Swamp tours put you in touch with the natural beauty of new Orleans and the surrounding areas. The Cajun Pride Swamp Tour, the Cypress Swamp cruise, and the Swamp and Bayou Tour offer tours of different wetland regions, each with its own historic and ecological significance.
  
• For a real treat, take a ride on the city's only steamboat, paddling down the Mississippi to the sounds of Jazz music on a Dinner/Jazz Cruise. Enjoy the view of the city at night as you leisurely make your way down the river.
  

Be sure to plan a creative mix of activities that include the culture and history explored by tours, as well as the family fun of a zoo or aquarium visit. New Orleans offers a variety of attractions to make your vacation a memorable one.