Garden District Tour: Explore Historic Mansions & Cemetery

Discover the captivating history of New Orleans on a walking tour through its elegant 19th Century garden neighborhood. Explore Lafayette Cemetery #1 and learn about the city’s journey from the Louisiana Purchase to the Civil War. Join us for a personalized and unforgettable experience!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Lafayette Cemetery No.1 - Breathtaking, heartbreaking, beautiful, and full of stories! The cemetery is closed to the public, but you’ll get a good look through the large gates while your guide explains our unique interment practices.
  • Garden District - Explore the lush Garden District and hear the stories behind the 19th Century mansions in the neighborhood.
What's Included
  • Local guide
  • Small-group walking tour
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks (available for purchase before tour)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in the tales on a pedestrian excursion amidst the sophisticated 19th Century garden district of New Orleans. You will have the chance to peek through the gates of Lafayette Cemetery #1, which is presently not open to visitors. This area, along with its graveyard, narrates New Orleans’ history from the Louisiana Purchase to the Civil…

Location
Gracious Bakery
Saint Charles Avenue
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1435 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Ellie_w
Jan 26, 2026
Renee was amazing!! She... - Renee was amazing!! She is so knowledgeable of the area, architecture, and history. Also recommend getting a coffee at Gracious Bakery if that is your meet up spot!
Review provided by Viator
Alexandria_h
Jan 22, 2026
See magnificent houses and dive into history - What a fantastic way to learn about the history of the Garden District while seeing some incredible architecture and homes. Our guide Lesley was fabulous! She is very passionate about New Orleans and its history. She made the stories of the past come alive and answered all our questions. This tour was an easy walk and it’s definitely worth booking a smaller group as you get a more personalized experience.
Review provided by Viator
Amyabear
Jan 20, 2026
Great tour with James! - We were so delighted by our guide, James. There was nothing over-the-top or cheesy about his guiding style. He was super informative and really fun to be with for two hours; he made us laugh so many times and was genuinely so kind. We drove past him giving a tour the next day and were so exited to see him again that we all rolled our windows down to shout a quick hello. It made our day and hope it made his, too!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ronit_a
Jan 19, 2026
Design district walking tour - Tim was wonderfully interesting, knowledgable and authentic. We learned so much. Highly recommended!!!!
Review provided by Viator
Hj194
Jan 6, 2026
Great way to explore the district! - The walking tour was a wonderful way to see the garden district. Tim was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and was readily able to answer any questions asked of him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jane_d
Jan 5, 2026
Garden Diistrict plus - Lots of interesting facts and information which brought New Orleans to life. Guide, Libby is passionate storyteller, best I’ve ever had
Review provided by Viator
Passport44728811876
Jan 4, 2026
Great tour! - Renee did a fabulous job! She was very knowledgeable and entertaining! We highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting the garden district
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janiceae1790jn
Jan 4, 2026
Garden Delight in New Orleans - James is an amazing tour guide. We met up at a wonderful café, which was great for me so I could get some lunch beforehand and the tour itself was very interesting. Informative and fun. James spent a bit of time telling us about history, especially at the cemetery, which is very intriguing since New Orleans is so unique about that And then the walk-through the garden section with all the different beautiful homes and his stories about them was simply grand. I highly recommend this tour and James in particular. He’s a very good tour guide with a wonderful sense of humor
Review provided by Tripadvisor
823pamz
Jan 3, 2026
Great choice to do! - Very good information about the area, history and current residents Small group and great guide for us. She gave great suggestions for next activity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vineela_r
Jan 20, 2026
Tim was a great guide,... - Tim was a great guide, who was patient and a great narrator. The tour started off on a strong note, describing the history of the Garden district and explaining the architectural nuances. Eventually, it took a turn where we mostly just talked about famous people who lived in those houses at various times.... similar to a tour in Hollywood. I wish the tour focused more on the historical elements, or simply cut shorter if it was already sufficiently covered.
Review provided by Viator
From $35
up to 12 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).