New Orleans: Voodoo, Mystery and Paranormal Tour

The French Quarter gets more interesting after sunset, when its old courtyards, narrow streets, and grand façades become the setting for stories of ghosts, vampires, voodoo, and violent deaths. This two-hour walk adds an EMF meter or similar paranormal detector, giving you a playful tool to use while your guide explains the facts and legends behind more than 15 locations.

I like two things right away: the tour blends serious local history with theatrical storytelling, and the optional drink stops let you enjoy New Orleans at its own pace. Guides such as Coty and Ashli have earned especially warm praise for their humor, local knowledge, and willingness to answer questions. The main drawback is that the tour stays outside, so you should expect uneven pavement, no guaranteed access to interiors, and a fair amount of walking.

Key points to know before you book

• More than 15 French Quarter locations: See Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, The Presbytere, the Old Ursuline Convent, and other historic sites.
• Paranormal equipment included: You receive an EMF meter or ghost detector to carry during the walk. Lost or damaged equipment costs $250.
• Coty and Ashli are names worth noting: Both guides have been praised for funny, personal storytelling and strong knowledge of New Orleans.
• Drinks are optional: You can stop at bars for drinks to go, but the cost is not included and some bars do not admit children.
• A good value at $23: The price is modest for a two-hour guided walk that combines landmarks, local lore, and entertainment.
• Outdoor history with a spooky edge: The tour is best for people who enjoy stories and atmosphere more than a formal lecture or a guaranteed ghost sighting.

Starting beneath the French Quarter’s haunted reputation

Meet on the sidewalk in front of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street. Do not go inside the bar to check in. Your guide meets you at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar, and the bar’s staff do not handle tour questions.

This starting point puts you directly in the French Quarter, where old buildings and crowded nightlife create an atmospheric opening. It is also a useful location if you plan to eat or explore before the tour, though Bourbon Street can be noisy and busy around departure time.

The tour is led in English by a licensed guide, with historians and professional storytellers among the guide team. Coty appears often in the feedback, with praise for his humor, local background, and ability to keep information moving. Ashli, also known by the nickname TRashli, is another guide repeatedly singled out for her comic timing and storytelling.

You should not expect a quiet academic walk. The tone is informal, social, and sometimes funny, with room for questions. Several accounts describe guides adding extra facts, helping with directions after the walk, and adjusting the pace or conversation to suit the group.

The EMF meter adds a playful mission

At the start, your guide gives you an EMF meter or another paranormal detector to use during the tour. These devices do not prove that a ghost is present, and the activity does not promise a supernatural encounter. Their value is that they give you something to watch and discuss while the guide builds the story around you.

I like this feature because it gives the walk a simple sense of participation. Instead of only listening, you can keep an eye on the device as you pass old buildings and reputedly haunted sites. It is especially useful for families and groups who want a little more action than a standard walking lecture.

Handle the equipment carefully. A fee of $250 applies if it is lost or damaged. You also cannot make an audio or video recording of any part of the tour, so plan to listen rather than document every story on your phone.

The no-recording rule may disappoint anyone hoping to capture a dramatic moment. It also means you should arrive ready to pay attention, since you will want to remember the stories without relying on a recording later.

St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and The Cabildo

The route includes St. Louis Cathedral, one of the French Quarter’s most recognizable landmarks, and Jackson Square, the open public space in front of it. These sites give the tour a firm historical base before the stories move toward more sensational material.

You will also see The Cabildo, the former seat of the colonial government. The building helps explain how political power worked in early New Orleans, while its old walls provide a natural setting for tales of death and unexplained events.

The Presbytere adds another important stop. Its Spanish colonial design gives you a chance to look closely at the architecture while hearing about the people and events tied to the area. This is one of the tour’s strengths: the buildings are not used only as spooky backdrops. They help show how New Orleans developed under French and Spanish influence.

At Jackson Square, you get one of the clearest views of the French Quarter’s historic character. The tour does not simply point at façades and move on. It connects the public landmarks with stories of burial customs, famous residents, violent incidents, and supernatural claims.

You should keep your expectations sensible. These stops are viewed from the streets, and the tour does not promise entry into every building. If you want a detailed architectural tour or long interior visits, choose a different format. If you like learning the story behind the buildings you are already seeing, this route gives you plenty.

St. Anthony’s Garden and the Old Ursuline Convent

St. Anthony’s Garden brings the tour into the quieter, more enclosed side of the French Quarter. Courtyards and gardens can feel far removed from Bourbon Street, and that contrast helps the stories land with more force.

The Old Ursuline Convent adds another layer of age and atmosphere. It is one of the historic places included along the route, and its presence helps explain the religious and colonial character of early New Orleans.

Here, your guide may move between documented events and local legend. That distinction matters. The strongest part of the tour is not pretending every tale has been proven. It is showing how real places, old customs, rumors, and dramatic events combine to form New Orleans mythology.

The walk also covers traditional burial practices. New Orleans is known for above-ground tombs, and the subject gives useful context to the city’s ghost stories. You learn why local customs developed, rather than hearing only a string of scary anecdotes.

This section should appeal to you if you like history with your folklore. The material is not limited to monsters and haunted rooms. It also touches on death, religion, architecture, and the ways communities remember the past.

Murders, suicides, vampires, and the Sultan’s Palace

The tour visits locations connected with unsolved murders and suicides. These stories can be grim, and the experience is not designed as a light children’s attraction. Ask yourself how comfortable your group is with crime, death, and macabre tales before booking.

The guide also discusses documented reports involving ghosts and vampires, along with the traditional stories of where vampires supposedly held victims. The wording matters here: you are hearing reports, claims, and legends, not receiving scientific proof of vampires.

The Sultan’s Palace is tied to a particularly dark local legend involving mass murder. It is an effective example of the tour’s method. A striking French Quarter building becomes the starting point for a story about violence, mystery, and supernatural belief.

The route’s variety keeps the two hours moving. One stop may focus on architecture, another on a death, another on voodoo traditions, and another on a famous name connected with the neighborhood. Guides such as Coty have been praised for filling the walk with fun facts and answering questions instead of rushing from one stop to the next.

I would not book this tour expecting a formal case file on every paranormal claim. The experience is built around storytelling, local character, and atmosphere. You get enough factual background to understand the setting, then the guide takes you into the legends.

The LaLaurie Mansion and the Mistress of Death

The LaLaurie Mansion is one of the best-known stops on the route. The building is linked to Madame Delphine LaLaurie, often called the Mistress of Death, and its reputation comes from stories of cruelty and suffering.

The guide explains the dark history attached to the mansion and the legends that followed. You will see the exterior rather than count on going inside. That is typical of French Quarter ghost walks, where private homes, hotels, and occupied businesses cannot simply be opened to a tour group.

This stop can be powerful because the building is part of the neighborhood, not a distant attraction made for tourists. You are standing in an ordinary public street while hearing about events that helped shape the mansion’s sinister reputation.

It is also a good reminder to keep the tone respectful. Stories involving abuse, murder, and suicide are not just spooky entertainment. A good guide should make clear where history ends and legend begins, while still explaining why the story has remained part of New Orleans culture.

Optional drink stops and the social side of the walk

The tour may pause at bars so you can buy drinks to go and continue walking with them. Drinks are not included in the $23 price, and buying one is entirely optional. You can enjoy the stories without drinking.

This is a practical feature for adults who want to combine a walking tour with the French Quarter’s bar culture. It also gives the group a chance to pause, use a restroom, or reset during the route. Several accounts appreciated that the guide allowed questions and did not treat drink breaks as a problem.

Families need to plan more carefully. Some bars allow children inside, while others do not. If you are traveling with an eight-year-old or another young child, you may need to skip certain stops or have one adult handle the purchase.

The provider can refuse service to anyone who is intoxicated or appears intoxicated. If you are asked to leave for that reason, there is no refund. The sensible approach is to treat the drink stops as a small extra, not the main purpose of the evening.

What the two-hour format feels like

Two hours is long enough to cover a generous section of the French Quarter without turning the outing into an all-night commitment. The exact duration is approximate, so the walk may run a little differently depending on the group, questions, drink stops, or street conditions.

The route includes old, uneven streets. Wear shoes that give you steady footing, and allow extra time if you walk slowly. Wheelchair access is listed as available, but the uneven pavement can still affect comfort and ease.

The tour has received a 4.1 rating from 184 reviews, which suggests a generally positive experience with some room for mixed expectations. The strongest praise centers on the guides, especially their humor, local background, and ability to keep the walk engaging.

That guide quality matters more here than fancy equipment. An EMF meter is a simple prop. The real value comes from how well the guide explains the buildings, separates fact from folklore, and tells a story without losing the group.

Coty is frequently described as funny, personable, and able to make the walk feel less like a march between stops. Ashli is praised for a lively style and strong command of the material. Since guide assignments can change, you should not assume a particular person will lead your departure.

Who will enjoy this French Quarter tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want several New Orleans themes in one outing: voodoo, ghost stories, vampires, local crimes, historic buildings, burial customs, and a little nightlife. It works well for couples, friend groups, families with older children, and anyone who prefers a relaxed guide who welcomes questions.

It is also a useful first-night activity. You get an introduction to the French Quarter’s layout, hear names and stories that may shape the rest of your visit, and can note bars or landmarks to revisit later. One useful benefit is simply getting your bearings while walking with someone familiar with the area.

You may want another tour if you need guaranteed building access, a strictly factual presentation, or a quiet group. The supernatural material is presented through stories and reported claims, not controlled investigation. People who dislike macabre subjects may find the murder and suicide stories too heavy.

The tour is not limited to adults, but the evening setting and bar stops require judgment from parents. Children may enjoy the ghost devices and dramatic tales, while very young children may not appreciate the darker subjects.

Is $23 a fair price?

At $23 per person, I consider this a strong-value introduction to the French Quarter. You receive a licensed guide, a two-hour paranormal-themed walk, equipment to use during the route, and visits to more than 15 sites.

The price is especially fair if you want a broad overview rather than a narrow ghost tour focused on one building. You see major landmarks such as St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, The Presbytere, Jackson Square, the Old Ursuline Convent, and the LaLaurie Mansion while hearing stories tied to the neighborhood.

You should budget separately for drinks, since none are included. Still, the optional nature of the stops protects the basic value. You can pay only for the tour and skip the bars, or add a drink if that fits your evening.

Private groups are available, which may make sense for a family or celebration that wants a more personal pace. The standard experience is the better bargain for most people, especially if you enjoy meeting other participants and hearing their questions.

Practical details that can affect your evening

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the departure time when booking because starting times vary.

There is a possibility of cancellation if the minimum group size is not met. In that case, contact is made by phone, text, or email within an hour before departure, with an alternative tour or full refund offered.

Weather-related cancellations do not receive a refund, and late arrival is not refundable. Build in time to reach the meeting point, particularly if you are coming from another part of New Orleans.

The tour does not allow audio or video recording. Bring a phone for directions and safety, but expect to keep it away while the guide is speaking. Also remember that the equipment must be returned in good condition.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a lively introduction to New Orleans that mixes historic landmarks with ghost stories, voodoo lore, vampires, and optional drinks. At $23, it offers a lot for the money, and the guides are the main reason it works.

Skip it if you want guaranteed paranormal evidence, interior access, or a purely academic account of the French Quarter. For everyone else, this is a practical, entertaining evening walk, especially when you choose it for the storytelling rather than the promise of seeing a ghost.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet on the sidewalk in front of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. The guide meets you at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar, not inside the bar.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is two hours. The exact duration is approximate and may vary.

What language is the tour offered in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. You should still expect old, uneven streets during the walk.

Are drinks included?

No. The tour makes optional stops where you can buy drinks to go, but you pay for those drinks separately.

Can children join the tour?

The information allows for children on the tour, but some bars used for drink stops do not admit children. Families may need to skip certain stops.

Can I record the tour?

No. Audio and video recording are not allowed during any part of the tour.

What happens if I lose or damage the paranormal equipment?

A fee of $250 is charged for lost or damaged paranormal equipment.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancellations caused by weather or late arrival do not receive a refund.