The Bad Broads Tour of New Orleans

The French Quarter’s darker stories take a different shape when women stand at the center: Voodoo Queens, brothel owners, high-society murderesses and Madame LaLaurie. This 90-minute walk puts their lives and legends in the streets where they are said to have unfolded.

I like the focus on women often left out of standard city tours and the mix of history, ghost lore and a guide’s storytelling. The main caution is that this is a walking tour at a fairly brisk pace, and a noisy or oversized group can make it harder to hear.

What to know before you go

• Madame LaLaurie is a central stop, with time to hear about one of New Orleans’ most infamous women.
• Marie Laveau’s former home is on the route, adding a real place to the stories about the Voodoo Queen.
• The tone blends dark history and humor, with guides such as Rhody, Uma, Dalton and Luis praised for bringing the tales to life.
• You walk for about 90 minutes through the French Quarter, so wear comfortable shoes and be ready to keep moving.
• The advertised group limit is nine, though one group reported a much larger turnout. Check the expected group size if that matters to you.
• The tour is for ages 16 and up, and anyone under 18 must come with an adult.

Women who shaped the French Quarter’s darker tales

The Bad Broads Tour gives you a different way to read the French Quarter. Instead of centering its familiar grand buildings and famous men, it follows the lives and legends of women who wielded power, broke rules, or became notorious for violence. The result is part history walk, part ghost story, and part reminder that the city’s past is not always genteel.

The tour focuses on murderous madams, Voodoo Queens, high-society murderesses and the city’s first female serial killer. Some stories are presented as history, others as local legend or ghost lore. That distinction matters: you are here for a lively account of the Quarter’s unsettling past, not a formal lecture with every tale treated as settled fact.

The most praised part of the experience is the guide’s delivery. Guides named by previous groups include Rhody, also called Rhoda or Rhodesia, along with Uma, Dalton, Luis, Jamie, Ana, Christian, Elaine and Christine. The guide can vary by date, so don’t book expecting a particular person. What you can reasonably hope for is a guide who can carry a story, answer questions and balance grim subject matter with humor.

Starting on Royal Street and getting the meeting point right

The stated starting address is 809 Royal Street, while the tour directions say to meet on St. Ann Street 15 minutes before departure. Those details do not match exactly, so confirm your meeting instructions before setting out. Arrive early, rather than trying to find the group at the scheduled start time. The tour says it starts on time, and a late arrival could mean catching up on foot.

The walk ends near Jackson Square, though the exact endpoint can vary with the guide and crowds. That is a useful place to finish if you want to keep exploring the French Quarter afterward, but don’t treat it as a fixed drop-off point for a timed reservation elsewhere.

The tour lasts about an hour and a half. That is long enough to cover several stories and locations, but short enough to fit into an evening or a day of sightseeing. One caution: a group described moving at a good pace, and another found the walk longer than expected. If you prefer frequent stops or a slow stroll, this may feel brisk.

Following stories through the French Quarter

The main stop is the French Quarter itself. The route takes you past places associated with the women in the stories, including former homes and locations tied to violent events. You get to know the city on foot, rather than viewing it from a vehicle, and the streets become part of the storytelling.

That approach is especially useful for a subject built around place and memory. A guide can point to a building or stretch of street and explain who lived there, what was said to have happened, and how a ghost story attached itself to the location. You are not simply hearing a list of names; you are connecting the tales to the neighborhood around you.

The experience is not described as an interactive performance, and you should not expect to enter every building. One person hoping for more interaction and more places to see found the format less engaging than expected. Go for the stories and the walk, not for a series of interior visits or hands-on activities.

You may bring a beverage with you, but no drink is included. That is worth knowing if you are comparing the price with a pub crawl or another tour that includes refreshments. The focus here is the guide and the stories, not food or drink.

Madame LaLaurie and a notorious address

The tour pauses at the LaLaurie Mansion, associated with Madame LaLaurie, described as New Orleans’ most infamous woman. The stop is listed as about 15 minutes, giving the guide time to place her story in context and explain why the mansion remains such a charged address in the Quarter.

The site is a highlight for visitors drawn to the tour’s darker side. It also helps explain the walk’s appeal: the city’s best-known ghost stories sit alongside accounts of real women whose actions and reputations became part of local history. The guide’s job is to separate what is documented from what has grown through legend, and to make the story compelling without flattening it into a scare tactic.

This is an exterior stop, not a paid visit inside the mansion. Admission is not included, and the tour information does not describe an interior tour. If you expect access to the building, adjust your expectations before booking.

Marie Laveau’s former home

Another short pause is at the Marie Laveau House of Voodoo, identified as the home of Marie Laveau. The stop is listed at about five minutes. That brevity suggests a quick point of context rather than an extended visit, but it gives the guide a chance to connect the famous Voodoo Queen with the city’s broader stories about women, belief and reputation.

This location is a natural complement to the LaLaurie Mansion. One stop is tied to a woman remembered for violence and scandal; the other to a figure whose name remains closely linked with Voodoo in New Orleans. Together, they show the range of women the tour sets out to cover, from criminal notoriety to spiritual influence.

The house stop is not a separate admission attraction. The value is in hearing the story where it belongs in the route, then continuing on through the Quarter with that context in mind.

Storytelling, humor and the darker material

The tour’s subject matter is grim. Stories include murder, exploitation and alleged hauntings, and the guide may describe the ghosts of people said to have died violently. The humor reported by groups is a counterweight, not a promise that the material will be light. If you enjoy ghost stories and unsettling history, that mix can make the walk entertaining without making every stop feel like a lecture.

Guide delivery appears to make a large difference. Rhody was singled out for energetic storytelling, humor and a careful touch with the subject matter. Uma was praised for making the stories vivid, while Dalton and Luis were credited with adding wit and answering questions. Those examples give you a sense of the style the tour can offer, but no named guide is guaranteed.

Some visitors have found the stories so absorbing that they wanted to research the people afterward. That is one of the tour’s better qualities: it can send you back into the city with questions rather than simply leaving you with a set of spooky anecdotes. Still, the experience depends on being able to hear the guide. French Quarter noise, a large group or disruptive participants can get in the way.

Group size, pace and practical comfort

The tour is listed with a maximum of nine participants, a small group size that should make it easier to hear and ask questions. However, one person reported a group of about 30 and said the crowd made it hard to hear, slowed the walk and pushed the finish later. That is a notable mismatch with the stated cap. If a small group is important to you, contact the operator before booking and confirm what to expect on your date.

A separate complaint described disruptive people talking and smoking through the tour. The guide had to intervene, but the behavior continued. This is not something you can control, though it is a reason to value a clear, audible guide and a group size that stays manageable.

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour is entirely on foot, and the pace can be steady between stops. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, though the supplied details do not specify a particular route or stop.

The minimum age is 16. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, which fits the tour’s focus on murder, brothels and other mature subjects. It is not presented as a family tour for younger children.

What the price buys, and who will enjoy it

One person cited a price of $35 and felt a drink should have been included. Treat that as a price reported at the time, not a guarantee of the current fare. The tour does not include drinks, and the value comes from a local guide, a focused theme and a 90-minute walking route through the French Quarter.

If the current price is close to that figure, the tour makes most sense when you want an engaging guide-led account rather than a broad introduction to every part of New Orleans. You are paying for a specialized subject and live storytelling. If you prefer a drink-inclusive outing, an indoor attraction or a tour with more stops, this may not be the best match.

The tour should suit adults interested in women’s history, local legends and the darker side of New Orleans. It also works well if you have already seen the French Quarter’s standard sights and want to hear stories that do not usually lead the conversation. It is less suited to anyone who dislikes ghost lore, wants a slow walk, or expects extensive building access.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and cancellations within that period are not refunded. Check the local start time when planning.

Should you book the Bad Broads Tour?

Book this walk if you want a focused, entertaining look at the women behind some of the French Quarter’s most unsettling stories. The LaLaurie Mansion, Marie Laveau’s former home and the guides’ mix of humor and dark history give it a clear identity. Go in expecting a brisk 90-minute walk, not a drink, an interior tour or a perfectly quiet group.

If you value small groups, verify the cap before you pay, since one reported departure was far larger than the listed maximum. For the right audience, this is a memorable way to hear New Orleans from a perspective that standard sightseeing often misses.

FAQ

How long is the Bad Broads Tour?

The walking tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

The stated meeting address is 809 Royal Street, New Orleans. The directions also say to meet on St. Ann Street 15 minutes before the tour, so confirm the exact meeting point before departure.

Where does the tour end?

It ends near Jackson Square. The precise ending point can depend on the guide and the crowds.

What places are included on the route?

The tour covers the French Quarter and includes stops at the LaLaurie Mansion and Marie Laveau’s former home.

Is admission to the LaLaurie Mansion included?

No. Admission is not included, and the tour description does not specify entry inside the mansion.

Is a drink included?

No. You may bring a beverage with you, but drinks are not included.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 16. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

How many people can join the tour?

The stated maximum is nine participants. One reported departure had a much larger group, so confirm the expected size with the operator if it is important to you.

Is the tour suitable for someone who cannot walk much?

It is a walking tour lasting about 90 minutes, and the pace can be steady. Comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour information says most people can participate and service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded.