Movie and TV Show Tour of New Orleans

In the French Quarter, a familiar movie scene can be hiding in plain sight: a corner, courtyard, or grand old building you might otherwise pass without noticing. This two-hour walk connects filming locations with New Orleans stories, moving from the Louisiana Supreme Court area to Jackson Square and Pirate’s Alley.

I like two things about this tour: it gives film fans a fresh way to read the French Quarter, and it adds local history rather than treating the city as a movie backdrop. Guides such as Trevor McQueen have been praised for explaining filming angles and sharing photos from productions. The main consideration is the walking, especially in summer heat, so bring comfortable shoes and water.

At a glance

• A French Quarter route: Start at 400 Royal Street and finish in Pirate’s Alley, with stops around Jackson Square and nearby historic streets.
• Film and television connections: Look for locations tied to The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, AHS, Your Honor, Chef, NCIS: New Orleans, and other productions.
• More than screen trivia: The route includes the Pharmacy Museum, Voodoo Authentica, the Old Ursuline Convent area, and sites connected to New Orleans history.
• A small group: The maximum is 16 people, giving the guide room to tailor some of the stories to your favorite shows.
• Two hours on foot: The pace is described as relaxed, with multiple stops, but this is not a seated tour.
• Plan for extra costs: The $30 price does not include admission at some stops, including the Pharmacy Museum.

A film tour that also reads the French Quarter

New Orleans has played itself and many other places on screen. This walk focuses on the French Quarter, where streets and buildings have appeared in films and television shows ranging from King Creole and A Streetcar Named Desire to The Originals and Interview with the Vampire. You do not need to know every title to get something from the tour. The guide also connects the locations to the city’s past, architecture, and everyday character.

That mix is the tour’s strength. A film-location walk can become a string of quick references, especially if you have not seen the productions. Here, the history gives each stop another reason to pay attention. Jackson Square is more than a backdrop, and an old building is more than a place where a camera once pointed. The guide can explain what makes a location useful on screen and what else happened there.

The tour is operated by Hollywood South Tours. Trevor McQueen is named often by people who have taken it, and one account also names Travis. Trevor’s background in the industry has been a particular draw: he has been described as able to identify the precise angles used in scenes, and he has shown photos and videos connected to filming. You may not have the same guide on your date, so treat those personal materials as a possible bonus, not a guaranteed feature.

Starting near Royal Street and the Pharmacy Museum

The meeting point is 400 Royal Street, in the French Quarter. From there, the route starts around the Louisiana Supreme Court building and passes Napoleon House before reaching the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, the third stop described on the walk. In a short stretch, the guide links law, local lore, and the story of what is identified as the first licensed pharmacy in the United States.

That variety sets the tone. You are not simply walking from one recognizable facade to another; the guide uses the small distances between sites to shift from true-crime tales to circus history and vampire lore. If you like a tour that changes subject often, this early sequence should keep things lively.

The Pharmacy Museum stop is scheduled for about 15 minutes. Admission is not included, so do not assume the $30 covers entry. The information provided does not specify whether the group goes inside or discusses the museum from outside, so check with the operator if entering is important to you. Even without an interior visit, the building is a useful anchor for the route’s mix of film, medicine, and city history.

Jackson Square: the busiest screen on the route

The walk gives Jackson Square about 30 minutes, making it the longest scheduled stop. That makes sense: the square is one of the French Quarter’s best-known historic areas, and more than a dozen film projects have worked in the vicinity. You will have time to look around, take photos, and hear how the square and nearby streets have been used on screen.

For film fans, the pleasure is often in recognizing a familiar setting from a new angle. A guide who can point out where a shot was framed may help you connect a screen image to the real street. If you have favorite shows, mention them early. Guides have been known to ask what the group watches and give extra attention to locations that match those interests.

Jackson Square is also a natural place to pause during a walking tour. A past group stopped for water and ice cream here, which is a sensible idea when the weather is hot. That is not a fixed part of the advertised route, but it shows why the multiple stops matter: you are not expected to march nonstop for two hours.

Voodoo Authentica and the route’s folklore turn

The next listed stop is Voodoo Authentica, with about 10 minutes set aside in the area. Several more film locations are nearby, but the guide also explains the truth about Voodoo. That context is valuable in a city where popular entertainment can blur the line between local religious practice and spooky movie shorthand.

Expect the subject matter to change again as the walk heads toward a halfway stop. The tour is especially appealing if you like supernatural television, but the goal is not only to collect vampire references. The folklore section adds a chance to hear about the city beyond the screen and to question the clichés that film and television often use.

The stop is short, so it is better to think of it as a focused introduction than a full treatment of the subject. If you want a longer discussion, ask the guide a question while the group is there or as you walk on. A small group, capped at 16, can make those exchanges easier than they would be on a much larger outing.

The Old Ursuline Convent and the horror loop

At the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the tour begins what it calls its horror loop, with stories about witches and vampires. The building is described as the only pre-fire building left in New Orleans, a detail that gives the stop weight beyond its screen appearances. Only about five minutes are scheduled here, so expect a brief introduction rather than a museum visit.

Admission is not included at the convent museum. The supplied details do not say that entry is part of the tour, so budget for the possibility of seeing the site from outside unless you confirm otherwise. That distinction matters if you are comparing the price with a tour that includes access to interiors.

The shift into vampire and witch stories should suit fans of AHS, The Vampire Diaries, and The Originals. Still, the route is not pitched as a ghost tour. Its emphasis is on film and television locations, with supernatural history and local context woven in. If you want a walk built mainly around hauntings, this one may not scratch that itch as directly.

Starling Magickal Occult Shop and a civil-rights connection

Starling Magickal Occult Shop gets about 15 minutes. The area has appeared in film projects, and across the street is Homer Plessy Community School, which gives the guide a chance to discuss early civil rights in New Orleans. This is one of the itinerary’s more useful changes of pace: the tour moves from screen trivia and supernatural themes to a real civic story.

The shop is listed as a stop, but admission is not included. The details do not promise a visit inside, so take the scheduled time as a chance to learn about the area and its connections rather than as guaranteed shopping time. The civil-rights material also shows why this walk can work for someone who has not seen the shows being discussed. There are other threads to follow.

Madame John’s Legacy and the architecture on camera

Madame John’s Legacy is described as the French Quarter’s second-oldest building and a site used in several film projects. The stop lasts about 10 minutes. Its story includes the Great Fire and rebuilding in 1788, giving the guide a chance to connect the area’s architecture with the city’s history.

A building’s appearance can explain why filmmakers return to the Quarter. The tour helps you notice facades and streets as practical locations, not just pretty scenery. Guides have been praised for matching real places to the angles of particular shots. If you are keen on this side of the tour, ask about the production and scene behind a location rather than settling for a title alone.

Admission is not included here. As with several stops, confirm ahead if you expect to go inside. The value does not depend on entering every building, but it is worth knowing what the ticket price does and does not cover.

Boutique du Vampyre and Pirate’s Alley

Boutique du Vampyre is another stop for vampire history, with about 10 minutes planned. It should be a highlight for fans of Interview with the Vampire and The Originals, both of which have strong New Orleans associations on the tour. The information describes the stop as having notable histories, though it does not specify that admission is included.

The final stop is Pirate’s Alley Cafe, in Pirate’s Alley. About 10 minutes are scheduled here, and the area has no shortage of film connections. It is a fitting finish: the walk closes among the lanes and buildings that make the French Quarter instantly recognizable on screen.

The end point is listed as Pirate’s Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116. That leaves you in the Quarter rather than returning you to Royal Street, so consider where you want to go next before setting out. The route is compact enough to pair with more time exploring the area on your own, though the tour itself is already two hours on foot.

Is $30 good value for this walk?

At $30 per person, the price is reasonable if you want a guided introduction to filming locations and local history in one outing. You get about two hours of a small-group walking tour, a route through several recognizable French Quarter sites, and a guide who can connect the buildings to productions and stories you might not spot alone.

The value depends partly on what you expect. The ticket is not an admission pass to every museum or building, and the itinerary marks some admissions as not included. If you are hoping to enter several interiors, check the details before booking and account for any extra costs. If your main interest is hearing what filmed where while seeing the Quarter on foot, the included route and guide commentary are the central value.

The group limit of 16 is another plus. It is small enough for questions and for the guide to adjust the focus to the group’s favorite productions, while still being a shared tour rather than a private walk. Booking averages around 17 days ahead, so popular dates may need planning, though the supplied information does not promise availability at any particular time.

Who will enjoy the walk, and how to prepare

This is an easy choice for fans of supernatural shows, especially The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, and AHS. It also suits people interested in NCIS: New Orleans, CSI, Your Honor, Chef, King Creole, and A Streetcar Named Desire. You do not need to know the full catalogue: the tour can still serve as a lively way to see the Quarter and hear about the city.

Wear comfortable walking shoes. One person found the wrong shoes and summer heat made the walk less comfortable, even though the route had plenty of stops. The activity is not recommended for people who cannot walk long distances, so be realistic about your pace and stamina. The description does not give a total distance, which makes it worth asking the operator if that detail affects your decision.

Bring water, especially in hot weather. The tour requires good weather; if poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. A mobile ticket is provided, and the tour is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part.

The cancellation terms are straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted for a refund or adjustment. Cut-off times use local New Orleans time.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want to see the French Quarter through its film locations and hear the stories that sit behind the facades. Its best feature is the mix: screen history, local background, folklore, and civil-rights context, delivered at a walking pace with room for photos and questions.

Think twice if you want a mostly seated activity, cannot manage a substantial walk, or expect admission to the museums and historic buildings to be included. For a film fan with comfortable shoes and two hours to spend in the Quarter, this is a practical, reasonably priced way to turn familiar streets into a set of scenes worth noticing.

FAQ

How long is the Movie and TV Show Tour of New Orleans?

The tour lasts about two hours. It is a walking tour through the French Quarter, with time scheduled at several stops.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $30 per person. Admission is not included at some stops, including the Pharmacy Museum and Old Ursuline Convent Museum.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at 400 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, and ends in Pirate’s Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116.

What film and television locations does the tour cover?

The route includes areas connected with productions such as The Originals, Interview with the Vampire, AHS, Your Honor, Chef, NCIS: New Orleans, King Creole, and A Streetcar Named Desire, among others.

Is the tour suitable if I have not seen the shows?

Yes. The route also covers French Quarter landmarks and New Orleans history, so you can enjoy the walk without recognizing every film or series.

How large is the tour group?

The maximum group size is 16 people.

Is the tour accessible to someone who cannot walk long distances?

The tour is not recommended for people who cannot walk long distances. The supplied details do not state the route’s total distance.

What happens if the weather is poor or I need to cancel?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund; cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded.