New Orleans: Drunk History Walking Tour

New Orleans makes a good case for a tour that treats history as both serious business and a fine source of strange stories. On this two-hour French Quarter walk, you’ll hear about above-ground burial vaults, voodoo, pirates, and the ghosts and vampires said to haunt local streets, with historic bars along the way.

I like two things in particular: the tour connects spooky tales to real places and customs, and the bar stops are optional, so you can come for the stories without drinking. One consideration: drinks are not included, and the route’s mix of history and paranormal lore is more playful than a formal history lecture.

Key points before you go

• Start outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Meet your guide on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate, not inside the bar.
• Expect history with a ghost-story twist: The walk covers burial customs, voodoo, Marie Laveau, and reports of ghosts and vampires.
• Bar stops are optional and cost extra: You can listen to the stories without buying a drink.
• Guide and group size can shape the evening: Coty is a name often associated with the tour, and private groups are available.
• Wear comfortable shoes: You’ll spend two hours walking through the French Quarter.
• Keep your phone put away for video: Recording the tour is not allowed.

Starting at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

The meeting point is the sidewalk in front of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street. Look for the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar. The tour does not meet inside, and the bar’s staff are not part of the tour operation, so they cannot check you in or answer tour questions.

Arrive a few minutes early. Check-in happens before departure, and you cannot join the group later at another stop. That matters on a walking tour: once the guide has left Bourbon Street, there is no easy way to catch up without knowing the route.

The location sets the tone. You begin in the French Quarter, surrounded by the streets, old buildings, and nightlife that give the tour its subject matter. Bring comfortable shoes, and keep in mind that this is a walking experience, not a seated talk with a short stroll attached.

French Quarter history, told through its darker corners

The tour moves through the Vieux Carré, the French Quarter’s historic core, and uses landmarks and local stories to make the city’s past easier to picture. You’ll hear about the people connected to New Orleans’ founding, including pirates, prostitutes, and convicted felons. The point is not to reduce the city’s beginnings to a colorful slogan, but to show how its history includes people who lived outside the tidy version often found in a textbook.

Expect stories that move between documented places and local legend. That mix is part of the appeal, especially if you like a guide who can make a building or street corner feel more memorable than a list of dates. Guides have included Coty, Donna, and Ashli. Coty is especially associated with lively storytelling and a knack for answering questions, but guides can vary, so you should not assume a particular person will lead your departure.

The tour is also a useful first-night activity. You get an introduction to the Quarter’s landmarks and stories while learning where you might want to return later. If you’ve visited New Orleans before, the guide may point out details you have passed without noticing. Just keep your expectations in proportion: two hours can offer a lively sampler, not a complete account of the city.

Above-ground vaults and local burial customs

One of the tour’s strongest subjects is the way New Orleans buries its dead. You’ll learn about traditional burial practices and why many vaults sit above ground. The explanation gives you more than a striking image to photograph: it offers context for a feature that can otherwise seem like a curious architectural choice.

The tour’s focus on burial customs also fits naturally with its ghost stories. New Orleans’ cemeteries and memorial traditions have long shaped the city’s popular image, and the walk uses that atmosphere to raise questions about how people remember the dead. You can enjoy the eerie side of the subject while still listening for the practical and cultural details behind it.

This is a good part of the experience for visitors who want more than jump scares. The ghost stories may be entertaining, but the burial customs give the stories a real-world setting. The guide’s delivery matters here: the best version of the tale leaves room for both history and imagination.

Voodoo, Marie Laveau, and the stories attached to them

Voodoo is another central theme. The guide explains how the practice came to New Orleans, introduces Marie Laveau, often called the voodoo queen, and takes you to property associated with her. The walk also points out locations where ceremonies were held.

These stories can be compelling, but they deserve a little care. Voodoo is a living religious and cultural tradition, not simply a prop for ghost stories. The tour places it alongside paranormal legends, so listen for the distinction between cultural history and supernatural claims. That combination can make for a lively evening, but it is not the same as a specialist religious or academic tour.

The stops connected to Marie Laveau offer a useful sense of how a person’s reputation becomes part of a city’s identity. You’ll hear about the real and legendary sides of her story, then see the places that keep the tale anchored to the Quarter. If you want a deeper study of the religion itself, treat this walk as an introduction rather than your only source.

Ghosts, vampires, and the most haunted house

The tour promises reports of ghosts and vampires said to linger in particular streets and buildings. It also visits what the tour describes as the city’s most haunted house. These claims belong to New Orleans’ folklore, and the experience is best approached with curiosity rather than a demand for proof.

The guide’s role is to make the stories come alive, explain where they come from, and connect them to the streets around you. The tone can be funny, spooky, or both. Past guides have also used paranormal equipment on some outings, adding a bit of ghost-hunt play to the evening. Equipment may not be part of every tour, and any paranormal gear used should be handled carefully: lost or damaged equipment carries a $250 fee.

If you’re hoping for a sober investigation with scientific testing, this is not the right fit. If you enjoy folklore, theatrical storytelling, and the pleasure of looking at an old house differently after hearing its history, the ghost-and-vampire angle adds welcome mischief.

Historic bars and the optional drink stops

The route passes many French Quarter bars and includes stops at some of its historic, welcoming drinking spots. The exact number of stops is not fixed in the information provided, so think of the bar visits as part of the evening rather than a guaranteed crawl with a set number of drinks.

Drinks are not included in the $28 tour price. You can buy one at a stop or skip the purchase and keep listening. The guide waits outside while adults go inside for refills, which keeps the walking group together without requiring everyone to drink. That makes the tour more flexible than its name might suggest.

The bar stops also add local context. You are not just moving from one story to another; you get a chance to see some of the Quarter’s historic drinking places from the inside if you choose to order. Still, this is not a pub crawl built around long stays. The stories and walk remain the main event, so budget extra for any drinks you want and pace yourself if you plan to sample several.

What two hours and $28 buy you

At $28 per person, the price covers a live English-speaking guide and a two-hour walking tour. It does not cover drinks, and there is no transport included. For a visitor who wants an entertaining introduction to the French Quarter, that is a reasonable way to spend an evening, especially if you value a guide’s stories more than a long list of formal stops.

The best value comes from the combination: local landmarks, New Orleans history, voodoo stories, ghost lore, and optional bar visits. You can get a broad sense of the Quarter’s character in a short time, and a lively guide can make the streets more legible for the rest of your stay. The value falls if you expect a highly detailed scholarly tour, a dedicated paranormal investigation, or drinks included in the ticket.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, and private groups are available. Since it is a walking route through city streets, contact the operator if you need specific route details before booking. The tour lasts two hours, but starting times vary, so check availability for your date.

A few useful cautions before booking

The tour is designed for adults interested in bars and darker history, but drinking is not required. The supplier can refuse service to anyone who is intoxicated, and no refund is offered if someone is asked to leave for extreme intoxication. Keep the night fun by arriving ready to walk and choosing your drinks at a pace that lets you follow the stories.

Video recording is not allowed. Guides also avoid using their phones during the tour, a policy that helps keep attention on the group and the stories. The supplier may reschedule for bad weather or cancel if too few people book. If a low-attendance cancellation happens, the supplier says it will contact you in the hour before departure and offer another tour or a full refund.

There is a conflict in the stated booking terms: one part says you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, while another says no refunds will be issued for any reason. Check the terms shown for your booking before paying, and do not assume the more flexible policy applies without confirmation.

Who should take this tour?

I’d choose this walk if you want a fun introduction to the French Quarter and enjoy history delivered with humor, folklore, and a little theatrical darkness. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors looking for a guided evening activity, and history fans who don’t mind their facts served beside ghost stories. A solo traveler can also appreciate the structure of walking with a group, though the tour is not presented as a safety service.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet, strictly academic account of New Orleans, dislike nightlife settings, or need a tour that includes drinks. The strongest reason to book is the guide-led storytelling. Coty has received particular praise for being entertaining, answering questions, and mixing useful details with odd bits of local knowledge. Still, guide assignments can change, so book for the tour’s format, not a guarantee of one specific guide.

My call: book it if the idea of burial customs, voodoo history, ghost tales, and a bar stop sounds like a good way to spend two hours. Skip it if you want a more focused historical lecture or a drink package. Either way, arrive at the courtyard gate on time, wear comfortable shoes, and keep your expectations playful.

FAQ

How long is the New Orleans Drunk History Walking Tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $28 per person. Drinks are not included.

Where do I meet the guide?

Meet on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street. Do not go inside to check in.

What will I see and hear about?

The tour covers French Quarter landmarks, burial customs, voodoo, Marie Laveau, ghost and vampire stories, and historic bars. It includes St. Louis Cathedral and the site associated with the Louisiana Purchase.

Are drinks included?

No. You may buy drinks at bar stops, but they are an extra cost and drinking is optional.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live tour guide speaks English.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Contact the supplier if you need details about the route for your specific needs.

Can I book a private group?

Yes. Private groups are available.

Can I record the tour?

Video recording is not allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

The stated terms conflict. One section allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, while another says no refunds will be issued. Confirm the terms for your booking before you reserve.