New Orleans French Quarter Walking and History Tour
by Historic New Orleans Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$58Overview
The New Orleans French Quarter Walking and History Tour lasts about two hours and covers approximately two miles at a relaxed walking pace. Participants meet the local guide at Musical Legends Park in the French Quarter. The tour begins with a short walk to the Mississippi River banks, where the guide explains how levee construction transformed the swampy land into fertile farmland, helping New Orleans develop as a regional center. The group then walks through the French Market, the oldest open-air market in the United States. Next, the tour reaches Jackson Square, the central plaza of the French Quarter. The guide points out the Pontalba Buildings that border the square. The group visits the Cabildo, built between 1795 and 1799, which once housed the city’s government and now serves as the Louisiana State Museum. Nearby is the Presbytere, constructed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, featuring two permanent exhibits about the city’s resilience and celebrations. The tour continues inside St. Louis Cathedral, where the guide shows the location where the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 began and explains how the fire influenced the French Quarter’s architectural style. Afterwards, the group enters a Creole courtyard, and the guide discusses Creole society and the placage system from the balcony of the former Quadroon Ballroom. Along the route, the guide points out locations connected to Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, including the building where Williams wrote “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Faulkner’s home, which the group enters. The tour stops at Pirate's Alley, where the guide shares stories about prison escapes and duels. Street musicians can be heard during the walk. The final stop is outside the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the oldest building in the Mississippi River valley, which provides information about early colonization in Louisiana. The tour ends near the Mississippi River levee. A local guide is included. Hotel pickup, gratuities, food, and drinks are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
French Quarter
Meet the guide at Musical Legends Park to start the walking tour. Walk a short distance to the Mississippi River banks where the guide explains how levee construction transformed the area from swamp to fertile farmland, making New Orleans an important regional hub.
30 min
Walking section
Choose a morning or evening tour to walk about 2 miles (3.2 km) at a relaxed pace. The tour concludes near the Mississippi River levee.
15 min
French Market
Walk through the French Market, which is the oldest open-air market in the United States.
5 min
Jackson Square
Arrive at Jackson Square, the central public square of the French Quarter.
15 min
The Cabildo
View the Cabildo, built between 1795 and 1799, formerly the center of government in New Orleans and now housing the Louisiana State Museum.
15 min
The Presbytere
See the Presbytere, constructed in 1791 to complement the Cabildo, featuring two permanent exhibits about the city’s resilience and celebrations.
Pontalba Buildings
Learn about the Pontalba Buildings, two long blocks that form two sides of Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
St. Louis Cathedral
Enter St. Louis Cathedral where the guide discusses the 1788 Great New Orleans Fire and how the rebuilding shaped the French Quarter’s architectural style.
20 min
Creole courtyard and literary stops
Visit a Creole courtyard and the balcony of the former Quadroon Ballroom to learn about Creole society and the placage system. The guide points out film and literary sites including Tennessee Williams’ writing location and William Faulkner’s home. The group also stops at Pirate's Alley for stories of prison escapes and duels, accompanied by street musicians.
10 min
Old Ursuline Convent Museum
Stand outside the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the oldest building in the Mississippi River valley, to learn about early colonization efforts in Louisiana.
10 min
Meeting point
Departure Point: Royal Cafe Beignet, 334 Royal Street, next to the Police Station
End point
In and around Jackson Square in the middle of the French Quarter
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
New Orleans French Quarter Walking and History Tour
by Historic New Orleans Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$58Overview
The New Orleans French Quarter Walking and History Tour lasts about two hours and covers approximately two miles at a relaxed walking pace. Participants meet the local guide at Musical Legends Park in the French Quarter. The tour begins with a short walk to the Mississippi River banks, where the guide explains how levee construction transformed the swampy land into fertile farmland, helping New Orleans develop as a regional center. The group then walks through the French Market, the oldest open-air market in the United States. Next, the tour reaches Jackson Square, the central plaza of the French Quarter. The guide points out the Pontalba Buildings that border the square. The group visits the Cabildo, built between 1795 and 1799, which once housed the city’s government and now serves as the Louisiana State Museum. Nearby is the Presbytere, constructed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, featuring two permanent exhibits about the city’s resilience and celebrations. The tour continues inside St. Louis Cathedral, where the guide shows the location where the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 began and explains how the fire influenced the French Quarter’s architectural style. Afterwards, the group enters a Creole courtyard, and the guide discusses Creole society and the placage system from the balcony of the former Quadroon Ballroom. Along the route, the guide points out locations connected to Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, including the building where Williams wrote “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Faulkner’s home, which the group enters. The tour stops at Pirate's Alley, where the guide shares stories about prison escapes and duels. Street musicians can be heard during the walk. The final stop is outside the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the oldest building in the Mississippi River valley, which provides information about early colonization in Louisiana. The tour ends near the Mississippi River levee. A local guide is included. Hotel pickup, gratuities, food, and drinks are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
French Quarter
Meet the guide at Musical Legends Park to start the walking tour. Walk a short distance to the Mississippi River banks where the guide explains how levee construction transformed the area from swamp to fertile farmland, making New Orleans an important regional hub.
30 min
Walking section
Choose a morning or evening tour to walk about 2 miles (3.2 km) at a relaxed pace. The tour concludes near the Mississippi River levee.
15 min
French Market
Walk through the French Market, which is the oldest open-air market in the United States.
5 min
Jackson Square
Arrive at Jackson Square, the central public square of the French Quarter.
15 min
The Cabildo
View the Cabildo, built between 1795 and 1799, formerly the center of government in New Orleans and now housing the Louisiana State Museum.
15 min
The Presbytere
See the Presbytere, constructed in 1791 to complement the Cabildo, featuring two permanent exhibits about the city’s resilience and celebrations.
Pontalba Buildings
Learn about the Pontalba Buildings, two long blocks that form two sides of Jackson Square in the French Quarter.
St. Louis Cathedral
Enter St. Louis Cathedral where the guide discusses the 1788 Great New Orleans Fire and how the rebuilding shaped the French Quarter’s architectural style.
20 min
Creole courtyard and literary stops
Visit a Creole courtyard and the balcony of the former Quadroon Ballroom to learn about Creole society and the placage system. The guide points out film and literary sites including Tennessee Williams’ writing location and William Faulkner’s home. The group also stops at Pirate's Alley for stories of prison escapes and duels, accompanied by street musicians.
10 min
Old Ursuline Convent Museum
Stand outside the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the oldest building in the Mississippi River valley, to learn about early colonization efforts in Louisiana.
10 min
Meeting point
Departure Point: Royal Cafe Beignet, 334 Royal Street, next to the Police Station
End point
In and around Jackson Square in the middle of the French Quarter
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.