Widely known as one of the most haunted places in the United States, New Orleans is packed with ghost stories and centuries of spooky history. Its highly walkable neighborhoods make exploring the city effortless, particularly when it comes to discovering its otherworldly side. You’d never run out of ghost tours, historic cemeteries, and eerie sites to try, and what’s a better way to spend a night in NOLA than exploring this spine-chilling beauty?
To make planning a little easier, I’ve compiled a list to help you find the right activity to fit your itinerary. Rest assured that you’ll find the perfect place to experience legendary spirits and unforgettable after-dark adventures here, so let’s begin exploring!
Best Ghost Tour in New Orleans [🏅Top Pick]
New Orleans Premier Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour
🌟 4.5/5 stars (+12,600 reviews)|⏳Tour Duration: 1 Hour 45 Minutes| 👻 BOOK NOW
This walking tour feels like a great fit if you want to explore New Orleans after dark. From the start, it’s led by a knowledgeable local guide who takes you on an evening stroll through the French Quarter, passing eerie landmarks like Jackson Square and the LaLaurie Mansion. Along the way, you even stop by Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar to enjoy a drink while hearing pirate tales and local lore.
What really stands out to me, however, is how listening to chronicles about ghosts and early vampire lore kept me hooked the entire time. I also appreciate how the tour blends real history with chilling legends, giving each stop just the right amount of atmospheric appeal.
Additionally, the tour feels personal since group sizes are kept manageable, with options for even smaller groups. So, if you’re looking for an approachable way to uncover New Orleans’ darker past, this is one I’d confidently recommend.
Andre (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour in New Orleans:
- Explore the French Quarter at night with a local guide who knows the city’s haunted paths
- Hear captivating stories of voodoo, witchcraft, ghosts, and vampire legends
- Pass iconic sites like the LaLaurie Mansion, Jackson Square, and the Pharmacy Museum
- Visit legendary locations including Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar and Voodoo Authentica
- Easy meeting point and group setting make the experience stress-free and immersive
Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour
🌟 4.8/5 stars (+6,400 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 1 Hour 45 Minutes | 👻 BOOK NOW
Do you want to satisfy your cravings for something darker and more intense than the average ghost walk? This adults-only tour delivers exactly that, since the guide doesn’t hold back in saying the most chilling true-crime stories and paranormal legends that feels like stepping into the city’s shadowy side.
You’ll wind through places like Congo Square, Bourbon Street, and past infamous sites such as the LaLaurie Mansion. I like how the tour reveals a perspective of New Orleans you wouldn’t stumble upon alone, especially with tales tied to voodoo, vampires, and real crimes. Plus, if you opt for the VIP experience, the Hellvision digital projections add an extra layer that makes the storytelling even more immersive.
I’d recommend this tour to anyone who prefers their history raw and their ghost stories unfiltered. It’s intense, memorable, and not for the faint of heart.
Cameron (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Adults-Only Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour:
- Adults-only nighttime tour focused on true crime, voodoo, and paranormal lore
- Explore haunted areas of the French Quarter after dark with a licensed guide
- Optional VIP upgrade with Hellvision™ digital projections
- Visit notorious sites like Congo Square and the LaLaurie Mansion
- Wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed
Adults Only Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans
🌟 4.5/5 stars (+2,100 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 2 Hours | 👻 BOOK NOW
If you want to see the haunted side of New Orleans while enjoying a few drinks, this evening adventure is a great pick. You’d first set the mood at Jackson Square before wandering through the French Quarter, hearing stories about pirates, haunted alleys, and spots where famous authors used to hang out. The vibe is lively, yet spooky, and the group setting makes it easy to meet other travelers while having a drink or two.
I think you’d enjoy stopping at bars with their own ghostly reputations, such as Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, claimed to be the oldest in the country. By the time you reach May Baily’s Place, you’d enjoy the fun mix of nightlife and the eerie energy of the city around you.
It’s perfect for anyone looking for a night out with a spooky twist, where the combination of haunted stories and drinks keeps the energy high from start to finish.
Gary (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans:
- Enjoy drinks and nightlife with a lively group
- Hear ghost stories while hopping from bar to bar
- Stops include Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar and Lalaurie Mansion
- Complimentary drink at the final bar
Cemetery Bus Tours
New Orleans Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Cemetery Access
🌟 4.7/5 stars (+1,600 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 2 Hours| 👻 BOOK NOW
Seeing the cemeteries of New Orleans at night has a totally different vibe than during the day. Each cemetery has its own character, from their towering tombs to hidden corners that feel straight out of a story. And while you’re on the bus, the guide will point out haunted spots and share stories that will make you look twice at every shadow.
The best part is getting exclusive access to a private cemetery while the guide explains its history and spooky tales. You’d also get the chance to use EMF readers, which brings out a fun interactive touch, and listen to the on-board commentary that adds excitement throughout the ride.
It’s an ideal way to explore New Orleans’ eerie charm, and it shows a unique side of the city you might not experience from others.
Tamara (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Cemetery Bus Tour with Exclusive Access:
- Exclusive nighttime access to a private cemetery
- EMF readers are provided to spot ghosts
- Drive-by views of iconic cemeteries and city landmarks
- On-board commentary from a local guide
- Details about unique above-ground burial traditions
New Orleans Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Bus Tour
🌟 4.7/5 stars (+1,900 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 2 Hours| 👻 BOOK NOW
If you’re someone who wants an easy way to experience the darker side of New Orleans without walking long blocks at night, this tour is well worth checking out. Instead, you’ll ride in a cool, quiet bus that drifts past gloomy streets while a knowledgeable guide shares spooky stories and local legends along the way.
Once you step into the cemeteries, the after-dark access immediately shifts the mood into something that feels rare and uncanny. At that point, the guide’s steady commentary and thoughtful pacing help create a fully immersive experience, allowing you to focus on the atmosphere rather than logistics.
As the tour continues, it moves between voodoo and ritual sites, historic burial grounds, and open park spaces that give you time to pause, take photos, and catch your breath throughout the spooky journey.
Tamara (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Bus Tour:
- Introduction to haunted burial grounds
- Magnolia Bridge, a ritual site every St. John’s Eve
- Access to St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
- Cafe stop at the end for a quick bite
Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans
🌟 4.5/5 stars (+2,600 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 2 Hours| 👻 BOOK NOW
A BYOB cemetery bus tour is a smooth way to see New Orleans at night, and this one is perfect if you’re hoping to see the quieter side of town. And once the city noise dropped and you started nearing the shadowy cemetery? You’d surely feel the vibe shift inside your ride.
One of the best views for me are the above ground tombs with their unusual and elaborate structures looming as they sit close together. The guide is also amazing at linking the area with paranormal experiences. They would even give you tips on how to hunt, which would be put into use in the second cemetery where you can pick out tools to find ghosts before your tour ends.
Leslie (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Cemetery and Ghost BYOB Bus Tour in New Orleans:
- Led by experienced ghost hunter
- Masonic Temple Cemetery, the city’s oldest and most haunted graveyards
- Passing by one of the nation’s oldest urban parks
Other New Orleans Ghost Tours
New Orleans Adults-Only True Crime and Ghost Walking Tour
🌟 5/5 stars (+1,500 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 2 Hours | 👻 BOOK NOW
Walking through New Orleans at night with its quieter streets give a more intimate vibe. I noticed how easy it was to follow along on foot, which is perfect if you want to absorb a place instead of rushing past it.
What truly sets this experience apart is how unapologetically eerie the French Quarter becomes right after nightfall, especially as you listen to tales about true crimes and ghosts. The guide shares the stories straight and uncensored while moving from stop-to-stop, a great fit if you enjoy something darker without filters.
Chris N (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Adults-Only True Crime and Ghost Walking Tour:
- Focus on true crime and ghost tales
- Inn on Ursulines, a site of a gruesome murder
- Alleys where real bloody crimes happened
- Famous landmarks such as St. Louis Cathedral and Supreme Court of Louisiana
Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour Of The French Quarter
🌟 4.7/5 stars (+2,300 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 2.5 Hours | 😋 BOOK NOW
If you want a French Quarter focused tour at night that feels easy and social, then I think this activity is right down your alley.
As you move through local streets, you’d stop outside key spots while the guide shares creepy tales about the area. I found that staying outdoors works well if you like spooky themes without being overwhelmed, which is nice if you’ve had a long day exploring the other parts of the town.
The comfortable pace ensures that there is time to look around and reset between stops. You wouldn’t even expect how quickly the time passed during the casual way of exploring the area while hearing stories you would miss on your own.
Jennifer (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour Of The French Quarter:
- Night walk through the French Quarter
- Ghost and vampire themed stories
- Learn about haunted locations from outside
- Tour departure point is just a short walk away from most hotels
New Orleans Ghost Tour: Go Inside a Haunted Location
🌟 4.6/5 stars (+1,100 reviews) |⏳ Tour Duration: 3 Hours | 👻 BOOK NOW
Evening tours hit different when you can actually step inside and get a closer look in a haunted place that scary stories are about. The tour would start off easy with passing by the French Quarter and walking through several hotspots like Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. But once you go inside some of the buildings, you’d see how this one really stands out.
Being indoors changes the energy fast, and it gives a depth that I think is unique from the other tours. The historian guide would also uncover the chilling history of the lovely houses you’d see for a complete experience.
You can even get a glimpse of the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, the focal point of vampire folklore in New Orleans, at the end of your adventure, so this activity is definitely something worth checking out!
Heidi (More Reviews)
👍 Highlights Of The Ghost Tour in a Haunted Courtyard:
- Evening ghost tour through central streets
- Entry into the haunted courtyard of Place d’Armes Hotel
- Led by a knowledgeable guide with live stories
- Mix of walking and short indoor stops
Ready For A Haunted Time in New Orleans?
New Orleans is rich in eerie history and legends, making it easy to explore so many spine-chilling spots in a short time. You can move between ghost tales, vampire stories, and true crime without going far and spending long hours building your itinerary from scratch, giving you the perfect variety without overplanning.
Since there is a wide range of exciting tours in New Orleans, I hope this list helps you decide on what is the perfect activity for you. Once you do, prepare yourself for a hauntingly memorable experience into the shadows and let NOLA leave a chill on your spine that lingers long after the tour ends.
- Cool Hotels In New Orleans For Different Travel Types And Budgets
- Areas To Stay In New Orleans For First Timers Based on Travel Preferences
- Ultimate 3 Day New Orleans Itinerary: How To See New Orleans In 3 Days
