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French Quarter Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans

3 Reviews 3.33 out of 5 stars Based on 3 traveler reviews collected by Cool Broadway and TripAdvisor | New Orleans, USA

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On average, this is booked 15 (0) days in advance.

1 to 2 hours (approx.)
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Offered in: English

Overview

Get ready to move and groove in the birthplace of jazz as you explore the storied streets of New Orleans with this self-guided walking tour. Discover rich history and culture as you stroll through the French Quarter. Stop for beignets at Cafe du Monde, hear a spine-chilling (and accurate) tale of horror at the LaLaurie Mansion, and visit the city’s lively Bourbon Street, where there’s never a dull moment! Along the way, you’ll learn about the origins of Cajun and Creole, get to know jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, and so much more.

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

What's Included

  • Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
  • Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
  • Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
  • Self-guided tour — no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and transport are separate.
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

500 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Jackson Square
New Orleans, LA 70116, USA

The tour will end at the famous Jackson Square on Decatur St.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

French Quarter

Welcome to New Orleans! This 2-mile stroll through the French Quarter will take you on a journey back in time through the history of the Crescent City. So, as the French say, allons-y!Note: The tour is over 2 miles long, with more than 36 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Louis Cathedral

There’s a fantastic view straight ahead of St. Louis Cathedral. It’s the oldest continuously used cathedral in America. Originally built in 1720, it burned down in 1788 and was rebuilt immediately within a year. We’ll walk right by the Cathedral later in the tour and get a chance to visit.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Washington Artillery Park (pass by)

The plaza at the top of this platform is Washington Artillery Park. Established in 1976, this small park honors the many militaries which have used this land as a defensive fortification, from the French to the Spanish, the Confederates, and the United States. Strange bedfellows, for sure!
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Decatur Street

To our left is the popular Decatur Street! With it’s horse-drawn carriage rides, restaurants, and clubs, I’m sure you’ll find yourself spending lots of time walking up and down Decatur for the rest of your visit here in New Orleans. There’s always something to do!
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cafe Du Monde

This building straight ahead is the ever-popular Cafe Du Monde French Market. First established in 1862, Cafe Du Monde became famous for its chicory coffee. Chicory is the root of a blue-flowered perennial plant first used in ancient Egypt. Before it was ground and mixed with coffee in France, Egyptians used chicory in tea to heal various ailments. But the chicory coffee here wasn’t just made for its flavor – it was born out of necessity.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Steamboat NATCHEZ (pass by)

Do you see a steamboat straight ahead? That’s the Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the mighty Mississippi. You’re looking back in time at the early 1800s, when boats like this one revolutionized trade and travel up and down this river. They’re also the inspiration for riverboats, which Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn famously rode on. Plus, if you want to experience some jazz on the river, this boat is the place to be!Note: This tour is 1.9 miles long and covers all its essentials in 1-2 hours.
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Danny Barker Birthplace

Look up and to the left. See that balcony with all the plants up ahead? That’s the birthplace of game-changing jazz musician Danny Barker! Pause in front. Barker’s own family, the Barbarins, were musical legends in their own right. His grandfather played with Louis Armstrong!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lalaurie Mansion

This is it: The LaLaurie Mansion. So what exactly happened here? Delphine LaLaurie had a disturbing appetite for violence, which she inflicted upon her enslaved servants. She beat them, underfed them, and seemed to take pleasure in their suffering. It became an open secret in town, but authorities didn’t really care. That is, until Delphine chased an enslaved girl off the edge of the roof with a whip and the girl fell to her death. Authorities then forced the LaLaurie’s to surrender their nine remaining servants.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bourbon Street

We’re walking toward Bourbon Street, New Orleans’s party central. But this street wasn’t named after liquor. It got its name from the French royal family at the time, the House of Bourbon! In the early 1800s, Bourbon Street was mostly residential. In 1859, the sleepy neighborhood did get a bit of excitement. That’s when the French Opera House arrived. Clever entrepreneurs saw this as an opportunity. Soon, restaurants, bars, and other diversions popped up around the opera house. The sleepy street started to wake up!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar

On our right, directly on the corner, stands Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. On chilly nights in the 1770s, legend has it that the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte held meetings at this bar! He and his fellow privateers housed illegal contraband as they discussed which ship to hit next. Back then, a blacksmith shop stood next to the bar, hence the name.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tennessee Williams’ House

Look ahead a few houses on the left. Do you see a yellow house with a triangular roof and a balcony? That’s the former home of famous American playwright Tennessee Williams! Head over there and pause in front.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Louis Armstrong Park

Directly ahead of us is Louis Armstrong Park. I’m sure you can guess who it’s named for! Cross the street toward the park when it’s safe, then continue straight into the park. Born in the early 1900s, Louis Armstrong grew up in a rough neighborhood here in New Orleans. But he wouldn’t have traded it for anything. He once said:“We were poor and everything like that, but music was all around. Music kept you rolling."
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Louis Armstrong Statue

This 12-foot statue depicts none other than Louis Armstrong himself. It honors the jazz musician’s life and legacy. And what a legacy that is! Armstrong lives on throughout New Orleans. The airport carries his name, as do countless other landmarks. But not everything bearing Armstrong’s name is in New Orleans. Some of it isn’t even on this planet! In 1991, NASA named an asteroid after Armstrong! They called it 9179 Satchmo.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The LaBranche House (pass by)

The orange mansion across the street is the LaBranche House. The LaBranche family designed the home in the Creole style back in the 1830s. They frequently held lavish parties where party revelers spread out on the three balconies. If you look closely, each balcony has cast iron grillwork with oak leaf and acorn detailing.
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St. Anthony's Garden (pass by)

The green garden to our left is St. Anthony’s Garden, dating back to the founding of the city. Over the years, this has been used as a shelter for fire victims, a dueling ground, and a home for Capuchin monks.
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Congo Square

In 1817, the mayor of New Orleans decreed that enslaved Africans could only gather in one place: Congo Square. Here, enslaved people came together on Sundays to worship, buy and sell goods, and catch up. Women weaved through the crowds selling baskets of calas, which are deep-fried rice cakes covered in sugar. Congo Square buzzed with singing, dancing, and live music. Since several states had suppressed African music, visitors flocked here to marvel at the African-style dancing. The beat of the bamboulas and banzas fused with the sound of drums, gourds, marimbas, violins, and tambourines.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
  • More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
  • Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the French Quarter Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-267535P38

Traveler Photos

Reviews

3.33
3 reviews

Average 3.33 out of 5 stars based on 3 traveler reviews collected by Cool Broadway and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
1
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
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1 star
1

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On average, this is booked 15 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
  • Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
  • Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
  • Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
  • Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
  • Private walking tour experience for your family or group.
  • Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
  • Self-guided audio tour through our easy-to-use mobile app.
  • Just bring your phone and headphones; the app guides your walk.
  • Self-guided tour — no live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and transport are separate.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
  • Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
  • At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
  • Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
  • Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
  • More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
  • Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
  • Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
  • Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
  • Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

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Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CDT).

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