Garden District Tour: New Orleans Architecture & History

Discover the history of New Orleans through its 19th century architecture on this 2-hour Garden District tour. Explore exquisite mansions and learn about the architects and families who shaped this historic area. Includes a visit to Lafayette Cemetery to learn about local burial customs.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Lafayette Cemetery No.1 - A small segment of the tour focuses on the unique burial customs in New Orleans. (Please note that entrance to the cemetery is permitted by the City of New Orleans, and it may be closed when services are being performed.)
What's Included
  • Licensed, insured, and local guide
  • Extensive knowledge of the area
What's Not Included
  • Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in the history of New Orleans as you explore its iconic architecture! This 2-hour tour of the Garden District grants you a look into 19th century life in the city as you admire the grand, classic mansions. Take a leisurely walk with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic guide and become familiar with the various architectural styles present in…

Location
2727 Prytania St
Prytania Street
Centrally located departure location - one block from the St. Charles Streetcar or four blocks from the Magazine Bus. Meetup spot is right next to a great coffee shop, so be sure to show up a few minutes early for a snack. Tour departs from outside the main entrance of the Rink. Your guide will be holding a sign that says"New Orleans Architecture Tours".
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(326 Ratings)
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615bel_np
Feb 17, 2025
Fantastic Tour and Guide - Fantastic and informative tour! Our guide, Doug, was wonderful and engaging and his enthusiasm for the architecture and history of not only the Garden District but all of New Orleans was evident. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z5705idreneet
Feb 17, 2025
Excellent way to spend a few hours while visiting New Orleans. - Very much enjoyed the small group architectural walking tour in the Garden District of New Orleans. It was my first visit to the city and Doug was informative with the history of New Orleans, the unique styles of buildings, various personalities that live here and was able to answer all of our varied questions. Tip: make sure to find your guide as there were three tour agencies leaving from the same corner at the same time! The tour company made it easy as communication was clear and prompt.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
133angelial
Feb 16, 2025
Pauline was great. - Pauline did a great job of explaining the architecture but also the history of the district. The research she did with the historic renditions of the building was enlightening.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Quest748199
Jan 10, 2025
Absolute Must Do! - Fantastic! Our guide, Doug, was informative and very pleasant to spend the time with. He was very knowledgeable about the architecture and has made me so curious to learn more! The homes were beautiful and the the walk was easy. He answered every question that we had and more! I wish we even had more time we could’ve kept going for hours. Thank you, Doug for such a pleasant experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O4515cqchriss
Nov 14, 2024
Great tour - Phan was a terrific guide. Very knowledgeable and accommodating. Highly recommend this tour of a beautiful neighborhood.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Madelinemi7635mm
Nov 11, 2024
Spectacular tour! - Caroline was a wonderful tour guide as we walked through the garden district and learned so much about the history of the city of New Orleans and its architecture. After living here for a few years, it was so much fun to learn about the streets I walk every day. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angela_d
Oct 29, 2024
Nice tour - Interesting tour with good information and views of nice homes and architecture. It was good to tour with information as opposed to walking on our own
Review provided by Viator
Kristi_d
Oct 17, 2024
Excellent tour guide! - Angela was delightful! She was knowledgeable and so welcoming of questions. We would recommend this tour to anyone looking for a great intro to the Garden District and its varied architecture. 10 out of 10! .
Review provided by Viator
L7586idlilym
Oct 7, 2024
Great tour, made our trip! - We had a great tour with John around the Garden District! He was very knowledgeable and gave us a solid mix of history and contemporary lore. We will definitely recommend this tour to friends.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andie
Oct 1, 2024
Insightful tour of Garden District homes - We met up with John Lorch at the rink on Sunday. I was pleasantly surprised that we were the only people in the group. Before we got started John shared some history (with graphics that he sent to us after the tour) of the Garden District. He mentioned that he was a bit soft spoken, which we noticed because there were people with leaf blowers in front of our meeting place and at many houses along our walk. John walked us through several streets in the district stopping to highlight multiple houses which exemplified one of the typical styles found in the district. He knew history or some of the houses, including what was there before the current house. He shared little tidbits about multiple houses along the walk (including some celebrity homes). I enjoyed discussing the architectural styles and the group the approves new construction. My daughter (in her 20s) was hoping for more storytelling in the experience. That said, when she mentioned wanting to find a house from a show she watched, John happily walked us to it at the end of the tour. He also made sure we knew which way to go for our next destination (Magazine St). It was an enjoyable tour which only would have been made better if I’d picked a cooler day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
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March 2025
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