Metairie Cemetery Tour: Historic Tombs and Tales

Join the Metairie Cemetery tour and uncover the secrets of historic tombs, from Popeyes’ founder to vampire novelist Anne Rice. Explore untold stories and scandalous narratives of New Orleans!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Lake Lawn Metairie - Metairie Cemetery (actually located in New Orleans) is home to some of the most elaborate and artistic marble tombs and funerary art in the city. This former racetrack is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is frequently ranked as one of the top cemeteries in the world. Metairie Cemetery has everyone from…
What's Included
  • Admission to Metairie Cemetery
  • Guidance from an expert guide
  • Insider tips for local food, music, and culture
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Bottled water
Additional Information

Metairie Cemetery is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and is often highlighted as one of the world’s must-visit cemeteries. As visitors stroll under the canopy of nearly 1,000 trees, they can admire the lavish tombs of notable figures such as Al Copeland, founder of Popeyes, Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and the…

Location
5100 Pontchartrain Blvd
Pontchartrain Boulevard
Please meet at least 10 minutes early from the start time at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., at the Law Enforcement Memorial to the right of the funeral home. Any of the entry gates will lead to the memorial. You just need to make a right at the stop sign. If you drive, you can park in the lot.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(225 Ratings)
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Jean_g
Jan 13, 2025
Big thumbs up! - We had a great tour guide! Sally was very friendly and knowledgeable! The cemetery is absolutely gorgeous!
Review provided by Viator
Terry55960
Jan 6, 2025
Great time - Sally is awesome. So knowledgeable and thorough in her explanations. We had a great time. Defiantly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hannahkv2683gu
Jan 5, 2025
Amazing - Sally was an amazing tour guide. Very knowledgeable and super personable. 10/10 would absolutely recommend and will be booking again next time we're in New Orleans.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulmf8559jx
Dec 9, 2024
Very Nice tour - Sally was very knowledgeable and we appreciated her patience and willingness to answer all our questions from millionaires, to a writer and a fried chicken tycoon! Thanks
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K2366rrkristenb
Dec 8, 2024
Metairie Cemetery tour - Sally is an incredible tour guide. She is so incredibly knowledgeable about cemeteries here and around the world. You will learn so much and see all the major landmarks of this cemetery.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Denisep912
Dec 5, 2024
MUST SEE!! - Sally was awesome! This tour is a must if you are in New Orleans. Sally goes beyond the general knowledge about the cemetery with plenty of good stories about the dead.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yokoyokoliu
Dec 1, 2024
A very good, highly recommended tour that I will book again during next visit! - Sally is not only very knowledgeable, but so fun to hang out with. Hubby and I have been to many cemetery tours in New Orleans (bus and walking), and this is by far THE BEST. Not only this cemetery is very well maintained like a beautiful park (locals do walk around in it!), but Sally’s story telling about it, from the person buried, the family to the tomb/mausoleum, made you appreciate them more. I would highly recommend this tour. The cemetery is so big and Sally mentioned she had different routes during each season. I will definitely book her tour again when we visit New Orleans next time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lindsaysy1414ed
Nov 30, 2024
Family Cemetery Tour - Tour was amazing!! Sally was so knowledgeable and an amazing tour guide! Very interesting tour and an action packed 2 hours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shane_l
Nov 16, 2024
Great Cemetery Tour, Highly Recommended! - Metairie Cemetery is beautiful. The guide was very informative and entertaining. We've already recommended this tour to others. Thanks!
Review provided by Viator
Terrastravels
Nov 15, 2024
Met Cem - This tour was WAY better than I thought it would be. Only cemetery in New Orleans that locals use as a public park. Used to be a race track back in the day, and now a cemetery because someone bought it with pettiness after the civil war. I knew I wanted a tour of this place because I wanted to see Anne Rice’s tomb (Ive read her Mayfair witches books), as well as all the millionaires plots. There was so much more though, such as “hotel row,” the hunched over angel, as well as the guy that started Popeyes. Learned about the different things to look out for and what they mean in cemeteries such as an angel pointing up means “accention,” the first three letters of the greek alphabet are on some tombs as well as alpha and omega which means the beginning and the end, and four angels that mean faith, hope, grace, and charity, as well as the difference between a 1, 2, 3 people plot and what they do with them after a year and how they all pile up below with just the bones (40 inches below). (You just need to take a tour to have them explain). Crematorium plots, land above ground so they aren’t buried beneath (grass from Greece), and a bunch of millionaire and mosuleum plots. Even one that looks promiscuous. SO many stories which are all awesome! This is a MUST DO when in New Orleans!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
January 2025
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