Nightly Ghosts & Vampires Walk

New Orleans: 2-Hour Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour runs through French Quarter Phantoms LLC. Rated 4.5 across 472 reviews. Runs 2 hours. From $22.

Overview

This walk starts at the Voodoo Lounge on North Rampart Street and spends the next 2 hours moving through the French Quarter's darker history. Guides tell true and terrifying stories, covering Madame Lalaurie and her cruelty, the Mad Butcher, the question of vampires at the Ursulines Convent, and the Octoroon Mistress. Reviewers repeatedly describe the guides as knowledgeable and engaging, and one reviewer was still thinking about the stories days after the walk.

There is a built-in warm-up: the hour before the tour, participants can claim a two-for-one hurricane drink at the Voodoo Lounge. One reviewer also mentions a bar stop during the walk itself, so there are chances to drink along the way, though anything beyond the pre-tour special costs extra. The tone leans toward fun with a chill rather than pure horror, and the operator promises laughs alongside the grisly material.

It works well for people who like to hear the guide clearly rather than fight a large crowd, since the operator keeps the experience in small groups. It runs in English, operates rain or shine, and cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Voodoo LoungeCheck in at the Voodoo Lounge, at the corner of Orleans St and N Rampart St. Arrive early if you want the two-for-one hurricane drink offered in the hour before the tour.
2. Walk the French QuarterThe guide leads the group through the neighborhood's streets, telling ghost and vampire stories tied to specific locations.
3. Hear the Lalaurie storyThe walk covers Madame Lalaurie and her reputation for torture, along with the Mad Butcher and the Octoroon Mistress.
4. Vampires at the conventThe guide takes up the question of whether there are vampires in the Ursulines Convent and what is said to have happened there.
5. Bar stop along the routeOne reviewer mentions a bar stop during the tour. Drinks beyond the pre-tour special are not included in the price.
6. Tour wraps upThe walk lasts 2 hours in total. The listing does not state where the tour ends.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk.

• Wear good shoes. The listing advises comfortable shoes, and the whole experience is on foot. Be prepared to walk for the full duration.
• Arrive early. The two-for-one hurricane drink at the Voodoo Lounge is available only in the hour before the tour. Turn up with time to spare if you want it.
• Group feel. The listing promises small groups, and one reviewer said the size was small enough for everyone to hear the guide. That reviewer also noted the guide made sure nobody was left behind after a break.
• Pace and tone. Reviewers describe the storytelling as energetic and engaging, and the listing promises laughs alongside the spooky material. Expect history delivered with some theatrical flair.
• Weather. The tour runs rain or shine, so bring whatever the evening forecast calls for. There is no indoor alternative mentioned in the listing.
• Budget for extras. Only the pre-tour hurricane special is included. Additional drinks and tips for the guide are listed as not included.

Common issues. The walk runs in English only and runs 2 hours on foot. One reviewer felt the historical framing of some stories was loose, even while enjoying the tour overall. Pets are not allowed, though assistance dogs are. Tips and any drinks beyond the pre-tour special are extra, and the tour proceeds regardless of weather.

Before You Book Anything